Metals; Theft
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to establish a list of cash transactions at scrap metal yards. [71549]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 13 September 2011]: I have been asked to reply.
The Government recognise the significance of metal theft to the United Kingdom and that some scrap metal yards are a disposal route for stolen metal. The Home Office is in discussion with other Government Departments to identify whether any legislative changes should be made to tackle the theft of metal.
Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration his Department has given to establishing a register of cash transactions at scrap metal yards. [71759]
James Brokenshire: I have been asked to reply.
The Government recognise the significance of metal theft to the United Kingdom and that some scrap metal yards are a disposal route for stolen metal. The Home Office is in discussion with other Government Departments to identify whether any legislative changes should be made to tackle the theft of metal.
National Apprenticeship Service
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who the chief accounting officer for the National Apprenticeship Service is; and what plans he has for the future of this role. [69676]
Mr Hayes: The chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service is the accounting officer for the National Apprenticeship Service. Under his leadership, the National Apprenticeship Service has end to end responsibility for apprenticeships including the delivery of the programme and accountability for ensuring high quality standards and value for money for the public investment in apprenticeships.
Nuclear Reactors: Research
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research and development the UK research councils are funding on (a) nuclear engineering design and (b) the building of the next generation of nuclear reactors. [72412]
Mr Willetts: The research councils co-ordinate funding for energy research through the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme which brings together all facets of energy research, knowledge transfer, engagement, and training across the councils, in a programme which includes nuclear fission. The RCUK Energy Programme currently (as of July 2011) has a nuclear portfolio of £48 million of projects.
Projects totalling £23 million are directly relevant to the next generation of nuclear reactors but many other projects will provide underpinning research that will also be useful in this area.
Overseas Students
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the (a) number and (b) country of origin of foreign nationals who have attended an (i) independent college, (ii) maintained college and (iii) university in each of the last five academic years. [72656]
Mr Willetts: The numbers of European Union (EU) and non-EU domiciled enrolments at English higher education institutions are shown for the academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10 in Table 1 which will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Information on the nationality of enrolments in higher education is not comprehensive and country of domicile is provided as a more robust alternative. Figures are taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record which covers students studying in the United Kingdom (UK). Information for the 2010/11 academic year will become available from January 2012.
Table 2 as follows shows the number of learners participating in English further education colleges with a country of domicile of EU, non-EU, UK and non-UK in 2005/06 to 2009/10, the latest years for
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which final data are available. Information on the nationality of learners in further education is not available. However, colleges do capture country of domicile information for funding purposes.
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Further education colleges include general further education colleges, sixth-form colleges, special colleges (agricultural and horticultural colleges and art and design colleges) and specialist colleges. Information for independent and maintained colleges is not available.
| Table 2: Further education learner participation in colleges by country of domicile, 2005/06 to 2009/10 | |||||
| Number | |||||
| Country of domicile | 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 |
| Notes: 1. These data include learning in the Learner Responsive, Apprenticeship, Train to Gain, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry funding streams delivered in general further education colleges including tertiary, sixth-form colleges, special colleges (agricultural and horticultural colleges and art and design colleges), specialist colleges and external institutions. 2. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. UK figures include learners with a country of domicile of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 4. EU countries are as defined at the start of the 2009/10 academic year. Source: Individualised Learner Record. | |||||
Government-funded learning as recorded on the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) for further education is restricted to home learners. Therefore funded learners who are non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals must have been resident in the UK for the three years preceding their course start date and the main purpose for residence must not have been to receive full-time education during any part of that three-year period. There are a limited number of exceptions to this, for example—refugees, learners with indefinite leave to remain status, or learners studying under reciprocal exchange agreements.
Information on further education and skills participation and achievement is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Overseas Trade: Bangladesh
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage the development of business and trade links between Bangladesh and (a) Leicester and (b) the East Midlands. [72807]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) supports trade and business links between the whole of the UK and Bangladesh. Support is accessible to companies from any city or region in the UK, including Leicester and the East Midlands, through UKTI's network of international trade advisers.
UKTI has four trade officers based at the British high commission in Dhaka, who provide advice and support to UK companies who are either interested or active in the country and to Bangladeshi companies wishing to import from or invest in the UK. UKTI works with Bangladesh business support groups including the Bangladesh Brand Forum, Wales Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, Gateway Asia and the Bangladesh high commission in London by advising and supporting relevant business related activity.
Overseas Trade: Pakistan
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage the development of business and trade links between Pakistan and (a) Leicester and (b) the East Midlands. [72806]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) supports trade and business links between the whole of the UK and Pakistan. Support is accessible to companies from any city or region in the UK, including Leicester and the East Midlands, including through UKTI's international trade advisers. The Government are focused on the development of business links between the UK and Pakistan through the trade and business relations strand of the Prime Minister-led Enhanced Strategic Dialogue.
UKTI has six trade officers in three locations (Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore), who provide advice and support to UK companies who are either interested or active in the country. It works closely with the Pakistan high commission in the UK, including with the Consul in Manchester, and organised a major Doing Business in Pakistan event on 10 February 2011 in London, with 80 business representatives from across the UK.
Police: Compensation
Paul Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his written statement of 11 August 2011, Official Report, columns 119-21WS, how many claims for financial compensation have been made to each police authority under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886; what the monetary value is of payments made to date; what the
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monetary value is of outstanding claims; what the monetary value is of claims made to date under the High Street Support Scheme; how much has been paid out to date under the scheme; how many claims remain outstanding; and when he expects all outstanding claims to be paid. [71668]
Nick Herbert: I have been asked to reply.
Police authorities are receiving claims under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 from individuals affected by the riots and direct from insurers for the cost of damage to property and their contents during the riots. The full extent of the costs will not be known until after the 42 day deadline for claims.
35 local authorities have registered an intention to claim assistance under the High Street Support Scheme but no actual claims have been received yet and therefore no funding paid out. The deadline for receipt of claims is 7 November. We will pay valid claims within 15 days of receipt.
Postal Services
Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the role of access customers in providing support to Royal Mail to deliver its universal service obligation. [72560]
Mr Davey: Government commissioned the independent Hooper report of 2008 and update of 2010 to assess the effects of liberalisation on the postal services market. Among its findings, the Hooper report said access prices should reflect costs, but users should not pay for inefficiencies and competitors should not be subsidised.
The Postal Services Act 2011 provides Ofcom, as the new regulator, with a primary duty in relation to post to secure the provision of a universal postal service throughout the UK. Among other things, the Act provides Ofcom with the power to require other postal operators (including access users) to contribute towards the cost of the universal service.
This option would only be considered if it was ever determined that it was unfair for the universal service provider to bear the whole of the financial burden for providing a universal service throughout the UK. More information about the Postal Services Act 2011 can be found on the Department's website:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/postal-services
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Postal Services: Competition
Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effects of competition in the mail services sector. [72561]
Mr Davey: Government commissioned the independent Hooper report of 2008 and update of 2010 to assess the effects of liberalisation on the postal services market. Among its findings, the Hooper report said that postal competition remains important in keeping pressure on Royal Mail to improve its performance, offering choice to customers and driving innovation across the whole market.
The Postal Services Act 2011 (PSA2011), which was enacted in June, provides for the implementation of Hooper's package of recommendations—enabling private sector investment in Royal Mail, fixing the regulatory regime and tackling Royal Mail's pension deficit. More information on Hooper's findings and the Postal Services Act 2011 can be found on the Department's website:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/postal-services
Public Sector
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on the effect of the public sector on (a) the creation of local jobs and (b) economic recovery; and if he will make a statement. [72109]
Mr Prisk: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has met the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), from time to time to discuss issues of mutual concern to their Departments.
Research Councils
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the geographic spread is of the membership of research council committees in each region. [72413]
Mr Willetts: The regional spread of council members for each research council is as follows:
|
|
AHRC | BBSRC | EPSRC | ESRC | MRC | NERC | STFC |
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The location is determined by institution where the council member is employed or where they live, which ever is more appropriate.
Serco
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many contracts his Department holds with Serco; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58662]
Mr Davey: BIS have only one contract with Serco. The details are as follows:
There is a joint contract for Technical Assessments of Queen's Awards applications with SERCO, BETA and ERM. SERCO is the lead partner to this contract and payments are made directly to them. The contract is for three years and valued at £600,000 (£200,000 per annum) however the final value will be determined by the number of applications received for each award category.
Students: Immigration
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department regarding the potential effect of reforms to the student immigration system on the higher education sector; [72050]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department regarding the potential effect of reforms to the student immigration system on economic growth. [72051]
Mr Willetts: Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have met regularly with Ministers from the Home Office since the formation of the coalition Government to discuss a number of issues relating to the changes to and implementation of the student immigration system. We have discussed the potential impact of the reforms on the sector reflecting consultation with the sector as well as the details of implementation of the new regulations.
Union Modernisation Fund
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2011, Official Report, column 1043W, on Union Modernisation Fund, how much has been given to the Campaign Company from the Union Modernisation Fund (UMF) Project, by UMF project. [72240]
Mr Davey: A list of the Union Modernisation Fund (UMF) projects who have worked with the Campaign Company and the amounts paid to the company are as follows. These amounts include matched funding as well as UMF grants.
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| Union Modernisation Fund round two projects | ||
| Union | Project title | Amount paid (£) |
| Union Modernisation Fund round three projects (1) | ||
| Union | Project title | Amount paid (£) |
| (1) These projects are not yet complete. | ||
Job Vacancies
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the findings of the British Chambers of Commerce Workforce Survey, Micro Businesses, on the ability of employers to fill vacancies. [72107]
Mr Davey: This Department is leading the cross-Government employment law review and is looking at all evidence about the operation of underpinning legislative framework and burdens on business, including from business representative groups, trades unions and other stakeholders. A key objective of the review is making it easier for a business to take on staff. The review will also consider ideas that emerge from the Red Tape Challenge aimed at facilitating the recruitment of employees by businesses.
York College: Finance
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what budget his Department has provided for York college in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 2004. [71434]
Mr Hayes: The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) (and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) prior to April 2010) has responsibility for funding post-19 further education (FE) and skills training. Funding allocations to York college by the LSC and the SFA for post-19 FE and skills are provided in the following table.
| £ | |||
|
|
Academic year | 19+ cash allocation (1) | Real terms 2011-12 (2) |
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| (1) Source: Skills Funding Agency allocation data for 19+ participation (excluding additional learning support) and discretionary learner support. (2) These figures have been calculated using HM Treasury deflators, last updated 28 June 2011. | |||
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Health
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Mrs Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 4.4.1 of the NHS Information Centre publication, Statistics on Alcohol: England 2011, which disease, injury or condition accounts for the largest proportion of the increase in alcohol-related admissions since 2002-03. [71738]
Anne Milton: Hypertensive diseases accounts for the largest proportion of increase in alcohol-related admissions since 2002-03. This is shown in the following table.
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|
Inhalation of gastric contents/Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of the respiratory tract |
|||||
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| (1) The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO). This methodology includes a wide range of diseases, injuries and conditions in which alcohol plays a part and estimates the proportion of cases that are attributable to the consumption of alcohol. Finished admission episodes are identified where an alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Admission Statistics record. For each of these episodes, an attributable fraction is applied, based on the diagnostic codes, age group and gender of the patient. Where there is more than one alcohol-related condition among the diagnostic codes, the condition with the largest attributable fraction is used. Where there are two or more codes with the maximum attributable fraction, the code from the earliest diagnostic position is used. This method is employed to avoid double counting of the admission episodes related to alcohol and therefore each episode contributes to one cell in the table. The total number of alcohol-related admissions is arrived at by summing up the number of episodes counted against each alcohol-related condition. (2) The data include activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. (3) A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (4) Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed). (5) Data includes only ordinary, day cases and maternity admissions, where the age and sex of the patient was known and where the region of residence was one of the English regions or no fixed abode or unknown. (6) International Classification of Diseases. (7) Wholly attributable conditions are alcohol-specific by definition and so have an attributable fraction of one. (8) The totals shown for T51—Toxic effect of alcohol, do not include the full breakdown for ICD-10 code T51, only T51.0, T51.1 and T51.9 as these cover types of alcohol most commonly found in alcoholic drinks. (9) Partially attributable conditions are those where some but not all cases are a result of alcohol consumption and so have an attributable fraction of less than one (10) ICD-10 codes for road traffic accidents: V12-V14 (.3 -.9), V19.4-V19.6, V19.9, V20-V28 (.3 -.9), V29-V79 (.4 -.9), V80.3-V80.5, V81.1, V82.1, V82.9, V83.0-V86 (.0 -.3), V87.0-V87.9, V89.2, V89.3, V89.9. Note: Admission numbers for 2003-03 to 2006-07 have been updated to include records relating to disease codes K73 (chronic hepatitis) and L40 (psoriasis), that were excluded unintentionally from the previous figures. As a result the latest figures are slightly higher than those published in the 2009 report. The minimum effect at a national level is to increase the total number of admissions by 543 admissions (0.07%) in 2005-06, while the maximum effect is an increase of 2,946 (0.37%) in 2006-07. Sources: Figures provided by The Department of Health based on: 1. Hospital Episode Statistics, The NHS Information Centre—Data for total number of admissions for each ICD-10 code. 2. North West Public Health Observatory—Attributable fractions for alcohol-related ICD-10 codes. | |||||
Mrs Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2011, Official Report, column 916W, on alcoholic drinks: misuse, what the primary diagnoses were for the 74 per cent. of admissions in which the primary diagnosis was not attributable to alcohol. [71739]
Anne Milton: The data for the primary diagnoses for the 74% of admission in which primary diagnosis was not attributable to alcohol are shown in the following table.
Anti-slavery Day
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to mark Anti-slavery day 2011. [72517]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government are planning to mark Anti-slavery day with a range of events including the launch of a training and referral process for the airline industry with a major United Kingdom airline.
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The Government are fully committed to combating human trafficking by tackling organised crime groups and protecting the victims of this modern day slavery.
The Government published their strategy on human trafficking on 19 July. The strategy reiterates the UK’s intention to take a comprehensive approach to combating trafficking—both by focusing on tackling traffickers and maintaining effective care for victims.
The strategy also sets out our commitment to raising awareness of trafficking among the public and the private sector. The Government recognise the importance of Anti-Slavery day as an opportunity to improve understanding and increase vigilance in our communities.
Blood: Donors
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons sexually active gay and bisexual men are not permitted to donate blood irrespective of their sexual history; and if he will make a statement. [72659]
Anne Milton: The independent scientific Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs, following advice from an expert Working Group comprised of relevant clinical experts and stakeholders from campaigning and equalities (the National Aids Trust, Gay Men Fighting AIDS, Stonewall and the Terence Higgins Trust) and patient (UK Thalassaemia Society and Sickle Cell Society) groups, has recommended that the current lifetime deferral from blood donation for men who have had sex with men should be changed to a twelve-month deferral. This change has been accepted in England, Wales and Scotland and will be implemented from 7 November 2011.
The 12-month deferral period was recommended as the evidence showed that in the UK men who have had sex with men as a group continue to be at a statistically higher risk of contracting blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B. Due to the nature of hepatitis B virus infection, and of the screening tests used, it is necessary to allow 12 months from any higher risk behaviour as this is long enough for the donor to have undergone and recovered from an infection.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the restriction on blood donation by men who have had sex with men in the previous 12 months with anti-discrimination legislation; and if he will make a statement. [72660]
Anne Milton: The Equality Act 2010 was considered as part of the review by the independent scientific Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) of donor deferral periods. The Act states that blood services do not contravene anti-discrimination legislation by excluding people from donating blood as long as this exclusion or deferral is based on a reasonable and reliable assessment of risk to the public or the individual.
SaBTO has recently recommended, on the basis of an assessment of risk based on the most up to date scientific evidence, that for men who have had sex with men a permanent deferral is not required and that a fixed period deferral of 12 months from latest relevant
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sexual contact is sufficient to maintain the safety of the blood supply. The change will be implemented by the blood services in England, Wales and Scotland on 7 November 2011.
Botulinum Toxin
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has any plans to introduce a minimum age limit for administration of botulinum toxin; [72522]
(2) what recent representations he has received on the unauthorised administration of botulinum toxin. [72523]
Mr Simon Burns: Seven botulinum toxin-containing products are authorised in the United Kingdom: Botox, Dysport, Neurobloc, Xeomin, Azzulure, Bocouture and Vistabel.
Dysport and Botox are authorised for the treatment of children aged two years and above with cerebral palsy to control foot deformity caused by persistent muscle spasm in the leg. These products should be administered in hospital or specialist centres.
Neurobloc, Xeomin, Azzalure, Bocouture and Vistabel are not authorised for the treatment of children. The Summaries of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflet for these products state that the safety and efficacy in children (under 18 years) have not been demonstrated.
Any referral received by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which involves a suspected breach of regulatory requirements will be passed to the MHRA's Enforcement Group to take further action. Over the past 12 months, the MHRA's Enforcement Group has received 26 referrals concerning botulinum toxin which has either been administered or advertised for administration in circumstances where it was suspected that the regulatory requirements were not/would not have been complied with.
Organisations that offer the therapeutic use of botox in the national health service are properly regulated. A check of the Department's correspondence and parliamentary questions database has not identified any recent representations specifically about unauthorised use, though it has received other inquiries (for example about whether botox is licensed for specific indications) and representations about cosmetic provision by unqualified practitioners.
Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the MHRA and Commission for Human Medicines through the spontaneous reporting scheme; the Yellow Card Scheme. Up to the 15 September 2011, the MHRA has received a total of 317 UK spontaneous suspected ADR reports associated with clostridium botulinum toxin. It is important to note that the extent of off-label use cannot be calculated using ADR data from the Yellow Card Scheme; the indication for use of the suspect drug on an ADR report is not always provided and also it is recognised that there is under-reporting of suspected ADRs through spontaneous reporting schemes such as the Yellow Card Scheme.
The Department urges anyone considering botox treatment for cosmetic purposes to check
www.treatmentsyoucantrust.co.uk
for a list of practitioners with appropriate qualifications.
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Breast Feeding
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of breastfeeding on (a) emotional comfort, (b) maternal infant bonding and (c) long-term neurological development. [72040]
Anne Milton: The Department has not made any formal assessment of the effects of breastfeeding on emotional comfort, maternal infant bonding and the long term neurological development.
In 2009 the Department commissioned the University of Oxford to undertake a study to examine the effects of breastfeeding on behavioural development in children aged five years. Though the findings, published in May 2011, suggest that children who were breastfed for at least four months were less likely to have behavioural problems at age five, the authors concluded that this observation might have not been the direct result of breastfeeding.
The Department recognises the importance of breastfeeding and the health benefits it provides to both the mothers and infants. In particular, breastfeeding can protect infants from infections and can reduce the risk of obesity in later childhood.
Care Homes: Fees and Charges
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities have indicated they will increase the level of fees they pay to care homes in the 2011-12 financial year. [72360]
Paul Burstow: The detail of contracting arrangements between local authorities and independent sector care homes, including the level of fees, is a matter for local decision between local authorities and providers. Information about the level of fees is not collected centrally. However, according to the independent analysts Laing and Buisson, the majority of local authorities in England have not increased their fees in 2011-12.
Mr Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care home residents were funded
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by the relevant local authority in
(a)
Coventry and
(b)
England in the latest period for which figures are available. [72361]
Paul Burstow: Data on the number of adults (aged 18 and over) in receipt of local authority funded registered residential and nursing care are collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care. However, all local authority supported residents can be charged for their care, following a financial assessment by the local authority to decide what each resident can afford to pay towards the cost of their care.
We are informed by the Information Centre that there were 1,000 clients aged 18 and over in receipt of local authority funding as at 31 March 2010 in Coventry.
There were also 226,000 clients aged 18 and over in receipt of local authority funding as at 31 March 2010 in England.
Provisional data for the year ending 31 March 2011 are planned to be published in November 2011.
Care UK: Correspondence
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence he has received from Care UK management since October 2010. [72715]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department's correspondence database contains no correspondence from Care UK addressed to the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley).
Cataracts: Waiting Lists
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for cataract treatment in each region. [72818]
Mr Simon Burns: The provisional 2010-11 mean and median waiting times for cataract treatment in each strategic health authority (SHA) are provided in the following table.
| Mean and median waiting time (1) and count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) (2) for main procedures (3) of cataract treatment (3) within each SHA of commissioner (4) ; 2010-11 (provisional data) | |||
| Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | |||
| SHA of commissioner | Total episodes in each SHA of commissioner | Mean waiting time (days) | Median waiting time (days) |
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College of Social Work
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the (a) creation of a College of Social Work, (b) Memorandum of Understanding and Service Level Agreement reached between the Interim Board and Unison and (c) Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Interim Board and BASW at the meeting of the Social Care Institute for Excellence Board on 15 September; and if he will make a statement. [72152]
Paul Burstow: The Government asked the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) to support the development of the College of Social Work. To do this, SCIE convened a College Development Group bringing together relevant parties from the sector. This group oversaw the open recruitment of interim Chairs of the college and an interim board which began work in October 2010.
As part of its business planning and development the interim board has undertaken work to develop a viable and sustainable business model. Defining appropriate relationships with other organisations operating in the social work sector is of course an important part of this.
The college remains in discussion with UNISON over future relationships and joint working. It has recently signalled to the British Association of Social Workers that it wishes to place further discussions around potential merger on hold until early 2012. It is our understanding that the college is not in a position to enter into any contract until it is legally established as a separate organisation at that point.
SCIE is an independent charity and Government are not represented on its Board.
Community Resuscitation
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of community resuscitation provision. [72436]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has made no such assessment. However, in 2007 an evaluation of the role of community defibrillation officers, as part of the National Defibrillation Programme, found that they had ensured that more defibrillators were deployed in the community, more individuals had been trained and retrained in their use and that where co-ordinated systems of response were in place, this increased the potential for early defibrillation. As a result, lives had been saved.
Day Centres
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in funding to local authorities on the number of day centres operational in (a) England, (b) the west midlands and (c) Dudley borough. [72343]
Paul Burstow: The responsibility for addressing and commissioning social care needs of local communities rests with local authorities.
The Government recognise the importance of social care services and have taken steps to ensure that local authorities have sufficient funds to provide them. In recognition of the pressures on the social care system in a challenging fiscal climate, we have allocated an additional £2 billion by 2014-15 to support the delivery of social care. With an ambitious programme of efficiency, there will be enough funding available both to protect people's access to services and deliver new approaches to improve quality and outcomes.
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Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of day centres which were operational in (a) England, (b) the west midlands and (c) Dudley borough (i) on the most recent date for which figures are available and (ii) in each of the last five years. [72344]
Paul Burstow: Information on the number of day centres is not collected centrally.
Dental Services
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental (a) extractions and (b) restorations were performed by NHS dentists in each of the last four years by primary care trusts. [72282]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is not available in the format requested.
Information on the estimated total number of national health service clinical dental treatment items provided to adults in 2009-10 and 2010-11 is available in Table 5b of the “NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2010/11” report.
Clinical dental treatment items include extractions, permanent fillings and sealant restorations, veneer(s) applied, inlay(s) and crown(s) provided. The publication does not contain a definition for 'restorations'.
Table 5e contains the same information for NHS clinical dental treatment items provided to children.
This report, published on 18 August 2011 has been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats1011
Comparable information for earlier years is not available.
Air Travel
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which travel management companies his Department uses for the purchase of airline tickets. [72691]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department is currently contracted with Flight Centre UK Ltd, trading as FCm Travel Solutions, for all its travel requirements, including airline tickets. Connecting for Health are using Expotel (with effect from 19 September 2011).
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) contractual obligations and (b) other processes his Department uses in respect of travel management companies to ensure the best value is achieved when purchasing airline tickets. [72705]
Mr Simon Burns: Suppliers are required to provide services in accordance with the Department’s policy. The Department’s travel policy states that staff are required to consider at the outset whether their travel is necessary to deliver the business outcome required. First-class air travel is not allowed within the Department’s policy. If travel by air is necessary, travellers should travel economy class, unless a business need to travel business class can be demonstrated.
There is a contractual requirement that the supplier offers lowest published airfares in accordance with the Government Airfare Programme in all cases. In order
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to achieve the lowest price, bookers are required to consider using consolidators (services, like brokers, that compare flight prices across a range of airlines for a particular flight route for the same time period), discounted fares, promotional offers and ‘no-frills’/low-cost airlines. There is also a requirement that e-tickets are issued where this saves money.
The supplier must provide at least one alternative fare for every inquiry/booking made for air travel, and must offer the lowest practical fare available at the time of booking. They are also obliged to maximise the benefits available to the Department, enhancing point of sale activity in support of departmental requirement to reduce costs.
Chief Scientific Adviser
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the resource budget allocation was for the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [72475]
(2) what the salary, including benefits, was of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many individuals have held the post in the last five years; [72476]
(3) how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and on what date the office was established. [72477]
Mr Simon Burns: The chief scientific adviser (CSA) at the Department of Health is Professor Dame Sally C Davies.
Dame Sally has been CSA and responsible for research and development since 2004. In addition to these responsibilities, Dame Sally was appointed Chief Medical Officer for England and Chief Medical Adviser to the UK Government on 1 March 2011.
There is no dedicated CSA support office at the Department. Colleagues across the Department support Dame Sally in her CSA role.
Dame Sally is a Permanent Secretary. Salaries for senior civil servants are published on the Cabinet Office website:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/senior-civil-servants-high-earners-salaries
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on requiring his Department's (a) agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (b) contractors to have a written code of practice or protocol relating to the provision, conduct and quality assurance of scientific evidence and advice. [72478]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department is committed to handling science and engineering advice in accordance with the Government chief scientific adviser's ‘Guidelines on the use of science and engineering advice in policy-making’.
Wherever appropriate, we draw the attention of our agencies, non-departmental public bodies and contractors to guidance on scientific advice to Government. This
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includes, for example, the ‘Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees’ and the ‘Principles for Scientific Advice to Government’.
Consultants
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2011, Official Report, column 821W, on departmental manpower,
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what consultancy arrangements are in place in his Department; and with which firms. [72328]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is held on the Department's central procurement database on all open contracts with suppliers held by the Department. Information on the suppliers of consultancy services is in the following table:
| Requirement description | Consultancy category | Total approved s pend (£) | Contract start | Contract end | Supplier name |
|
Appointment of legal advisers on the sale of NHS Professionals |
|||||
| (1) Contract value. | |||||
Legal Opinion
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average hourly rate paid was to external (a) solicitors and (b) barristers engaged by his Department in 2010-11; what guidance his Department uses in commissioning external legal advice; and if he will publish (i) the names of each external (A) solicitor and (B) barrister engaged by his Department in 2010-11 and (ii) the sums paid in each case. [72569]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department uses the Government Procurement Service (formerly Buying Solutions) framework agreements to access services provided by external solicitors. The framework rates for the services provided by the suppliers on these frameworks are on average £183 per hour across the firms, including partners (the rates for whom are higher and are used less regularly). For barristers, the Department is required to use the Attorney-General’s panel system for Junior Counsel. The latest rates for these panels are as follows:
Junior Counsel to the Crown—C Panel: July 2011
Hourly rate: £60 if under five years’ call; £80 if over five years’ call
Junior Counsel to the Crown—B Panel: August 2011
Hourly rate: £100
Junior Counsel to the Crown—A Panel: August 2011
Hourly rate: £120
Counsel who take silk are for the first 12 months generally paid at £180 per hour, and then paid at a rate between £180 and £250 per hour after that.
The Department's efficiency measures govern how professional services are commissioned by officials, including all spend on external legal services. All requirements for external legal advice are assessed by officials in the Department's Procurement, Investment and Commercial Division in conjunction with colleagues in the Government Legal Service before contracts are let with solicitors or barristers.
Information from the Department's central procurements database shows that expenditure on external legal services by the Department for financial year 2010-11 was as follows:
|
|
£ |
The Department's procurement function often achieves a 10% to 20% reduction in the published rates for the Government Procurement Service framework agreements through further competition involving the pre-qualified firms of solicitors.
The Department does not hold records centrally about the identities or the number of staff involved in the delivery of services from these firms.
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The Department has a Service Level Agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the provision of legal advice (i.e. from legal staff directly employed by DWP). It is for DWP to commission the services of barristers as required using the panel rates as described above.
Adult Social Care
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on personal budgets. [72341]
Paul Burstow: The ‘Vision for Adult Social Care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens’ sets the context for the future direction of adult social care in England. It states that councils should provide personal budgets, preferably as a direct payment, for everyone eligible, by 2013.
Since the introduction of direct payments in 1997, the Government have issued guidance documents to support local authorities, the most recent being November 2009 when the regulations were updated, and extended direct payments to people who lacked capacity and certain mental health users. The guidance on direct payments assist local councils in making direct payments and provides guidance on how they can manage and administer them. A copy of the ‘Guidance on Direct Payments’ has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_104840
In 2007, the previous Administration published ‘Putting People First: A shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social care’. The local performance framework which covers the delivery of all services by local government working alone or in partnership, to create an improved approach to local partnership, enabling local authorities and partners to work together to lead their area and better meet the public's needs. A copy of the publication has already been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_081118
The Department of Health then issued a circular on ‘Transforming Social Care’ LAC (DH) (2008) 1 which provided details of the social care reform grant that central Government would make over a three-year period to support the cost of implementing a new system with personal budgets at its heart. A copy of the circular has already been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/LocalAuthorityCirculars/DH_081934
Further circulars were issued on Transforming Social Care. These circulars have been placed in the Library and are available at the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/LocalAuthorityCirculars/DH_095719
www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_114790.pdf
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General information relating to personal budgets is now on Think Local Act Personal website which is at:
http://www.thinklocalactpersonal.org.uk/
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of reductions in funding to local authorities on personal budgets for disabled people in (a) England, (b) the west midlands and (c) Dudley borough. [72342]
Paul Burstow: In recognition of the pressures on the social care system in a challenging local government settlement, the spending review allocated an additional £2 billion by 2014-15 to support the delivery of social care. This means, with an ambitious programme of efficiency, that there is enough funding available to make it possible to protect people's access to care.
The Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), has not made an assessment in the west midlands or Dudley on the effects of reductions in funding to local authorities on personal budgets for disabled people.
‘A Vision for Adult Social Care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens’, sets out that the Government expect councils to provide personal budgets to everyone eligible, preferably as a direct payment by 2013, and develop the big society, with more local preventative activity to support people's independence, particularly for disabled people.