Repossession Orders
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many repossessions there have been in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England since 2008. [73681]
Mr Djanogly: The following table shows the numbers of claims leading to orders being made for the repossession of property by mortgage lenders and landlords in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c)England in each year since 2008. The Ministry of Justice does not hold information on the total numbers of repossessions of property (including where keys are handed back voluntarily).
These figures represent the numbers of claims leading to orders being made. This is more accurate than the number of orders, removing the double-counting of instances where a single claim leads to more than one order. It is also a more meaningful measure of the number of homeowners who are subject to court repossession actions.
These figures do not indicate how many properties have actually been repossessed. Repossessions can occur without a court order, such as where borrowers hand the keys back to the lender. Also, not all possession orders result in repossession. Many orders are suspended and if the borrower complies with the repayment arrangements set out in the suspended order the property will not be repossessed.
| Number of mortgage (1) and landlord (2,3) possession claims leading to orders made (4,5,6) for properties in Ashfield constituency (7,8) , Nottinghamshire (7) and England, 2008-10 | ||||||
| Mortgage possession | Landlord possession | |||||
|
|
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1 )Includes all types of mortgage lenders. (2) Includes all types of landlord whether social or private. (3) Landlord actions include those made under both standard and accelerated procedures. Landlord actions via the accelerated procedure enables the orders to be made solely on the basis of written evidence for shorthold tenancies, when the fixed period of tenancy has come to an end. (4) The number of claims that lead to an order includes all claims in which the first order, whether outright or suspended, is made during the period. (5) The court, following a judicial decision, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (6) Includes outright and suspended orders, the latter being where the court grants the claimant possession but suspends the operation of the order. Provided the defendant complies with the terms of suspension, which usually require the defendant to pay the current mortgage or rent instalments plus some of the accrued arrears, the possession order cannot be enforced. (7) All figures are rounded to the nearest five. (8) Data up until the first quarter of 2010 (January to March) will reflect Ashfield constituency boundaries as fixed at the 2005 general election and for the rest of 2010 the re-fixed boundaries as of May 2010. Source: Ministry of Justice. | ||||||
Stalking
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to introduce treatment for stalkers in (a) prisons and (b) as part of a community sentence. [72995]
Mr Blunt: NOMS has developed and delivers a range of accredited offending behaviour programmes, designed to address a diverse range of criminogenic needs. Prisons and probation trusts provide accredited offending behaviour programmes and other interventions to address the risks and/or needs of offenders. The risks and needs of offenders convicted of stalking and harassment is assessed, and offenders are given access to available accredited and non-accredited interventions that best meet their needs.
Translation Services
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what changes he proposes to the National Agreement on arrangements for the use of interpreters, translators and language service professionals in investigations and proceedings within the criminal justice system; [73782]
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(2) what representations he has received from organisations and individuals involved in translation and interpretation on the decision to enter into a Commercial Framework Agreement for the provision of language services in the criminal justice system; [73783]
(3) which organisations were shortlisted for the Commercial Framework Agreement to deliver language services in the criminal justice system; and what the monetary value was of their respective tenders. [73784]
Mr Blunt: As I announced in a written ministerial statement I made to the House on 5 July 2011, Official Report, columns 86-87WS, we are reforming the delivery of interpretation and translation services across the justice sector. This will primarily affect England and Wales. A Languages Services Framework Agreement with a single supplier was signed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on 24 August 2011. As a result, parts of the National Agreement will be dis-applied to organisations inside the MoJ framework.
The Ministry has received representations from a wide variety of individual interpreters, translators and their representative organisations throughout our consideration of this issue. We held a series of four roadshows, in autumn 2009, in London, Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle, which sought attendees' views on the strengths and weaknesses of the current arrangements and how to bring about improvements. A general email address has been available since February 2010 to allow interested parties to submit views direct to the project team and ask questions.
In August 2010 various interested parties were notified of the Government's intention to embark upon a procurement process and there were meetings with some of those interested parties, including interpreters' and translators' representative bodies. The Ministry sought views on our specific proposals as they had emerged from the competitive dialogue process, which was undertaken between 30 March 2011 and 4 May 2011. We continue to receive, consider and respond to correspondence from interested parties and groups.
The procurement exercise for the Language Services Framework Agreement was undertaken via a competitive dialogue process. There were several stages to this process:
(A) A Pre-qualification Questionnaire;
(B) Invitation to submit an Outline Solution;
(C) Invitation to submit a Detailed Solution;
(D) Invitation to submit a Final Tender.
126 suppliers were invited to submit a pre-qualification questionnaire. 77 accepted the invitation and 58 fully completed one. Their responses were evaluated.
12 suppliers were invited to participate in the competitive dialogue itself, because they met the pre-qualification criteria. These were:
Applied Language Solutions
“Thebigword"
Language Line Services
K International
Computacentre
Merrill Legal
Cintra Ltd
Eclipse
Language Services Associates
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Wessex Translations Ltd
Royal National Institute for Deaf People
SDL Plc.
During the competitive dialogue process only one supplier met the acceptable non-price criteria following the Invitation to Submit Detailed Solution stage of the process. Therefore, only one supplier was able to go on to be evaluated against the price criteria. That supplier was awarded the Framework Agreement.
The current value of interpretation and translation in the justice sector is between £58-65 million per year.
Victims' Advisory Panel
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much he expects to save through the abolition of the Victims' Advisory Panel. [73677]
Mr Blunt: Abolishing the Victims' Advisory Panel will not result in administrative savings. This is because the Panel has not been active since 2009 and no budget has been allocated for it.
In the last three years in which the Victims' Advisory Panel was active the Government spent the following amounts:
£19,116 in 2007-08
£46,940 in 2008-09
£7,101 in 2009-10
Youth Justice Board
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish a revised impact assessment in relation to the proposed abolition of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, including the estimated costs of abolition and updated estimates of the savings from abolition; and if he will make a statement. [73732]
Mr Blunt: We will publish a revised impact assessment alongside the Government's response to the consultation on reforming the public bodies of the Ministry of Justice.
The revised impact assessment will include estimated savings from, and the costs of, the proposed abolition of the Youth Justice Board.
Culture, Media and Sport
BBC
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) whether he expects future funding settlements for Welsh language television services to be a matter for agreement between the BBC and S4C; [73035]
(2) whether he intends to issue directions to the BBC Trust on the level of support to be provided for S4C beyond 2015. [73036]
Mr Vaizey:
The S4C-BBC partnership arrangements will ensure a strong, sustainable future for S4C and Welsh language broadcasting. S4C, the BBC and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are currently in discussion about the details of how the partnership
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arrangements will work. The Government are committed to consulting interested parties on the governance arrangements before they are implemented.
Broadband
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the European Commission on state aid issues in relation to the provision of an urban fibre-to-the-home superfast broadband network. [73478]
Mr Vaizey: Ministers have had no discussions with the European Commission about this issue. Broadband Delivery UK officials have regular discussions with the Commission about state aid issues related to broadband deployment.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for the roll-out of an urban fibre-to-the-home superfast broadband network. [73480]
Mr Vaizey: The market will drive the provision of superfast broadband to 66% of the UK, which, given the commercial realities, is likely to include most of the urban areas. To what extent fibre-to-the-home is part of this roll-out is dependent on technical and commercial decisions. Other technologies, including fibre-to-the-cabinet and cable technology are capable of delivering superfast broadband.
Business: Finance
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions his Department has had with executives from the National Lottery Distribution Fund on measures to assist small and medium-sized businesses in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England and Wales. [74173]
John Penrose: I am responding as I have responsibility for the national lottery. The National Lottery Distribution Fund is merely the fund in which the lottery good causes income is held on behalf of the 13 lottery distributing bodies which, acting independently of the Government, make the decisions on grants. Neither I, nor my colleagues, have had meetings with lottery distributing bodies in relation to assistance for business, since they are required to work at arm’s length from the Government. While the economy of the UK derives great benefit from the national lottery, the proceeds of the lottery are intended to support the arts, heritage, sport, charities and community and voluntary groups. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport lottery grants database, which is searchable at
http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
and uses information supplied by the lottery distributing bodies, shows that since May 2010 the Liverpool Walton constituency has received over £1.6 million in lottery funding.
Departmental Billing
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in July and August 2010. [74367]
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John Penrose: The proportion of invoices paid within 10 days of receipt by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in July and August 2010 is set out in the following table:
| Month | Invoices paid within 10 days | Total number of invoices paid |
Departmental Consultants
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what procedures his Department uses when engaging external consultants. [73098]
John Penrose: Resourcing within the Department is done through our internal governance committees. Any request which has an impact on the size, cost or grade structure of our work force requires the submission of a business case before approval can be made.
Only where the required specialist skills and expertise cannot be found within the organisation, or through advertising across the wider civil service, would engagement with external consultants become a possibility. Any business case would need to demonstrate clear value for money and have Corporate Committee approval; responsibility for decisions on recruiting people into interim and temporary positions has been delegated to the Corporate Committee by the Ministerial Board.
Depending on the value, length of the contract and the type of consultant engaged, further scrutiny by the Chief Procurement Officer in the Efficiency and Reform Group and the Minister for the Cabinet Office may be required to ensure the Department maximises the benefits and value of any contract.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in each of the last 12 months. [73672] [Official Report, 2 November 2011, Vol. 534, c. 1MC.]
John Penrose: Since October 2010, the Department has spent a total of £890.36 on events hosted by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Hugh Robertson).
Departmental Procurement
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress his Department has made in eliminating pre-qualification questionnaires for procurements with a value of under £100,000. [73841]
John Penrose: The Department does not use pre-qualification questionnaires for procurements of under £100,000.00. Pre-qualification questionnaires are only used when carrying out procurement under the EU directives.
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Departmental Public Expenditure
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on new furnishings in the last year. [73119]
John Penrose: The Department has not purchased any new furnishings in the last 12 months.
Football
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to respond to the report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on football governance, HC 792. [74052]
Hugh Robertson: The Government's response to the report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on football governance was published on 12 October 2011, and can be found on our website at the following link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8493.aspx
Government Procurement Card
Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many Government Procurement Card transactions were made by his Department's officials withdrawing cash from automated teller machines from 2006-07 to 2009-10; at what cost; and on which dates. [73728]
John Penrose: The information you have requested can be found in the following table:
| Date | Transaction cost (£) |
Hillsborough Stadium
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister since his appointment on the unredacted release of the Hillsborough Cabinet minutes. [74298]
Hugh Robertson:
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Prime Minister on a wide range of issues. As agreed with the independent Hillsborough
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panel, the unredacted Cabinet minutes relating to the Hillsborough disaster will be released to the panel as part of the inquiry. The independent Hillsborough panel will then be free to publish the minutes and any other material they chose once they have completed their inquiry.
Mobile Phones
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which body will determine how the mobile coverage improvement fund will be disbursed. [73644]
Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will manage the funds allocated for the improvement of mobile coverage.
Mobile Phones: Scotland
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that 99 per cent. of the land mass of Scotland has adequate mobile voice coverage. [73643]
Mr Vaizey: The Government recognise the concerns of those who have no mobile phone coverage or have very poor service. It is for that reason that on 3 October the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced plans to invest £150 million in improving mobile phone reception in areas of the UK, including Scotland, where homes and businesses have poor or non-existent coverage. Detailed planning is now underway to make this investment and we expect the necessary procurement to begin next year, with improved services beginning to come into existence in 2013.
Ofcom
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract between Ofcom and Equiniti for the administration of the Programme Making and Special Events funding scheme. [73469]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), is unable to supply or publish the requested document. This is a contract between Ofcom and Equiniti, which is commercially sensitive and confidential and therefore a decision for Ofcom and Equiniti if they wish to publish it.
I understand that Ofcom is considering publishing the invitation to tender that details the broad terms under which contractors were invited to bid.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on physical infrastructure access pricing. [73482]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has regular discussions with Ofcom on a wide range of subjects related to telecommunications, including physical infrastructure access pricing.
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Olympic Games 2012
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what (a) total monetary value and (b) number of London 2012 Olympics (i) Tier 1 and (ii) Tier 2 contracts have been awarded to companies in each nation and region of the UK. [73486]
Hugh Robertson: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is responsible for developing and building the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 games. Over 1,500 businesses have supplied the ODA from across the devolved nations and the English regions.
The spend to date by the ODA, by nation and English region (based on their registered address on the supplier invoice) and the number of Tier 1 contracts awarded can be found in the following table.
| Nations and English regions | Total contract value (£) | Number of contracts |
These figures only account for the contracts awarded by the ODA to its own top tier of contractors (tier 1 contractors). The figures do not include the values of contracts further down the supply chain, in tiers 2, 3 and so on, which are awarded by the tier 1 contractors and not by the ODA. For example: Bodycote Testing, Glasgow, provided design services for the Aquatics; CentreNoral Architects, Glasgow, provided architectural services for Primary Substation; and Weldex, Inverness, provided plant hire services for the Olympic Stadium.
Information on the full distribution and value of contracts won across the UK is not held as these are not public procurements run by the ODA. In 2009 the ODA undertook research into its supply chain and mapped out over 1,500 companies from across the UK that are helping to build the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The map can be viewed at the following link:
www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/oda-suppliers/map.php
This represents only a fraction of the number of companies the ODA expects to benefit from the £6 billion of investment. The ODA estimates that overall up to 50,000 contracts will be generated throughout its supply chains with a value that runs into hundreds of millions of pounds.
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The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is a private company, as such we do not record details of contracts awarded by LOCOG.
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the Inspire programme. [73801]
Hugh Robertson: The Inspire programme has been very successful across the UK over the last four years, with projects in sport, culture, education, sustainability, volunteering and business opportunities and skills. The programme has also been promoted online at london2012.com, at community events, through the Nations and Regions group and as part of ministerial visits across the UK. Already, over 1,700 Inspire projects have signed up, and 10 million people have participated.
The Government are encouraging local initiatives so that they can sustain their Inspire projects as part of the legacy from the games.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport who is responsible for approving sponsorship arrangements for the stadium wrap for the London 2012 Olympics. [73858]
Hugh Robertson: The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is a private company operating independently of the Government and responsible for staging the games. In August 2011, after a competitive procurement process, LOCOG appointed Dow Chemical as the supplier of the stadium wrap. As with all LOCOG's contracts, the wrap must comply with LOCOG's sustainable sourcing code and be consistent with high standards of environmental responsibility. Dow Chemical is a Worldwide International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Partner and therefore, one of 11 “TOP” partners for the London 2012 games.
Olympic Games 2012: Kent
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the London 2012 Olympics on Kent. [73471]
Hugh Robertson: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) established the Nations and Regions Group to ensure UK-wide engagement and to maximise the legacy from London 2012. This group works directly with representatives from each of the nations and English regions to realise the sporting, economic, and cultural benefits of the 2012 games.
Kent stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the 2012 games, through businesses winning games-related work, increased tourism and cultural celebrations. Some examples of how the South East, and specifically Kent, will benefit from the games are given below.
Over 19,800 schools and colleges across the UK have registered for LOCOG's London 2012 education programme, Get Set; 3,020 schools and colleges are registered in the South East. In Kent 620 schools and colleges have registered for Get Set, including Sevenoaks Primary School and Sevenoaks Preparatory School.
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Over 1,700 cultural or sporting projects across the UK have been awarded the Inspire mark. In the South East 156 projects have been awarded Inspire marks.
In addition, 233 contracts have been awarded by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) to suppliers in the South East. Kent fencing company Chestnut Products Ltd was contracted to install the perimeter fencing to the main Olympic Park and also to supply and install the perimeter fencing for Broxbourne's White Water Canoe Centre. Chestnut Products Ltd also works directly as a contractor on a supply and install basis for general fencing around the park.
So far 24,924 companies in the region have registered on Competefor (the website where London 2012 contract opportunities are advertised), and 382 contracts have been awarded to Competefor suppliers. Not all the information on “supply chain” level contracts is in the public domain. There may be other companies that have secured “supply chain” contracts in the region.
I have also announced the ‘Places People Play' programme, which will bring sporting legacy to life in communities across the country. This will be achieved by transforming the places where people play sport, inspiring people to make sport happen at a local level and creating sporting opportunities that give everyone the chance to become part of the mass participation legacy. Further detail can be found at the following link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/7565.aspx
In addition, the “Kent School Games” was part of the national pilot of the School Games programme that has been rolled out nationwide from September this year.
Locations across the UK, particularly those that are hosting international teams in pre-games training camps (PGTCs), have additional opportunities to realise the economic benefits of the games. 28 agreements have been signed with teams to hold PGTCs in the South East including the National Olympic Committee of Nepal, which will be using facilities in Kent.
Planning Permission
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how many officials in his Department worked on the draft national planning policy framework produced by the Practitioners' Advisory Group; [73237]
(2) how many officials in his Department worked on the production of the draft national planning policy framework published by the Department for Communities and Local Government. [73238]
John Penrose: I refer the hon. Member for Birmingham Erdington to the answer given by the Minister for Decentralisation and Cities, Department for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), on 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 16W.
Radio: Motor Vehicles
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of new cars which are equipped with DAB radio. [73762]
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Mr Vaizey: Based on the most recent industry data, 17.8% of new cars registered were fitted with DAB radio as standard in the third quarter of 2011. This is up from 5% in the third quarter of 2010. Vehicle manufacturers have committed to include DAB radio as standard in all new models by 2013.
Tourism
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) EU citizens visiting the UK and (b) UK residents visiting other EU countries in each of the last five years. [73448]
John Penrose: The numbers of EU citizens visiting the UK and the number of UK residents visiting other EU countries over the past five years can be found in the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey, in the following table.
| Thousand | ||
|
|
Number of visits from EU to UK | Number of visits from UK to EU |
Health
Cancer: Health Services
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Government plan to ensure that local authorities prioritise the awareness and early diagnosis of cancer when developing joint strategic needs assessments. [74121]
Paul Burstow: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities will be required to perform joint strategic needs assessments (JSNAs) and develop joint health and well-being strategies through local health and well-being boards.
The Government are developing statutory guidance and wider resources to support health and well-being boards in undertaking JSNAs and joint health and well-being strategies.
The Government are still considering what role local authorities will play in the early diagnosis of cancer.
Colorectal Cancer: Screening
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information his Department holds on the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on screening intervals for patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer; [73033]
(2) what information his Department holds on the screening intervals used by each NHS Trust for patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. [73034]
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Paul Burstow: For patients identified as being at risk of developing hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), “Improving Outcomes in Colorectal Cancers”, updated by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in 2004, recommends frequent surveillance from a young age. The guidance states that the frequency of this screening should be based on the recommendations of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI).
“Guidelines for colorectal cancer screening and surveillance in moderate and high risk groups”, published on behalf of the BSG and ACPGBI and updated in 2009, recommends that, from the age of 25, patients identified as being at risk of developing HNPCC receive a colonoscopy at intervals of between 18 and 24 months. From the age of 50, surveillance should also include an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy every two years. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.
The surveillance of people identified as being at risk of HNPCC is managed locally. The Department does not monitor the surveillance protocols that are in place for individual patients.
Decisions regarding the surveillance of patients who have been diagnosed with HNPCC are made by clinicians on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the individual circumstances of each patient.
Disease Control
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to reduce non-communicable diseases following the UN high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases on 19 and 20 September 2011. [73061]
Anne Milton: The Department is addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases by tackling the common underlying risk factors and wider social and environmental determinants. The primary focus is on prevention, with actions directed at reducing tobacco use, harmful consumption of alcohol and physical inactivity and improving diet and nutrition. We have also established the Responsibility Deal, in partnership with commercial and voluntary organisations and public health professionals, to support people to change their behaviour and achieve real sustained improvements in public health.
In the national health service, we are strengthening our primary care—putting the patient at the heart of service delivery. The NHS Health Check programme
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aids early detection of diabetes, cardiovascular and kidney diseases and timely intervention through integrated patient care while maintaining the focus on equity and the most vulnerable.
Internationally, working with the Department of International Development, we are helping developing countries to build health systems that can meet the challenge of non-communicable disease and all causes of ill health.
Drugs: Misuse
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the tendering process was for the recently published National Addiction Centre and National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse reports on addiction to medicine; where invitations to tender were advertised; and what requirements there were for declaration of interests by those involved. [73378]
Anne Milton: The standard procurement process for contract values of less than £10,000 was followed in letting the contract to produce the literature review on addiction to medicines. Three organisations were invited to submit bids, and following the consideration of written proposals, the National Addiction Centre was selected.
The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) is a Special Health Authority which is an arm’s length body of the Department of Health. The Department instructed the NTA to interrogate the data sources at its disposal and no external tenders were invited.
The Research Councils UK policy and code of conduct on the governance of good research conduct and the UK Research Integrity Office code of conduct for research make clear the requirements for declaring interests.
Government Procurement Card
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which non-departmental bodies, agencies or arm's length bodies for which the Department of Health has responsibility or oversight made use of the Government Procurement Card in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10. [73456]
Mr Simon Burns: The following table shows the non-departmental bodies, agencies or arm's length bodies (ALBs) for which the Department of Health has responsibility or oversight that made use of the Government Procurement Card in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10.
| ALB name | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| (1) For part of year. | |||
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Health and Social Care Bill
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials are working on the passage through Parliament of the Health and Social Care Bill; and what the cost was of employing those officials in the latest period for which figures are available. [72671]
Mr Simon Burns: As with all Government Bills, the Department has a central Bill team working full time on the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill. The team employs five permanent departmental officials at a cost of approximately £160,000 from the Bill's introduction in the House of Commons in January 2011 until August 2011 (the latest period for which figures are available). In addition, two permanent departmental officials have been working on Lords and stakeholder handling since May, at an approximate cost of £32,000 (until August 2011, the latest period for which figures are available).
In addition, officials from up to 20 policy teams have contributed to the work on the Bill, as part of their wider duties. For these officials, it is not possible to disentangle work directly related to the passage of the Bill from their wider policy development role.
Health Services: North West
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had on the future of the building that formerly housed the Cheshire and Merseyside NHS Treatment Centre. [73811]
Mr Simon Burns: No discussions have taken place with Ministers on the future of the building that formerly housed the Cheshire and Merseyside NHS Treatment Centre.
The local national health service is currently exploring options for the utilisation of the building and a period of public consultation has recently ended.
Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the monetary value was of payments made to other European economic area countries for health care provided to British citizens under the European Health Insurance Card in 2010-11; and what the monetary value was of payments received by his Department for treatment in the UK of nationals of other European economic area countries under the scheme in the same period. [73641]
Anne Milton:
In 2010-11, the total monetary value of payments made by the United Kingdom to other member states of the European economic area (EEA) and Switzerland for actual cost claims for health care provided to UK citizens in other member states was £62.4 million. The total monetary value of payments made by other member states of the EEA to the UK in 2010-11 for actual cost claims for health care provided to EEA citizens in the UK was £26.3 million. These payments relate to combined claims for temporary visitors (via European Health Insurance Cards); workers temporarily posted abroad by their employer; and referrals for treatment in other EEA countries. Due to the nature of the claims
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system between member states, it is not currently possible to disaggregate the data consistently for all member states by either type of claim or type of treatment.
Ipswich Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many emergency admissions there were at Ipswich Hospital in each year since 1997; [73712]
(2) how much Ipswich Hospital received in emergency admissions payments in each year since 1997. [73753]
Mr Simon Burns: Information about national health service trust income specifically relating to emergency admissions is not collected centrally.
The following table shows the number of emergency admissions at the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust from 1997-98 to 2009-10.
|
|
Emergency admissions |
| Notes: 1. Data are for finished admission episodes (FAE). An FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs 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. 2. Emergency admissions are collected from the following codes: 21=via accident and emergency (A&E) services, including the casualty department of the provider 22=via general practitioner 23=via Bed Bureau, including the Central Bureau 24=via consultant out-patient clinic 28=other means, including patients who arrive via the A&E department of another health care provider. 3. Hospital providers can also include treatment centres (TC). Normally, if data are tabulated by health care provider, the figure for an NHS trust gives the activity of all the sites as one aggregated figure. However, in the case of those with embedded treatment centres, these data are quoted separately. In these cases, “X” is appended to the code for the rest of the trust, to remind users that the figures are for all sites of the trust excluding the treatment centres. The quality of TC returns are such that data may not be complete. Some NHS trusts have not registered their TC as a separate site, and it is therefore not possible to identify their activity separately. Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using this data as the counts may be lower than true figures. 4. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. 5. Activity included: activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. Source: HES, The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |
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Maternity Services
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to improve the outcomes of NHS maternity care. [72980]
Anne Milton: The Department has identified improving the safety of maternity services as an improvement area in the “National Health Service Outcomes Framework for 2011-12”. To support the NHS in improving outcomes in pregnancy, labour and immediately after birth, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will develop new quality standards, based on the best available evidence, on antenatal care, intrapartum care and postnatal care.
The Department also encourages early access to maternity services and has included the maternity 12-week early access indicator as one of the measures for quality in the “NHS Operating Framework for 2011-12”. Early access supports the dissemination of public health advice on how to minimise the risk of adverse outcomes and where possible enables those women at higher risk of complications to be identified at an early stage and receive additional support and monitoring.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) midwife-led and (b) consultant-led maternity units there are in each region. [72982]
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Anne Milton: The Department does not collect information on the number of midwife-led and consultant-led maternity units. Information supplied to NHS Choices is shown in the following table:
| Strategic health authority | Midwife-led units | Consultant-led (obstetric) units |
| Source: NHS Choices. | ||
Mental Health Services: Finance
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total NHS expenditure on mental health was in (a) London, (b) the South East and (c) Kent in each of the last 15 years. [74064]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table.
| Programme budgeting estimated expenditure on own population's mental health problems by primary care trusts (PCTs) within the London and South East Coast Strategic Health Authority (SHA) regions, and PCTs in Kent for 2003-04 to 2009-10 | |||||
| Estimated expenditure on mental health problems (£ million) | |||||
| Financial year | London SHA | South East Coast SHA | Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT | West Kent PCT | Medway PCT |
| Notes: 1. Programme budgeting data were first collected in 2003-04. The Department cannot provide estimated expenditure figures on specific disease categories such as mental health problems in the years prior to this. Data have not yet been published for 2010-11. 2. In order to improve data quality, continual refinements have been made to the programme budgeting data calculation methodology since the first collection in 2003-04. 3. The underlying data which support programme budgeting data are also subject to yearly changes. Caution is therefore advised when using programme budgeting data to draw conclusions on changes in PCT spending patterns between years. 4. Figures include expenditure across all sectors. Disease specific expenditure do not include expenditure on prevention, or general practitioner expenditure, but do include prescribing expenditure. 5. Figures for 2003-04 are net expenditure. Figures for 2004-05 onwards are net expenditure adjusted to add back expenditure funded from sources outside of the national health service and to deduct expenditure on other PCTs populations incurred through lead commissioning arrangements. 6. SHA level expenditure is calculated using the combined expenditure figures of each PCT within the SHA area. It does not include expenditure by the SHA. 7. Table figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand. Source: Annual PCT programme budgeting financial returns | |||||
Mental Health Services: Islington
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was allocated for mental health services in the London borough of Islington in each of the last five years; and how much funding has been allocated for such services in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [74316]
Mr Simon Burns: Recurrent revenue allocations are currently made to primary care trusts (PCTs) and not to local authority boroughs. The allocations made to Islington PCT for the last five years are provided in the following table.
|
|
Recurrent revenue allocation (£000) |
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| Notes: Allocations are not always comparable between years because of changes to baseline funding. For example, in 2011-12 there was a locally agreed transfer from PCTs to local authorities of funding and commissioning responsibility for the social care of people with learning disabilities. | |
Once allocated, it is for PCTs to use this funding to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations, taking account of local and national priorities. Funds are not allocated separately to PCTs for mental health services. For information on funding used by Islington PCT to commission mental health services in the borough, the hon. Member should contact NHS North Central London.
Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, from 2013-14 the NHS Commissioning Board will
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be responsible for the allocation of resources to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The board will allocate resources to CCGs in a way that supports the principle of securing equivalent access to NHS services relative to the prospective burden of disease and disability. How these allocations are determined will be a matter for the board.
Midwives: Training
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places for student midwives there were in each region in academic year 2010-11. [72983]
Anne Milton: The following table shows training places commissioned for student midwives by strategic health authority for the academic year 2010 to 2011.
|
|
Degree | 18 month conversion diploma | Total |
| Source: Quarterly Monitoring Returns | |||
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student midwives were in receipt of a bursary in the academic year 2010-11; what the average bursary paid to a student midwife was in that year; and what the total cost was to his Department of bursaries paid to student midwives. [73314]
Anne Milton: The number of midwifery students who held a bursary, the average bursary paid to those students and the total cost of all bursaries paid to student midwives in academic year 2010-11 can be found in the following table.
|
|
Number of bursary holders (1) | Average amount paid per bursary holder (2 ) (£) | Total amount paid (2 ) (£) |
| (1 )Includes nil award holders (European Union fees only students and students whose living allowance element of the Bursary has been reduced to nil after income assessment). (2 )Includes the basic award, all supplementary allowances and one-off payments. Note: All figures are rounded to the nearest pound. Source: NHS Student Bursaries Services Authority | |||
Musculoskeletal Disorders: Health Services
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the (a) variation and (b) quality of provision of musculoskeletal services in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [73970]
Paul Burstow: We are aware of anecdotal evidence of variations in the quality of provision of musculoskeletal services in the national health service, alongside many examples of good practice. We intend to hold the NHS to account, through the NHS Commissioning Board, for achieving sustained improvements in the quality of life of all patients with long-term conditions, including those with musculoskeletal disease, and for helping people to recover from episodes of ill-health and injury.
There are many existing sources of guidance, including clinical guidelines and other guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). In addition we plan to ask NICE to develop quality standards for some of the major musculoskeletal conditions, so that patients and commissioners can have a clear view of the standards of care which the NHS should be aspiring to achieve.
NHS Foundation Trusts
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that NHS hospital trusts abide by his Department's guidance on the use of confidentiality clauses in compromise agreements. [74257]
Mr Simon Burns:
The Department does not routinely monitor the use of confidentiality clauses in compromise
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agreements. The Department's guidance, contained within the health circular HSC 2004/001, does not prevent the use of confidentiality clauses per se. However, it does state that national health service employers must consider with their legal advisers whether such a clause is necessary in the circumstances of each case and, if such a clause is included within a particular agreement, that it complies with their various statutory obligations regarding the treatment of confidential information, including the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Before an employee considers signing a compromise agreement, which may or may not contain a confidentiality clause, the employer is required to pay for the employee to have independent legal advice on the terms of the agreement.
NHS: Reorganisation
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials are working on the reorganisation of the NHS; and what the cost was of employing those officials in the latest period for which figures are available. [72670]
Mr Simon Burns: Departmental staff are working directly and indirectly to deliver the new health and social care system. Staff numbers and costs associated with change in the national health service are not easily divisible from other departmental activities, including work on improvement. There is a central Bill team, and over-arching Integrated Programme Office.
The central Bill team work full time on the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill through Parliament. This team comprises five permanent departmental officials at a cost of approximately £160,000 from January to August 2011 (the latest period for which figures are available). Two permanent officials have also been working on Lords and stakeholder handling since May, at an approximate cost of £32,000. In addition, the Integrated Programme Office is co-ordinating transition to the new system in the Department and currently has 29 staff with an estimated cost of £862,000 from April 2011 to August 2011.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibilities in respect of proposed (a) hospital closures and (b) health service reconfigurations (i) he has under present arrangements and (ii) he would have under the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill; and if he will make a statement. [73131]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), will retain ultimate accountability for securing the provision of services. However, this will be done through his relationships with the national health service bodies established by the Health and Social Care Bill. Ministers will be responsible not for direct operational management, but for overseeing and holding to account the national bodies. The reconfiguration of services will continue, as now, to be a locally-led and managed process.
Where there are concerns or disputes over reconfigurations that cannot be resolved locally, we are retaining existing powers in legislation for local authority scrutiny functions to be able to refer schemes. We are
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also proposing to amend the scrutiny regulations so that, in the first instance, referrals are to the NHS Commissioning Board and, if outstanding issues remain, to the Secretary of State. This is consistent with the Government's vision to develop a more locally accountable and autonomous NHS. However, the Commissioning Board and the Secretary of State will have powers to direct commissioners if they consider this is an appropriate response following a referral.
Social Work: Qualifications
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for future levels of qualifications required for students studying social work; and if he will make a statement. [74106]
Paul Burstow: Social work is a degree level entry profession and there are no plans to change this. The ‘Requirements for Social Work Training’ (Department of Health, 2002) set out the outcome statements for what a student social worker must know, understand and be able to do to be awarded the degree in social work.
A copy has already been placed in the Library.
Streptococcus: Screening
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on testing women for group B streptococcal infection during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement. [73972]
Anne Milton: The UK National Screening, which advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy, considered its policy for screening for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy in 2009. The policy review concluded that the evidence did not support the introduction of screening. The policy is due to be considered again in 2012, or earlier, if significant new evidence emerges.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has produced a Green-top guideline, ‘Prevention of Early Onset Group B Streptococcal Disease’, which provides guidance for obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. The RCOG has also produced information for women and their families who are expecting a baby or planning to become pregnant, ‘Preventing group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies—information for you’.
Surgery: Females
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many labiaplasty operations were performed by the NHS in each year since 2006; and at what cost. [74070]
Mr Simon Burns: The available information is in the following table. Information on the cost of labiality reductions cannot be separately identified from that for other related procedures.
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| Finished consultant episodes with labia reduction as primary or secondary procedure | |
|
|
Activity |
| Notes: 1. Figures are for all English hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. 2. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider, FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. 3. Care should be taken in comparing figures for different years because of changes in data quality and coverage, in particular coverage of the independent sector. | |
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age of patients undergoing NHS labiaplasty operations was in the last year. [74071]
Mr Simon Burns: The average age of patients undergoing labiaplasty operations funded by the national health service in 2009-10 was 30.
Warrington Primary Care Trust: Debts
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any of Warrington primary care trust's debts will be passed on to the GP consortium set up to cover the same area. [73812]
Mr Simon Burns: In line with the 2011-12 NHS Operating Framework, the Department does not expect there to be debt relating to deficit in the accounts of primary care trusts (PCTs) in their final year of operation.
The 2011-12 NHS Operating Framework states that general practitioner consortia (now clinical commissioning groups or CCGs) will have their own budgets from 2013-14 and they will not be responsible for resolving PCT legacy debt that arose prior to 2011-12. PCTs and clusters must ensure that, through planning in 2011-12 and 2012-13, all existing legacy issues are dealt with.
During 2011-12 and 2012-13, the Department expects PCTs and developing CCGs to work together to ensure financial control is maintained to prevent PCT deficits in 2011-12 and 2012-13. This will reduce the risk for CCGs that they could acquire responsibility for post- 2010-11 PCT deficit unresolved at the point of PCT abolition.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [72443]
Mr Willetts:
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was created in June 2009 following a machinery of government change which merged the
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Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
Professor Brian Collins was appointed as the first BERR chief scientific adviser in May 2008 and he became the BIS chief scientific adviser (CSA) following the machinery of government changes. DIUS did not have a CSA. Professor Collins left BIS in May 2011 at the end of his three year appointment. BIS has recently undergone an internal restructuring and an open competition is currently under way to select a new CSA.
Professor Collins was paid within the senior civil service pay band 2, which is currently £82,900 to £162,500.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [72444]
Mr Willetts: The chief scientific adviser's (CSA) office in BIS was established in May 2008. It was resourced by a part-time CSA (0.4 full-time equivalent, senior civil servant (pay band 2), and one part-time office manager (executive officer) (0.4 full-time equivalent). A full-time assistant chief scientific adviser (Grade 7) was employed from September 2008 and a senior policy adviser (senior executive officer) was employed from November 2010.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010. [61681]
Mr Davey: BIS expects all suppliers to maintain high standards of integrity and professionalism in their business dealings. The Department's standard contractual terms reflect this requirement. There are no specific terms relating to behavioural standards but standard contract terms require the contractor to comply with standards applying to “confidentiality”, “data protection”, “prevention of bribery”, “compliance with the Official Secrets Acts”, “conflict of interest”, “non-discrimination”, “equality”, “health and safety” and “TUPE”.
European Investment Bank
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the interest rates charged to businesses under European Investment Bank funding in comparison to those offered under the terms of standard loans from UK banks; and if he will make a statement. [72721]
Mr Prisk: The interest rates charged to businesses under European Investment Bank (EIB) funding in comparison to that offered under the terms of standard loans are the subject of a contractual agreement between the EIB and the banks that are accessing EIB funding. Banks are contractually obliged to pass on to small and medium-sized enterprises the funding advantage arising from the use of EIB financing.
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Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance he provides to banks on information to be provided to their clients on European Investment Bank funding. [72722]
Mr Prisk: The Government provide no guidance to banks in relation to European Investment Bank (EIB) loans. Banks are contractually obliged to advertise the EIB's contribution when a loan is made under an EIB funding facility.
The Government provide information on what EIB funding is available for small and medium-sized businesses and how to access an EIB-financed loan on the businesslink.gov website (including a list of banks providing funding on EIB). See:
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1083207823&type=RESOURCES
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many small companies have received European Investment Bank funding in the last year. [72723]
Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold this information.
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the performance of UK banks in delivering European Investment Bank funding for small companies. [72724]
Mr Prisk: No research has been commissioned on this subject.
Government Procurement Card
Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Government Procurement Card transactions were made by his Department's officials withdrawing cash from automated teller machines from 2006-07 to 2009-10; at what cost; and on which dates. [73730]
Mr Davey: The Department and its predecessors have had no instances of officials using a Government Procurement Card to withdraw cash from automated teller machines in the period 2006-07 to 2009-10. It is the Department's policy that cash withdrawals of any nature are not permitted via a Government Procurement Card.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what role he envisages for professional business advisers in the establishment of new businesses within (a) enterprise zones and (b) areas represented by local enterprise partnerships. [73788]
Mr Prisk: Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are developed from the bottom up. It is for them to decide how they pursue their priorities across their local areas and within their enterprise zones.
Stimulating enterprise has been identified by many LEPs as a key priority and was the subject of a workshop
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at the recent LEP Network inaugural event. This provided LEP chairs with the opportunity to share ideas on how they are pursuing this objective in their localities.
The Department is also demonstrating to LEPs how they can syndicate content from the Business.gov website which will increase the number of online channels for small and medium-sized enterprises to access the site's content and tools.
National Planning Policy Framework
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many officials in his Department worked on the draft of the national planning policy framework produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government; [71890]
(2) how many officials in his Department worked on the draft of the national planning policy framework produced by the practitioners' advisory group. [71895]
Mr Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Decentralisation and Cities, Department for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), on 10 October 2011, Official Report, column reference 16W.
Post Offices
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd on the re-opening of sub-post offices; and if he will make a statement. [73374]
Mr Davey: Before considering any expansion of the post office network it is critical to ensure that the existing network is thriving. The Government have provided £1.34 billion of funding over the period of the spending review to modernise the network and safeguard the post office network's future. As part of this package, Post Office Ltd has committed to maintain a network of at least 11,500 branches over the whole period, and to continue to adhere to the strict access criteria that demand that 99% of the national population live within three miles of a post office outlet. Under this Government there will be no further post office closure programmes.
Operational matters, such as the provision and location of individual post office branches are the responsibility of the management of Post Office Ltd. The Government, as shareholder, do not play a role in these matters, and do not comment on, or influence, decisions relating to individual post office branches.
Regeneration: Liverpool
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of Liverpool Vision funding on small and medium-sized businesses in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency and (b) Merseyside. [74172]
Mr Prisk:
Liverpool Vision is part of the local response to changes in arrangements for business support for small and medium-sized businesses which will come into effect over the coming months. It has an important
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role in identifying and encouraging high-growth businesses of the future, particularly in life sciences and the creative and digital sector.
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the ability of small and medium-sized businesses in Liverpool, Walton constituency to gain access to Liverpool Vision funding. [74174]
Mr Prisk: Liverpool Vision is part of the local response to changes in arrangements for business support for small and medium-sized businesses which will come into effect over the coming months. It is currently working with the Liverpool Echo newspaper on delivery of a successful Regional Growth Fund bid to stimulate growth in small and medium-sized businesses in the Liverpool City Region through media advocacy. This will provide businesses with access to grants and to additional support through coaching and mentoring.
Regional Growth Fund
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to announce his decision on bids made by organisations in the Bristol area for funding from the Regional Growth Fund. [73628]
Mr Prisk: Announcements from the first round of Regional Growth Fund bidding were made on 12 April and this includes one bid which has an impact in the Bristol area. Bids received in the second round of bidding are being assessed and we aim to make announcements in the autumn.
Science: Government Departments
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to include (a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) advisory bodies, (c) executive agencies, (d) public corporations and (e) other central Government public bodies in his review of science in Government Departments under the Science and Engineering Assurance programme. [72446]
Mr Willetts: The Science and Engineering Assurance review programme is directed by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Sir John Beddington and managed by his staff in the Government Office for Science.
The Science and Engineering Assurance programme is focused on Whitehall's ministerial Departments, and is scheduled to be completed early in 2012.
These reviews do consider how Departments draw evidence and advice from their relevant arm’s length bodies, but the bodies themselves are not reviewed as part of the process.
On completion of the programme, Sir John is not planning to continue to review Departments in the same way. Work is under way to develop a successor to the review programme. At this stage there are no plans to extend it to Departments' arm’s length bodies.
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South East England Development Agency
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of the largest redundancy payment which will be made to an employee of the South East England Development Agency by March 2012; [71925]
(2) how much the South East England Development Agency spent on employee expenses in each of the last five years. [71931]
Mr Prisk: The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) pays redundancy in accordance with the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. The highest redundancy payment to an individual under the scheme in the period between the announcement of regional development agency abolition (June 2010) to 31 March 2011 will be just over £100,000 based on the scheme's tariff of one month's salary per year of service.
Details of reimbursement for travel and subsistence expenses are available in SEEDA's annual reports and accounts. Those for the last five years are as follows:
| Financial year | Expenditure on travel and subsistence (£000) |
Students: Loans
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on progression to higher education for students aged 24 years and over who are required to take out a loan to support themselves. [74122]
Mr Willetts: Students aged 24 years and over are not expected to be disproportionately affected by the reforms as they will also be eligible for fee loans.
The equalities impact assessment published in November 2010 explained that mature students are less likely to be put off getting a loan, as they will face a shorter remaining working life and therefore length of time to pay back the loan; they are more likely to have their debt forgiven.
Mature students are more likely than younger students to obtain support in the form of maintenance grants from the Government, as they are classed as ‘independent' students and entitlements to student support are based on their own income. Additionally, mature students are more likely to study part-time and therefore are more likely to benefit from the new fee loans for part-time students.
Teachers: English Language
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the average cost of (a) training and (b) employing a teacher for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses. [73872]
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Mr Hayes [holding answer 12 October 2011]: The Department has no information on the costs of training and employing teachers of English for Speakers of Other Languages. The Government are not the employer of the Further Education (FE) workforce and, as independent organisations, it is for FE colleges and other training providers to make decisions on the training and employment of staff based on their business needs.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Badgers
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely trends in the prevalence of infection in badgers inside the specified culling areas in the first year of the operation of the new arrangements. [68432]
Mr Paice: Our objective is to bring down the incidence of bovine TB in cattle throughout England from its current unacceptable level.
Currently there is no reliable diagnostic field test for bovine TB in live badgers, so it would not be possible to know the prevalence of TB in badgers in an area before culling. Therefore, the effect of culling on prevalence in the first year could not be seen.
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Primates: Experiments
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to recommendation nine of the review of research using non-human primates chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS, what steps her Department takes to ensure non-human primate experiments undertaken overseas and funded by UK organisations comply with National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research guidelines. [73613]
Mr Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) guidelines ‘Primate accommodation, care and use’ are a condition of funding of the major research council and charitable funders of primate research. The NC3Rs advises the funding bodies on implementation of the principles in the guidance. The guidelines apply to any research involving primates conducted in the UK and abroad which is funded by the NC3Rs, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council, the Royal Society, the Wellcome Trust or other AMRC charities. Researchers and their host establishments are responsible for applying the guidelines.