Winter Fuel Payments
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people aged between (a) 60 and 65, (b) 65 and 70 and (c) 70 and 80 years in (i) England, (ii) Dudley borough and (iii) Dudley North constituency who will receive the winter fuel payment in each of the next three years. [78333]
Steve Webb: Projections for the numbers of people receiving winter fuel payments are not produced below the Great Britain level. However, if the England, Dudley metropolitan borough and the Dudley North constituency share of cases in 2010-11 were maintained in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 the number of people projected to receive winter fuel payments would be as given in the following tables:
8 Nov 2011 : Column 215W
| Table 1: Projected winter fuel payment recipients in England | |||
| Thousand | |||
|
|
2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
| Table 2: Projected winter fuel payment recipients in Dudley metropolitan borough | |||
| Rounded to the nearest 100 | |||
|
|
2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
| Table 3: Projected winter fuel payment recipients in Dudley North constituency | |||
| Rounded to the nearest 100 | |||
|
|
2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
| Source: Budget 2011 forecasts and DWP statistical data | |||
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations his Department has received on increasing the age range within which people are eligible for winter fuel payments. [78644]
Steve Webb: We have received a small number of representations about extending winter fuel payments to specific groups of people below women's state pension age.
Work Programme
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has instructed Work programme providers not to publish performance information. [79179]
Chris Grayling: Work programme contracts do not allow providers to publish performance information without the Department's express permission. This is in line with UK Statistics Authority guidelines that do not allow the release of information prior to the publication of official statistics. The DWP intends to publish official statistics on referrals to the Work programme from spring 2012 and job outcomes from autumn 2012.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data he plans to publish on the number of (a) referrals to and (b) job outcomes for Tier 1 and Tier 2 subcontractors under the Work Programme (i) in total, (ii) in each contract package area and (iii) of each subcontractor; and when he plans to publish it. [79363]
Chris Grayling: The Department intends to publish official statistics on referrals to the Work Programme from spring 2012 and on job outcomes from autumn 2012. This is in line with guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure published statistics meet the required high quality standards.
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Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which private sector organisations have signed a contract with his Department for delivery of the Work Programme. [79369]
Chris Grayling: The DWP has signed Work programme contracts with fifteen private organisations, namely:
A4e
Avanta Enterprise Ltd (TNG)
Business Employment Services Training Ltd (BEST)
ESG
EOS
G4S
Ingeus UK Ltd
JHP Group Ltd
Maximus Employment UK Ltd
Pertemps
Prospects Services Ltd.
Reed in Partnership
Seetec
Serco Ltd
Working Links
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which voluntary and third sector organisations signed Work Programme contracts; and if he will make a statement. [79383]
Chris Grayling: The DWP has signed Work programme contracts with two voluntary and community organisations, Rehab Jobfit and Careers Development Group.
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) each ethnic group and (b) of each client type have been referred to the Work programme's prime contractors in each contract area in the last 12 months. [79530]
Chris Grayling: The Department intends to publish official statistics on referrals to the Work programme from spring 2012 and on job outcomes from autumn 2012. This is in line with guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure published statistics meet the required high quality standards.
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been paid in attachment fees in each Work programme contract area in the last 12 months. [79531]
Chris Grayling: The Work programme was launched on June 2011. There is a budget of £789 million allocated for this financial year to cover the costs of our Labour Market Support Employment programmes including attachment fees associated with the Work programme.
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the likely number of clients in each Work Programme prime contracting area in the next (a) six and (b) 12 months. [79532]
Chris Grayling: The following table shows the indicative volumes for claimant starts by contract package area (CPA). The estimates are for the 10-month period from when the Work Programme went live in June 2011, to March 2012.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 217W
Volume estimates have been formulated for each year only.
| Contract package area |
|
Total volume of clients for 2011-12 |
| (1) Totals may not sum due to rounding. | ||
Communities and Local Government
Integration Strategy
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department plans to publish its integration strategy. [79308]
Andrew Stunell: The Government plan to publish a document setting out their approach to integration later this calendar year. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), will make a statement to Parliament at this time.
Affordable Housing: Disability
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many people have been assisted by the home ownership for people with long-term disabilities scheme in each of the last three years; and how much funding has been allocated to the scheme in each such year; [78487]
(2) what assessment he has made of (a) the success of the home ownership for people with long-term disabilities (HOLD) scheme, and (b) the ability of those wishing to access the HOLD scheme to afford their share of the property; [78488]
(3) whether he has any plans to amend the operation or rules of the home ownership for people with long-term disabilities scheme. [78489]
8 Nov 2011 : Column 218W
Grant Shapps: The Home Ownership for people with Long Term Disabilities (HOLD) scheme aims to help eligible aspiring home owners whose housing needs cannot be met through the Government's main affordable home ownership programme. It enables purchasers to select a property on the open market suitable to their needs (for example, close to carers), and buy on shared ownership terms with a housing association.
All applicants for our affordable home ownership products, including this scheme, must undergo a robust affordability check and demonstrate to their mortgage lender and the housing association that the costs of home ownership are sustainable for them.
It is a demand-led scheme. My Department provides capital funding to housing associations, through the Homes and Communities Agency's affordable homes programme. We are investing almost £4.5 billion to help deliver up to 170,000 additional affordable homes between 2011-12 and 2014-15. As part of this, housing associations may bid for funding to help with the purchase of properties on the open market for this scheme, where this has the support of the local authority. There are no plans to amend the operation or rules of the scheme.
The following table shows the number of households assisted and amount of funding provided under this scheme in each of the last three years.
|
|
Households assisted | Expenditure (£ million) |
| Source: Homes and Communities Agency's Information Management System | ||
Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to third sector organisations in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. [75118]
Andrew Stunell: This information on contract awards is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
However we are able to provide a breakdown of actual expenditure with third sector organisation for the period requested which is set out in the following table:
|
|
Third sector organisations (£) |
8 Nov 2011 : Column 219W
The analysis of our supplier base which has enabled the identification of third sector organisations was undertaken by an independent company. Please note that this will include public sector bodies.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has contracts with organisations that specialise in (a) public relations, (b) strategic communications, (c) brand management and (d) advertising; what the name is of each such organisation; and what the net value is of any such contract. [78244]
Robert Neill: The Department is currently not outsourcing work in (a) public relations, (b) strategic communications or (c) brand management and consequently has no contracts with companies specialising in these areas.
The only major advertising campaign that the Department is running this year is Fire Kills, which urges people to test their smoke alarms regularly in order to avoid deaths and injuries from fire in the home. The national advertising creative elements are handled by agency RKCR/Y&R and the value of their contract this year is £220,000 on current estimates. All advertising is placed in media outlets through the Central Office of Information, the Government's agency for these services.
Housing: Visual Impairment
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many homes designed specifically for blind or visually impaired people have been (a) built or (b) adapted in each of the last 10 years; [78490]
(2) what guidance his Department has issued about (a) the support required and (b) the housing needs, including design, of people who are blind or visually impaired; [78491]
(3) how many assessors have been given specific training in awareness of blindness, low vision and sight loss in respect of housing needs. [78492]
Grant Shapps: We do not keep records relating to the number of homes designed specifically for blind or visually impaired people or details around assessors. However, the Government are committed to encouraging the delivery of homes and neighbourhoods which are safe and inclusive, where nobody is disadvantaged and which all people are able to occupy and use regardless of their ability.
While this Department does not issue guidance on this matter, guidance on meeting the needs of blind or visually impaired people is available for practitioners to draw on from organisations such as the Pocklington Trust who have undertaken extensive research and
8 Nov 2011 : Column 220W
publish a wide range of technical literature on housing design for use by designers, landlords and home owners:
www.pocklington-trust.org.uk
The Government are also supporting the Design Council to provide advice to practitioners on designing homes and neighbourhoods to meet the needs of people regardless of their ability:
www.designcouncil.org.uk
Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the impact of the reduction of the Empty Property Rates threshold on the growth of new business centres. [79064]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave my hon. Friend the Member for York Outer (Julian Sturdy) on 26 January 2011, Official Report, column 2MC, and my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer) on 8 February 2011, Official Report, column 178W.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Adam Werritty
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any Ministers in her Department have met (a) Mr Adam Werritty, (b) representatives of Atlantic Bridge and (c) representatives of Pargav Ltd in an official capacity in the last 18 months; and what the dates were of any such meetings. [76915]
Richard Benyon: No DEFRA Ministers have met with Mr Adam Werritty, representatives of Atlantic Bridge or representatives of Pargav Ltd in an official capacity in the last 18 months.
Agriculture: Pay
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the possible effect of the abolition of the (a) Agricultural Wages Board and (b) agricultural minimum wage on (i) pay levels, (ii) employment and (iii) the activities of unlicensed gangmasters in the agricultural sector. [78035]
Mr Paice: On the assumption that the Public Bodies Bill is given Royal Assent, DEFRA will carry out a public consultation on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board. We intend to publish a full impact assessment and equality impact assessment on the effects of any abolition as part of the consultation exercise.
Animal Welfare: Circuses
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 October 2011, Official Report, column 1405W, on wildlife: circuses, if she will publish any advice that she has received from the Better Regulation
8 Nov 2011 : Column 221W
Executive on the proposed regulatory framework for setting up and operating a licensing regime; and if she will make a statement. [79028]
Mr Paice: We have been developing our proposals for a licensing regime for wild animals in travelling circuses in line with Better Regulation Executive guidance and advice. This includes the preparation of an impact assessment to be scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC). The impact assessment and draft legislation will be published as part of the public consultation on our proposals early next year.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 October 2011, Official Report, columns 381-2W, on zoo: licensing, for what reasons circus inspections were conducted on a confidential basis; and if she will ask those who requested confidentiality to agree to publication and the placing of a copy in the Library. [79029]
Mr Paice: These inspections were conducted to establish the feasibility of an enforceable licensing regime. To ensure full participation, the participants were given assurances that the data collected would be confidential. The reports are confidential and as a consequence we will not release them.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department plans to introduce registration and licensing for camelids. [74629]
Mr Paice: DEFRA has no plans to formally register or license camelids.
Broadband
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries, 26 October 2011, Official Report, column 397, to which broadband league tables she was referring to; and if she will place a copy of those league tables in the Library. [79473]
Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Lady to the following documents:
the December 2010 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ‘Digital Economy Paper No. 165—Indicators of Broadband Coverage’, which shows the UK as being among 14 OECD countries with very few or no Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections;
the Ofcom ‘International Communications Market Report 2010’, which states that household take-up of superfast broadband in the UK at the end of 2009 was 0.2%; and
the Commission for Rural Communities ‘Rural Advocate Report 2010’, which states that only 1.5% of UK villages and hamlets were able to receive cable-based broadband (as against 60% of urban areas).
I will place copies in the Libraries of the House.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 222W
Common Land
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responses her Department has received to its consultation on the designation of town and village greens; and if she will make a statement. [78800]
Richard Benyon: The consultation on proposals for the registration of new town or village greens closed on 17 October 2011. Officials are currently considering all of the responses received and we will announce our conclusions early next year.
Departmental Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost to her Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period her Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [74979]
Richard Benyon: The average cost of processing an invoice is £3.70. This includes all overheads.
Over 99% of the payments issued by DEFRA are issued electronically, with the remainder being issued by cheque. This figure has remained consistent over the course of the last financial year.
Departmental Manpower
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees her Department employed in each year since 1997. [75073]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA was created in June 2001 and the following table shows the number of staff in post in DEFRA and its Executive agencies each year since then, in terms of full-time equivalents and headcount. The split between full-time and part-time employees is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
|
|
Full-time equivalent | Head count |
Security Vetting
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what level of security vetting is required for the post of (a) head of communications, (b) deputy head of communications and (c) head of press office in her Department; and if she will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010; [77885]
8 Nov 2011 : Column 223W
(2) what level of security vetting is required for (a) grade six and seven, or equivalent, press officers and (b) ministerial private secretaries in her Department. [77886]
Richard Benyon: The circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks are set out in the publicly available booklet ‘HMG Personnel Security Controls’, available from the Cabinet Office website.
It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific posts or individuals within the Department are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who has access to sensitive material and be used for targeting purposes.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what level of security vetting is required for (a) special advisers and (b) ministerial-appointed policy advisers in her Department; and if she will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010. [77887]
Richard Benyon: The circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks are set out in the publicly available booklet ‘HMG Personnel Security Controls’, available from the Cabinet Office website.
It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific posts within the Department are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who has access to sensitive material and be used for targeting purposes.
The names of special advisers are included in the quarterly publication of the list of special advisers which is available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed on the Cabinet Office website.
There are no ministerial-appointed policy advisers in the Department.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what company or Government service is used to undertake security vetting at (a) counter-terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level in her Department. [77888]
Richard Benyon: The Department uses Defence Business Services National Security Vetting and FCO Services National Security Vetting to undertake security vetting at counter terrorist check, security check and developed vetting level. These are both Government services.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were in possession of a security pass for her main Departmental headquarters, including multi-site headquarters and not including staff or contractors, in each month since May 2010. [77889]
Richard Benyon: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to specific Government sites, subject to security checks. Disaggregating the number of security passes held other than by staff or contractors in each month since May 2010 would incur disproportionate costs.
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Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in her Department use private e-mail accounts for the conduct of government business. [73213]
Richard Benyon: The Ministerial Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, and the Civil Service Code set out how Ministers, officials and special advisers should conduct government business.
Fisheries
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of illegal cocklers working in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Cumbria; and what steps she is taking to reserve permits for local fishermen. [77166]
Richard Benyon: Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) are responsible for the management of cockle fisheries in England. These fisheries are primarily managed through permit schemes. Permitting schemes are district wide in application, and limit the number of active fishermen and/or the quantities of cockles that can be harvested. However, IFCAs do not restrict the issue of permits to local fishermen.
In order to obtain a North West Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) permit, applicants must provide evidence of identity, evidence of address and a valid national insurance number. They must also complete a one-day training course on safe working in intertidal areas. Permits are restricted to experienced fishermen, although the byelaw provides for 40 new permits to be issued each year from a waiting list.
By its nature, illegal fishers cannot be accurately quantified. IFCAs use all available resources to enforce their individual permit schemes. The NWIFCA is responsible for the management of the cockle fisheries in the North West and Cumbria. 440 permits were issued for 2011-12 under NWIFCA Byelaw No.5.
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will assess the potential effects of the closure of the Western Waters scallops fishery on jobs related to the local scallop fishing industry; [77733]
(2) whether she had recent discussions with the Scallop Association on the closure of the Western Waters scallops fishery. [77734]
Richard Benyon: The recent closure of the important Area VII scallop fishery to UK vessels over 15 metres in length has clearly created problems for the sector. We are working with industry to avoid a situation where it causes permanent damage to these businesses and the markets they have worked hard to develop over the years. To reopen the fishery this year the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is seeking to source additional effort from other member states by agreeing international swaps.
Following a preliminary assessment of the likely impact of the closure on the scallop fishing industry, the MMO decided to close the fishery in October as the industry's
8 Nov 2011 : Column 225W
preference was for an early closure to allow the possibility of them being able to supply scallops to the lucrative French Christmas market.
DEFRA officials and the MMO have been in regular contact with the Scallop Association and other parts of the industry throughout this process. These discussions began prior to the closure, firstly at the UK Scallop Group in June, followed by a dedicated meeting in late August and have been continuing on an almost daily basis as MMO sought to agree the best possible deal for the wider UK fishing industry via international swaps.
Fisheries: Quotas
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress was made on increasing the quota allocation for fish species at the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 21 October 2011; and if she will make a statement. [77015]
Richard Benyon: As UK Fisheries Minister, I attended the Council meeting on 21 October. We had a useful exchange of views on the important EU-Norway negotiations and secured the Fisheries Commissioner's agreement that fishing quotas should not be subject to an automatic cut for those stocks for which data is considered incomplete; instead, total allowable catches will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Though this year's negotiations will be challenging, the removal of the threat of a blanket cut for data-incomplete stocks is a positive development.
Fisheries: Statistics
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding her Department has allocated to the (a) collection and (b) analysis of data on UK fish stocks in each of the last five years; and how much of such funding she plans to allocate in each of the next four years. [79147]
Richard Benyon: The European Commission's Data Collection Framework (DCF) establishes a European Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy (CFP). The UK overall national programme's actual and forecast figures under this framework are set out below. EU financial assistance for national programmes is provided to member states up to a level of 50%.
|
|
£ |
8 Nov 2011 : Column 226W
DEFRA has allocated £3.2 million this year to fund our share of the marine finfish and shellfish data collection element of the above national programme. Data collection is carried out by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS).
DEFRA has also allocated funding of £2.9 million in the current financial year for CEFAS to carry out additional finfish and shellfish data collection and analysis work.
CEFAS provides expertise to many of the working groups of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to provide fish stock assessments. The UK also contributes an annual share, within an allocated budget of £0.2 million, for the work of ICES to provide analysis and advice that informs EU annual proposals on fishing opportunities. In addition, the Fisheries Science Partnership scheme, which carries out fishery surveys and other one-off projects working in partnership with fishermen, has departmental funding this year for £0.95 million. This scheme provides data to support ICES assessments.
These budget allocation figures include an overall cut of 5% this year, and continue to be subject to the Government's ongoing comprehensive spending review process.
Floods: Insurance
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to announce plans to take forward the statement of principles for flood insurance after it concludes in 2013. [79141]
Richard Benyon: We are working closely with the insurance industry to ensure that flood insurance remains widely available in England after the Statement of Principles expires in 2013, and will provide an update on this work before Christmas.
Food: Prices
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of fuel prices on food prices in (a) each of the last five years and (b) the next five years. [78099]
Mr Paice: There are a number of factors that affect food prices in the shops, the largest driver being world commodity prices, but with exchange rates and oil prices also having an impact.
Increases in global energy prices increase the cost of agricultural inputs, especially fertilisers, putting an upward pressure on commodity prices. Along the food supply chain, higher energy prices will impact retail food prices by increasing the cost of transporting, processing and marketing.
Recent research modelling undertaken by the university of Nottingham and the university of Exeter for DEFRA(1) showed that the long term effect of a 10% shock to the world price of oil, translates into a 3.50% increase in retail food prices, other factors held constant. However, there will be interactions with other drivers of retail food prices, and the modelling shows that larger persistent shocks have a greater effect than smaller one-off shocks.
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DEFRA routinely monitors trends in the affordability of food, looking at both domestic retail food price inflation (as measured by the consumer price index) and changes in the factors that drive domestic retail food price inflation.
(1) Retail Food Price Inflation Modelling Project—T. Lloyd et al, April 2011
Water Pollution
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has commissioned on reducing the loss of phosphorus into watercourses and the sea; and if she will make a statement. [79056]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA funds research on the loss of phosphorus and other pollutants into watercourses and the sea through the following research programmes:
Sustainable Water Management (Agriculture); and
Water Availability and Quality.
The Environment Agency also funds research on agricultural, urban other sources of phosphorus pollution.
Identifying sources of phosphorus and other pollutants, and predicting pollution risk;
Understanding the movement of phosphorus in the environment;
Understanding environmental impacts;
Understanding the interaction between phosphorus and other pollutants; and
Developing cost-effective approaches to mitigating agricultural and other sources of pollution.
DEFRA has recently established three Demonstration Test Catchments to test approaches to the reduction of agricultural diffuse pollution and the improvement of ecological status in freshwaters, while maintaining economically viable food production.
Information and reports on the above mentioned projects can be found on the DEFRA and Environment Agency websites.
Fertilizers
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking with the agriculture sector with the cost of phosphate-based fertilizers. [79055]
Mr Paice: DEFRA provides guidance on accounting for the phosphate content of manures, slurries and other non-mineral fertiliser sources coming into farms, and on reducing phosphate-based fertiliser inputs accordingly, thereby increasing efficiency in the use of phosphorus on farm and reducing input costs. The Department is aware of the effects that fluctuating prices of phosphate and other fertilisers can have on farming businesses, but it is not the role of Government to intervene in the market price of fertilisers.
Defence
Adam Werritty
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish e-mails between Mr Adam Werritty and special advisers in his Department pertaining to official business. [75412]
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Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 18 October 2011]: There are no such e-mails.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has had meetings with Mr Adam Werritty in an official capacity when civil servants were not present; and whether any other individuals were present at such meetings. [75497]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 18 October 2011]: I have not attended meetings at which Mr Werritty was present.
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many entry passes to his Department were issued to Adam Werritty since the end of April 2010. [76713]
Mr Philip Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 986W, to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones).
It is a matter of public record that Mr Werritty made 22 visits to the Ministry of Defence. These are listed in the Annex to the Cabinet Secretary's report into ‘Allegations against Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP’, which is freely available on the Cabinet Office website at the following address:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/allegations-against-rt-hon-dr-liam-fox-mp-report-cabinet-secretary
This answer corrects the answer provided by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 15 September 2011, Official Report, column 1281W, to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) in which the number of visits was given as 14.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 30-31W, on Adam Werritty, whether Lord Astor of Hever informed his Department of his meeting with Adam Werritty in Bahrain in December 2010; [77273]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 30-31W, on Adam Werritty, at what large social gatherings the Under-Secretary of State for International Security met Mr Werritty; and where each such event took place; [77275]
(3) how many meetings (a) officials in his Department and (b) military personnel have attended with representatives of IRG Ltd since May 2010; [77177]
(4) which officials were present at the meeting attended by the Minister for International Security Strategy, Mr Adam Werritty and a representative of IRG Ltd; how the meeting was arranged; and whether notes were taken of the issues discussed; [77178]
(5) what the name is of the representative of IRG Ltd who was present at the meeting attended by the Minister for International Security Strategy and Mr Adam Werritty; [77179]
(6) (a) when and (b) where the meeting attended by Mr Adam Werritty, the Minister for International Security Strategy and the representative from IRG Ltd took place. [77299]
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Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 31 October 2011]:I refer the hon. Member to the Cabinet Secretary (Sir Gus O’Donnell)’s report of 18 October 2011.
The Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my noble Friend Lord Astor of Hever, has met Mr Steven Crouch, a director of IRG Ltd, socially on no more than five occasions over several years. The Minister for International Security Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Mr Howarth), has had one meeting with Mr Crouch. Records of any other meetings between officials or military personnel with representatives of IRG Ltd are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr Howarth's meeting with Mr Crouch, which is referred to in the Cabinet Secretary's report, was at the suggestion of my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) and took place on 27 September 2011 in the House of Commons. No officials were present and no note of the meeting was taken. No substantive issues were raised, no confidential information was disclosed, and there was no follow-up to the meeting. After the meeting had taken place Mr Howarth informed his office in accordance with the Cabinet Secretary's guidelines. The two social events that both Mr Howarth and Mr Werritty attended took place in Wiltshire on 16 July and in London on 24 September 2011.
Lord Astor acknowledged Mr Werritty as they passed in a hotel reception area in Bahrain in December 2010. It was not a meeting, either official or unofficial, and Lord Astor had no further contact with Mr Werritty while in Bahrain. There was, therefore, no requirement to inform the Ministry of Defence about the contact but the incident was referred to in the Cabinet Secretary's report for completeness.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 30-31W, on Adam Werritty, whether Lord Astor of Hever informed his Department of his trusteeship of Atlantic Bridge upon his appointment as a Defence Minister. [77274]
Mr Philip Hammond: The Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my noble Friend Lord Astor of Hever, resigned as a trustee of Atlantic Bridge before taking up his positions within the Ministry of Defence. There was therefore no requirement to discuss this upon his arrival.
Aircraft Carriers
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the jetties at (a) Glen Mallen and (b) Crombie will be able to accept the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers for berthing. [78342]
Nick Harvey: While both jetties could potentially accept the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers for berthing, further infrastructure work would need to be carried out in order to make them fully operational and suitable for berthing the carriers.
It is planned that the QE class aircraft earners will be base-ported in Portsmouth.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 230W
Ammunition: Storage
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total storage capacity for UK munitions is at (a) Crombie, (b) Beith and (c) Glen Douglas. [78339]
Nick Harvey: The storage capacity for the Defence Munitions sites at Crombie, Beith and Glen Douglas, expressed as a proportion of the total storage capacity of the Ministry of Defence's defence munitions sites is:
|
|
Percentage |
This calculation excludes munitions deployed on operations or stored in facilities locally awaiting transit for training or onward movement to operations.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what NATO funding his Department receives for the munitions facilities at (a) Crombie, (b) Beith and (c) Glen Douglas. [78340]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence currently receives no funding from NATO for the munitions facilities at Crombie, Beith and Glen Douglas.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the UK is the sole user of the munition facilities at (a) Crombie, (b) Beith and (c) Glen Douglas. [78341]
Nick Harvey: The UK is the sole user of munitions facilities at Defence Munitions sites at Crombie, Beith and Glen Douglas. The jetty facilities at Crombie are available for use by visiting forces of NATO and other partner nations.
Armed Forces
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have extended their terms of service since 7 May 2010. [78540]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested; however, data on the extension of service, where they are available as follows.
3,055 members of the RAF have extended their terms of service since 7 May 2010.
From 2010 to date, the naval service has offered extensions of service to 333 personnel. Data on whether these offers were accepted are not held centrally.
Data for the Army could be compiled only by examining personal records and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Germany
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to have an estimate of the cost of the forthcoming return of British troops from Germany. [78042]
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Nick Harvey [holding answer 2 November 2011]:The costs involved in bringing troops back from Germany will not be known until the outcome of detailed planning currently being undertaken is completed. There will however be savings in the region of £250 million a year on allowances, education and medical support that currently exists for the Germany garrisons, once the move is completed.
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel were issued with notifications of termination of contract in each month since May 2010. [78598]
Mr Robathan: Service personnel do not have a contract of employment and may leave the armed forces for a wide variety of reasons. The number of personnel notified that they were included in tranche 1 of the armed forces redundancy scheme in September 2011 is given in the following table.
| 1 redundancy—September 2011 | |
|
|
Number |
| Note: Figures have been rounded. | |
Armed Forces: Suicide
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to examine the underlying causes of recent trends in suicide rates among male army recruits aged 16 to 19 years; and what steps he is taking to address this. [79214]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 7 November 2011]: The risk of suicide among male Army personnel in the under-20 age group has been reducing over the last 15 or so years. Between 2006-10 the risk of suicide among male Army personnel in this age group was 9% lower than the equivalent age group in the male UK population.
The Army monitor all self-harm incidents, including suicide, and has put in place a range of policies and welfare support to try and prevent these occurring. These include the Army Suicide Vulnerability Risk Management (SVRM) policy which is aimed at helping the chain of command to identify those who may be vulnerable and, once identified, how to manage their care with the appropriate welfare and medical services.
All staff at recruiting and training establishments are trained to recognise and identify vulnerable trainees who may be having problems. Commanding officers undertake risk assessments in accordance with the supervisory care directive which takes account of the particular factors of the environment, the age of the trainee population, and the type of training being undertaken. Welfare support is available to recruits 24 hours a day through unit welfare officers, padres and others such as the Women's Royal Voluntary Service. They also have access to confidential helplines and free counselling.
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Defence Equipment
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Blaydon of 21 October 2011, Official Report, column 1167W, on defence equipment, what his Department's policy is on using special couriers to transport military kit; and if he will make a statement. [77527]
Nick Harvey: The policy for the prioritisation of demands to transport defence equipment is contained in Joint Service Publication 886 (The Defence Logistics Support Chain Manual). The two highest priority demand codes require the ‘fastest possible means' of delivery. This can be achieved by either Ministry of Defence transport or contract freight services, including special courier, depending on the circumstance.
Defence: Finance
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much and what proportion of the defence budget was allocated to service pay in each of the last three years. [79114]
Mr Robathan: The following table shows the amount spent by the Ministry of Defence on service pay for the last three financial years, and the percentage of total defence spending this equates to.
| Financial year | Service pay (£ billion) | Percentage of total defence spending |
The figure for service pay includes salaries, allowances, pensions and national insurance contributions.
Cyber Attack
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department was subject to cyber attacks since May 2010; and what form each such attack took. [78537]
Nick Harvey: Within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) there are technical, organisational, procedural and physical measures in place to protect against and mitigate the impact of cyber attacks. In 2010, the MOD detected and blocked more than 1,000 potentially serious attempts to infiltrate or disrupt our computer systems, however we do not comment on the specific detail of cyber security incidents or threat assessments.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings he has had with representatives of (a) social enterprises, (b) charities, (c) large private sector businesses and (d) small and medium-sized private sector businesses since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [75704]
Mr Philip Hammond: Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on the Ministry of Defence website at the following address:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/Expenses/MinistersHospitalityReceived.htm
8 Nov 2011 : Column 233W
The information currently published covers May 2010 to March 2011 and is being updated on a quarterly basis in accordance with the Government's ongoing transparency programme.
Private Finance Initiative
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the (a) cost, (b) date of commencement and (c) duration of each private finance initiative contract managed by his Department. [76539]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 27 October 2011]: Information on private finance initiative contracts that were signed prior to 16 March 2011 is available on the Treasury's website at the following address:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm
In addition to listing the project name and responsible Department, the information available includes the capital value of the asset and associated unitary charge payments, the date the contract was signed, and the operational period of the contract.
This information is updated twice yearly.
Procurement
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has awarded for off the shelf systems where no customisation was required since May 2010. [78275]
Nick Harvey: In the period from 1 May 2010 to 31 October 2011, the Ministry of Defence let over 8,000 new contracts. The details of these contracts are not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of Operation Kipion on the UK's international relations; and if he will make a statement. [77478]
Nick Harvey: Operation Kipion is the UK's overarching operation for Defence presence and contribution to security in the middle and near east. It covers a wide range, but not all, of our operational activity in the region, in support of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague’s), Gulf Initiative.
Through our high-level engagements and through anecdotal reporting from our security co-operation activities it is our strong belief that the activities, bounded within the operation, have had a positive effect on the way in which the UK is perceived in the region. Continuing to enhance our defence links is a key part of our ongoing commitment to the region.
We are now working more closely with our international partners on maritime security operations including combating terrorism, piracy, and weapons proliferation. We expect that the strength of these relations will continue to increase as the operation matures.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 234W
Libya: Armed Conflict
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of flying hours for Operation Ellamy were spent in transit to the operational area for (a) Tornado and (b) Typhoon. [77704]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 1 November 2011]: The vast majority of UK Tornado and Typhoon aircraft missions flown in support of Operation Ellamy were from Gioia Del Colle, Italy, which is in the UK joint operational area. In those cases all flying hours were within the operational area.
Some UK Tornado missions were flown from RAF Marham in the UK. However, while the Ministry of Defence has details of the proportion of time spent in transit for these sorties, this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours of air tanker support were required to enable Tornado sorties flown from the UK as part of Operation Ellamy. [77705]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 1 November 2011]: 170 hours of air tanker support using a combination of VC10 and Tristar aircraft were required to enable the small number of Tornado sorties flown from the UK as part of Operation Ellamy.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) sorties and (b) combat sorties the Royal Air Force participated in as part of Operation Ellamy. [78268]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 3 November 2011]: From the start of Operation Ellamy until 27 October 2011, the Royal Air Force conducted approximately 2,990 sorties, of which 2,060 were combat sorties. The Army and Royal Navy also conducted both combat and other air sorties during the operation.
Military Aircraft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 602W, on military aircraft, whether he has considered mothballing the Sentinel R1 following its withdrawal from service; and if he will make a statement. [78272]
Nick Harvey: As announced in the strategic defence and security review, our current plan is to withdraw the Sentinel system from service when it is no longer required to support operations in Afghanistan.
Disposal plans for the Sentinel R1 remain immature, and no options have been ruled out.
RAF Leuchars
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 993W, on RAF Leuchars, if he will place in the Library a copy of the sustainability appraisal undertaken in April 2011. [77315]
8 Nov 2011 : Column 235W
Nick Harvey [holding answer 31 October 2011]: A copy of the sustainability appraisal for RAF Leuchars will be placed in the Library of the House.
As part of the basing review process further sustainability and other environmental studies will be undertaken.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the future of the (a) 58 RAF Regiment, (b) 612 Regiment, (c) 71 Engineer Regiment, (d) HQ Dundee and Central Scotland Wing Air Training Corps, (e) East of Scotland University Air Squadron, (f) Mountain Rescue Team, (g) No. 2 RAF Police Wing and (h) 6 Force Protection Wing currently based at RAF Leuchars; and if he will make a statement. [78041]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 2 November 2011]: Plans for the transfer of RAF Leuchars to the Army are at an early stage. Therefore, at this point, I am unable to provide more detailed information on the future location of those units currently based at RAF Leuchars.
RAF Menwith Hill
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the number of US personnel stationed at Menwith Hill. [77621]
Nick Harvey: There are 1,200 US personnel stationed at RAF Menwith Hill. This figure is comprised of the following groups:
US military: 450
US civilians: 400
US contractors: 350.
Rescue Services: Helicopters
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last held discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on potential long-term procurement options for search and rescue helicopters; and if he will make a statement. [77826]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 1 November 2011]: Discussions between the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence are ongoing regarding a range of potential options to meet future requirements for helicopter search and rescue in the UK. I understand that the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), intends to make a statement on the matter before the end of the year.
Submarines: Decommissioning
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his Department's consultation on submarine dismantling, if he will estimate the cost of (a) towing a submarine, (b) towing a barge with a submarine on it and (c) using a heavy lift ship to transport a submarine between Rosyth and Devonport. [78246]
Nick Harvey: The information requested on estimated costs relates to the development and formulation of Government policy, and its disclosure would be likely to prejudice commercial interests.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 236W
Trident
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which areas his Department has assessed as having the highest risk of cost overrun within the programme to replace Trident nuclear submarines. [77651]
Mr Philip Hammond: The project management of the successor submarine programme includes the use of formal, best practice, recognised risk management techniques. This is based upon a joint risk management approach, which is being overseen by a joint Ministry of Defence (MOD)/industry integrated programme management team.
The aim of this approach is to ensure that risks and opportunities are identified and assessed, and that appropriate steps are taken to reduce risk to an acceptable level. There are regular reviews to confirm risks are being managed effectively.
Assurance that risk has been reduced to an acceptable level, and that individual risks have been reflected in the cost modelling, will be important elements of the main gate approval process in 2016. These will be subject to independent scrutiny from within the MOD and from Her Majesty's Treasury.
I am withholding further details as their disclosure would prejudice commercial interests and impact on the formulation or development of Government policy.
Health
Adam Werritty
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department's premises and (ii) elsewhere. [78851]
Mr Simon Burns: Details of all ministerial meetings with external parties are published quarterly in arrears on the Department's website. The latest data up to the end of March 2011 can be found at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartment Leaders/Departmentdirectors/DH_110759
No special advisers have met with Adam Werritty. Information on whether officials have met with Adam Werritty could be provided only at disproportionate cost but Ministers are aware of no such meetings.
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people who exceed the Government's guidelines for weekly alcohol consumption. [78596]
Anne Milton: The Department will be bringing together the Government's approach in an alcohol strategy to be published in the near future. The Change4life campaign will also be incorporating messages of the health risks from alcohol consumption early next year.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 237W
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in each age group who exceed the Government's guidelines for weekly alcohol consumption. [78597]
Mr Simon Burns: Current Government recommendations are that adult men should not regularly drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day and adult women should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day.
Information from surveys on the number of units drunk on a typical day in the previous year along with frequency of consumption is used to calculate average weekly consumption. Table 2.4 of the ‘Statistics on Alcohol: England 2011’ provides information on the percentages of the population by gender and age group who exceed the weekly equivalent of the guidelines at 21 units for men and 14 units for women.
The ‘Statistics on Alcohol: England 2011’ report and tables have been placed in the Library.
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has sought legal advice on the compatibility of the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol with European law. [78595]
Anne Milton: The Home Office has lead responsibility for alcohol pricing policy and has sought and received such legal advice on behalf of the Government.
Arthritis
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to support people with mobility problems caused by arthritis. [78995]
Paul Burstow: Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence outlines the. Care which people with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis can expect to receive. This includes appropriate medication to relieve symptoms and prevent further disease progression and access as needed to surgery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, clinical psychology, and support for self care.
For people with mobility problems there have been a number of recent initiatives to help improve access to physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other allied health professional services, including pilots of self-referral; projects to demonstrate the potential benefits from service redesign; and the development of systematic collection of information on referral to treatment waiting times.
A new Community Equipment Services model makes it easier for people to obtain simple items of equipment or home adaptations. For those who need wheelchairs, we have recently carried out a review led by two regional pilot sites and a report is now being prepared to provide advice for other areas wishing to improve their services. Finally, our policies on Any Qualified Provider and on personal health and social care budgets will in future enable people with continuing healthcare needs, including people with arthritis, greater control and choice over the services they receive.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 238W
Back Pain
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to publish a quality standard on lower back pain. [76923]
Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) jointly with the National Quality Board recently ran an engagement exercise on the library of NICE Quality Standard NHS health care topics. As part of this exercise a proposed library of topics was published for comment. Within this proposed library of topics ‘Low Back Pain’ was included. The engagement exercise closed on 14 October 2011. NICE are currently analysing the responses received and will be able to provide more information in due course. Further information on the engagement exercise can be found at:
www.nice.org.uk/getinvolved/currentniceconsultations/NQBEngagement.jsp
Breast Cancer: Screening
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on the provision of digital mammography in NHS screening services. [78687]
Paul Burstow: Local national health service breast cancer screening programmes in England are replacing their current analogue (film) systems with digital systems (direct digital mammography—DDM). As at October 2011, 67 (83.7%) of the 80 local programmes had at least one DDM X-ray set, and 33 (41%) were fully digital. Local programmes have been advised to implement direct digital as quickly as possible as the independent Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening (has said that running both film and digital systems together is inefficient. 13 programmes (16%) are still to implement digital mammography.
Carers: Employment
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support and practical assistance the Government provides to carers who are seeking work following the death of the person being cared for. [77806]
Maria Miller: I have been asked to reply.
A person who was entitled to carer's allowance immediately before the death of the person cared for continues to be entitled to it for up to eight weeks afterwards.
Depending on their personal circumstances, the ex-carer may claim or continue to claim other benefits such as jobseeker's allowance if they are actively seeking and available for work; employment and support allowance if they have a disability or incapacity which limits their capability for work; or, in other circumstances, income support. These benefits include a carer premium for people who are entitled to carer's allowance.
Regardless of which benefit carers or ex-carers claim, Jobcentre Plus provides personalised and flexible practical assistance for those seeking work, either directly or through Work Programme providers.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 239W
The level of support offered by Jobcentre Plus; how quickly a person is referred to the Work Programme; and whether engagement is voluntary or mandatory depends on which benefit is being claimed. So for example an ex-carer claiming jobseeker's allowance could volunteer to enter the Work Programme three months into their claim.
Local Jobcentre Plus offices are empowered to decide when and how to support customers, tailoring that support to their individual need, although support may be subject to mandatory participation depending on the benefit being claimed. Jobcentre Plus District Managers and advisers have access to a comprehensive flexible menu of options to enable them to make the cost effective choices and provide the right support to individuals.
The support available directly through Jobcentre Plus may include:
mandatory adviser interviews and jobsearch reviews
flexible interviews, the frequency and duration of which are decided by a personal adviser
work preparation, including help with CV writing or interview skills
referral to approved training
work trials, work experience, access to help if considering self-employment and work clubs
access to funds to help with the costs of training and returning to work
help to calculate whether the person would be better off in work when considering a job, and
advice about in-work benefits and adviser support during the early weeks in work.
When determining the level of support ex-carers receive, they are treated as though they were still carers for eight weeks following the end of their caring responsibilities. Once a carer or ex-carer has started receiving this support, they can continue accessing it until they start full time work or are mandated to participate in the Work Programme.
Jobcentre Plus works in partnership in local communities with service providers, Local authorities, the NHS, voluntary and community sector and employers to find ways to support carers and ex-carers back to work.
Freedom of Information Requests
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued; [78921]
(2) in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010; [78922]
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(3) which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility. [78923]
Mr Simon Burns: The number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received and answered by the Department in each month since May.2010 to September 2011 is contained in the following table:
| Month and year | Number of FOI cases received | Number of FOI cases answered on time (or within permitted extension) |
The further information requested about partial and full disclosure and timeliness is not routinely collected on a monthly basis and to provide this would incur disproportionate cost.
However, this information is collected quarterly and is published by the Ministry of Justice at:
www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
The number of responses to FOI requests received by the Department using certain exemptions since January 2010 is contained in the following table:
| Reasons for withholding information under FOI from January 2010 - June 2011 | |
|
|
Number |
It is the responsibility of senior departmental officials within relevant policy teams to determine whether exemptions under the FOI Act should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act.
However, section 36 of the FOI Act sets out an exemption from a ‘right to know’ if the disclosure of information, in the reasonable opinion of a qualified person, would prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. In England, the FOI Act defines a qualified person as any Minister of the Crown for information that is held by a Government Department.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 241W
In general, clearance for the use of section-36 is sought from the Minister responsible for departmental management, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Earl Howe.
Lost Property
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2011, on lost computers and mobile telephones, how many losses or thefts of (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment there have been since May 2010. [79367]
Mr Simon Burns: The following table gives details of departmental losses and thefts from May 2010 to 30 September 2011.
| Departmental losses and thefts 1 May 2010 to 30 September 2011 | |
|
|
Number |
NHS Connecting for Health (NHS CFH) is part of the Department's Informatics Directorate. However, there are a number of fundamental differences between the Department and NHS CFH including suppliers and equipment used. It is therefore deemed appropriate to display the figures for NHS CFH losses and thefts separately to the rest of the Department.
| NHS CFH losses and thefts 1 May 2010 to 30 September 2011 | |
|
|
Number |
Ministerial Meetings
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the ministerial diary of the Minister of State for Social Care for October to December 2010. [78767]
Paul Burstow: Details of all ministerial meetings with external parties are published quarterly in arrears on the Department's website. The latest data up to the end of March 2011 can be found at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Departmentdirectors/DH_110759
Disability: Young People
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will create a clinical network for children with defined responsibility for developing care pathways for (a) disabled children and young people (i) with complex needs and (ii) requiring palliative care and (b) other disabled children and young people. [79617]
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Paul Burstow: Clinical networks will support the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to design pathways of care and shape services, based on a wide-range of multi-disciplinary input. Proposals for the role of clinical networks will be developed after the completion of a review of clinical networks which is currently engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to assess how the functions and range of networks can most effectively support commissioners.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under his proposed reforms which part of the NHS will be responsible for (a) designing care pathways and (b) shaping local services for (i) disabled children and young people (A) with complex needs and (B) requiring palliative care and (ii) other disabled children and young people. [79618]
Paul Burstow: We are determined to embed children's health explicitly throughout the new system.
Clinical commissioning groups will be responsible for commissioning services for children and young people with a disability or complex needs. They will work in partnership with the health and well-being boards that will be a forum for local commissioners across the national health service, local government; elected representatives, and representatives of HealthWatch to agree how to improve the health and well-being of the people in their area including children and young people. The NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB) will have responsibility for the direct commissioning of a number of services from April 2013. Included within those services will be services for people with rare conditions which are currently commissioned at both a national and regional level as described in the Specialised National Definitions Set.
When commissioning children's services, both the NHSCB and clinical commissioning groups will also seek advice from paediatricians, nurses and other clinical professionals with expertise across a range of areas.
There will be senior clinical leadership for children's services within the NHS Commissioning Board, providing advice and support to commissioners.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what function the NHS Commissioning Board will have in respect of national delivery of health services for (a) disabled children and young people (i) with complex needs and (ii) requiring palliative care and (b) other disabled children and young people. [79619]
Paul Burstow: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will have a duty to conduct a performance assessment of each clinical commissioning group in respect of each financial year.
When conducting a performance assessment, the board has a duty to consult each relevant health and well-being board as to its views on the clinical commissioning group's contribution to the delivery of any joint health and well-being strategy. Health and well-being boards will include a director of children's services.
The board will have a duty to have regard to jointly prepared local joint strategic needs assessment (JSNAs) and the joint health and well-being strategy (JHWSs) in its own direct commissioning.
8 Nov 2011 : Column 243W
The board will have responsibility for the direct commissioning of a number of services from April 2013, including those services for people with rare conditions, which are currently commissioned at both a national and regional level as described in the Specialised National Definitions set.
There will be senior clinical leadership for children's health services within the NHS Commissioning board providing advice and support to commissioners.
Fats: Health Hazards
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the quantity of trans fats consumed in the UK; and what steps the Government is taking to reduce such consumption. [78993]
Anne Milton: The Department monitors the presence of trans fats in the United Kingdom diet through a rolling programme, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). Estimated mean intakes of trans fat for all age groups from 2008-09 to 2009-10 of the NDNS were 0.7-0.9% of food energy (calorie intake), well within public health recommendation of no more than 2% of food energy.
As part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, the Department is working in partnership with UK food businesses to remove artificial trans fatty acids (TFA), from the few foods that still contain them.
Businesses are pledging to remove artificial TFA from products by the end of 2011. They will achieve this by removing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and limiting the levels of artificial TFA in oils and fats used as ingredients or in preparing foods (eg frying oils) to a maximum of 2%.
This voluntary action will help to ensure that intakes of trans fats remain low, and give consumers confidence that artificial trans fats will not be added to foods in the future.
General Practitioners: Finance
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average total payment per GP made to general practices in England was in the last year for which figures are available. [79240]
Mr Simon Burns: The total payment per general practitioner made to all general practices in England in 2010-11 is £237,738, based on the four combined contracting routes for: general medical services, personal medical services, alternative provider medical services and primary care trust medical services.
Health Inequality
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to placing a statutory duty on local authorities to reduce health inequalities. [78580]
Mr Simon Burns: Local authorities are independent democratic bodies. Nationally, we will be able to promote a focus on tackling health inequalities through such non-legislative means as the Public Health Outcomes Framework. We believe such non-legislative approaches are at least as effective as a legal duty on local authorities in the Health and Social Care Bill.
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Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the ability of public health policy to reduce healthcare costs for the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [78583]
Anne Milton: The ongoing public health reforms are part of a long term strategy designed to produce substantial savings for the national health service in the future.
We provided some figures to demonstrate the potential savings that would arise from the reforms in “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England”. We stated that:
"Changing adult behaviours could also reduce premature death, illness and costs to society, avoiding a substantial proportion of cancers, vascular dementias and over 30% of circulatory diseases; saving the NHS the £2.7 billion cost of alcohol abuse; and saving society the £13.9 billion a year spent on tackling drug-fuelled crime."
A copy of the White Paper has previously been placed in the Library.
Through investing in public health and spending effectively on prevention, we aim to release efficiency savings which can then be used elsewhere in the NHS.
Health Professions
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he plans to put in place to ensure that all statutorily regulated health professionals, including osteopaths, will be able to input into the design of relevant patient pathways. [76922]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government want the full range of health and care professionals to be involved in the new commissioning arrangements, supporting the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to design pathways of care and shape services. Both the board and clinical commissioning groups will have a statutory duty to secure professional advice from persons who taken together have a range of professional expertise.
Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for issuing guidance to commissioning groups on their duty to obtain appropriate professional advice.
Health Protection Agency
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the quality of accountability through the regional structures of the Health Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement. [78581]
Anne Milton: The quality of accountability in the regional structures of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is assessed as part of the formal governance structures set out in the HPA management statement. This process includes the Department undertaking regular accountability reviews of the HPA through quarterly performance reports and an annual accountability review. Each region contributes to this process by reporting on progress against objectives set out in the agreed HPA business plan.
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Hepatitis
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis his Department has undertaken on any relationship between hepatitis C infection and health and social inequalities. [78542]
Anne Milton: Evidence indicates that hepatitis C in this country affects populations who may experience inequalities, with people who inject drugs at greatest risk of acquiring infection. Studies also suggest that there may be a relatively high prevalence of hepatitis C and associated liver disease in certain minority ethnic populations.
In response to this evidence, improvements in national surveillance have been made to monitor HCV infection and diagnostic testing in the general population as well as in particular risk groups, including people who inject drugs, offenders, minority ethnic populations and men who have sex with men. The findings of this surveillance are reported annually in the Health Protection Agency's “Hepatitis C in the UK” report.
The Heath Protection Agency's annual reports on hepatitis C provide further details of hepatitis C in population risk groups, a copy of the most recent report “Hepatitis C in the UK, 2011” has been placed in the Library.