Tax Avoidance
Mr Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to prevent FTSE 100 companies from avoiding taxation through the use of overseas tax havens. [78947]
Mr Gauke: The Government are working to ensure that the UK is a good place to do business. But being open for business does not mean being open to tax avoidance, and we have set out a strategic approach to address avoidance. This is supported by HMRC's anti-avoidance strategy which puts the emphasis on prevention of avoidance through robust legislation and deterrence, backed up by accurate detection and robust action where avoidance does occur.
The Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) rules prevent multinational companies artificially diverting profits from the UK to low tax territories. The Government are introducing a modernised CFC regime which will prevent artificial diversion of UK profits while reflecting changes to the way in which businesses operate in a global economy.
In relation to other HMRC activities within the anti-avoidance strategy to address the use of tax havens, I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 November 2011, Official Report, column 736W.
VAT: Metals
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of instructing HM Revenue and Customs to carry out co-ordinated checks on scrap metal merchants to check (a) any irregularities in cash payments, (b) value added tax registrations and (c) the reconciliation of the quantity of metal reprocessed by a merchant with the sum remitted in value added tax. [78704]
Mr Gauke: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) carries out the types of checks suggested in the question as part of its regular programme of activity to address tax non-compliance across all trade sectors including the scrap metal industry.
On 7 November HMRC launched a taskforce in Scotland to specifically address businesses indicating a high risk of tax evasion within this trade sector. HMRC will be visiting around 250 scrap merchants in a joint operation with British Transport police and local police forces. The results from this taskforce will help inform HMRC's future decisions on resource deployment across the UK as a whole in respect to scrap metal merchants and the industry supply chain.
Energy and Climate Change
Bell Pottinger Group
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) political advisers in his Department have met representatives of (i) Bell Pottinger Group or (ii) each of its subsidiaries in the last five years; on what dates any such meetings took place; and what was discussed. [80059]
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Charles Hendry: Details of meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the Department's website.
The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Charities
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what grants his Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years. [79084]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was established in October 2008. For 2008-09, records of DECC's grants are held on the accounting systems of predecessor Departments (the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills). They can only be retrieved and analysed at disproportionate cost.
The value of grants paid directly by DECC to the voluntary and community sector (VCS) as a whole from 2009-10 onwards are shown in the following table. DECC's accounting system does not specifically identify registered charities. Most of these grants were made paid through the low carbon buildings programme which was scaled back in 2010-11 and closed on 31 March 2011. This reflects a policy decision to promote energy efficiency
9 Nov 2011 : Column 344W
and low carbon technologies through market mechanisms such as levies on energy bills.
In addition, charities are free to apply for grant schemes funded by DECC and run by DECC's delivery partners such as the Carbon Trust. Details of DECC funded grants paid by third parties can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Period | Amount (£ million) |
Telephone Helplines
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has allocated to each telephone helpline funded by his Department in 2011-12; what the purpose is of each such helpline; and how many calls each helpline received in each of the last five years. [77717]
Gregory Barker: The following table sets out the telephone lines funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, their purpose and where readily identifiable, their cost and number of calls handled.
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9 Nov 2011 : Column 346W
Written Questions
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) how many parliamentary questions for written answer on a named day by his Department were answered (a) on time, (b) five days late, (c) 10 days late, (d) 20 days late and (e) over 30 days late in each month since May 2010; [79580]
(2) how many parliamentary questions for (a) ordinary written answer and (b) written answer on a named day by his Department have remained unanswered for a period of two months since May 2010; [79581]
(3) whether draft answers to parliamentary questions prepared by officials in his Department are cleared by special advisers (a) before and (b) after the relevant Minister. [79582]
Gregory Barker: The information requested is as follows:
Special advisers have the opportunity to comment on draft answers. Ministers always have the final sign off and approval of draft answers.
| Written parliamentary questions | Named day questions | |||
|
|
Total number of questions | On time | Total number of questions | On time |
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The Department does not hold this information in the format requested and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments’ performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Since May 2010, the Department has not on any occasion had any parliamentary questions remain unanswered beyond 20 sitting days.
Electricity Generation
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of phantom megawatts on the security of the national electricity supply; [79663]
(2) what steps his Department has taken to audit the use of publicly-owned generators by short-term operating reserve aggregators; [79664]
(3) what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) cost of phantom megawatts purchased by National Grid in the last year; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such purchases on the electricity prices paid by consumers in the last year. [79665]
Charles Hendry: The system operator, National Grid, procures balancing services in order to balance demand and supply and to ensure the security and quality of electricity supply across the GB transmission system. These balancing services include Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR).
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), has not assessed, audited or monitored the performance of STOR providers, or the participation of publicly-owned generators in STOR. National Grid has contracts, monitoring processes and penalties in place to minimise the risk of paying for capacity that cannot deliver when required. In addition Ofgem places commercial incentives on National Grid to ensure it balances the system efficiently and provides value for consumers, which they assess regularly.
Feed-in Tariffs: Business
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) how many businesses have submitted a request for accreditation for a feed-in tariff licence since April 2010; [79332]
(2) if he will estimate the number of firms submitting a request for accreditation for a feed-in tariff licence in each year between 2010 and 2015. [79333]
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Gregory Barker [holding answer 8 November 2011]: Since the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme started in April 2010, 20 licensed electricity suppliers have been registered as FITs suppliers.
In the same period, 3,226 installation companies have been certificated to install microgeneration equipment that could be eligible for FITs under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). Of these, 3,057 are companies which install solar photovoltaics (PV).
It is not possible to provide estimates for future years.
Feed-in Tarrifs: Renewable Energy
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) households and (b) companies are receiving the feed-in tariff. [79985]
Gregory Barker: On 8 November 2011, the Ofgem central FIT register showed a total of 96,347 installations registered for FITs are classified as domestic across all technologies. There are 1,688 installations registered for FITs which are classified as commercial and industrial installations across all technologies.
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's budget for the feed-in tariff scheme is. [79987]
Gregory Barker: The Department spending envelope for the Feed-in Tariff (FITs) scheme is:
|
|
FITs (£ million) |
This information is published on our website in a question and answer document which details the spending envelope for all the DECC levies-funded policies and can be viewed at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/funding-support/fuel-poverty/3290-control-fwork-decc-levyfunded-spending.pdf
Solar Power
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his Department has made of the contribution of the solar industry to gross domestic product. [79098]
Mr Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
HM Government have made no estimates of solar industry contribution to gross domestic product.
However, independent research commissioned by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills estimates that photovoltaic renewable energy (i.e. solar power) together with its supply chain resulted in nearly £5 billion of sales in 2009-10, employing 39,000 across 2,000 businesses.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the commercial viability of the solar panel industry. [79289]
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Gregory Barker [holding answer 8 November 2011]:The impact assessment accompanying the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics (PV) estimates that new solar PV installations will continue to come forward under the proposed changes to FITs for solar PV. The number of installations is expected to be around 30,000 per year for the rest of the spending review period.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 34 of his Department's consultation on Comprehensive Review Phase 1—Tariffs for Solar PV, published on 31 October 2011, whether his Department has made an estimate of the cost of (a) the solar panels and (b) the installation process for solar PV. [79033]
Gregory Barker: The impact assessment supporting the Government's consultation on feed-in tariffs for solar photovoltaics (PV) sets out estimates of PV installation costs for different sizes of installations. These estimates reflect both the costs of solar panels and costs of the installation process. They are based on a report from Cambridge Economic Policy Associates and Parsons Brinckerhoff which was published alongside the impact assessment and is available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3365-updates-to-fits-model-doc.pdf
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reducing feed-in-tariff levels for solar electricity on (a) future levels of solar power installation and (b) the likelihood of achieving the target to generate 20 per cent. of electricity from renewable sources by 2020. [79095]
Gregory Barker: The impact assessment supporting the Government's consultation on proposed changes to FITs for solar PV estimates that, by 2020, there will be around 1 to 2 TWh generation from solar PV under central growth assumptions.
The UK is committed to meeting its 15% renewable energy target for 2020. The UK Renewable Energy Roadmap set out our understanding of actual and potential deployment and the action required to help the UK meet the target in a cost effective and sustainable way. The roadmap set out that solar photovoltaics (PV) would have a relatively limited role in cost-effective delivery of the overall target.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households he expects to be lifted out of fuel poverty as a result of the Warm Home Discount Scheme. [79990]
Gregory Barker: Estimates of the impact of the Warm Home Discount Scheme on fuel poverty were published in the relevant impact assessment in February 2011:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/warm-home-discount/1308-warm-home-disc-impact-assessment.pdf
where it was estimated that in 2011-12 the net impact of the Warm Home Discount will be a reduction in fuel poverty of around 88,000 households, rising to around 98,000 households in 2014-15.
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Cabinet Office
Resilience and Emergencies
Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what bodies have replaced regional resilience teams in the Government offices for the regions. [79496]
Robert Neill: I have been asked to reply.
I am the Minister for Fire and Resilience. Following the closure of the Government offices for the regions on 31 March 2011, the functions of the former regional resilience teams transferred to the Resilience and Emergencies Division in my Department. The division comprises 53 FTE staff (which can be augmented by volunteers from elsewhere in the Department when necessary). This is approximately 20% fewer staff than employed in the former regional resilience teams, but provides the same Government support to local responders in emergency preparedness and response (the ‘regional response capability’), as well as continuing to discharge the Department's lead Government Department responsibilities. This includes the site clearance workstream. It is not possible to apportion staff time to individual workstreams as at any one time resilience advisers will be contributing to the full range of workstreams in the Capabilities programme according to the risks faced in a given locality. There is no budgetary provision for specific workstreams.
Health
Bowel Cancer: Drugs
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many applications were approved for (a) first line and (b) second line treatment of bowel cancer through the use of Avastin in each strategic health authority area in each of the last three years; and at what cost per treatment; [79300]
(2) what guidance he has issued on the prescription of Avastin in treating bowel cancer; [79301]
(3) what the availability is of Avastin for treating bowel cancer in each strategic health authority area. [79302]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not issued any guidance on the prescription of Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of bowel (colorectal) cancer.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published or is developing technology appraisal guidance on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of Avastin for a number of its licensed indications and more information is available on NICE’s website at:
www.nice.org.uk
NICE does not recommend Avastin for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
In the absence of a positive NICE appraisal on a drug, it is for local primary care trusts (PCTs) to make funding decisions based on an assessment of the available, evidence. Information on individual PCT funding decisions is not collected centrally.
Where a cancer drug is not routinely funded by a PCT, patients may be able to access the drug through the Cancer Drugs Fund.
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Information on the funding of Avastin (bevacizumab) in each strategic health authority (SHA) under the interim cancer drugs funding arrangements in 2010-11 (from October 2010 to February 2011(1)) and under the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2011-12 (to September 2011) is shown in the table. This does not include any use of Avastin that has been funded locally by PCTs.
The Department does not hold information on the specific indications for which drugs have been funded; or the cost per treatment.
(1) A breakdown of patient numbers and spend by SHA by drug for March 2011 is not available.
| Number of patients (1) | Spend (£000) | |||
| Strategic health authority (SHA) | 2010-11 October to February | 2011-12 April to September | 2010-11 October to February | 2011-12 April to September |
| (1) Some individual patients may be double counted where a patient has received more than one drug treatment Source: Information supplied to the Department of Health by SHAs | ||||
Cardiovascular System: Diseases
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with a vascular disease in each year since 2001 in each local authority area. [79476]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not available in the format requested. A table of information detailing the number of finished consultant episodes where a primary or secondary diagnosis of “vascular disease” has been recorded, for the required years, has been placed in the Library.
The information provided is by primary care trust of residence as the required information is not available by local authority area.
Charities
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants his Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years. [79085]
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Paul Burstow: Information on all grants that the Department has made to charitable organisations is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department is currently working to address this, and systems are being put in place to capture the information for future years.
It is possible to provide partial information based on the Department's voluntary sector grants budget, which provides grants to charitable organisations. The total spend for each of the last five years is as follows:
|
|
£ |
Information on how this funding has been divided across the different grant funding schemes has been placed in the Library.
Capabilities Programme
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the lead Minister in his Department is for the (a) infectious diseases: human, (b) mass casualties and (c) health services workstream of the Capabilities programme. [79508]
Mr Simon Burns: All of these three workstreams of the UK Capabilities programme fall within the remit of the Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Anne Milton).
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget was for the (a) infectious diseases: human, (b) mass casualties and (c) health services workstream of the Capabilities programme in each year since 2005; and what the budget will be during the comprehensive spending review period. [79509]
Mr Simon Burns: There is no allocated programme budget for the infectious diseases workstream of the Capabilities programme. The Department did not have a separate programme budget for the mass casualties or health services workstreams prior to April 2008. However, the total departmental revenue programme funding budgets for the mass casualties and health services workstreams since 2008-09 and for the current and next financial years are as follows:
| £ | |||||
|
|
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
From 2011-12 onwards, the Department's budgets for the mass casualties and health services workstreams include separate delivery budgets within NHS Finance, Performance and Operations. Programme funding for both sets of budgets has not yet been allocated for the remainder of the comprehensive spending review period beyond 2012-13.
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However, since the vast majority of emergency preparedness and civil resilience work is funded from within NHS organisations' own budgets, the level of departmental programme funding is not necessarily indicative of the extent of work being undertaken more widely within the health sector.
Drinks: Regulation
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to measure the effectiveness of the Portman Group in regulating drinks industry marketing and packaging. [79422]
Mr Simon Burns: We expect the alcohol industry to demonstrate an ethical and responsible approach towards its customers and wider society. The Portman Group is a longstanding initiative of alcoholic drinks producing companies, which has similar aims. The Public Health Responsibility Deal challenges industry to go further.
The Responsibility Deal Alcohol Network has developed a collective pledge to commit to further action on advertising and marketing, including the development of a new sponsorship code requiring the promotion of responsible drinking. The Portman Group's current consultation on its code of practice on the marketing of alcoholic drinks relates to this pledge.
General Practitioners: Essex
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what payments the Mid Essex Primary Care Trust made to each general practice in its area in the last year for which figures are available; [79236]
(2) what the total payment per GP made by the Mid Essex Primary Care Trust was to each general practice in its area in the last year for which figures are available; [79237]
(3) what the total payment per patient made by the Mid Essex Primary Care Trust was to each general practice in its area in the last year for which figures are available. [79238]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not collected centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mid Essex Primary Care Trust directly.
General Practitioners: Finance
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average total payment made to general practices in England was in the last year for which figures are available. [79239]
Mr Simon Burns: Information on the latest total spend of general practitioner practices in England is reported by the Information Centre for health and social care and is contained in their “Investment in General Practice 2006/07 to 2010/11 England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland” report. This publication has been placed in the Library.
In England in 2010-11, total payments to primary medical care contractors (in the main general practice contractors) amounted to £8.349 billion.
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Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average total payment per patient made to general practices in England was in the last year for which figures are available. [79241]
Mr Simon Burns: The total payment per patient made to general practices in England in 2010-11 was £151.75.
Health Care Incentives
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he is considering mechanisms to ensure that hospitals are provided with financial incentives to participate in arrangements for integrated care for people (a) aged over 75 years, (b) with diabetes, (c) injecting drug users and (d) other age groups and conditions that would benefit from an integrated care model to facilitate better patient care and prevent avoidable hospital admissions. [79026]
Mr Simon Burns: The Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention Long Term Conditions Workstream is developing a “year of care” funding model for people with long-term conditions to dramatically improve quality of care for patients with long-term conditions that will actively encourage integration of health and care services. This model will look to create incentives for organisations to manage people's care jointly and seamlessly. It will look to ensure investment in services that will keep them out of accident and emergency and more effectively manage patients in the community to help deliver better health outcomes at reduced costs, instead of simply passing costs and responsibility for people with complex health problems around the system.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) organisational support, (b) finance, (c) evaluation processes and (d) other mechanisms he is putting in place to encourage the development of integrated care between existing NHS providers, GPs, social services and third sector agencies; and if he will make a statement. [79027]
Paul Burstow: The proposals we have outlined in the Health and Social Care Bill place a much firmer emphasis on. the importance of integration—better collaboration, partnership working and integration across social care and the national health service at all levels.
The NHS Commissioning Board, Clinical Commissioning Groups, health and wellbeing boards as well as the regulators Monitor and the Care Quality Commission will all have enhanced duties to encourage integration and work across health and social care. Health and wellbeing boards are a key element of our health and care reforms, and that is why we are putting mechanisms in place to encourage the development of integrated care through the support of National Learning Networks.
Integration is a key focus of the adult social care engagement exercise: 'Caring for our Future', and it is working in partnership with the Future Forum to further develop how can we take advantage of the health and social care modernisation programme to ensure services are better integrated around people's needs.
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We have made financial support available to back this up. The spending review set out substantial additional funding, up to £1 billion by 2014-15 within the NHS, to specifically benefit social care and improve health outcomes.
The NHS Operating Framework for 2011-12 clearly reiterated the importance of partnership working between health and local government organisations in particular working together to achieve efficiencies and deliver value for money from the public purse.
Health Services: North-west England
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the recent review of vascular services in the North West, how many arterial centres are being proposed for (a) Merseyside and Cheshire and (b) Greater Manchester. [79475]
Mr Simon Burns: Vascular services across the national health service in England are being reviewed locally. This is in response to the growing clinical evidence base that provides a strong case for providing vascular surgery services in fewer more specialised centres or networks to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Decisions about the provision of local health services, including vascular services, are a matter for the local NHS.
The Cheshire and Merseyside Vascular Review Project board is leading a review of vascular surgery services in Cheshire and Merseyside which will be subject to public consultation in due course.
Malnutrition
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to establishing a Malnutrition Commission to reduce the level of malnutrition in the UK. [79295]
Paul Burstow: The Department has no plans to establish a Malnutrition Commission. The Dignity in Care Commission was established as a joint initiative by the NHS Confederation, Age UK and the Local Government Group and I have invited Age UK to meet me to discuss how malnutrition could form part of the Commission's work and how we can address the policy issue more widely.
NHS Land
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, column 836W, on NHS land, what discussions his Department has had with private health care providers on the potential use of NHS land, building and facilities since May 2010. [79126]
Mr Simon Burns: Departmental officials have not had any discussions, since May 2010, with any private health care providers in respect of the potential use of national health service land, buildings and facilities.
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NHS: Private Patients
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with bodies and organisations (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad on his proposed increase in the number of non-European economic area overseas private patients treated in NHS hospitals. [78938]
Mr Simon Burns: There have been no formal discussions between Ministers and departmental officials with bodies and organisations in the United Kingdom and abroad regarding increasing the number of overseas private patients receiving treatment in national health service hospitals. Furthermore, there is no proposal to increase the number of non-European economic area overseas patients treated in NHS hospitals.
However, there is a proposal in the Health and Social Care Bill to remove the private patient cap. The intention behind the removal of the private patient cap is not to increase the number of private patients receiving treatment in NHS hospitals but to allow NHS foundation trusts to develop new services that deliver better care for patients.
NHS Property
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are any plans by primary care trusts and strategic health authority clusters to sell NHS (a) property and (b) assets to non-NHS organisations; and what the property and assets are which they propose to sell. [78939]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department is not aware of any plans by primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authority clusters to sell national health service property and assets to non-NHS organisations.
It is not the Department's policy to sell parts of the NHS estate where services are provided to patients. Current NHS best practice confirms that estate should only be offered to independent organisations where it is surplus to NHS or other public sector requirements, and should normally be sold by auction or competitive tendering.
Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill through Parliament, PCTs will be abolished in April 2013.
The Department announced on 4 August 2011, that aspirant community foundation trusts, other NHS trusts, and foundation trusts are to be given the opportunity to acquire part(s) of the PCT estate deemed “service critical clinical infrastructure”. A copy of the relevant guidance, ‘PCT Estate: future ownership and management of estate in the ownership of Primary Care Trusts in England’, has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_129008
PCTs have been working with NHS providers to agree the portfolio of properties that will transfer to them. Proposed lists are with the Department for review and approval by 15 December 2011. It is expected that actual transfers of estate will commence in 2012.
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PCTs will retain those parts of the estate not transferred to NHS providers, for the time being. An announcement and further guidance relating to this part of the estate will be issued in due course.
Appendix B of the guidance sets out the type of property that will typically be retained by the PCT. This includes properties, which are surplus, unutilised or part of a development programme.
Patients: Transport
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued regarding the provision of non-emergency transport between NHS hospitals since 2001. [78988]
Mr Simon Burns: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for ensuring that there is provision of ambulance services (which could include patient transport services), to such extent as they consider necessary to meet all reasonable requirements. It is for the local national health service to decide who provides non-emergency patient transport services for eligible patients in their area.
The Department issued a guidance document ‘Eligibility Criteria for Patient Transport Services (PTS)’ on best practice relating to patient transport services in 2007. A copy has been placed in the Library. The guidance sets out in detail the eligibility criteria for use of that service. Eligibility is based upon medical need. The document supersedes ‘Ambulance and other patient transport services—operation, use and performance standards’ which was published in 1991.
Prescription Drugs: Costs
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of the over-prescription of drugs in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands, (c) South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and (d) Tamworth. [79536]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not routinely collect data on the annual value of unused prescription medicines for England as a whole or in part.
We commissioned the York Health Economics Consortium and the School of Pharmacy at the University of London to carry out research to determine the scale, causes and costs of waste medicines in England. The report, “Evaluation of the Scale, Causes and Costs of Waste Medicines”, was published by the researchers on 23 November 2010. The report estimated the gross annual cost of unused prescription medicines in national health service primary and community care in 2009 to be in the region of £300 million, of which £150 million was avoidable waste. There are many causes for medicines wastage. Over prescribing of medicines is just one of those causes.
Prostate Cancer: Health Services
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has made on establishing a topic expert group to create a Quality Standard for prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement. [78323]
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Paul Burstow: The information requested is not held by the Department. I have asked the chief executive of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to write to the hon. Member with this information. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
Sexual and Alcohol-related Violence
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with other Government Departments on the provision of cross-departmental services to provide assistance to those suffering from sexual and alcohol-related violence. [78994]
Anne Milton: The Department is committed to ending violence against women and girls and works closely with other Government Departments on this agenda. Departmental Ministers meet with others from across Government as part of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Violence against Women and Girls. Departmental officials work closely with other Government Departments on taking forward the actions in the Violence Against Women and Girls action plan, and are represented on cross-Government groups on sexual violence, as well as on more specific related issues such as trafficking, child sexual exploitation, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. For example, the Department is currently working closely with the Home Office on considering the transfer of commissioning responsibilities for Sexual Assault Referral Centres from the police to the national health service.
The Government will publish their alcohol strategy document later this year. The strategy document will address the full range of harm from alcohol, including alcohol-related violence. Departmental officials regularly discuss these issues with our colleagues in the Government and Partners Alcohol Working Group.
Skin Cancer: Drugs
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of ipilimumab (Yervoy) for people with advanced melanoma. [79303]
Mr Simon Burns: We have made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising the use of Yervoy (ipilimumab) for the treatment of previously treated unresectable stage III or IV malignant melanoma and has not yet issued final guidance to the national health service.
In the absence of final NICE guidance on a drug, it is for local primary care trusts (PCTs) to make, funding decisions based on an assessment of the available evidence. Where a cancer drug is not routinely funded by a PCT, patients may be able to access the drug through the Cancer Drugs Fund.
Skin Cancer: Young People
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has provided for skin cancer prevention programmes amongst young people in the last 10 years. [79304]
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Mr Simon Burns: Sunsmart is the national skin cancer prevention run by Cancer Research UK. Confirmed funding for Sunsmart from the Department of Health, England, for the period 2004-05 onwards is provided in the following table (along with information regarding an Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Grant which also aims to influence young people to take action to prevent melanoma skin cancer). Prior to that time there are no central records of grant payments made for skin cancer prevention programmes among young people, and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
| £ | ||
|
|
Sunsmart | Testing innovative approaches to influence young people to take action to prevent melanoma and men from low socioeconomic groups reporting with early stage melanoma (Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Grant) |
| (1) Decisions about possible allocation of funding to Sunsmart in 2011-12 have not yet been made. | ||
The Department has also provided funding to support the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act which prohibits sunbed operators from allowing those under 18 years from using sunbeds in commercial premises.
Speech and Language
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure co-ordination between Public Health England, local authorities and the NHS on the early identification of speech language and communication needs following the implementation of his planned reforms to the NHS; [79230]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effects of implementation of the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill on people with speech language and communication needs; and if he will make a statement. [79232]
Mr Simon Burns: There has been no central assessment of the potential effects of implementation of the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill specifically for people with speech, language and communications needs. The proposals in the Bill move the national health service towards a system that puts patients first, with local organisations responsible for assessing and responding to population needs and with a greater focus on health outcomes, improving choice and integrated service delivery.
The Bill provides the basis for better collaboration, partnership working and integration across local government and the NHS at all levels. The drivers of integration in the modernised health and care system will be clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), the NHS Commissioning Board, Monitor and local government.
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CCGs and the NHS Commissioning Board Will both have new duties to promote integrated working by taking specific action to secure integration, where beneficial to patients. In addition, the Bill gives Health And Wellbeing Boards a duty to encourage health and social care commissioners to work together in an integrated manner to advance the health and well-being of their community, and to involve users and the public in doing this.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means commissioning bodies will ensure that people with speech language and communication needs are identified and treated as a priority in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [79231]
Mr Simon Burns: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, general practitioners (GPs) will be given real responsibility through clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to ensure that commissioning decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local health care needs. GPs, in partnership with other local health care professionals such as therapists and community nurses, are best placed to understand the speech, language and communication health needs of local populations and how to work with their local populations to design services that meet those needs.
In addition, CCGs will work with local authorities to develop a comprehensive analysis of health and social care needs in each local area, and to translate these into action through the joint health and well-being strategy and their own commissioning plans. Health and Wellbeing Boards will promote joined up commissioning that will support integrated provision of services across health and social care.
Vitamin D
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in the population; [79384]
(2) how many cases of rickets were recorded in England and Wales in each of the last 30 years; [79385]
(3) what steps he is taking to encourage (a) adults, (b) children and (c) pregnant women to ensure they have sufficient intake of vitamin D. [79493]
Mr Simon Burns: The 2000-01 National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) of 19 to 64-year-olds found that around 15% of the adult population overall, and a quarter of the 19 to 24 age group, had a blood concentration of vitamin D which indicated that they were at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Preliminary results from the analysis of blood samples collected in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 NDNSs show that average blood concentrations of vitamin D for older children (11 to 18-year-olds) and adults (19 to 64-year-olds) were above the threshold that indicates a risk of vitamin D deficiency. It is not possible to extrapolate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency from this data due to small numbers covered in the survey to date.
The number of episodes of rickets per year for each year in the past 30 years is not available. Data from the Hospital Episode Statistics on the number of episodes of rickets per year from 1995-96 to 2010-11 are provided in the following table.
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| Number of finished consultant episodes with a primary or secondary diagnosis of rickets by year from 1995-96 to 2010-11 | |
|
|
Finished consultant episodes |
Reference should be made to the footnotes when interpreting the data provided(1,) ( ) (2,) ( ) (3)
It is not possible to extrapolate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency from this data due to small numbers covered in the survey to date.
Most people should be able to get enough vitamin D from the action of summer sunlight on the skin. However there are some population groups who are at risk of having a low vitamin D status, including infants and young children, all pregnant and breastfeeding women, all people aged 65 and over, people with darker skins (especially those of South Asian and African-Caribbean origin), and people not exposed to sufficient sunlight (e.g. people whose clothing conceals them fully or those who are confined indoors). Vitamin D supplements are therefore recommended for these at risk groups.
The Department recommends all pregnant and breastfeeding women and all children from six months to five years take a daily vitamin D supplement as a precautionary measure. The Department provides vitamin supplements that include vitamin D through its Healthy Start scheme to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children from low-income families. We encourage primary care trusts (PCTs) to make these vitamins available to all women and young children.
(1) A finished consultant episode (FCE) is 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. The number of episodes does not represent the number of different patients, as a person may be admitted on more than one occasion in any given year.
(2) The number of episodes in which the patient had a (named) primary or secondary diagnosis indicates where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record.
(3) HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in NHS practice.
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Defence
Afghanistan: Unmanned Air Vehicles
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Watchkeeper 450 unmanned air system to be deployed and operational in Afghanistan. [72351]
Peter Luff: Watchkeeper is expected to deploy to Afghanistan in the first quarter of next year and is expected to deliver progressively increasing operational capability throughout 2012.
Ammunition: Storage
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what munitions are (a) tested, (b) modified and (c) stored at the munition facilities at (i) Crombie, (ii) Beith and (iii) Glen Douglas. [78343]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence does not currently modify or test munitions at the defence munitions sites at Crombie and Glen Douglas. Crombie holds a range of munitions including mines, small arms ammunition and pyrotechnics and aircraft canopies containing explosive components. Glen Douglas stores a wider range of general munitions, including shells. Beith undertakes the testing, modification and storage of complex weapons, including missiles and torpedoes.
Armed Forces: Coroners
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to appoint a chief coroner to deal with cases involving members of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [78502]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 7 November 2011]: The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for coronial matters, including the proposal to include the office of the Chief Coroner in Schedule 5 of the Public Bodies Bill, which will allow the majority of the Chief Coroner's key functions to be transferred to either the Lord Chief Justice, in respect of judicial functions, or the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), for administrative functions. This will allow coroner services to be improved across the country, including for bereaved relatives of members of the armed forces. It will also allow the Lord Chief Justice to set mandatory training requirements for coroners and their officers, including training in respect of inquests involving members of the armed forces.
The Government are clear that urgent reform is required to ensure that the coronial system offers a much better service to the bereaved families of service personnel. That is why we are ensuring that coroners conducting inquests involving members of the armed forces can access proper, specialist military training, and that inquests can be transferred to locations close to the homes of bereaved families. We are also introducing a new Charter to set out the clear, enforceable standards which everyone should expect at an inquest, and we are appointing a Minister, supported by representatives of bereaved families, to be in charge of driving and monitoring these much needed changes.
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Taken together these plans will continue the downward pressure on waiting times for inquests involving members of the armed forces, and will deliver on this Government's commitment to honour the memories of those brave servicemen and women who have laid down their lives for our country, and to care for the loved ones they have left behind.
Armed Forces: Pay
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions his Department has sought money from relatives of deceased service personnel since May 2010; and for what reasons in each case; [78219]
(2) how much has been collected by his Department in advanced wages from families of deceased service personnel since May 2010; [78220]
(3) whether his Department has received any complaints about the collection of wages of deceased service personnel since May 2010; and what the grounds were for any such complaints. [78221]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 3 November 2011]: We never ask families of those killed in service to pay money back. Our aim is always to ensure families receive the right amount of money as quickly as possible and we conduct a full reconciliation of their pay accounts as soon as we have all the information available to us.
Consequently, while we do not collect any money from the families of deceased service personnel, we do adjust future payments to ensure families are paid all to which they are entitled. This includes payment for any outstanding annual leave.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the percentage increase was in (a) the rate of inflation and (b) service pay in (i) real and (ii) nominal terms between 2010 and 2011. [79113]
Mr Robathan: In the year to 2010-11 UK general inflation, as measured by the latest published GDP deflator, was 2.8%. The defence inflation statistic measures average change in pay, and prices of goods and services, making up the defence budget, with quality and quantity held constant.
The latest estimate of defence inflation for 2010-11, in nominal terms, is 4.2%.
The latest estimate of defence inflation for 2010-11, in real terms, is 1.4%.
The latest estimate of inflation in military basic and specialist pay for 2010-11, in nominal terms, is 2.8%.
The latest estimate of inflation in military basic and specialist pay for 2010-11, in real terms, is 0.0%.
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of how many further reductions there will be to the number of civilian jobs in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force in the period up to 2015. [79117]
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Mr Robathan: The Strategic Defence and Security Review announced a reduction of about 25,000 civilians across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) by April 2015. Since then, we have completed further work in preparation for the next planning round. In July we announced a reduction of a further 7,000 civilians from 2015.
The MOD's budget and civilian manning are not distributed on a single service basis.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many main battle tanks are available for service in the Army. [78007]
Peter Luff: Following the implementation of the strategic defence and security review the Army's supported main battle tank fleet now consists of 227 Challenger 2. The Ministry of Defence is currently considering the disposal options for the 118 Challenger 2 that are no longer part of the supported fleet.
AWE: Radioactive Waste
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what target date he has set for the completion of treatment of intermediate level radioactive waste held at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE); and when he expects the planned geological disposal facility for radioactive waste to begin accepting waste from the AWE. [77627]
Peter Luff: No target date has been set for the completion of the treatment of intermediate level radioactive waste (ILW) at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), as treatment is likely to be necessary for the duration of the nuclear weapons programme, including during the decommissioning and disposal of sites, facilities and equipment.
The Ministry of Defence's current planning assumption for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's national geological disposal facility to commence the receipt of AWE's ILW materials is 2070.
Battle of Waterloo: Bicentenary
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to commemorate the bicentenary of the battle of Waterloo in 2015. [78566]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my noble Friend, Baroness Rawlings to the noble Lord, Lord Laird, in another place on 29 June 2011, Official Report, column WA423.
Defence: Territorial Waters
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what defensive measures he has in place to ensure the effective protection of UK territorial waters in the event the Royal Navy's emergency stand-by vessel is unavailable.; [79107]
(2) whether the Royal Navy has failed to provide a warship for emergency stand-by at any time in the last six months. [79109]
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Nick Harvey: There are always a number of Royal Navy units at sea maintaining the security of UK waters. Should a warship be required for emergency stand-by, one of these would be tasked accordingly. There has been no requirement for such tasking in the last six months.
Other Government Departments and their agencies, such as the UK Border Agency and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, also contribute to the safeguarding of our shores.
NDPBs
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials were (a) directly and (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures are available. [78118]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responsibility for 28 non-departmental public bodies (NDPB): three executive bodies; 23 advisory bodies; one public corporation; and one independent monitoring board.
The 23 advisory bodies, consisting of public appointees, provide independent and expert advice to Ministers on particular topics of interest. They do not employ their own staff.
The three service museums are the executive bodies for which the MOD is responsible. They are allocated their own budgets and employ their own staff, in 2010-11 their staff, who are not civil servants, numbered 255.
The Oil and Pipelines Agency is the MOD public corporation, and has employed 44 staff since July 2011, this includes two civil servants on secondment from the Department since 2010.
The Department publishes a detailed annual document ‘Public Bodies 2010’ which summarises each public body and provides basic data concerning arrangements for governance, code of conduct and appointments, income/expenditure, staff arrangements and equalities data. This can be found at:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/AnnualReports/AnnualReportsAgenciesNDPBs/AnnualReportsAgenciesNdpbs.htm
A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
Marketing
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people his Department employs to work on marketing and communications. [79654]
Mr Robathan: Communications posts deliver a wide range of services including marketing, media and press services, internal communications, digital and social media services and corporate communications.
The latest figures for posts providing or supporting communications roles were recorded as at 31 March 2011. The total number of such posts was 688. This compares with 748.5 as at 31 March 2010. Both service and civilian personnel fulfil communications roles throughout Defence and the Department's trading funds, including in the service commands and in operational
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theatres. This total includes posts that were vacant at the time of the survey. It also includes a number of posts where the communications role is a partial duty and the post holder will have other significant responsibilities.
Savings have been made across communications during the course of the current financial year and further substantial reductions are planned.
Public Sector Pay
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department and the bodies for which he is responsible earned more than (a) £65,000, (b) £95,000, (c) £140,000 and (d) £175,000 in the last year for which figures are available. [78051]
Mr Robathan: In financial year 2010-11, 770 staff earned more than £65,000 in basic salary. This figure includes those in bodies for which the Secretary of State for Defence has responsibility. Details of the bands requested are as follows:
| Salary range | Subtotals |
This figure includes 84 part-time staff whose salaries have been included and shown as full-time equivalents (FTE). The total figure represents less than 1% of the total civilian workforce in the Department. The figures include senior civil servants, civilian doctors, medical consultants, dental practitioners, Ministry of Defence police and teaching grades.
The Department has implemented Government policy and introduced a pay freeze which, for the senior civil service, will remain in force until 31 March 2013 and for those below until 31 July 2013. This, together with the planned reduction in civil service numbers at all grades, should see the number earning over £65,000 fall further by 2014.
Written Questions
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ordinary written questions tabled to his Department by hon. Members over the last three years have not received a substantive reply in more than (a) one month and (b) two months; and what the subjects were of those questions. [79244]
Mr Robathan:
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) received 6,932 ordinary written questions to answer during the last three parliamentary sessions to 31 October 2011. Of these, 67 did not receive a substantive reply in more than a month. Of those, 15 did not receive a substantive reply in more than two months. The subjects of the questions were estates, aircraft, reports, animals, IT, costs, operations, the Data Protection Act, manpower, pay, medical, the Met Office, entertainment, correspondence, the civil service, the armed forces, transport, veterans, contracts, disposals, procurement, ships, Afghanistan,
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the Army, NATO, correspondence, Trident, security, public relations, travel and military aid.
The MOD shall be providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance at the end of the parliamentary session. Statistics relating to the MOD's performance for the 2009-10 session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Government Procurement Card
Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [73727]
Peter Luff: The use of a Government Procurement Card (GPC) to withdraw cash is exceptional and cardholders must obtain approval from the central branch responsible for GPC policy in order to active this facility. Such cash withdrawals are, in general terms, only authorised to support military operations and overseas deployments, arid for emergencies such as, disaster recovery and emergency aircraft landings.
37 GPC cash transactions, totalling £17,721.01 are recorded, for the period April 2006 to March 2010. Cash transactions include those over the counter at a bank and the use of automated teller machines (ATMs). It is not possible to identify solely ATM transactions.
The date of each transaction is detailed in the following list:
5 July 2006
14 August 2006
21 August 2006
21 August 2006
9 November 2006
16 November 2006
16 November 2006
18 November 2006
18 November 2006
30 November 2006
2 February 2007
15 June 2007
15 June 2007
15 June 2007
16 June 2007
16 June 2007
3 July 2007
19 September 2007
20 September 2007
15 November 2007
11 January 2008
2 May 2008
2 May 2008
17 July 2008
21 August 2008
27 August 2008
30 August 2008
6 October 2008
19 November 2008
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3 December 2008
31 March 2009
24 June 2009
24 June 2009
25 June 2009
27 June 2009
8 August 2009
5 November 2009.
Honours and Decoration Committee
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who he intends to appoint to conduct the independent review of the Honours and Decoration Committee; and if he will make a statement; [79129]
(2) when he intends to establish the independent review of the Honours and Decorations Committee; and if he will make a statement. [79131]
Mr Robathan: The Government have agreed that there should be a fresh review of the rules governing the award of military medals. This will be conducted by an independent reviewer with full consultation with interested parties. The scope of the review and who is to lead it are expected to be announced shortly.
Old Drill Hall
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2011, Official Report, column 327W, on Old Drill Hall, whether it is his present understanding that his Department had title to the Old Drill Hall, Weymouth at the time of its sale in 1993. [79262]
Mr Robathan: Based on legal advice it was understood, at the time of sale, that the Ministry of Defence had title to the Old Drill Hall, Weymouth. That position was later accepted by the Land Registry.
After the passage of almost 20 years it is not possible to say more but the Department's position has been upheld by the courts on several occasions since 2005.
RAF Lossiemouth: European Fighter Aircraft
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the effect on Quick Reaction Alert response times of basing the Typhoon force at RAF Lossiemouth. [79522]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 8 November 2011]:RAF Lossiemouth has already proved successful in holding the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) North role on a temporary basis during periods when essential resurfacing work was undertaken on the RAF Leuchars runway.
At RAF Lossiemouth, Typhoon Aircraft will be held at continuous ground readiness, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will continue to maintain the mandated QRA North ability to take off within minutes to protect UK sovereign airspace. RAF Coningsby will continue to hold the QRA South role.
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I am withholding further information on assessment of specific air defence scenarios as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Reserve Forces: London 2012 Olympics
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to mobilise the Territorial Army or other reserve forces for security duties associated with the London 2012 Olympics. [79293]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence will be providing a range of capabilities, in support of other Government Departments, for the Olympic and Paralympic games. The mobilisation of reserve personnel from all three services is being considered as part of Defence's overall contribution alongside regular colleagues.
International Development
Accountancy: EU Law
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on including within revised EU Accounting Directives and Transparency Directive requirements for companies to report country-specific data on (a) production volumes and (b) sales and employee numbers. [78815]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development is not required to apply this directive. The directive applies to companies listed and operating within European markets, with specific reference to extractive and forestry industries. Government Departments are not required to follow these directives, unless they have been endorsed by HM Treasury to be applied within government reporting requirements. To date there is no proposal to reflect this area within government reporting.
Consultants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [77494]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) enters its consultancy contracts directly with the lead supplier, based on delivery within a total cost. The number of full time equivalent staff a supplier may use to deliver a contract is not monitored centrally by DFID.
Kyrgyzstan: Overseas Aid
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department is funding in Kyrgyzstan. [79298]
Mr Duncan: DFID has been active in the Kyrgyz Republic since 1997. We use a range of aid instruments including technical assistance projects, programme-based support, and sector budget support to the health sector.
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Promoting good governance is a key focus of our work. For example, DFID is assisting the government of the Kyrgyz Republic through support to strengthen public financial management Since 2009, we have worked jointly with the World Bank (WB), the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), and the European Union (EU) in close partnership with the Ministry of Finance to improve the budget formulation process; strengthen internal audit; help re-organise the Ministry of Finance; and strengthen civil society to increase accountability and promote transparency around public spending.
I have recently visited the Kyrgyz Republic, during which I made an assessment of our current and future projects. I have deposited a list of projects currently funded by the Department in the Library of the House. The list includes a number of regional projects covering other Central Asian countries as well as the Kyrgyz Republic.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
British Virgin Islands: Elections
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis observers were invited to oversee the election process in the British Virgin Islands; who selected the observers; and who was consulted. [79482]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Election observers were invited by the Governor of the British Virgin Islands, on the basis that it is normal and good practice for open democracies to invite observers to attend elections. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) regularly observes elections in the Caribbean, for example in Haiti this year, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines last year, and the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2007. The Virgin Islands invited an observer from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) for elections in 1995.
The observers were arranged by the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Isles and Mediterranean Region, who invited expressions of interest from their members.
In advance of inviting the observers, the Governor discussed the initiative with members of the British Virgin Islands Government Cabinet. The Governor also discussed his invitation with the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who decided to invite election observers to oversee the election process in the British Virgin Islands. [79483]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The decision to invite election observers was taken by the Governor of the British Virgin Islands, following consultation with the Premier and the Cabinet.
Freedom of Information Requests
Jon Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his
9 Nov 2011 : Column 371W
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. [78925]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office holds information for the period January 2010 to June 2011. The information requested is as follows for that period:(a) 42; (b)320; (c) 224; (d) Nine. Figures for the third quarter of 2011 will be available shortly.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [78926]
Mr Lidington: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests are usually dealt with by the lead Policy Department, with the assistance of the Information Rights Team which specialises in the handling of FOIA requests. As the Policy Department has responsibility for the reply, if a request needs to be referred to a Minister, it will usually be to the Minister who has responsibility for that Department.
Legal Opinion
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) legal advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six months of 2011; how many times (A) his Department was taken to court and (B) a decision taken by his Department was subject to a judicial review; and what the outcome was of each such (1) case and (2) review. [78096]
Mr Lidington: Central records of this information are not maintained, and an accurate answer to this question cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. For information about the procedures for seeking external legal advice, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, columns 615-16W, to the hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Angela Smith).
Written Questions
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many parliamentary questions for written answer on a named day by his Department were answered (a) on time, (b) five days late, (c) 10 days late, (d) 20 days late and (e) over 30 days late in each month since May 2010. [79565]
Mr Lidington: The information requested is set out in the following table:
9 Nov 2011 : Column 372W
|
|
On time | 5 sitting days late | 10 sitting days late | 20 sitting days late | 30 sitting days late |