Heart Diseases: Health Services
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a new national service framework for cardiac services; [80861]
(2) what assessment he made of the merits of appointing a cardiac specialist to the NHS Commissioning Board; [80862]
(3) what plans he has for the future role of stroke clinical networks under his proposals for NHS reorganisation; [80863]
(4) when he expects to announce the appointment of the next National Clinical Director for Stroke. [80912]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government have committed to embed and strengthen existing clinical networks and to use clinical networks to help ensure that a range of professionals play an integral part in continuously improving the quality of services and care for patients. A review of clinical networks is currently under way to consider the functions, structures and governance that will most effectively support commissioners to deliver improved quality and outcomes in the future. From April 2013, funding of clinical networks will be a decision for the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB).
Future arrangements for the provision of senior clinical advice and the development of clinical strategies are being discussed as part of developing the role of the NHS CB.
HIV Infection: EU Action
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the availability of HIV/AIDS treatments. [79868]
Anne Milton: Department of Health Ministers have had no formal discussions with their European Union counterparts on the availability of treatment for HIV and AIDS.
14 Nov 2011 : Column 611W
Hospitals: Consultants
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of redundancies of consultants in each of the next three years. [80160]
Mr Simon Burns: There is no estimate of the number of redundancies of consultants in each of the next three years.
Work force planning is the responsibility of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. They have to analyse their local situation, develop plans and take action to recruit the appropriate staff required to deliver high quality services.
The latest monthly work force statistics for July 2011 show that since May 2010 the number of consultants working in the national health service in England has increased by 1,412 (4.0%) to 36,586.
Hospitals: Hygiene
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) letters and (b) emails on antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals he has received in the last 12 months. [79858]
Mr Simon Burns:
A total of 32 letters and 12 e-mails relating to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals have been identified from the ministerial correspondence database for the last 12 months. Most of these included
14 Nov 2011 : Column 612W
a reference to the existence of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
in hospitals rather than a focus on antibiotic resistance itself.
Influenza: Vaccination
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been issued with the influenza vaccine by the NHS in 2011 to date. [79864]
Anne Milton: As at 6 November, an estimated 8.3 million people have been vaccinated against seasonal flu by general practitioners in England since September 2011 as part of the national health service seasonal flu immunisation programme. Information on the number of healthcare workers vaccinated this season is not yet available, but will published on the Department's website.
Injuries: Dog Attacks
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were admitted to hospital for injuries caused by dog attacks in each strategic health authority area since June 2010; and what the estimated cost to the NHS is of such admissions. [81039]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is in the following table. Numbers of admissions from March 2011 are not yet available.
The information requested on the costs to the national health service is not collected centrally.
| Number of finished admission episodes (1 ) with a cause code of bitten or struck by dog (2) , by strategic health authority (SHA) of residence (3) , June 2010 to March 2011 | ||||||||||||
| 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||||
| SHA | Description | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Total |
14 Nov 2011 : Column 613W
14 Nov 2011 : Column 614W
| (1) Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Cause code A supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. Only the first external cause code which is coded within the episode is counted in hospital episode statistics. Cause code used: W54—Bitten or struck by dog. (3) SHA/primary care trust (PCT) of residence The SHA or PCT containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to another SHA/PCT for treatment. Note: Activity included Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. | ||||||||||||
Mental Health Services: Ex-servicemen
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of former armed forces personnel who have experienced mental health problems in each of the last 10 years . [79722]
Mr Simon Burns: The fact that someone has served in the armed forces is not recorded within national health service information systems, so these figures are not available.
The Department is working closely with the Ministry of Defence to improve the information provided to general practitioners (GPs) on the discharge of forces personnel, so that veterans can be more easily identified.
The report, “Fighting Fit”, published in October 2010, by my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), was also focused on the improvement of mental health outcomes for veterans. One of its recommendations is that a ‘Veterans Information Service' be established, which will follow veterans up to 12 months after leaving the forces and furnish the NHS with more information regarding their mental healthcare.
Lastly, the Department also recently developed and launched an e-learning package aimed at GPs, in conjunction with the Royal College of General Practitioners. The aim of this work is to better familiarise GPs with the specific needs and issues they may face as part of the ex-service community. There is a specific part of this course which focuses on mental health.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is available for community groups to assist veterans with mental health problems. [79774]
Mr Simon Burns: Over the past year, the Department has committed considerable resource towards the improvement of outcomes for veterans' mental health.
Dr Andrew Murrison's report, ‘Fighting Fit’, a mental health plan for servicemen and veterans, was published in October 2010 with the aim of improving outcomes for veterans in this area. The Government accepted all of Dr Murrison's recommendations and immediately announced that they would commit £7.2 million, over the four-year spending review period, to achieve his specified objectives.
During the course of 2009-11, the Department assisted in the set-up and functioning of ‘Armed Forces Networks’ in each strategic health authority area. The aim of these has been to bring together a partnership in each local area of any national health service, third sector, local government and other stakeholders with an interest in military and veterans' health and well-being. It has been by working in conjunction with these networks—operational within each local community—that the Department has been able to get the money out to take forward ground-breaking work in this important area.
The following is a summary of some of the type of work that has been taken forward:
Vulnerable Veterans and Adult Dependants: a fast-track mental health service in the north-west located at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. Since it was launched, specially-trained therapists taking referrals through the service have seen 2,000 patients and provided 1,300 hours of therapy to patients suffering from anxiety/depression/ post-traumatic stress disorder. The service allows people to be seen within weeks.
Finchale College, based in Durham, provides customised programmes of vocational rehabilitation to those with disabilities for return to employment. The college has been working with veterans.
South-West Veterans' Mental Health Veterans' Partnership Service—developed in partnership with the South West Armed Forces Network, and Combat Stress, and supported by Help for Heroes. The service has a self-referral service where veterans can find help.
Veterans' mental health services are now being rolled out all over the country in conjunction with Armed Forces Networks and using departmental funding. For example, the North West's Military Veterans' Service was launched on 11 November 2011 in conjunction with the Armed Forces Network, and Pennine Care NHS Trust. Also, the charity ‘London Timebank’ launched the Shoulder to Shoulder pilot project in conjunction with Combat Stress. This is a peer mentoring project for ex-servicemen and women by other veterans who have successfully made the transition out into civilian life.
NHS
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the clinical effect of disruption of existing joint working arrangements between NHS trusts when establishing new clinical networks; and if he will make a statement. [80803]
Mr Simon Burns: No such assessment has been made. We expect any changes to the configuration of services to have regard to clinical effectiveness, patient safety and patient experience.
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NHS: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of primary care trusts (PCTs) progress towards target shares of resources under the weighted capitation formula; and what plans he has to reduce the distance from target of each PCT. [79721]
Mr Simon Burns: The distribution of funding used for 2011-12 PCT recurrent revenue allocations ensured all PCTs had growth to allow them to meet their ongoing commitments and meet the needs of their local populations. In spite of the financial pressures, we still managed to move those PCTs that are furthest away from target towards their target allocation. The most under-target PCT at the start of 2011-12 received growth of 4.2%, in its recurrent allocations, compared to an average of 2.2%. By the end of 2011-12, no PCT will be more than 7.2% below target.
Decisions about 2012-13 PCT revenue allocations have not yet been finalised.
Subject to the passing of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for the allocation of national health service resources and pace-of-change policy to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The board would be expected to allocate resources to CCGs in a way that supports the principle of securing equivalent access to NHS services relative to the prospective burden of disease and disability. How these allocations and pace-of-change policy are determined would be a matter for the board.
NHS: Manpower
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS public health staff were in post in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available. [80913]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not collected centrally.
NHS: Pay
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses have been downbanded and (b) hospitals have downgraded staff in the last 12 months. [80159]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not held centrally. It is for the national health service locally to decide on the number and payband of the staff they need to provide high quality, safe and effective services for patients.
NHS: Pensions
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of members of the NHS Pension Scheme are (a) part-time, (b) full-time, (c) male, (d) female, (e) active members and (f) deferred members/pensioners. [80503]
Mr Simon Burns: Estimates based on data extracted from the electronic staff record in March 2011 show the following information:
14 Nov 2011 : Column 616W
(a) The proportion of hospital and community health services staff working part-time is 35%.
(b) The proportion of hospital and community health services staff working full-time is 65%.
Information from the NHS pension scheme and NHS Compensation for Premature Retirement Scheme Accounts 2009-10 provides the following information:
(c) The proportion of male members of the scheme at 31 March 2010 was 25%.
(d) The proportion of female members of the scheme at 31 March 2010 was 75%.
Information from the NHS pension scheme and NHS Compensation for Premature Retirement Scheme Accounts 2010-11 provides the following information
(e) The number of active members of the scheme at 31 March 2011 was 1,329,479.
(f) The number of deferred members of the scheme was 560,332 and the number of pensioner members of the scheme was 669,090 at 31 March 2011.
NHS: Waiting Lists
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect projected levels of NHS funding will have on (a) waiting lists and (b) provision of expensive treatment options. [80383]
Mr Simon Burns: National health service funding will increase by £12.5 billion over the spending review period. Together with efficiency improvements of up to £20 billion over the same period, this will enable the NHS to maintain maximum waiting times standards set in the NHS Constitution and to continue to meet rising demand and cost pressures, including new drugs and treatments where these are effective and cost-effective.
Nurses
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will restore the role of state-enrolled nurses. [80561]
Anne Milton: Enrolled nurses are now known as level two nurses and must be registered on part two of the nurses' part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (MNC) register. The NMC no longer approves programmes for nurses on part two of the register.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will order a review of the training of nurses. [80563]
Anne Milton: The standards of nurse education are set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. They have recently consulted on and reviewed nurse education and with the national health service and universities are in the process of implementing a new curriculum by September 2013.
Obesity: Health Services
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of progress with the Government's obesity strategy; what assessment he has made of likely progress by 2013; and if he will make a statement. [79755]
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Anne Milton: The Government published ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England’ on October 2011. The document set out details of two new national ambitions for reversing the trend in the level of excess weight in children and adults by 2020.
We will be establishing a National Ambition Review Group for obesity to review progress and consider further action.
A copy of the Call to Action has already been placed in the Library.
Organ: Donors
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage elderly people to volunteer as organ donors. [80382]
Anne Milton: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is the organ donation organisation responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. It is in the process of agreeing a partnership with the National Council of Palliative Care (NCPC) and has joined their Dying Matters Coalition. The NCPC leads the coalition and aims to change public attitudes and behaviours around dying, death and bereavement. The coalition members include organisations from across the national health service, voluntary and independent health and care sectors, charities and faith organisations, among others, and is working with people in the 55 to 65 and 65 to 75 age groups.
NHSBT have also identified a number of organisations that have a greater affinity and/or membership from the over 55 age group. NHSBT are looking at ways to work with these organisations to increase awareness of organ donation and encourage greater sign up to the Organ Donor Register.
Palliative Care: Finance
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to his Department’s end-of-life care strategy after 2011; and what proportion of such funding has been ring-fenced for the 12 key activities identified in that strategy. [79803]
Paul Burstow: Funding for the end-of-life care strategy remains in primary care trust (PCT) baseline allocations. PCT allocations are not ring-fenced. It is for individual PCTs to decide how best to deliver implementation, including how much funding to provide for the key priorities the strategy identified.
For 2011-12, £5.5 million has been allocated to support national work and projects and an indicative allocation of £38.7 million has been made under the Multi Professional Education and Training (MPET) budget for staff training and development in end-of-life care. The MPET funding is allocated to strategic health authorities (SHAs). It is not ring-fenced and responsibility for how the MPET budget is spent lies with the SHAs.
Central programme budgets for 2012-13 onwards have not yet been set.
14 Nov 2011 : Column 618W
Prescription Drugs
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people bought a prescription prepay certificate in each of the last 12 months. [79860]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is not collected on the number of people who purchased a prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC). Information on the number of PPCs issued for prescriptions dispensed in England, in each month for the last 12 months is shown in the table.
|
|
Number |
| Source: NHS Business Services Authority | |
Prosthetics: Ex-servicemen
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the adequacy of the prosthetics services for veterans. [79872]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), has not had any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on the adequacy of the prosthetics services for veterans. However, the Government commissioned my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) to produce a report on the provision of prosthetics and rehabilitation to our veterans through the national health service in January this year. This report, ‘A Better Deal for Military Amputees’, was published on 21 October 2011 and accepted by the Government. In his report, Dr Murrison makes a number of recommendations to ensure that veterans continue to receive the excellent standard of care currently provided by the Ministry of Defence when they are in service. Officials are working closely together on implementation of the recommendations.
Radiotherapy
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) with reference to the radiotherapy dataset annual report, whether he plans to reallocate radiotherapy resources to those parts of the country identified as being in most need of investment in radiotherapy facilities; and if he will make a statement; [79949]
14 Nov 2011 : Column 619W
(2) with reference to the radiotherapy dataset annual report, what assessment he has made of the (a) incidence of cancer and (b) access to radiotherapy treatment in the Northern Cancer Network; [79976]
(3) for what reasons his Department has delayed the introduction of a national radiotherapy tariff. [79977]
Paul Burstow: Decisions regarding the provision of radiotherapy services are the responsibility of the local commissioners. The “Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS) Annual Report” enables commissioners and providers to understand how their radiotherapy services compare with other centres and to identify good practice. This will help tackle unwarranted variation and allow national teams to identify where they can focus their efforts in supporting service improvement.
The RTDS annual report found that North of England Cancer Network had a low rate of radiotherapy attendance per thousand cancer cases and that this rate could not be explained by a variation in cancer incidence. We are advised by NHS North East that the network has said it needs to look at the data to gain a clearer picture. The network has also said it recognises the need to increase capacity in radiotherapy services to reduce the distance that some patients have to travel for their treatment and that it is taking forward work in this area.
Finally, David Flory, deputy NHS chief executive, wrote to the service on 6 October to outline the proposed payment by results arrangements for 2012-13. This included the proposal to mandate the use of national currencies for external beam radiotherapy. Copies of the letter and the RTDS annual report have been placed in the Library.
Red Cross
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Red Cross regarding joint projects. [79859]
Paul Burstow: The Department is not aware of any recent discussions with the Red Cross on joint projects. However, I intend to meet with the Red Cross in the near future to discuss other issues. In addition, local national health service organisations have direct relationships with the Red Cross and therefore may have had such discussions.
Sickle Cell Diseases
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) letters and (b) emails his Department has received on the subject of sickle cell anaemia in the last 12 months. [79867]
Anne Milton: A search of the Department's ministerial correspondence database has identified nine letters and three emails received since 1 November 2010 about sickle cell anaemia. This figure represents correspondence received by the Department's central correspondence team only. One of the letters was a joint petition from the Sickle Society and the United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society about funding for specialised health services.
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Skin Cancer
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of likely changes in the incidence of malignant melanoma over the next 20 years. [80456]
Paul Burstow: The ‘Skin Cancer Vision’ document published alongside ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’ reported that 10,600 cases of malignant melanoma were diagnosed in the United Kingdom in 2006 and, if current trends continued, there would be around 15,500 cases of melanoma diagnosed in the UK per year within the next 15 years. A copy of the vision document has been placed in the Library.
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Department's strategy ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of malignant melanoma. [80457]
Anne Milton: In 2011-12, the Department has funded SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention campaign, to provide information and advice to the public. This involves a number of activities focusing on sun safety and appropriate sunbed use.
The Department has also published implementation guidance for local authorities on the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 and information for Sunbed Businesses. The purpose of the Act is to prevent those under 18 years from being allowed to use sunbeds in commercial premises.
Smoking
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on smoking cessation. [79870]
Anne Milton: The Public Health White Paper ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England’ (cm 7985) sets out the Government's long-term vision for improving public health in England. The White Paper, which is available in the Library, recognises the devastating impact that tobacco use has on public health in our communities.
Following on from the publication of the White Paper, the Government published ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England’ in March 2011. The ‘Tobacco Control Plan for England’, which has already been placed in the Library, was agreed across Government prior to its publication in March 2011, and it includes a chapter on helping tobacco users to quit.
Sport: Schools
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage uptake of sport in schools to assist in prevention of lifestyle diseases. [80466]
Anne Milton:
We recognise the critical importance of physical activity in preventing lifestyle diseases and the maintenance of good health in childhood and adolescence. The Department is providing £6.4 million between 2011-13 to achieve this aim through the embedding of 3,000
14 Nov 2011 : Column 621W
Change4Life School Sports Clubs in secondary schools and creating 4,500 clubs in primary schools. This programme is specifically designed to enable children to be more active, particularly the least active—often those who have not previously been engaged in traditional school sport.
Evaluation has already shown that the clubs are a "highly effective mechanism for change". Within the target group of those that were not choosing to play sport every week or that were not positive about sport (over 22,500 young people), those choosing to play sport every week increased by 166% and those positive about sport increased by 89%.
The Department is also supporting participation in school sport by a contribution of £14 million over two years to the School Games which is being led by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and supported by the Department of Education, Youth Sport Trust and Sport England. The School Games will capitalise on the run up to and the legacy of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will create the opportunity for every school and every child to participate in competitive sport. It will also target the least active children who may previously not have been interested in competitive sport.
14 Nov 2011 : Column 622W
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many (a) men and (b) women enrolled on apprenticeships in (i) information and communication technology, (ii) engineering and manufacturing technologies and (iii) construction, planning and the built environment in (A) England, (B) the West Midlands and (C) Walsall South constituency in the latest period for which figures are available; [79790]
(2) how many (a) men and (b) women enrolled on apprenticeships in (i) England, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) Walsall South constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [79791]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 10 November 2011]: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts by gender in information and communication technology, engineering and manufacturing technologies, and construction, planning and the built environment and all sector subject areas in England, the West Midlands and Walsall South parliamentary constituency, in the 2009/10 academic year, the latest year for which final data is available.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship starts by gender and sector subject area in Walsall South parliamentary constituency, the West Midlands and England, 2009/10 | |||||
|
|
|
Information and communication technology | Engineering and manufacturing technologies | Construction, planning and the built environment | All apprenticeships |
| (1) Indicates a base value of less than five. Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Total figures may not add up due to rounding. 2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Source: Individualised Learner Record. | |||||
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 October 2011, available at:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Information on apprenticeship starts by geographic breakdown, gender and sector subject areas are available in the SFR supplementary tables, available at:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statistical firstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_ supplementary_tables/
Biology: Graduates
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of first degree biological sciences graduates were in graduate-level employment or graduate-level training one year after graduating in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [78783]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 7 November 2011]: Information on the proportion of first degree biological sciences graduates who were in graduate-level employment or graduate-level training one year after graduating is not available. The numbers and proportions of UK-domiciled first degree graduates who were in graduate-level employment or graduate-level further study six months after qualifying are shown in the following table for the academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10 as an alternative. Information for the 2010/11 academic year will become available from June 2012.
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| UK-domiciled first degree biological sciences graduates (1) in graduate-level employment (2) or graduate-level further study (3) six months after qualifying. UK higher education institutions, academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10 | ||||
| Number in employment or further study | ||||
| Academic year | Graduate-level | Non graduate-level | Total in employment or further study | Proportion graduate-level (%) |
| (1) Covers graduates from full-time and part-time courses. (2) Covers graduate-level Standard Occupational Classifications and full-time, part-time and voluntary employment. (3) Covers taught and research based higher degrees, postgraduate certificates or diplomas and first degrees. Note: Figures in this table are rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on unrounded figures and are given to one decimal place. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency: Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education | ||||
Chief Scientific Adviser
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to fill the position of chief scientific adviser in his Department. [78756]
Mr Willetts: We are currently at an advanced stage of a recruitment campaign to fill the position of chief scientific adviser and expect to announce the name of the successful candidate before the end of the year.
Departmental Data Protection
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2011, Official Report, column 104W, on departmental data protection, if he will name the (a) Minister and (b) bookkeeper who was provided with the Minister’s diary. [80279]
Mr Davey: It would not be fair to the individual or lawful under the Data Protection Act to release the name of the bookkeeper of the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my noble Friend Baroness Wilcox.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [75114]
Mr Davey: Information on the Department’s procurement spend level with third sector organisations in each month since May 2010 will be available in December and will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to (a) small, (b) medium-sized and (c) large businesses in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. [75115]
Mr Prisk: Information on the Department’s procurement spend level with small businesses, medium-sized and large businesses since May 2010 will be available in December and will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Secondary Legislation
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date. [76454]
Mr Davey: Records for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (and the previous Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department of Trade and Industry) indicate that the following numbers of statutory instruments, including Regulatory Reform Orders and a few local orders, were issued in the following calendar year:
|
|
Total |
The following Legislative Reform Orders were issued by the Department (and the then Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills) by parliamentary session.
|
|
Number |
| (1) Verification of Weighing and Measurement Order 2008 Consumer Credit Order 2008 (2) Insolvency (Miscellaneous Provision) Order 2009 Insolvency (Miscellaneous Provision) Order 2009 Limited Partnerships Order 2009 Insolvency (Advertising Requirements) Order 2009 | |
14 Nov 2011 : Column 625W
The figures have been drawn from the Department's database and written records, which, as with any recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Departmental Secondment
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, columns 301-02W, on departmental secondment, who the senior representatives of the business sector seconded to his Department were; from which companies they were seconded; what payments were made by his Department to those companies in connection with the secondments; to which areas of departmental business activity each secondment related; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure that expertise brought by each secondee is retained by his Department following the end of the period of the secondment. [80917]
Mr Davey: I have asked for this information to be compiled and will write to the hon. Member shortly with the detail. A copy of my reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Written Questions
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [79540]
Mr Davey: Ministers approve answers to parliamentary questions and they are accountable to Parliament for their answers.
Devolution: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what Barnett consequentials were paid to the Welsh Government as a result of the Regional Growth Fund in each of the three years since the fund was established. [78310]
Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
The 2010 spending review settlements for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills included provision for the Regional Growth Fund. The devolved Administrations received Barnett consequentials on the changes to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skill's budget although the amount for the Regional Growth Fund was not separately identified.
Environment Protection
Barry Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the likely (a) turnover, (b) level of employment
14 Nov 2011 : Column 626W
and
(c)
level of exports attributable to the low-carbon and environmental goods and services sector in each year to 2020; and if he will make a statement. [80018]
Mr Prisk: HM Government have made no estimates of the projected turnover, employment level or export level in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector.
However, independent research commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills estimated the turnover, exports, number of jobs and forecast growth of the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector. Estimates include activity across the supply chain. The most recent data report on the 2009-10 financial year. The following tables provide 2009-10 turnover, employment and export estimates and growth forecasts until 2015-16.
| UK LCEGS | |
|
|
Total sales (£ million) |
| UK LCEGS | |
|
|
Total employment |
| UK LCEGS | |
|
|
Exports (£ million) |
| UK LCEGS | |
|
|
Growth estimates (1) (%) |
| (1 )Growth forecasts provided are based on aggregated forecasts for turnover. Source: K-Matrix 2011. | |
Export Credits Guarantees: Libya
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for which projects concerning Libya the Export Credits Guarantee Department extended cover from January 2004 to date; what the maximum exposure was in each such case; and whether there is any extant cover. [81104]
Mr Davey: The Export Credits Guarantee Department has not supported any export contracts to Libya from January 2004 to date.
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Higher Education: Admissions
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications have been submitted by residents of (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) the Wirral, (c) the North West region and (d) England in (i) the current academic year and (ii) each of the last five academic years. [80798]
Mr Willetts: The latest information is in the following table and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).
| Applicants to UCAS by parliamentary constituency/region | ||||||
| Year of entry | ||||||
|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 (2) |
| (1) Parliamentary constituency has been identified using the home postcode regardless of the declared area of permanent residence. (2) Since final data for the 2010-11 admission cycle (for entry into the 2011-12 academic year) have not yet been published, data reported in the above table reflect UCAS data taken 55 days (ie 12 October 2011) following the publication of A-level results on 18 August 2011. Final end of cycle data will be available in mid December. | ||||||
Higher Education: Ethnic Groups
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people from black and minority ethnic groups in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency applied to university for entry in (a) 2011-12 and (b) each of the previous five academic years. [77618]
Mr Willetts: The latest information is shown in the following table, and has been provided by the Universities and Admissions Service (UCAS).
| Applicants domiciled in Birmingham Ladywood (1) constituency by ethnicity (2) | ||||||
| Year of entry | ||||||
| Ethnic background | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 (3) |
| (1) Birmingham Ladywood constituency has been identified using the home postcode regardless of declared area of permanent residence. (2) While completion of the ethnic origin field is mandatory for those with a declared area of permanent residence in the UK, applicants can indicate that they prefer not to say what their ethnic origin is. Data on the ethnic origin of applicants is not passed to institutions until after the selection process. Where the ethnic origin has not been detailed in this analysis, this is recorded as “Unknown”. (3) Since the 2010-11 admission cycle (for entry into the 2011-12 academic cycle) has not yet closed, data reported in the table reflect UCAS data taken 55 days (i.e. 12 October 2011) following the publication of A level results on 18 August 2011 (formerly referred to as “provisional end of cycle data”). Final end of cycle data will be available in mid December. | ||||||
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Higher Education: Finance
Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the policy priorities set out in his 2010 grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, whether he plans to include in his 2011 letter a provision that the top policy priorities for targeted funding should be supporting widening participation and fair access. [79805]
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education White Paper, “Students at the Heart of the System” published in June this year, sets out clearly the importance the Government place on widening participation and improving fair access to higher education. We have been clear that all those with the ability should have access to higher education irrespective of their background or family income. Following the publication of the White Paper BIS Ministers wrote to Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) setting out priorities for funding which include the additional costs associated with attracting and retaining students from non-traditional backgrounds, and disabled students.
Government will signal their priorities for 2012/13 funding to HEFCE in the grant letter that will be issued at the turn of the year.
Higher Education: Private Sector
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 330W, on higher education: private sector, if he will seek meetings with people who have (a) taught for and (b) studied with the for-profit higher education providers that he has met; and if he will seek meetings with their parent companies. [73400]
Mr Willetts: I am always happy to meet and speak with students and lecturers of higher education providers when the opportunity arises, for example on my visits to campus sites or lately through internet web chats.
I also meet regularly with providers of higher education including for-profit institutions. In that context, I am happy to meet with the parent companies of such providers.
HM Revenue and Customs
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with (a) HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officials and (b) trade union representatives on the possible relocation of the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate from his Department to the national minimum wage enforcement team in HMRC. [80436]
Mr Davey: I have had no discussions with HM Revenue and Customs officials or trade union representatives on this matter.
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Lip-reading
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to reclassify lip-reading as an essential skill for the purposes of skills funding. [79937]
Mr Hayes: “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” (November, 2010) recognises the importance of access to further education and skills training for people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Where lip-reading skills may be needed to help deaf people get into work then these would be funded through the single adult skills budget.
Where people choose to learn lip reading for general interest purposes, a college or training provider may ask the individual to contribute fully or partially towards the cost.
In recent discussions with “Action for Hearing Loss” it was agreed that there are different “categories” of need for lip-reading skills and BIS officials are exploring with Action for Hearing Loss where skills funding can be used appropriately for lip reading provision.
Office for Life Sciences
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times he has met the Secretary of State for Health to discuss the Office for Life Sciences in the last 12 months. [80560]
Mr Willetts: Ministers and officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department of Health (DH) work closely and collaboratively to improve the UK business environment for life sciences companies. The Office for Life Sciences (OLS), based in the Department, is the principal vehicle for driving that work forward and is a routine part of these discussions.
Overseas Trade: Advisory Services
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the proposal contained in the British Chambers of Commerce's Autumn Statement letter to the Government that the Overseas Market Introduction Service should be restructured to a variable rate system depending on business size. [79431]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) pricing structure and strategy is under constant review. The last full refresh of policy was in April 2011. The Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) charging structure is based on firms paying for services used, irrespective of company size, providing support for all firms but with additional assistance for target groups. To ensure support is targeted, UKTI offers grants and subsidies to small and medium-sized enterprises where it can make the most difference, such as encouraging new exporters or exporters to the high growth markets.
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Research: Expenditure
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 757W, on research: expenditure, how much of the reduction in research and development expenditure he estimates is a consequence of a reduction in capital expenditure by the Government; and if he will make a statement. [76428]
Mr Willetts: The Department has not conducted any specific analysis of the impact of changing levels of Government capital expenditure on levels of business enterprise research and development (BERD).
Research and development (R and D) expenditure is pro-cyclical and therefore is expected to rise and fall in line with the economy. Although 2009 BERD levels were lower than the previous year, by 4.1% in real terms, this was matched by a larger drop in GDP over the same time period, meaning that BERD as a percentage of GDP increased slightly, from 1.10% to 1.12%.
When considering the sources of funds for R and D performed in UK businesses, the contribution from UK Government increased between 2008 and 2009, both in absolute and percentage terms. This is in contrast to reductions in funding from businesses' own funds, from other UK businesses and from overseas funding.
The Office for National Statistics will publish 2010 BERD data on 9 November 2011.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 757W, on research: expenditure, what steps he is taking to reverse the reduction in research and development expenditure in real terms; and if he will make a statement. [76429]
Mr Willetts: The Department is developing an innovation and research strategy to set out how this Government will support innovation and research in the UK and leverage significant public investment to drive sustainable growth and we intend to publish this later this year.
The Government are, though, already playing a role in maintaining research and development (R and D) expenditure with the protection of the science and research budget at £4.6 billion over the period of the comprehensive spending review. This investment is to secure the UK's leading position as the most productive research base in the G8 and as a global leader in research excellence, second only to the USA in the world. Universities are playing a role themselves, having leveraged £3.09 billion in external income in 2010, 4% more than in the previous year. We have seen a transformation in the engagement of UK universities with business and the UK has the highest number of spin-outs from universities in Europe—in 2010, 273 official spin-outs were established by UK universities. All of this makes the UK one of the world's leading locations for commercial and academic R&D and we have the fourth highest concentration of the world's top
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1,400 international companies for R&D expenditure, including companies such as Rolls-Royce, Ford, Pfizer, Airbus, Eli Lilly, Eisai, Nokia, Syngenta, Merck and Motorola. And the UK is Europe's most successful country in attracting research-driven inward investment.
We are also working to reverse the reduction in research and development expenditure through a range of measures including the work of partner bodies such as the Technology Strategy Board, which is the Government's prime channel through which we support business-led technology innovation.
The Technology Strategy Board is establishing a network of elite technology and innovation centres to commercialise new and emerging technologies—the High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre has been launched and others in the areas of cell therapy and offshore renewable energy are in development. The Technology Strategy Board also delivers national collaborative R and D and grant for R and D schemes, which are focused on supporting research and development projects in businesses, and the Small Business Research Initiative, which aims to provide business opportunities for innovative companies while solving the needs of Government Departments.
The Department is also working closely with HM Treasury to improve the climate in this area through improvements to the R and D tax credits scheme, as well as other ongoing activities, such as the implementation of a Patent Box. R and D tax credits are currently being reviewed to make them more efficient and effective. As part of this process, Budget 2011 announced significant increases in the rate of relief for the Small and Medium (SME) scheme. The rate is among the most competitive in the world, increasing in April 2011 from 175% to 200% of qualifying R and D expenditure and rising again to 225% from April 2012.
R and D tax credits are already the largest single Government support for business R and D, with claims recorded so far for FY 2009/10 for the Large and SME schemes reaching £1.02 billion, supporting R and D investment by business totalling £10.14 billion. Further take-up is anticipated following improvements to the schemes.
The Government have also been working with industry to work up details for the introduction of the Patent Box. This will allow companies to apply a 10% reduced rate of corporation tax on profits attributed to patents—providing an incentive for companies in the UK to retain existing patents and develop new innovative patented products. It will apply from 2013.
Students: Finance
Mr Gyimah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what effect requiring higher paid graduates to continue payments to the Student Loans Company for two years after they have paid off their loan would have on the way student loans are classified in the national accounts. [73680]
Mr Willetts:
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) applies European System of Accounts (ESA) rules when classifying transactions for national accounts. Each transaction or set of transactions brought to ONS for
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an independent decision is considered on a case-by-case basis, and we cannot be clear as to how ONS may rule in this particular scenario.
Any changes that erased the link between the amount paid for tuition and the amount eligible to be paid back after study could lead to the loan scheme being formally reassigned as a graduate tax.
However, it is not the Government's intention that higher paid graduates should be required to continue making payments to the Student Loans Company after paying off their loans.
Students: Loans
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse arising from unpaid student loans due to individuals (a) emigrating and (b) who are not active within the workforce. [79224]
Mr Willetts: We currently estimate that the resource accounting and budgeting charge for student loans—representing the cost of both write-offs and interest subsidies—will be around 30% of the face value of loans issued.
This estimate allows for delays in repayments for borrowers who emigrate and includes the costs of those who are not active in the work force (either temporarily or permanently) but it is not possible to provide specific estimates for those factors in isolation.
Students: Sponsorship
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) businesses and (b) other organisations he expects to sponsor university places outside the quota system in the academic year (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15. [79761]
Mr Willetts: It is not possible to predict how many university places will be sponsored by businesses and other organisations for those years. This Department consulted through the Higher Education White Paper, on how we might find ways in future years of expanding opportunities for employers and charities to offer sponsorship for individual places outside of student number controls. A response will be published in due course.
International Development
Bell Pottinger Group
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [80052]
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Mr Andrew Mitchell: Details of all Ministers' external meetings are published every quarter in the normal way and are available on the DFID website:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Our-organisation1/Ministers/
Information for other officials' meetings is not held centrally.
Burma: Overseas Aid
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will increase funding provided by his Department for assistance to refugees and internally displaced peoples along the Thailand-Burma border. [79717]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Britain is in the process of reviewing its last three years' assistance to refugees and internally displaced people (IDP) along the Thailand-Burma border. This will include a full review of results achieved so far, how effective we have been at meeting programme objectives and whether the UK's aid is providing good value for money. The review will help inform the Department for International Development's (DFID) future programme of support for IDPs and refugees along the Thailand-Burma border and decisions on funding. DFID remains fully committed to providing humanitarian aid to Burmese refugees in Thailand and people affected by conflict in eastern Burma.
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of (a) need and (b) funding for assistance to refugees and internally displaced peoples on the Thailand-Burma border. [79718]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Britain is in the process of reviewing its assistance to refugees and internally displaced people (IDP) along the Thailand-Burma border, and as part of this review will consider the needs and how to approach Britain's future programme of support, including funding levels. Officials are in regular contact with other donors, international organisations and NGOs to monitor the situation in the border area and the impact on people.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Overseas Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department’s aid budget was allocated to the Democratic Republic of Congo in each of the last 10 years. [80819]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The proportion of the Department for International Development’s (DFID) bilateral expenditure spent on the Democratic Republic of Congo in each of the last 10 years is shown in the following table.
|
|
£ million |
14 Nov 2011 : Column 634W
A breakdown of DFID’s expenditure by country are in the “Statistics on International Development” publication. This can be found at:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/Aid-Statistics/
Design Services
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contracts his Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information his Department holds on the location of such companies. [80179]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has, since May 2010, awarded the following contracts for design (and production) services, each under competitive tender and/or pre-existing government framework:
| Project | Contractor | Location of company |
|
Complex graphics for Private Sector Approach paper (includes typesetting) |
||
|
Circular display boards showing results commitments made in DFID's aid reviews |
It is not possible to provide the information requested for our offices overseas without incurring disproportionate cost.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, (d) stationery and (e) campaigns in the last year for which figures are available. [80208]
Mr Duncan: In the year to 31 October 2011, The Department for International Development (DFID) has spent nothing on design in respect of (a) logos, (b) buildings, (c) advertising, and (d) stationery.
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On (e) campaigns, DFID has spent £930, connected with the announcement of our bilateral and multilateral aid reviews.
It is not possible to provide the information requested for our offices overseas without incurring disproportionate cost.
Parliamentary Questions
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [79573]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: All parliamentary questions are the responsibility of DFID Ministers and the clearance processes reflect this.
Written Questions
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [79571]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I have placed in the Library a table documenting my Department's PQ performance since May 2010.
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.
Developing Countries: Disease Control
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department will make public its (a) current and (b) future strategies on funding for research and development into prevention, treatment and diagnostics for diseases connected with poverty, including (i) HIV/AIDS, (ii) tuberculosis and (iii) malaria; how he intends to publish it; and if he will make a statement. [R] [80236]
Mr Duncan: The UK Government’s current priorities for research include research into the development of new technologies for prevention, treatment and diagnostics for diseases of poverty including HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We anticipate that there will be an open competition for future funding in these areas held during 2012. Details will be posted on the DFID website at:
www.dfid.gov.uk
Developing Countries: Family Planning
Jim Dobbin:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answers of 6 July 2011, Official Report, columns 1264-65W, and 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 578W, on
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developing countries: family planning, what proportion of the sums allocated
(a)
to the United Nations Population Fund in the next two years,
(b)
to International Planned Parenthood in the next two years and
(c)
to Marie Stopes International in the next three years is to be spent on sterilisation and abortion; and if he will make a statement. [79836]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation) and MSI (Marie Stopes International) all receive core funding from the Department for International Development. All of DFID's funding must be used in a manner that is consistent with DFID policy.
This support is used to cover administration costs as well as investing in specific programmes and projects at country level that improve maternal and reproductive health. Guidance on how these funds are spent is contained in a memorandum of understanding between DFID and UNFPA.
Information about the funding that DFID provides to IPPF and MSI is available in the Library of the House. DFID's support to IPPF and MSI can be used flexibly by both organisations, as long as they are able to meet the objectives and measurable performance indicators that have been agreed by DFID. DFID does not ask for disaggregated expenditure figures for each organisation.
The UK is committed to improving women's health and reducing the number of women dying from pregnancy and childbirth. DFID's support to these organisations saves women's and girl's lives as well as preventing injury and illness through improving access to family planning and reducing recourse to unsafe abortion.
Effective family planning is about a service and approach that gives people choice over their future and provides safe, secure services where they are needed. One aspect of this entails expanding the choice of family planning methods available to people, including short and long-term reversible contraceptives and, for those who have completed their families, the option of voluntary male or female sterilisation. DFID is clear that where women have no other choice than to have an abortion, this should take place in a safe environment instead of back street operations which cost 47,000 lives every year.
Israel: Agriculture
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on international co-operation in agricultural technology for farming in arid conditions. [80570]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I have not had any discussions with my Israeli counterpart on international co-operation in agriculture technology relating to farming in arid conditions.
The UK currently has no direct co-operation with Israel on international development. Israel became a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in August 2010 and we hope that Israel will consider joining the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC).
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South Sudan: Overseas Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid the UK has committed to South Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [79911]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) programme allocation for assistance to the Republic of South Sudan over the current comprehensive spending review (CSR) cycle is £376.6 million. The annual trajectory is as follows:
|
|
£ million |
The programme has also been allocated £2.6 million this financial year from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (ACPP) which is co-managed between DFID, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence.
DFID’s Operational Plan for the Republic of South Sudan, which was published shortly after Independence, lists a number of targets aligned to the Republic of South Sudan Government’s national Development Plan. These include the following projected results by 31 March 2015:
240,000 more children to complete primary school
750,000 people to be treated for or prevented from getting malaria
4 million people to receive life-saving health care and nutrition
The printing and distribution of 12 million textbooks to almost 2 million children
Increased private sector investment and trade by reducing cross-border transport costs by up to 15%.
Yemen
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he (a) has taken and (b) is planning to take to implement the priorities for his Department set out in the Building Stability Overseas Strategy in Yemen. [80511]
Mr Duncan: The principles of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy underpin the British Government's response to Yemen's manifold challenges. The three lead Departments, the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, have for some time worked closely together to deliver an integrated and coherent cross-Government approach. Our strategy has focused on working to degrade al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to the point where they no longer pose a strategic threat, and halting Yemen's decline into state failure by reducing conflict and grievances and increasing the capacity of the state.
The Government are gravely concerned with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen. Through the Department for International Development (DFiD), and supported by diplomatic efforts in Sana'a, the UK Government are providing £15.4 million in humanitarian support in 2011-12 to meet immediate humanitarian
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needs in accordance with our strategy. DFID is also continuing to deliver development assistance to Yemen to support poor and vulnerable Yemenis, principally through ongoing support to the delivery of essential basic services such as health, education and water.
Treasury
Child Care Vouchers
Damian Collins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the cost to the public purse was of the child care voucher scheme in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [79620]
(2) how much he expects to disburse under the child care voucher scheme to claimants (a) earning less than the salary at which the higher rate of income tax applies, (b) paying the higher rate of income tax but not the additional rate and (c) paying the additional rate of income tax in 2011-12. [79621]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 8 November 2011]: Income tax and NICs forgone on employer-supported child care provided through vouchers are estimated to cost the Exchequer £550 million in 2011-12.
The amounts of income tax and NICs (including employer NICs) forgone in 2011-12 for employees in different rate bands in respect of child care vouchers are estimated as follows:
| £ million | |||
| Taxpayer band | Relief for employee (tax and NICs) | Relief for employer (NICs) | Total |
Child Tax Credit
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families are in receipt of the family element of the child tax credit in (a) England, (b) the south east and (c) Dartford constituency. [80609]
Mr Gauke: The requested information can be found in the latest HMRC publication “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics: Geographical analyses—April 2011”, available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-apr11.pdf
Data for England, the south east and Dartford constituency are provided in the following table:
| Number of families benefiting from child tax credit family element April 2011 | |
|
|
Thousand |
14 Nov 2011 : Column 639W
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families received child tax credits in (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) the Wirral, (c) the north-west, (d) England and (e) the UK in (i) 2011-12 and (ii) each of the last five years. [80795]
Mr Gauke: This information is available in HMRC’s publications “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics Finalised annual awards. Geographical analyses” available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/final-award-geog.htm
The latest year for which data are available is 2009-10. Information for 2010-11 will be available in May 2012.
Duchy of Cornwall
Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department classifies the activities of the Duchy of Cornwall as (a) those of a private estate, (b) those of a public authority, (c) those of a public body, (d) part of the Crown or (e) in another fashion. [79970]
Miss Chloe Smith: The independent Office for National Statistics classifies entities for national accounts purposes.
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Mr Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress has been made on payments under the Government's compensation scheme to Equitable Life policy holders living in Sheffield. [79900]
Mr Hoban: Payments began on the 30 June 2011, and the scheme will publish a progress report in due course. The scheme does not hold a breakdown of payments made by region, town or constituency.
Mr David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many offer letters were sent by the Equitable Life Payment Scheme in each month during the operation of the scheme. [80916]
Mr Gyimah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made on payments to Equitable Life policyholders; and what proportion of payments he expects to be made by the end of 2011. [81141]
Mr Hoban: The scheme will be publishing a report in due course on the volumes and values of payments made.
European Union
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the. Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ministerial-level meetings have been held in his Department as part of the Government’s examination of the balance of existing EU competences. [79811]
Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers have meetings on a wide variety of issues as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.
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Financial Services: Complaints
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many complaints were made to the Financial Ombudsman Service in relation to life insurance policies in each year between 1997 and 2005; and how many were resolved (a) at the assessment stage, (b) after investigation by an adjudicator and (c) by final decision of an ombudsman in each case; [80552]
(2) how many cases were received by the Financial Ombudsman Service in relation to the sale of (a) critical illness insurance, (b) payment protection insurance, (c) term life assurance and (d) income protection in each of the last five years; [80605]
(3) how many cases were received by the Financial Ombudsman Service in each of the last five years; and how many were resolved in each year; [80606]
(4) how many endowment mortgage complaints were upheld by the Financial Ombudsman Service and rejected by insurance companies in the latest period for which figures are available. [80607]
Mr Hoban: The matters raised are for the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), whose day-to-day operations are independent from government control and influence. The questions have been passed on to the FOS, which will reply to the hon. Member directly by letter. A copy of the response will be placed in the Library of the House.