Benzodiazepines
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many products containing benzodiazepines are licensed for use; what their names are; how many companies hold licences for the manufacture or distribution of each product; and how many of those licences were issued in each of the last three years. [87387]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1139W
Mr Simon Burns:
There are currently 87 products authorised in the United Kingdom containing benzodiazepines. There are 25 different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them. Details
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1140W
are provided in the following table for each benzodiazepine. No new marketing authorisations for benzodiazepines have been issued in the last three years.
| Drug substance | Authorisation holder company | Licensed product name |
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1141W
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1142W
Blood: Imports
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 76W, on fresh frozen plasma, whether the figures in the table include (a) the cost of importing fresh frozen plasma from the Austrian Red Cross and (b) the cost of processing that imported fresh frozen plasma. [87776]
Anne Milton: NHS Blood and Transplant has confirmed that the cost of £4,949,045 for plasma processing, provided on 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 76W, does include the cost of importing and processing fresh frozen plasma from the Austrian Red Cross.
Cancer: Drugs
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to increase supply of the Caelyx brand of liposomal doxorubicin to allow cancer patients partway through a course of treatment with Caelyx to complete their planned course. [87684]
Mr Simon Burns: Due to production problems in the United States of America, the manufacturer of Caelyx (doxorubicin hydrochloride) is currently unable to supply the United Kingdom market.
We are in close contact with the company and we understand that it is unable to provide a date when Caelyx will return to the market.
In the meantime, there are alternative treatments available in the UK and clinicians are working with affected patients to ensure continuity of care.
Contraceptives
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department will provide to local authorities on how they should undertake a needs assessment of contraceptive services in their locality to ensure choice and open access to such services. [87597]
Anne Milton: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the intention is to mandate local authorities through regulations to commission open access sexual health services, including open access contraception services. The Department will work with Public Health England and colleagues in local authorities to examine the available support to help them to commission these services.
Departmental Manpower
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were working in his Department on (a) 11 May 2010 and (b) 8 December 2011. [87346]
Mr Simon Burns: At 11 May 2010, there were 2,594.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) civil servants working in the Department. This figure included those on loan to the Department from other Government Departments and on fixed-term contracts. At 8 December 2011 there were 2,332.5 FTE: civil servants, also including loans-in and fixed-term appointees.
In addition, 805.4 FTE non-permanent workers (secondees-in, contractors, consultants and agency staff)
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1143W
were working in the Department on 11 May 2010 and 470.5 FTE non-permanent workers were in place on 8 December 2011.
Diabetes
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diabetes specialists there are on health and well-being boards. [87702]
Paul Burstow: The Health and Social Care Bill mandates the minimum membership of health and wellbeing boards. Local authorities and boards will be free to expand their membership beyond this in a way that reflects local needs and priorities—a decision best left to local discretion.
We expect boards to engage with a variety of partners to ensure the right expertise including clinical experts, such as diabetes specialists, influences both the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and joint health and wellbeing strategy.
Dietary Supplements: EU Law
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when (a) he and (b) his officials next plan to raise with (i) the European Commissioner, (ii) his ministerial counterparts in other EU member states and (iii) officials in other member states his plans for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the EU food supplements directive; [87083]
(2) when he last discussed with the European Commission his plans for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the EU food supplements directive; and what response he received; [87084]
(3) when his plans are for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements under the provisions of article 5 of the EU food supplements directive; and whether he plans to seek to repatriate to the UK competence for legislation in this area. [87085]
Anne Milton: I last met with European Commissioner for Health, John Dalli on 19 November 2010, to discuss United Kingdom concerns about the setting of maximum limits for food supplements.
I pressed for any future changes to the legislation to be based on scientific evidence of risk and not be unduly restrictive, so that the impact on UK industry is minimised, while maintaining consumer choice. Commissioner Dalli has confirmed that he recognises the UK's concerns and will take this into account in developing proposals.
The Commission has yet to indicate when negotiations on this issue will recommence and further to earlier discussions we have no immediate plans to pursue this formally, although informal discussions may occasionally arise at meetings in Europe. The setting of maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements is an area of EU competency, as such the UK is legally bound to implement legislation agreed by a majority of member states.
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1144W
Endometriosis
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase early diagnosis of endometriosis. [87207]
Anne Milton: Information for the public on the causes and diagnosis of endometriosis is available on the NHS Choices website.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/endometriosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has developed a guideline on the investigation and management of endometriosis for health care professionals and an associated patient information leaflet, both of which are available on the RCOG website at:
www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/investigation-and-management-endometriosis-green-top-24
www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/endometriosis-what-you-need-know
Endometriosis is a specific topic within the undergraduate medical curriculum and in core specialist medical training for obstetricians and gynaecologists.
Genito-urinary Medicine
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington of 6 September 2011, Official Report, column 558W, on abortion, when the Government plans to publish its sexual health policy document; and if he will make a statement. [87555]
Anne Milton: The Department plans to publish its sexual health policy document in spring 2012.
Health Professions: Hearing Impairment
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness amongst (a) staff in care homes and (b) doctors, nurses and hospital staff. [86936]
Paul Burstow: Health and social care services delivering support to people with disabilities have to ensure that they are fully compliant with the law, especially the Equality Act 2010. The general public sector equality duty in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 requires public authorities to pay due regard to eliminating discrimination and advancing equality of opportunity including making reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of the disabled people who use their services. An example of how national health service organisations are tackling this is the Equality Delivery System (EDS) which enables NHS organisations, working with local partners, to analyse their performance, and set equality objectives as part of mainstream business plans. The EDS includes examples of reasonable adjustments for people who are deaf.
Health Services: Finance
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken by specialised commissioning groups of (a) in-year costs of treatment and (b) long-term savings in making their funding decisions. [87114]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1145W
Mr Simon Burns: This is primarily a matter for the local national health service. Specialised Commissioning Groups (SCGs) are accountable to their primary care trusts (PCTs) on all matters of governance including their financial decisions. SCGs will consider the cost and clinical effectiveness, the potential health gain and the opportunity costs and benefits of any proposal. As joint committees of PCTs, they will need to keep in mind the duty not to exceed spending limits.
Heart Diseases
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to include (a) atrial fibrillation and (b) other arrhythmias in the outcomes strategy for cardiovascular disease. [87787]
Mr Simon Burns: Work on the outcomes strategy for cardiovascular disease is at the very early stages. Decisions on the conditions to be included will be made as the strategy is developed in the new year.
Herbalife International
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when (a) he and (b) officials of his Department last (i) met and (ii) corresponded or otherwise communicated with representatives of (A) Herbalife UK Ltd and (B) any other member of the Herbalife International group; and for what purpose. [87082]
Anne Milton: I have not met or corresponded with members of the Herbalife group of companies.
Departmental officials regularly correspond with industry, including United Kingdom representatives of Herbalife Europe and International, to update them on regulatory issues. The last occasion was on 15 December 2011 about the agreed text for Commission Implementing Regulation establishing implementing rules for the application of article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods.
Departmental officials last met with a representative of Herbalife Europe on 12 December 2010 regarding the impact of European Union health claims legislation on the food supplements industry.
Officials of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have had no meetings with either representatives of Herbalife UK Ltd or any other member of the Herbalife International Group. The MHRA last wrote to a member of Herbalife on 18 September 2006 when they gave advice on the likely legislative status on a range of six products.
Hospitals: Young People
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under the age of 18 years have been treated by NHS hospitals in 2011 up to the most recent date for which information is available; and what the equivalent figure is for the same period in 2010. [86985]
Anne Milton: The information requested is shown in the following tables. Information on finished admission episodes April to August 2011 and accident and emergency (A and E) attendances April 2010 to August 2011 is provisional.
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1146W
| Finished admission episodes (1) for under-18s in NHS hospitals (2) in 2010 and 2011 | |
|
|
Number |
| (1) A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Hospital providers can also include treatment centres (TC). Normally, if data are tabulated by health care provider, the figure for an NHS trust gives the activity of all the sites as one aggregated figure. The quality of TC returns is such that data may not be complete. Some NHS trusts have not registered their TC as a separate site, and it is therefore not possible to identify their activity separately. Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using these data as the counts may be lower than true figures. Note: The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |
| A and E attendances for under-18s in NHS hospitals (1) in 2010 and 2011 | |
|
|
Number |
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1147W
| (1) Hospital providers can also include treatment centres (TC). Normally, if data are tabulated by health care provider, the figure for an NHS trust gives the activity of all the sites as one aggregated figure. The quality of TC returns is such that data may not be complete. Some NHS trusts have not registered their TC as a separate site, and it is therefore not possible to identify their activity separately. Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using these data as the counts may be lower than true figures. Note: The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |
Lung Cancer
Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of (a) the existence of a gap in outcomes in cases of lung cancer between England and other Western European countries and (b) the reasons for any such gap. [87779]
Paul Burstow:
We know England's cancer survival rates are currently poorer than many comparable countries. To understand more about the reasons for the differences
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1148W
in survival rates between England and other comparable countries, we have established the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP). The ICBP seeks to understand how and why cancer survival rates vary between countries and jurisdictions.
Membership of the ICBP covers 12 jurisdictions in six countries comprising Australia (New South Wales and Victoria); Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario); Denmark; Norway; Sweden; and the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland and Wales). To ensure the validity and comparability of data between countries, ICBP partners were invited on the basis of broadly comparable wealth, universal access to health care and the existence of longstanding, high-quality, population-based cancer registration.
Lung cancer is one the four cancers we are looking at as part of the study. In December 2010, the ICBP published “Cancer survival in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK, 1995-2007 (the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership): an analysis of population-based cancer registry data”. The report showed that survival has continued to improve for each cancer in all six countries, but generally remained higher in Australia, Canada, and Sweden, intermediate in Norway, and lower in Denmark and the UK. A copy of the report has already been placed in the Library.
The following table summarises England's survival rates for 2005-07, alongside those of the best performing country or jurisdiction.
| Percentage | ||||
| Cancer | England | Sweden | Leading jurisdiction | Gap to leading jurisdiction |
| (1) Sweden (2) Manitoba Note: Analyses for 2005-07 are period estimates for patients diagnosed during 2005-07, or diagnosed earlier but alive on 1 January 2005. | ||||
The patterns of lower survival rates in England are consistent with later stage at diagnosis or differences in treatment. The ICBP plans to publish a report on the lung cancer survival information in the first half of 2012.
Meningitis
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has issued guidance to GP consortia on (a) measures to deal with meningitis and (b) provision of psychological support for patients who have lost limbs as a result of the disease. [87150]
Mr Simon Burns: No guidance has been issued. Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the National Health Service Commissioning Board will be responsible for supporting clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), previously known as general practitioner consortia, in their commissioning decisions. This will include publishing commissioning guidance to which CCGs must have regard. This will be based on the quality standards that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has developed on the board's behalf. The board will also develop a commissioning outcomes framework to help hold CCGs to account for the quality of the health care services they commission.
Meningitis: Plymouth
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of meningitis were diagnosed in Plymouth in the last 12 months; and how many were of people aged (a) under and (b) over 16. [87151]
Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table:
| Count of finished admission episodes (1) with a primary diagnosis of Meningitis (2) by selected age groups in Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) (3) 2010-11 | |
| Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | |
| Age | Count |
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1149W
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1150W
| (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 inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Primary diagnosis: The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. Diagnosis Codes used for Meningitis: G00.0 Haemophilus meningitis. G00.1 Pneumococcal meningitis. G00.2 Streptococcal meningitis. G00.3 Staphylococcal meningitis. G00.9 Bacterial meningitis, unspecified. G03 Meningitis due to other unspecified causes. A87 Viral Meningitis. A87.0D Enteroviral meningitis (with G02.0A) A87.1D Adenoviral meningitis (with G02.0A) A39.2 Acute meningococcaemia. A39.3 Chronic meningococcaemia. A39.4 Meningococcaemia, unspecified. A search must be performed to locate the following codes; these would not be found in the primary field. The following asterisk codes (* or A) would be found in a SECONDARY position and their presence in the coded record indicates meningitis: G01.X A Meningitis in bacterial diseases classified elsewhere. G02.0 A Meningitis in viral diseases classified elsewhere. G02.1 A Meningitis in mycoses. G02.8 A Meningitis in other specified infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere. The following two codes must be paired together to indicate eosinophilic meningitis: B83.2 D Angiostrongyliasis due to Parastrongylus cantonensis. G05.2 A Encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis in other infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere. The ICD-10 codes required for meningococcal meningitis are: A39.0 D Meningococcal meningitis. G01.X A Meningitis in bacterial diseases classified elsewhere. (3) Strategic Health Authority/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. Data quality: 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. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. These data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion. Source: HES, the NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |
Mental Health Services: Young People
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total budget allocated to the NHS was spent on children and adolescent mental health services in each of the last 10 years. [87694]
Paul Burstow: Child and adolescent mental health services are complex, ranging from universal provision to highly specialised services and are funded by both the national health service and local authorities. It is the responsibility of local commissioners to make commissioning decisions informed by a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people in their communities.
A total of £89 billion has been made available in primary care trust (PCT) revenue allocations for 2011-12. This represents an increase of £2.6 billion in 2010-11. The available NHS expenditure figures on mental health disorders are shown in the following table. These are from estimated England level programme budgeting data, which are calculated using PCT and strategic health authority programme budgeting returns and the Department's resource accounts data. Figures also include an estimation of the Department's and special health authority expenditure.
| Gross Expenditure (£000s) | |||||
| Programme Budgeting Category | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1151W
Expenditure on some services areas or activities is not included if it is not possible to make a reasonable estimation of expenditure by specific disease area. For this reason expenditure on some health care activity, including general practitioner services will be excluded from the total expenditure on mental health figures above.
If it is not possible to separately identify expenditure on child and adolescent mental health from other mental health services then expenditure will be classified as ‘other mental health'.
Continual refinements are made to the programme budgeting data calculation methodology on an annual basis, for this reason, programme budgeting data cannot be used to analyse changes in investment in specific disease areas between years. Significant changes were made to the data collection in 2010-11, when the basis of estimation for disease specific expenditure changed from provider reference costs to the price paid for services by commissioners.
Mental Health: Ex-servicemen
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the levels of (a) homelessness and (b) mental health problems amongst military veterans. [87109]
Mr Simon Burns: The level of homelessness among military veterans is not the responsibility of the Department of Health but that of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), who have provided us with the following information:
Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns.
Information is collected on the number of households accepted as being statutory homeless whose main reason for loss of last settled home was having left the armed forces. This will not include households containing people who have previously been in the armed forces but were made homeless for other reasons. This information was first collected in 2005-06 and is given as follows:
| Number of h ouseholds with reason of last settled home being having left the armed forces | |
|
|
Number |
| Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 10 households. Source: P1E returns | |
Information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and a summary is published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the DCLG website:
www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1152W
Turning to veterans' mental health, this information is not collected centrally. However, the Department of Health is doing much to improve veterans’ mental health and wellbeing, following the publication of my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison)’s report “Fighting Fit” published in October 2010. The Department has committed £7.2 million over the next four years of the spending review period to the implementation of the reports recommendations. Examples include, setting up a 24-hour veterans' helpline; the launch of an online counselling service ‘Big White Wall'; and the launch of integrated veterans' mental health services in each of the existing strategic health authority areas, by the end of the current financial year.
NHS
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS organisations other than hospitals (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department has visited since May 2010; and on what date each such visit took place. [87077]
Mr Simon Burns: Information on all ministerial visits, including those to national health service organisations, has been placed in the Library.
NHS Walk-in Centres: Wythenshawe
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make a decision on the referral from Manchester's Health Scrutiny Committee of the decision to close the NHS walk-in centre in Wythenshawe. [87338]
Mr Simon Burns: Following initial advice from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel on NHS Manchester's proposals for the relocation of Wythenshawe forum, Withington and Ancoats walk in centres, the decision of the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), was made public on 19 December 2011.
Organs: Donors
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 351W, on organs: donors, on what evidential basis he expects a 50% increase in deceased donor numbers in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [87081]
Anne Milton: The expectation of achieving the 50% increase in donor rates by 2013 is based on latest available figures showing that deceased donor numbers have increased by 31.4% against the 2007-08 baseline. We are on target to achieve a 35% increase by March 2012 and a 50% increase by the following year as it is expected that there will be even greater increments in the last year. The appointment of Chris Rudge to chair a Transitional Steering Group pending the introduction of the new Commissioning Board will also help maintain the momentum of improvement focusing action on increasing consent rates, encouraging deceased donation in all appropriate circumstances and increasing donation from emergency medicine.
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1153W
Prescription Drugs
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that counterfeit medications do not enter the NHS supply chain; and what effects such medications have had on the pharmaceutical industry. [87116]
Mr Simon Burns: Counterfeit medicines rarely reach patients through the regulated supply chain and are more commonly available to consumers via unregulated websites. Although no fatalities have been attributed to counterfeit medicine in the United Kingdom, it is acknowledged that all counterfeit medicines are dangerous and pose a risk to patient health.
In response, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department with responsibility for regulation of medicines for human use and medical devices, has developed and implemented a comprehensive Anti-Counterfeiting Strategy to combat the threat posed by the infiltration of counterfeit medicines and devices into the UK market.
A number of public awareness campaigns have been delivered, both by MHRA and also by MHRA in conjunction with other stakeholders such as the General Pharmaceutical Council and patient groups.
The MHRA monitors the internet for websites operating within the UK supplying medicines illegally, makes test purchases from these sites and, as a result, has successfully prosecuted a number of individuals. All referrals involving suspected counterfeit medicines are investigated thoroughly and necessary action is taken to protect public health. Enforcement activity is closely co-ordinated with other enforcement authorities around the world and MHRA regularly engages in international initiatives to tackle this issue.
The MHRA also chairs an anti-counterfeit stakeholders group, with representatives from, among others, UK police forces, regulators and industry, where intelligence concerning counterfeit medicines is regularly reviewed and assessed.
New requirements for wholesalers and distributors of medicines will be introduced by the Falsified Medicines Directive in January 2013. Further proposals affecting the pharmaceutical industry are being considered as part of the UK Supply Chain review.
Skin Cancer
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to raise the awareness of (a) GPs and (b) the public of the dangers posed by non-melanoma skin cancers that can be caused by regular exposure to the sun; [87765]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the importance of people having regular skin checks. [87775]
Paul Burstow: In 2011-12, to provide information and advice to the public and health professionals, we have funded SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention campaign. SunSmart activities have included producing and distributing educational materials, organising a schools campaign, providing support to local providers working on skin cancer prevention and a major targeted marketing campaign in conjunction with a popular music festival.
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1154W
The SunSmart website also provides additional information about how to reduce your risk of skin cancer as well as how to spot the symptoms of the disease at:
www.sunsmart.org.uk
Information on the causes of non-melanoma and malignant melanoma can also be found on the NHS Choices website at:
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-skin/Pages/Causes.aspx
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malignant-melanoma/Pages/Causes.aspx
Cancer Research UK is currently running ‘R UV Ugly’, a campaign funded by a Third Sector Investment Programme grant from the Department, to raise awareness of the dangers of sunbeds and the benefits of skin checks. The campaign is being run in partnership with SK:n who provide free ultraviolet scans in their clinics across England.
We have provided a further Third Sector Investment Programme grant to Cancer Research UK and the British Association of Dermatologists to develop a toolkit to provide practical online support and training to help general practitioners (GPs) with pattern recognition for skin lesions. The toolkit will be piloted in early 2012 before a planned national roll-out and is being developed in consultation with an expert advisory group consisting of GPs and dermatologists.
As part of our programme of work to deliver earlier diagnosis of cancer, to improve survival rates, a range of actions has been undertaken to support GPs in referring appropriate patients to secondary care. We are also in the process of considering further possible action to improve the public's awareness of the symptoms of the less common cancers.
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.
Treasury
Association of British Insurers
Ed Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has had with the Association of British Insurers since the March 2011 Budget. [87641]
Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors 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.
Banks: Pay
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the transposition of the EU Capital Requirements Directive IV into UK law for the implementation of the recommendations of the Vickers Report. [86978]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1155W
Mr Hoban: The European Commission published its legislative proposals on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms, the Capital Requirements Regulation and Capital Requirements Directive IV, in July 2011. This will, in part implement the Basel III accords in the EU.
As stated in the Government's response to the recommendations of the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB), the current draft EU legislation constrains the ability of member states to impose tougher minimum regulatory standards on banks, and restricts member states' ability to use some macro-prudential tools. However, negotiations are ongoing and the Government will continue to work with the European Commission and like-minded member states to provide member states with the flexibility necessary to implement more stringent minimum requirements. Such amendments would provide the basis in EU legislation to enable the Government to implement the ICB package.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which information is available. [87007]
Miss Chloe Smith: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Official Hospitality
Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in each of the last 12 months. [73664]
Miss Chloe Smith: Spending by Treasury Ministers during the period October 2010 to September 2011 on official hospitality is shown in the following table.
|
|
£ |
Spending on hospitality in previous financial years was:
|
|
£000 |
Expenditure on official hospitality is kept under rigorous scrutiny to ensure value for money and effectiveness and is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money.
Departmental Travel
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds on the number of employees who use (a) cycle to work schemes, (b) employer-provided buses and (c) tax-free parking. [87205]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1156W
Mr Gauke: This information is not collected as there is no requirement for employers to report use of these benefits in kind to HM Revenue and Customs.
I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer on 23 November 2011, Official Report, column 437W.
Economic and Monetary Union
Mr David: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the statement of 27 October on the eurozone crisis, what he means by greater fiscal integration in the eurozone. [78500]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 7 November 2011]: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), and the Prime Minister, have been clear in their view that euro area countries need to accept the remorseless logic of monetary union that leads from a single currency to greater fiscal integration, to ensure that fiscal responsibility is hard-wired into the system.
In their statement of 9 December, the euro area agreed that there should be tighter fiscal discipline as part of restoring market confidence, including tough new budgetary rules, more automatic sanctions, and stricter surveillance. The UK has made clear that, while it supports the euro area's intention for countries to come together to resolve their problems, we will only allow that to happen inside the European Union treaties if there are proper protections for the single market and for other key British interests.
Financial Services Bill
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the draft memorandum of understanding between each of the bodies in the UK regulatory structure proposed in the provisions of the draft Financial Services Bill. [87687]
Mr Hoban: The draft Financial Services Bill, published in June, provides for a number of different statutory memorandums of understanding (MOUs). The Government intend to make drafts of these MOUs available during the passage of the Bill in order to aid Parliament's scrutiny of the draft legislation.
As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), explained to the Joint Committee on the draft Bill on 15 November 2011, before publishing a draft of the crisis management MOU between the Treasury and the Bank of England, the Government will consider:
first, the recommendations of the Treasury Select Committee in its report into the accountability of the Bank of England (published on 8 November); and
second, any relevant recommendations made by the Joint Committee itself in its report published on 19 December.
Financial Services: National Income
Hazel Blears: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK gross domestic product generated by the financial services sector in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15 and (e) 2015-16. [87074]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1157W
Miss Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and I have asked the OBR to reply.
Infrastructure: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive about the National Infrastructure Plan. [84847]
Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors 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 discussions.
Inland Revenue
Mr Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2011, Official Report, column 791W, on the Inland Revenue, if he will take steps to ascertain from the Permanent Secretary for Tax, HM Revenue and Customs, whether he had responsibility as a Commissioner for the Inland Revenue Large Business Office between 1997 and 2000. [87470]
Mr Gauke: The Permanent Secretary for Tax at HMRC did not become a Commissioner for the Inland Revenue until July 2000 and so did not have responsibility for the Large Business Office between 1997 and 2000.
Japan Tobacco International: Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Hain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010. [87617]
Miss Chloe Smith: Information about hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers is published quarterly by Departments. Information for the period 13 May 2010 to 30 June 2011 can be accessed on departmental websites. Information for 1 July onwards will be published in due course.
Members: Correspondence
Paul Maynard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys. [87162]
Mr Gauke: HM Treasury had no record of a letter from my hon. Friend of 12 October 2011. My officials now obtained a copy from his office and I shall reply shortly.
PAYE
Stephen Timms:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representatives from (a) HM Revenue and Customs, (b) the Department for Work and Pensions and (c) other bodies will sit on the
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1158W
monitoring body for the pilot from April 2012 of real-time pay-as-you-earn information; and who will decide whether the pilot should be extended. [86565]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 13 December 2011]:Around 300 volunteer software developers, employers and pension providers are taking part in the real time information (RTI) pilot which will start in April 2012. Depending on the findings from the pilot's early stages, an additional 1,300 volunteers will join in July.
Another 250,000 employers could then be invited to start using the system in November.
Ultimately, it will be for the RTI programme's senior responsible owner (SRO), in close consultation with industry, to decide at each stage whether or not the pilot should be extended. There is a specific governance mechanism in place to support the SRO in making these decisions. This group includes membership from the Department for Work and Pensions' universal credit programme office and key business areas from within HM Revenue and Customs as well as representatives from HMRC's IT partners, Aspire and Vocalink.
The RTI programme as a whole has a number of governance and assurance forums, including a senior level programme board, which advise the SRO. Membership of these groups is drawn from the broad range of stakeholders affected by RTI.
Poverty: Rural Areas
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of levels of rural poverty since May 2010. [85966]
Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
The Government publish annual data on poverty including in English rural areas. The latest data released on rural poverty cover 2009-10 and are available in the “Statistical Digest of Rural England 2011” published on DEFRA’s website in September 2011 at:
www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13641-rural-digest2011.pdf
Poverty in the UK’s rural areas outside England is a matter for the devolved Administrations.
Public Sector: Pay
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on public sector workers' income of the extension of the public sector pay freeze announced in the autumn statement as a proportion of net income in each income decile. [86778]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 19 December 2011]: The pay freeze will not be extended. At the autumn statement the Chancellor announced that the public sector pay freeze for those earning over £21,000 would end after two years. Public sector pay will then average at 1% for the two years following the pay freeze. Individual Departments will need to consider how best to deliver the 1% average in their workforces.
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1159W
Revenue and Customs: Email
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Revenue and Customs expects to be able to answer all taxpayers' queries by e-mail. [86984]
Mr Gauke: HMRC has over 100 electronic contact services available to customers that offer a structured and secure means of communicating with HMRC through its website and we are always looking to provide more. HMRC will only introduce electronic contact solutions where we are certain about the authenticity of the person sending the e-mail and where there are strong controls around the data being sent.
HMRC have recently consulted (http://hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/) on making an e-mail address a required element of a business's designatory information. We are currently analysing views and expect to formally publish results and HMRC's response early in the new year.
Revenue and Customs: Overtime
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely cost of overtime payments for staff in HM Revenue and Customs working to reduce the number of outstanding child benefit claims and average processing times. [86019]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 12 December 2011]:HMRC have spent £66,802 in 2011-12 on overtime to reduce average processing times for child benefit.
Unpaid Taxes: Business
Mike Crockart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 71W, on taxation: business, what constitutes a reasonable period over which tax arrears can be paid; and whether such periods have changed over the last 12 months. [87509]
Mr Gauke: Time to pay arrangements are always negotiated over the shortest affordable period, rarely exceeding 12 months, although each case is considered individually on its own particular circumstances.
HMRC remains absolutely committed to demonstrating a sympathetic approach to businesses that have genuine short-term difficulties in paying the tax they owe.
These criteria and this approach have not changed in the last 12 months.
VAT: Electronic Publishing
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 539W, on VAT: electronic publishing, if he will consider implementing a measure similar to that in France for the reduction of VAT on unenriched e-books. [87479]
Mr Gauke:
Under EU law, VAT on electronic books must be charged at the standard rate. A reduced rate cannot be applied to digital or electronic supplies, or supplies of text via the internet, as they are classed as
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1160W
supplies of services rather than physical goods. There is therefore no scope in the principal VAT directive to apply a reduced rate on e-books.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on new heating fuel to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from (i) homes, (ii) businesses and (iii) public buildings in rural areas; and if he will support the inclusion of bio-liquids in the Renewable Heat Incentive from October 2012. [86225]
Gregory Barker: The Department has undertaken several evaluations of the use of bioliquid technologies for heat generation though the National Non-Food Crops Centre. The details of these have been published on their website at:
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/publications
We will consider bioliquids for inclusion in the renewable heat incentive scheme in phase 2. However, before bioliquids can be supported under the scheme we need to establish a co-ordinated approach to their use so that the heat market does not unduly impact on other important uses, in particular transport. In addition, we would need to ensure we meet our legal commitments under the renewable energy directive by developing sustainability criteria.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [86988]
Gregory Barker: DECC's total expenditure in the year ending 31 March 2011 on catering services, entertainment and hospitality was £158,000. Of this total, expenditure on general catering with DECC's in-house provider during the financial year 2010-11 amounted to £66,000. This amount is likely to relate largely or wholly to catering for meetings, including drinks as well as food.
DECC also paid the provider an additional £40,500 in contract costs over this period. From May 2011, DECC has received its catering through a new provider under a zero-cost arrangement where additional payments are not automatically required.
DECC's catering service is delivered through a contract procured by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Electricity: Prices
Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) likely and (b) maximum possible effect on the average household electricity bill by 2020 of not implementing the reductions to feed-in tariffs for (i) small-scale solar PV proposed in the comprehensive review and (ii) large-scale solar PV introduced after the fast track review. [86493]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1161W
Gregory Barker: Based on analysis undertaken at the time of the Fast Track Review, we have estimated that not implementing the changes to tariffs for large scale (greater than 50 kW) solar photovoltaics in the fast track review would have added approximately £10 (2010 prices, undiscounted) to the average domestic energy bill in 2020. This is based on the estimate of the cost to consumers under the ‘Do Nothing' option in the Fast Track Review impact assessment:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/fits-review/fast-track-review-announcement-impact-assessment.pdf
As well as proposing new tariffs for small scale solar PV, the comprehensive review has also proposed further reductions to tariffs for large scale PV. In the impact assessment for the most recent consultation:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3416-fits-IA-solar-pv-draft.pdf
we estimated that under the ‘no change' scenario and central growth rates, the impact on the average domestic energy bill would be around £26 in 2020 (2010 prices undiscounted).
We have revised this estimate in the light of much higher observed growth in PV since the impact assessment to around £40 (2010 prices, undiscounted) in a central uptake scenario, and around £80 (2010 prices, undiscounted) in a high uptake scenario. It should be noted that these estimates represent the impact on bills of both large and small scale PV installations, as we have not separated their respective impacts.
Estimates of future PV growth are extremely uncertain. DECC is continually reviewing its evidence in the light of latest data, and will update estimates for the final impact assessment.
Energy Company Obligation
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to data-sharing between the Government and energy suppliers as a means of identifying and targeting households to be assisted by his proposed Energy Company Obligation. [87633]
Gregory Barker: Regulation 5 of the Disclosure of State Pension Credit Information (Warm Home Discount) Regulations 2011, allows data to be shared between Government and energy supply companies participating in the Warm Home Discount Scheme in order to provide low income pensioners with a discount off their electricity bill and to provide relevant assistance to those vulnerable pensioners. This assistance can include targeting the delivery of ECO Affordable Warmth measures.
As part of the Green Deal proposals, the Government are consulting on a referrals mechanism under which interested households that may be eligible for assistance under the Affordable Warmth obligation and contact the remote advice service would be channelled through to the participating energy suppliers.
Energy: Private Rented Housing
Barry Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to provide any additional financial support to private sector tenants whose landlords have carried out the maximum package of measures funded under the
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1162W
Green Deal or Energy Company Obligation, but continue to be classified as being in fuel poverty. [86975]
Gregory Barker: The consultation on the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation is currently under way.
The Warm Home Discount scheme requires energy suppliers to provide low income vulnerable households with discounts on their electricity bills. Through the scheme pensioners, including those in rented accommodation, who pay their own electricity bill with a participating energy supply company, and meet the eligibility criteria outlined as follows, may be eligible for the discount.
Other low income vulnerable households may also be assisted through the scheme. The scheme will be worth £1.1 billion up to 2014-15 and overall we expect 2 million low income vulnerable households a year to be assisted through the Warm Home Discount scheme.
Energy: Tariffs
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that energy customers can switch from pre-pay tariffs to quarterly tariff payments where they are cheaper. [87395]
Charles Hendry: Ofgem is responsible for regulating gas and electricity supply, including the rules that govern switching payment methods. Prepayment meter customers who are not in debt may switch payment method or supplier at anytime. For those in debt, prepayment meters can be a valuable alternative to disconnection.
New rules introduced by Ofgem in 2009 to prevent unfair price differentials, such as those between different payment methods, have shown that prepayment meter customers now pay, on average, £20 less than standard credit customers for their gas and electricity.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of people who are prevented from leaving pre-pay energy tariffs because their energy supplier will not allow them to switch payment method. [87396]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1163W
Charles Hendry: Ofgem is responsible for monitoring and publishing information about prepayment meter customers. During 2010, 5,652 prepayment meter customers who were not in debt had their request for credit terms refused by their electricity or gas supplier. Ofgem is following this up.
Energy: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what support he is providing for renewable energy schemes in Welsh waters. [87745]
Charles Hendry: Renewable energy schemes in Welsh waters are eligible for support under the renewables obligation (RO). The RO is currently the Government's main mechanism for incentivising the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity in England and Wales. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), on behalf of the UK Government, is currently consulting in England and Wales on subsidy levels for the period 2013 to 2017. The public consultation proposes an increase in the rate of support for wave and tidal stream technologies, from two to five renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) per megawatt hour of renewable electricity generated, and a higher rate of support for offshore wind projects (two ROCs in 2014-15, reducing to 1.8 ROCs in 2016-17) than would be the case without the current banding review. The public consultation closes on 12 January 2012. A copy of the consultation proposals is available on DECC's website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_ro_review/cons_ro_review.aspx
DECC has recently announced up to £30 million for innovation in offshore wind technologies, and up to £20 million for marine energy, subject to final value for money assessments. These will be UK wide calls and Welsh projects will be eligible to apply.
Green Deal Scheme
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether people who incorporate microgeneration in their Green Deal packages can participate in the (a) Renewable Heat Incentive and (b) Feed-in Tariff schemes. [87289]
Gregory Barker: We have designed the Green Deal as a long term framework to support cost-effective energy efficiency measures, including microgeneration. However, at present these measures are less cost effective than other measures, such as insulation, so we are supporting them through the Feed-in Tariff (FITs) and planned Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) instead.
Microgeneration measures can be recommended in an assessment and installed at the same time as a Green Deal, but if the FIT or RHI are claimed then these cannot be included in a Green Deal financing plan.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change over what period the funding allocated to incentivise take-up of the Green Deal will be provided. [87423]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1164W
Gregory Barker: The funding is allocated as £30 million over financial year 2012-13 and £170 million over financial year 2013-14.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which body will be responsible for delivering the funding to incentivise take-up of the Green Deal. [87424]
Gregory Barker: I am currently considering options for how best to use the new and additional funds announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810. As such, I have not yet taken a decision on who will deliver these funds.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from which budget he plans to fund incentives to householders to take up the Green Deal. [87425]
Gregory Barker: As announced in the Autumn Statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, £200 million of capital funds have been allocated to DECC to support and incentivise Green Deal take-up. These funds are a time-limited addition to DECC's departmental expenditure limit settlement.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the £200 million funding that he has recently announced to incentivise take-up of the Green Deal, what type of incentives he plans to offer. [87426]
Gregory Barker: I am considering options for how to use the new and additional funds announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, and will provide further details in due course. These are capital funds, so will be used to directly incentivise the installation of energy efficiency improvements. I therefore want the funds to be used in a way that proves effective at driving take-up while offering value for money to the public purse.
Japan Tobacco International
Mr Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether any (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010. [87616]
Gregory Barker: Information about hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers is published quarterly by Departments. Information for the period 13 May 2010 to 30 June 2011 can be accessed on departmental websites. Information for 1 July onwards will be published in due course.
Renewable Energy
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the aim of generating 30 per cent. of domestic electricity from renewable sources by 2020. [87781]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1165W
Gregory Barker: The UK has a binding target under the Renewable Energy Directive 2009 to produce 15% of its energy from renewable sources across the electricity, heat and transport sectors by 2020. We envisage that in order to meet this target we will need to deliver 30% of our electricity from renewable sources in 2020.
In 2011 quarter 2, renewable electricity generation (excluding non-biodegradable wastes) contributed 9.3% of total UK electricity generation—an increase of 3.2 percentage points on the share in 2010 Q2, and the highest quarterly share yet(1).
(1) Source:
Energy Trends online table 7.1
http://www.decc.gov.uk/media/viewfile.ashx?filetype=4&filepath=Statistics/source/renewables/et7_1.xls&minwidth=true
Cabinet Office
Cybercrime
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether there are network security measures similar to those used by the armed forces in place to protect (a) businesses and (b) individual internet users from cyber infrastructure attacks. [87432]
Mr Maude: The Government have a wide ranging set of measures in place to protect the UK against cyber attacks. Our new national Cyber Security Strategy published in November:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/cyber-security-strategy
sets out our plans for how we will work with industry to improve the UK's cyber security and build confidence by creating a more secure and resilient cyberspace.
The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) provides advice on electronic and cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure (CNI), including public utilities companies and financial centres. This advice includes measures relating to network security.
The Cyber Security Strategy set out some of the ways CPNI is working to increase its reach beyond this network to companies not ordinarily considered to be part of the CNI.
There are also a number of measures in place to protect individual internet users. Internet service providers (ISPs) offer free security software, security information and advice to customers, and the Government have committed to work closely with ISPs to better embed security awareness and software within their services.
The Government also support Get Safe Online, a joint Government/industry initiative to raise awareness of internet security.
The majority of threats can be avoided by following some simple measures, and via Get Safe Online we will continue to work to raise awareness and to educate and empower people and firms to protect themselves online.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which information is available; [87003]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1166W
(2) how much the Downing street estate spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [87005]
Mr Maude: The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.
The Cabinet Office has incurred expenditure during the last financial year in relation to food and catering services. However, this expenditure is not identified separately on the Department's financial systems and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Government Departments: Databases
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, columns 679-80W, on Government Departments: databases, and with reference to the Autumn Statement, what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the economy of the Open Data project. [87545]
Mr Maude: The Autumn Statement given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, included a number of measures developed by the Transparency Team in the Cabinet Office, with the Treasury and other Departments, designed to boost investment in medical research and digital technology in the UK, including many small and medium sized enterprises.
These measures should improve medical knowledge and practice with world-first linked-data services which will enable health care impacts to be tracked across the entire health service. In addition, commitments were also made to release data related to planned and real-time information on the running of trains and buses across Great Britain and data on almost every road in Britain. Measures will also empower patients through individual access to their personal GP records online and encourage the market for education data management and learning platforms.
The Government also established a Data Strategy Board and a Public Data Group that will maximise the value of the data from the Met Office, Ordnance Survey, the Land Registry and Companies House. It will make available for free a range of core reference datasets from these bodies to support the development of high-value data businesses.
In view of the commercial and social priority of open data, the Government are to commit up to £10 million over five years with match funding from industry and academic centres to support an Open Data Institute through the Technology Strategy Board. Further details on these measures can be found at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/open-data-measures-autumn-statement-2011
New Business: East of England
Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new businesses have been established in (a) Witham constituency, (b) Essex and (c) the east of England in each month since May 2010. [87747]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1167W
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many new businesses have been established in (a) Witham constituency, (b) Essex and (c) the East of England in each month since May 2010. [87747]
Monthly statistics on business start ups are not available. Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
www.statistics.gov.uk
The following table contains the latest statistics available, which give the number of enterprise births in (a) Witham constituency, (b) Essex and (c) the East of England in 2010.
| Count of enterprise birth in 2010 in the east of England, Essex and Witham | |
|
|
Number |
Third Sector: North-west England
Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many charities were established in the North West in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [87749]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission's chief executive to reply.
Letter from Sam Younger, dated 19 December 2011:
I have been asked to respond to your Written Parliamentary Question on how many charities were established in the North West in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 [87749].
The number of charities whose area of operation was within the North West of England (as defined by the Office for National Statistics) that were newly registered during each calendar year was as follows.
| Registered in: | Charities |
There may be additional charities, such as those with an income of less than £5,000 per annum, which are not required to register and for which information is not available.
I hope this information is helpful.
International Development
Climate Change: International Co-operation
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Advocacy Fund provided to developing countries' negotiators at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban. [87290]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Advocacy Fund provided technical, legal and logistical support to developing country negotiators at the UN conference in Durban. This included:
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1168W
Support to the Least Developed Countries Group to co-ordinate, to access technical support on key negotiation issues and to send delegates to cover important issues.
Training to support younger negotiators from developing countries to fully participate and develop their skills in the negotiations.
Provision of legal advice and legal briefing on negotiation issues to developing country negotiators.
Developing Countries: Education
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which country offices used his Department's guidance note on education for children with disabilities as part of their planning for aid to the education sector during his Department's bilateral aid review. [87691]
Mr O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to the inclusion of disabled people in development. To this end, we are supporting countries to develop realistic plans for programmes that ensure everyone has access to education, including children with disabilities. DFID's guidance note on inclusive education for all children with disabilities in developing countries, published to support our country programmes to develop inclusive education strategies, was provided to all our country offices to support their education sector appraisals in the bilateral aid review.
We do not specifically monitor the use of policy guidance by individual country advisers. All of our country offices are currently producing business cases setting out the details of their education support. These will contain more specific programming information than the operational plans that cover all sectors. All business cases are published on the DFID website at:
www.dfid.gov.uk
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the use by country offices of his Department's guidance note on education for children with disabilities in their planning under the bilateral aid review. [87692]
Mr O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to the inclusion of disabled people in development.
The Department for International Development's (DFID) guidance note on inclusive education for all children with disabilities in developing countries, was published to support our country programmes to develop inclusive education strategies. The note offers practical suggestions on supporting children with disabilities to access education and learn effectively and is available on the DFID website. DFID does not specifically monitor the use of policy guidance by individual country advisers. However, we are supporting countries to develop realistic plans for programmes that ensure everyone has access to education, including children with disabilities.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what training and support his Department (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide to enable country offices to effectively implement his Department's guidance note on education for children with disabilities. [87693]
20 Dec 2011 : Column 1169W
Mr O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to ensuring the inclusion of disabled people in development. The guidance note on inclusive education for children with disabilities in developing countries was developed with practitioners and experts in this field and was published to support our country programmes to develop inclusive education strategies.
Our guidance on disability assists with practical suggestions on how country offices can work with Governments and non-government organisations on how policies and programmes can support access to education for children with disabilities and to learn effectively. This guidance is among a range of policy guidance made specifically available on an internal website set up to support country offices with their business case planning. All education advisers are offered support with continuous professional development and training in a multitude of areas of education and development, which include how to support children with disabilities.