Nuclear Power Stations
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much energy UK nuclear power stations produced in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of energy produced in the UK that figure represents. [31330]
Charles Hendry: In 2009, UK nuclear power stations produced 69,098 GWh of electricity. This was 18% of the 375,663 GWh of UK electricity generation in 2009. (In terms of primary energy, nuclear contributed 15,229 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe), 9.1% of the UK primary energy production of 166,895 ktoe.)
Oil: Prices
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department takes to prevent oil companies increasing oil prices during inclement weather. [31197]
Charles Hendry: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury (Mr Robertson).
Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what methodology he uses to calculate the number of households defined as vulnerable for the purposes of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000. [31112]
Gregory Barker: Vulnerable households are those that contain the elderly (60 or over), children (under 16) or somebody who is long-term sick or disabled.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Broadband
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much of the £530 million allocated from the BBC licence fee for high speed broadband provision by 2015 has been allocated for expenditure in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales. [30826]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 15 December 2010]: No specific amounts have been made to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland out of the £530 million allocated in spending review to support broadband rollout.
The approach being taken to the support of broadband rollout is to support specific projects rather than to make allocations to nations or regions. Four pilot projects
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were announced on 20 October for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Herefordshire. Final allocations to these projects will await the outcome of open procurement processes but it is expected that £5 million to £10 million will be spent on each project.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), announced on 6 December 2010 that bids would be invited for a further wave of projects in April 2011, with £50 million of the £530 million being available for that wave.
Company Liquidations: Greater London
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) compulsory and (b) creditor voluntary liquidations were commenced in (i) Greater London and (ii) the London borough of Enfield in each of the last five years. [30478]
Mr Davey: Official statistics covering corporate insolvencies for England and Wales are not currently available at sub-national level.
Annual totals for both compulsory and creditors’ voluntary liquidations in England and Wales are presented in Table 1 of the Quarterly Insolvency Statistics, the latest publication of which can be found on the Insolvency Service website:
http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/otherinformation/statistics/201011/table1.pdf
Annual figures for 2010 will be available in the next release of the Insolvency Statistics on 4 February 2011.
Directors: Disqualification
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) directors and (b) chief executives have been (i) imprisoned and (ii) disqualified from office for offences related to the discharge of their functions in each of the last 10 years; and for what offences. [28096]
Mr Davey [holding answer 6 December 2010]: The Department's records relating to prosecutions record outcomes according to offences prosecuted and do not specifically identify either company directors or chief executives. The Department prosecutes a range of offences, primarily under the Insolvency Act 1986, the Companies Acts 1985 and 2006, and the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. Many of the criminal offences created by the Companies Act 2006 are committed by “an officer of the company” and will therefore apply to directors, managers and secretaries. Consequently, it is not possible to indicate the numbers of directors or chief executives imprisoned or disqualified for offences relating to the discharge of their functions.
The offence relating to the re-use of a company name following insolvent liquidation created by section 216 of the Insolvency Act 1986 is aimed solely at directors or shadow directors. Relevant figures are in the following tables:
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| Financial year | Imprisonment | Disqualification (of total cases prosecuted) |
The following table provides figures for all persons imprisoned or disqualified following prosecutions by the Department for offences under the Companies Acts during this period:
| Financial year | Imprisonment | Disqualification (of total cases prosecuted) |
The following table provides figures for all persons imprisoned or disqualified following prosecutions by the Department for all offences during this period:
| Financial year | Total number of convictions | Imprisonment | Disqualification (of total cases prosecuted) |
All figures provided relate to prosecutions brought by the Department. We do not hold relevant figures pertaining to prosecutions brought by any other prosecuting authority.
Student Loans Company: Fees and Charges
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the monetary value was of outstanding tuition fees not paid by the Student Loans Company in each of the last three years; [30956]
(2) how much and what proportion of tuition fees had not been paid by the Student Loans Company within (a) six and (b) 12 months of the due date in the latest academic year for which figures are available; [30957]
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(3) what proportion of tuition fees was paid on time by the Student Loans Company in the latest academic year for which figures are available. [30958]
Mr Willetts:
Where students take out loans for tuition from the Student Loans Company (SLC), payments are normally made direct to universities in two instalments, in February and May each year. I am informed by SLC that almost all tuition fees are paid promptly once the
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student’s attendance has been confirmed. Comparatively small sums (less than 0.1% of the total) are held back, usually due to the need to reconcile overpayments made in previous academic years (for example, when a student leaves their course early and the full amount of tuition fee, already paid, may no longer be applicable). This is illustrated as follows. Figures are not available for AY2007/08 and earlier.
| AY2009/10 | |||||
| Domicile | Amount paid (£ billion) | Amount outstanding (£) | Percentage outstanding | Estimate of amount outstanding (£) | Percentage of estimate of amount outstanding |
| n/a = Not available (1) There are no comparative figures available for amounts outstanding for England only. Note: Data calculated as at early December 2010 | |||||
| AY2008/09 | |||||
| Domicile | Amount paid (£ billion) | Amount outstanding (£) | Percentage outstanding | Estimate of amount outstanding (£) | Percentage of estimate of amount outstanding |
| n/a = Not available (1) There are no comparative figures available for amounts outstanding for England only. Note: Data calculated as at early December 2009 | |||||
Telephone Services: Health
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has provided funding for the launch and operation of the European Harmonised Number for Emotional Support; and if he will make a statement. [30732]
Mr Vaizey: Ofcom launched a comparative selection process for the 116123 “Emotional support helpline” service in February 2009 and allocated it to the charity Samaritans and its chosen communications provider BT in October 2009 after an extensive selection process. The number is now operational alongside Samaritans’ UK-wide 0845 number and local branch numbers.
The Department for Business does not provide funding for any of the 116 range of numbers.
International Development
Afghanistan: Females
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department’s funding to projects in Afghanistan has been allocated to projects to support women’s organisations and activities in the last 12 months; and what projects have been so supported. [31408]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government are placing women at the heart of the whole of our agenda for international development. All the Department for International Development’s (DFID) programmes take account of their impact on women and girls in their design and implementation. DFID has supported a number of programmes that directly benefit women’s organisations and activities in Afghanistan over the past year. For example, our support to the International Planned Parenthood Foundation and WOMANKIND Worldwide is supporting civil society organisations in Afghanistan in addressing the human rights and practical needs of women and girls.
DFID has also committed £12 million from 2010-11 to 2012-13 to the Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Programme, implemented by the Afghan Ministry for Rural Rehabilitation Development. The programme has a Gender Equality Strategy, which has helped to ensure that men and women participate almost equally in project-supported activities.
Afghanistan: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of aid from his Department was allocated to each province in Afghanistan in the latest period for which figures are available. [31108]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: In 2009-10 approximately 16% of the Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) bilateral programme budget in Afghanistan was spent directly in Helmand province. The remaining 84% was spent on programmes that cover the whole of Afghanistan (including Helmand).
Departmental Equality
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he intends to publish an updated Gender Equality Action Plan for his Department; and what consultation he plans to carry out on the plan. [31107]
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Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) has been extended until March 2011. DFID currently has regular and ongoing dialogue on our GEAP, for example with Bond and the Gender and Development Network, with whom officials will be meeting on 12 January.
The UK Government are placing women at the heart of the whole of our agenda for international development. We have set out our objectives for empowering women and girls in DFID’s Business Plan 2011-15. These are to increase the number of girls in primary and secondary education, promote economic empowerment of women and girls, pilot new approaches to violence against women and improve maternal health and access to family planning. The Business Plan is available on the No. 10 website and in the Library of the House.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what budgetary guidance his Department has issued to each country office on (a) existing spending agreements, (b) contractual arrangements with external parties or governments and (c) future funding programmes since the announcement of its bilateral spending review. [31406]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Immediately after the election, a number of projects were identified as either poorly performing or of low priority. Country offices were instructed to reallocate identified funds to other priority areas as soon as was practical and to do so in line with existing contractual arrangements.
I launched a review of the UK’s bilateral aid programmes on Wednesday 16 June 2010. While the review is ongoing, country teams have continued to implement existing programmes with the exception of those already identified as poorly performing or of low priority.
Ministers and officials in my Department are currently in discussion regarding the allocation of UK aid to countries and priority areas over the spending review period. Final decisions will be made upon the conclusion of the bilateral and multilateral aid reviews early next year.
Developing Countries: Agriculture
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure aid for agricultural development funded by his Department reaches people living in rural areas. [30570]
Mr O'Brien: Our programmes are designed to ensure that end beneficiaries are identified from the outset. People in rural areas are a target group for agricultural development programmes. During implementation, we regularly monitor progress to ensure that programmes are delivering their intended results. Once a programme has finished, a formal project completion report assesses results achieved against objectives set.
For some programmes, specifically those which are large scale or innovative in design, we subsequently carry out full evaluations to ensure that lessons learned during implementation are captured and taken into account in the design of subsequent programmes to
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improve their effectiveness. These evaluations are published so that other donors can use them in the design of their own programmes.
The reports are also open to public and parliamentary scrutiny, providing a direct line of accountability for DFID’s activities. From next summer we are taking this a step further with the launch of an Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) which will have a remit to evaluate and review any UK aid spending. The Independent Commission will be clearly separated from DFID, reporting directly to Parliament.
Madagascar: Agriculture
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to assist Madagascar in its agricultural development. [30719]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no bilateral programme in Madagascar. We have no plans to offer direct assistance on agricultural development. All of our funding to Madagascar—over £51 million in 2008-09—is provided through our attributed share to multilateral institutions such as the EU, World Bank and African Development Bank.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to help Madagascar to meet its commitments under the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme. [30720]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), as well as related initiatives such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and African Union work to establish long term investment plans and increase the proportion of national budgets for agriculture. DFID is providing a £10 million grant to a Multi-Donor Trust Fund, with the World Bank, which will facilitate the implementation of the CAADP. DFID does not provide separate bilateral funding to Madagascar to support CAADP implementation.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on agricultural development in Madagascar in each of the last five years. [30724]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no bilateral programme in Madagascar. We have provided no direct assistance on agricultural development over the last five years. All of our funding to Madagascar—over £51 million in 2008-09—is provided through our attributed share to multilateral institutions such as the EU, World Bank and African Development Bank.
Madagascar: Climate Change
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his Department has made on the effects of climate change on agriculture and food security in Madagascar. [30721]
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Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no bilateral programme in Madagascar. We have made no direct assessment of the effects of climate change on agriculture and food security in Madagascar.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what steps his Department (a) is taking and (b) plans to take in the future to ensure that the poorest and most marginal farmers in Madagascar can adapt to climate change; [30722]
(2) how much his Department has spent on climate change adaptation for smallholder farmers in Madagascar in each of the last five years; and what proportion of his Department’s expenditure on (a) climate change measures overseas, (b) climate change measures adaptation overseas, (c) climate change in the developing world and (d) climate change adaptation in the developing world this represented in each such year. [30723]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no bilateral programme in Madagascar. We have provided no direct assistance on climate change adaptation for poor and marginal farmers in Madagascar over the last five years.
Earlier this month, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced extra support to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). In 2010-11 DFID has allocated £36.75 million to the CGIAR, including £7.25 million for a new CGIAR Consortium Research Programme, which will help adapt farming systems in the developing world to both current and progressive climate change and to limit its impact. DFID has also provided £10 million (from 2008 up to 2012) to the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa, of which Madagascar is a member, to support research into agricultural issues, including climate change adaptation.
Madagascar: Food
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of food security in Madagascar. [30718]
Mr O'Brien: According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the food security situation in southern Madagascar is likely to worsen in the coming months as a result of consecutive droughts and poor rainfall. The Department for International Development (DFID) has no bilateral programme in Madagascar, but will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Madagascar: Food Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on emergency food aid for Madagascar in each of the last five years. [30725]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided over £3 million in total, over the last five years, to United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to respond to the most urgent humanitarian needs in Madagascar.
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Funds have been spent on: emergency treatment for acutely malnourished children; emergency assistance to help communities recover from the damage and destruction caused by tropical storms and cyclones; and the pre-positioning of stocks in the event of future disasters. No specific support to emergency food aid has been provided to date.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Food
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will hold discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the effects on local food production in sub-Saharan Africa of deforestation attributable to the development of palm oil plantations by Chinese land owners. [29940]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are working in partnership with China on a project on the international palm oil industry. This is developing the rationale for the import into China of sustainable palm oil products. This will cover work on Chinese investments overseas, including in Africa. It will conclude in March 2011 with a report and policy options, which we will discuss with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
UN Central Emergency Relief Fund: Conferences
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which Ministers from his Department he expects to attend the forthcoming UN Central Emergency Relief Fund replenishment conference; and if he will make a statement. [27704]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Permanent Representative to the UN in New York represented the UK at the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund replenishment conference which took place on 14 December and made a statement outlining our ongoing support.
The UK provided £40 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in 2010 and I have just released an additional £40 million for 2011. Future contributions to the CERF will be determined as part of the Multilateral Aid Review, which will report in February 2011.
Health
Abortion
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pregnancy terminations among women under the age of 19 years there were in Brighton and Hove in each year since 2007. [31102]
Anne Milton: Information on the number of abortions carried out on women under the age of 19 resident in Brighton and Hove in each year since 2007 can be found in the following table.
| Abortions for women aged under 19, resident in Brighton and Hove PCT, 2007-09 | |
|
|
Number |
16 Dec 2010 : Column 923W
| Source: Statistical Bulletin, Abortion Statistics, England and Wales for 2007, 2008 and 2009 | |
Baby Care Units
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made on the effect of introduction of the toolkit for high quality neo-natal service on care for pre-term babies since 2009; [31048]
(2) what plans he has for the future number of neonatal nurses (a) nationally, (b) in the South West and (c) in Totnes constituency; [31117]
(3) if he will take steps to improve neonatal services (a) nationally, (b) in the South West and (c) in Totnes constituency. [31118]
Anne Milton: The Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services and the recently published National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Quality Standard for Specialist Neonatal Care are valuable tools to assist national health service commissioners and providers in the provision high quality care for babies and their families.
Since publication of the Toolkit, progress has been made. Every neonatal unit is now part of a managed clinical network and networks have increased transport services hours and coverage. There is still more to do. As set out in the NICE Quality Standard, networks, commissioners and providers will wish to undertake an annual needs assessment and ensure each network has adequate capacity. This includes ensuring there are appropriate numbers of neonatal nurses.
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much he has allocated to neonatal care (a) nationally, (b) in the South West and (c) in Totnes constituency in each year of the spending review period. [31116]
Anne Milton: The Department currently makes recurrent revenue allocations direct to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of a national weighted capitation formula which is used to determine each PCTs target share of available resources. The components of the formula are used to weight each PCTs population according to their relative need (age and additional need) for healthcare and the unavoidable geographical differences in the cost of providing healthcare (the market forces factor).
PCT recurrent revenue allocations are not broken down by policy or service area. Once allocated, it is for PCTs to commission the services they require to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations, taking account of both local and national priorities.
Carers: Social Services
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to improve services for carers. [30617]
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Paul Burstow: The Government published an update to the 2008 Carers Strategy on 25 November 2010. “Recognised, valued and supported: Next Steps for the Carers Strategy” sets out clear priorities for the next four years, focusing on the four areas which will have the biggest impact on carers’ lives:
supporting those with caring responsibilities to identify themselves as carers at an early stage;
enabling those with caring responsibilities to fulfil their educational and employment potential;
personalised support both for carers and those they support; and
supporting carers to remain mentally and physically well.
In addition, the Department will provide additional funding of £400 million to the national health service over the next four years to enable more carers to take breaks from their caring responsibilities. The 2011-12 NHS Operating Framework states that primary care trusts (PCTs) should pool budgets with local authorities to provide carers' breaks, as far as possible, via direct payments or personal health budgets. For 2011-12, PCTs should agree policies, plans and budgets to support carers with local authorities and local carers' organisations, and make them available to local people.
The Department will also provide up to £6 million to fund training to increase general practitioners' awareness and understanding of carers' needs for support.
Doctors: Training
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has conducted any research into the reasons why some foundation house officers do not complete their foundation training. [29861]
Anne Milton: The UK Foundation Programme Office has collected data since 2009 on the reasons foundation doctors do not complete foundation training.
There are a number of reasons why some foundation doctors do not complete their training. Some resign, some leave the programme for personal/family reasons, some transfer to flexible training, some require remedial training and are therefore unable to progress until this is completed, and a small number are dismissed from the training programme because of disciplinary or performance issues.
The proportion of doctors who did not complete foundation training in 2009 was 6%, and 5.42% in 2010.
General Practitioners: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners provide out-of-hours care in (a) Coventry and (b) the West Midlands. [30807]
Anne Milton: This information is not collected centrally. This information may be available directly from the West Midlands primary care trusts.
Herbal Medicine: Regulation
Annette Brooke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bosworth (David Tredinnick) of 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 165, on the regulation of
16 Dec 2010 : Column 925W
qualified herbalists, what plans he has for the regulation of practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine; and if he will make a statement. [31303]
Anne Milton: In my response to the hon. Member for Bosworth (David Tredinnick) of 8 December 2010, Official Report, column 337W, I indicated that the Government are currently considering their overall strategy on professional regulation, including the possibility of establishing a registration scheme for practitioners of traditional forms of medicine. Consideration of the feasibility of such a scheme applies to both herbal medicines practitioners and practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine.
Hospitals: Admissions
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the survival rate was for acute myocardial infarction within 30 days after emergency hospital admission in (a) each primary care trust and (b) England in each of the last 10 years. [30712]
Mr Simon Burns: Data on survival rates are not available centrally.
However, data for the standardised rate of deaths within 30 days of emergency admission to hospital for patients aged 35 to 74 years who have had a myocardial infarction are available, and the figures for the financial years 1999-2000 to 2008-09 have been placed in the Library. These are the latest 10 financial years available.
In Vitro Fertilisation: Homosexuality
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether same sex couples are eligible to receive IVF treatment on the NHS. [31409]
Anne Milton: Access to national health service funded fertility services is based on clinical need. If a couple has clinical grounds for accessing NHS fertility treatment, then provision should be considered regardless of the patient’s sexual orientation.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently updating its fertility guidelines. NICE is at the stage of gathering evidence and currently expects to publish the final updated guidelines towards the end of 2012. The scope of the update includes consideration of treatment for same sex couples.
Kidneys: Donors
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the use of kidneys from non-heartbeating donors within the national kidney allocation scheme. [30935]
Anne Milton: Donation after cardiac death (DCD) has been increasing steadily in the United Kingdom for some years. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), an arm’s length body of the Department, recently welcomed a study reported in T he Lancet, which highlighted the success of kidney transplants from DCD donors.
Although DCD is not a substitute for donation after brain stem death, it increases the number of people who can benefit from a transplant. NHSBT has set up a working party to consider possible changes to the national allocation scheme for DCD donor kidneys.
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Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to increase availability of kidneys for donation from heartbeating and non-heartbeating donors. [30937]
Anne Milton: We realise that people waiting for a kidney transplant represent the highest proportion of people on the transplant waiting list. Kidney transplant also has the highest potential to release savings to the national health service through decreasing demand on renal haemodialysis.
The Department has therefore worked with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and other key professional organisations since the Organ Donation Taskforce presented 14 recommendations in early 2008. Work has focussed on redesigning and strengthening the NHS infrastructure to help ensure that all potential donors are identified and their families approached with the offer of organ donation.
Steady improvement is being made. During 2009-10, organ donor rates increased to nearly 20%, over the baseline year of 2007-08. NHSBT aim to see organ donor rates continue to rise, allowing many more people to benefit from a life saving or life enhancing transplant.
Kidneys: Transplant Surgery
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of (a) women, (b) men and (c) children on waiting lists for kidney transplants; and what recent estimate he has made of the average time spent on such a waiting list by each type of patient. [30934]
Anne Milton: The number of patients currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant as at 13 December 2010 is in the table.
| Status | |||
| Gender/age | Active | Suspended (1) | Total |
| (1 )Suspended indicates those patients on the waiting list who are temporarily suspended from the list for a number of reasons. Sometimes, patients are suspended from the waiting list because of, for example, an infection which results in them not being well enough for a transplant or a wish to have a holiday. | |||
The numbers include patients also waiting for other organs in addition to a kidney (such as kidney/pancreas).
The average waiting times are 1,088 days for adults and 276 days for children. NHS Blood and Transplant does not have figures on the average waiting time split between males and females. However, previous analyses have shown that female patients wait longer for transplants than males. This is due to higher levels of sensitisation in female patients caused by pregnancies, which means that it can be more difficult to identify a compatible donor.
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Maternity Services
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many maternity units closed in each primary healthcare trust area in the latest period for which figures are available. [31042]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected by the Department.
Mental Health Services
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to increase the funding available to support mental health early intervention teams. [29227]
Paul Burstow: The funding plans have already been set out in the spending review and the national health service is sufficiently funded to support the commissioning of early intervention teams. The Government are supportive of the use of evidence-based care, such as early intervention, for young people with first onset psychosis. However, it is for local commissioners and providers to make the decisions on commissioning and providing specific services.
Palliative Care: Prisoners
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what palliative care provision there is for prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [30808]
Paul Burstow: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard) on 9 December 2010, Official Report, columns 390-91W.
Primary Care Trusts: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from local authorities in the West Midlands on the transfer of public health responsibilities from primary care trusts. [30806]
Mr Simon Burns: The Regional Director of Public Health (RDPH) in the West Midlands has individually met all the chief executives of local authorities in the region to discuss the future public health system. She is leading the transition arrangements within the West Midlands on behalf of the Department, and local authority chief executives are involved in those arrangements. Chief executives from across the region are members of the main transition group.
Following publication of the Public Health White Paper “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our Strategy for Public Health in England”, the Government will shortly consult on both the public health outcomes framework and the commissioning and funding for public health. The RDPH will continue to work closely with local government during and after the consultation period to ensure we address areas of concern, facilitated by arrangements for several consultation events across the West Midlands.
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Swine Flu
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from the Health Protection Agency on preparedness for any outbreak of the (a) H5N1 and (b) H1N1 virus; and if he will make a statement. [31011]
Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) works closely with the Department to ensure the national health service remains prepared should a new pandemic emerge. The HPA has links with other international agencies and regularly monitors the situation on outbreaks of H5N1 influenza in other countries. The 2009 pandemic tested organisations’ plans and the NHS remains well prepared should a new pandemic emerge. This includes the potential for a more severe pandemic, such as could be caused by bird flu, and supplies of H5N1 prepandemic vaccine have been purchased as part of the preparedness plans. The Department is currently reviewing the national strategy for pandemic preparedness and will take into account the lessons learned from the H1N1 2009 swine flu response and recent scientific evidence.
The HPA publishes a Weekly National Influenza Report, which is available at:
www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Seasonallnfluenza/EpidemiologicalData/02influsweeklyreport/
The H1N1 (2009) virus is now regarded as one of the group of seasonal influenza viruses in general circulation and therefore the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations on the use of antivirals for treatment and prophylaxis will apply during the 2010-11 influenza season. This was communicated to the NHS by the director of immunisation in a letter dated 10 December 2010 which is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_122573.pdf
A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.
The seasonal flu vaccine offers protection against H1N1 (2009) and two other strains of flu virus. The Department encourages all those aged 65 or over, those with a condition that puts them at risk from the effects of flu, and pregnant women to take up the offer of vaccination if they have not already done so.
Swine Flu: Vaccination
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has issued guidance to primary care trusts and GPs on the use of vaccination against the (a) H5N1 and (b) H1N1 virus. [31021]
Anne Milton: The Department has issued information to primary care trusts and general practitioners about the annual seasonal influenza immunisation programme for winter 2010-11. This programme offers vaccination against the H1N1 swine influenza virus.
The interim chief medical officer’s letter to the national health service dated 23 June 2010 on the seasonal influenza immunisation programme is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_116943.pdf
A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.
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A letter from the director of immunisation was sent to the NHS on 19 November 2010 to highlight the importance of achieving high uptake of seasonal influenza vaccine in eligible groups. This letter is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_121934
A copy of this letter has already been placed in the Library.
Supplies of H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine have been purchased as part of the preparedness plan and relevant advice would be issued as required in the case of the vaccine being distributed.
Tamiflu
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness on patients of (a) Tamiflu and (b) Relenza. [31280]
Anne Milton: The antiviral drugs marketed as Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) can be used in two broadly distinct disease settings. Firstly, in seasonal influenza, the kind of ‘flu’ that occurs annually over the winter months, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have examined the effectiveness of both drugs and concluded that they both should be made available to treat at-risk patients with suspected influenza illness and when seasonal influenza virus is circulating.
This NICE guidance does not cover the use of these drugs in a second disease setting, pandemics of influenza, which occur only rarely but at potentially any time of year. For this situation, the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Advisory Committee (SPI) reviewed the effectiveness of Tamiflu and Relenza in 2007 and concluded that both drugs could have a significant beneficial impact in reducing morbidity and thus mortality. SPI is currently re-examining the scientific evidence base for the use of antiviral drugs in pandemic influenza. The output from this review will be published in early 2011.
Weather
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on proposals for a national winter emergency plan; and if he will make a statement. [31667]
Anne Milton: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Bolton West (Julie Hilling) on 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 168W.
Communities and Local Government
Bed and Breakfast Accommodation: Children
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the number of children under the age of 16 years living in bed and breakfast accommodation between 2010 and 2015. [30667]
Grant Shapps:
The latest homelessness statistics show that at the end of September 2010 there were 930 households in bed and breakfast-style temporary accommodation containing dependent children and/or a pregnant woman.
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Within these households there were 1,490 children or expected children. The Department has not produced forecasts for future years.
Under homelessness legislation that applies to England, bed and breakfast cannot be used by a local housing authority to discharge a duty to secure accommodation for applicants who are pregnant, or whose household includes a pregnant woman or a dependant child, unless no other accommodation is available and then for no more than six weeks aggregate.
This Government are committed to tackling and preventing homelessness. We have protected Homelessness Grant funding, with £400 million over the spending review period. This will be made available to local authorities and the voluntary sector to support their work to tackle homelessness. We have made an additional £190 million available for discretionary housing payments and other forms of practical support alongside the Government’s package of welfare reform measures.
I also refer the right hon. Member to my letter on the spending review’s settlement for housing of 20 October 2010, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, on our plans to build more affordable homes and renovate poor quality social housing.
Children: Day Care
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to provide alternative forms of (a) provision and (b) support to adults using day centres where such services are withdrawn as a result of local authority spending reductions. [31304]
Robert Neill: Local government are responsible for decisions on the delivery of social care in their area. The Government have provided additional funding in recognition of the adult social care pressures that local authorities will face and the importance Government place on social care, including an extra £l billion which the NHS will make available by 2014-15 in order to support social care services which benefit health.
Community Groups
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) public houses, (b) libraries and (c) community centres have transferred ownership to community groups in each of the last five years in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales; and if he will make a statement. [31307]
Andrew Stunell:
There are no centrally held records of completed asset transfers in England. However, the Asset Transfer Unit, which is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, holds statistics for completed asset transfers relating to government-funded asset transfer programmes, and these show that there has been a total of 51 transfers since 2007. This total includes 15 community centres and five libraries. A survey carried out by SQW consultants in 2009 for the Development Trusts Association indicated that of around 1,000 transfers under way in England, approximately one third related to community centres. As many public houses are privately owned and purchased, there are no centrally held records. According to figures provided by
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the Plunkett Foundation, there are three legally registered co-operative pubs in England. Figures for other forms of community ownership of pubs are not available.
Information relating to Scotland and Wales is a devolved matter.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average time taken for the transfer of ownership of a public house to a community group in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [31308]
Andrew Stunell: There are no national statistics collected for the transfer of public houses to community ownership, so it is not possible to estimate the average time that a transfer takes.
The time it takes to transfer a public house to community ownership will vary considerably according to the local circumstances. Determining factors will include the expertise available within any particular community, the level of support that a community group can access to ensure they have the required knowledge and skills, the level of funding needed, and the operational condition of the pub.
Compulsory Purchase: Coastal Areas
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of premises that were subject to a compulsory purchase order in each principal seaside town in England in the last year for which figures are available. [31372]
Robert Neill: The Department does not hold estimates of the number of premises subject to compulsory purchase orders. However the number of orders in principal seaside towns confirmed by the Secretary of State was three, the number referred back to the acquiring authority for their own confirmation was seven and the number not confirmed was four. This information has been based on the addresses show on each individual order.
My officials will retrieve the relevant files from archive and I will write to the hon. Member confirming the number of plots.
Council Housing: Surveys
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to announce his plans for the future of the NI160 Status Survey Grant. [30730]
Grant Shapps: I wrote to local authority chief executives on 10 August 2010 setting out that, as part of the Government’s commitment to reducing centrally imposed burdens, stock holding local authorities would no longer be required to complete the Status survey or report against National Indicator 160 on local authority tenants’ satisfaction with landlord services. Along with the Place Survey, these were expensive and burdensome cosmetic exercises. Instead, the new Government will be strengthening social tenants rights of redress as outlined in my Department’s press notice of 18 October 2010.
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Local authority chief executives were notified in a letter dated 26 October that payments made through area based grant in respect of work to undertake the Status survey would consequently cease from October 2010.
Council Tax
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much on average was levied in council tax per dwelling in each local authority in 2009-10. [30775]
Robert Neill: The latest information on the average council tax levied per dwelling for individual authorities in England for 2009-10 was published in table 6 of the statistical release “Council tax levels set by local authorities in England—2009-10 (Revised)”. This release was issued on 30 July 2009 and is available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/counciltax200910update
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department’s annual budget for conferences was on (a) 7 May 2010 and (b) 7 December 2010. [29962]
Robert Neill: In May 2010 the Government announced plans to achieve £6.2 billion of savings in 2010-11 and introduced an immediate freeze on new marketing and communications spend. The Department, therefore, cancelled all space and stands at exhibitions and conferences except where they had already been paid for in full and cancellation costs exceeded the costs of attendance. Advice was also given to managers that careful consideration should be given to staff attendance at conferences, but they may continue to do so where appropriate.
The Department does not set an annual budget for conferences. Budgets are delegated to managers who have flexibility to move resources between different expenditure categories and update their expenditure plans monthly.
Departmental Pay
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff employed by his Department were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage in the latest period for which figures are available. [31231]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not currently employ, and has not employed in the last financial year, any staff who are paid less than a rate equivalent to the London living wage.
Departmental Plants
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the (a) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and (b) Deputy Prime Minister's Office spent on pot plants during the period it was a Government Department. [29380]
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Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 14 September 2010, Official Report, column 1027W, given to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Andrew Griffiths).
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister existed from May 2002 to May 2006 before becoming the Department of Communities and Local Government (ODPM). In July 2004, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister signed a contract with its current facilities management supplier for maintenance of internal plants in Eland House. Details on the expenditure on pot plants prior to July 2004 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
ODPM spent the following on the maintenance of pot plants during that period.
| Contract year July to June: | Cost (£) |
In July 2010, the Department gave due notice that this contract will be terminated; the contract will formally end in September 2010.
Details of the expenditure on pot plants by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office are not held.
Departmental Recruitment
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department and its agencies spent on job advertisements in The Guardian newspaper in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10. [29378]
Robert Neill: The Department has spent the following with The Guardian newspaper on job advertisements:
|
|
£ |
The Department’ agencies have spent the following:
| The Planning Inspectorate | |
|
|
£ |
| Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre | |
|
|
£ |
| Fire Service College | |
|
|
£ |
| (1 )Fire Service college could supply figures for 2007-08 only at disproportionate cost. Note: Figures include VAT. | |
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As outlined in my Department’s press notice of 6 July 2010, we believe there is significant scope to save taxpayers’ money by publishing job vacancies online in an open and standardised format.
Housing Revenue Accounts
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Swindon South of 30 April 2007, Official Report, column 1518W, on housing revenue accounts, how much each local authority in England has paid to the Exchequer from its housing revenue account in each year since 2005-06. [31127]
Andrew Stunell: The housing revenue account subsidy amounts either paid or received by each local authority to the Exchequer for the years 2005-06 to 2009-10, are shown in a table that has been placed in the Library of the House. Negative figures denote subsidy payments made to the Exchequer.
Housing: Construction
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many homes started by the Homes and Communities Agency in 2009-10 have been completed since 1 April 2010; [30697]
(2) how many homes started by the Homes and Communities Agency in 2009-10 have not been completed. [30698]
Grant Shapps: The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) published official statistics detailing its housing delivery programme achievements for the six months from 1 April 2010 to 30 September on 30 November 2010:
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/six-monthly-housing-statistics
The total number of units expected to be completed in 2010-11 are available in the update to HCA’s Corporate Plan:
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/public/documents/Corporate-Plan-2010-11-update.pdf
Completions this year will be made up of starts from a number of earlier years so will not correlate directly with the starts from 2009-10.
Housing: Disability
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the effect of cold housing on disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [31306]
Andrew Stunell: Ministers in this Department have had a number of discussions with Ministers at the Department for Energy and Climate Change on measures to improve the energy efficiency of homes, so that all sections of the community can have warmer homes and lower fuel bills, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has recently published proposals for the Green Deal, which is intended to achieve that. We have not had specific discussions about the effect of colder housing on disabled people.
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Planning
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what funding his Department has allocated to assist local areas to meet the cost of preparing neighbourhood plans; [30691]
(2) what funding his Department has allocated to assist local areas with the cost of conducting referendums on neighbourhood plans. [30788]
Greg Clark: Funding for local authorities on neighbourhood planning is subject to the final outcome of the spending review process. I expect to make further announcements in due course. We have already announced funding and assistance for a Neighbourhood Planning Vanguard Scheme, information on which can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planningsystem/neighbourhoodplanningvanguards/
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what organisations his Department plans to classify as competent to prepare and conduct consultations on neighbourhood plans. [30700]
Greg Clark: A parish council or a neighbourhood forum will be able to bring forward proposals for neighbourhood planning.
In unparished areas, any organisation which is established to further the well-being of residents of a neighbourhood, consists of and is open to all individuals living in the neighbourhood and has a written constitution can apply to the local authority to be considered as the neighbourhood forum for that area.
Before being brought into effect, all proposals for neighbourhood planning must have the approval of a majority of voters in a referendum.
Planning: Referendums
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what rights he plans to give to (a) residents, (b) parish councils and (c) community groups to challenge the outcome of a referendum on a neighbourhood plan. [30787]
Greg Clark: Parish councils will have the power to bring forward proposals for neighbourhood planning. Residents and community groups will have the opportunity to be engaged during the development of proposals and to make representations to an independent examination of proposals before they are put to a referendum.
Actions of any public authority are also subject to challenge through existing legal processes.
Sleeping Rough
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what data his Department holds on the age profile of rough sleepers contacted by outreach services since May 2010. [30664]
Grant Shapps:
The Department does not collect information on the age profile of rough sleepers contacted
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by outreach services. However, the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) database in London, which the Department funds Broadway (a homelessness charity) to run, does collect this information. Their “Street to Home” annual report 2009-10 indicates the following breakdown:
| Age | Percentage |
| Source: CHAIN, London. | |
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have not conducted a street count of rough sleepers in 2010. [30666]
Grant Shapps: Information on rough sleeping counts is available both in the Library and via the DCLG website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1648099.xls
Since 1998, only councils in areas with a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem were required to conduct an official rough sleeper count, which meant that only 70 councils submitted information to central Government. Figures published in July 2010 showed that under this previous method, on any given night there were 440 rough sleepers in England. However, when the remaining 256 councils provided estimates of the scale of the problem in their areas, this added a further estimated 807 rough sleepers, taking the national total to 1,247 rough sleepers on any given night.
Under new guidance, all councils across England will now provide information on rough sleeping. This move follows consultation with homelessness charities and councils and is aimed at getting a clearer picture of the scale of the problem in each area so more targeted support can be provided to some of the most vulnerable in society.
Social Rented Housing: Central Heating
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in how many social homes central heating was newly installed on at least one floor between 1997-98 and 2009-10. [30780]
Andrew Stunell: We do not hold the data requested. Since 2001 we have collected data on the number of council dwellings that have had works to improve their central heating. 1,265,000 dwellings have received such works. We do not collect similar data from housing associations.
Social Rented Housing: Double Glazing
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social homes were fitted with double glazing between 1997-98 and 2009-10. [30777]
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Andrew Stunell: We do not hold the data requested. Since 2001 we have collected data on the number of council dwellings that have had windows replaced (it is reasonable to assume most replacement windows will be double glazed units). 1,172,000 dwellings have received replacement windows. We do not collect similar data from housing associations.
Social Rented Housing: Repairs and Maintenance
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department provided for repair and modernisation of social housing in each year from 1997-98 to 2009-10. [30791]
Andrew Stunell: The following tables set out the funding support provided by the Department for repair and modernisation of social housing in each year from 1997-98 to 2009-10. Funding is provided in the form of Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Allowances and Capital Funding Allocations to local authorities. In addition, the Department has provided gap funding to housing associations in a limited number of housing stock transfers.
| Departmental support by year for local authorities and gap funded housing associations | |||
| £ | |||
| HRA subsidy allowances | |||
|
|
Management and maintenance allowance | Major repairs allowance | Private finance initiative |
| £ | ||||
| HRA capital funding | ||||
|
|
ALMO funding | Local authority supported capital expenditure | Gap funding for housing associations | Total departmental support by year |
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Social Services: Blackpool
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the revenue spending power allocated to Blackpool borough council for 2011-12 he plans to allocate to NHS support for social care. [31412]
Robert Neill: The Government are providing £1 billion of additional funding by 2014-15, through the health budget, to break down the barriers between health and social care. Blackpool primary care trust will transfer £2.442 million to Blackpool borough council in 2011-12 to support social care and benefit health. The Government will set out more detail on how the NHS should use this funding to support social care in the 2011-12 Operating Framework, which it will publish shortly.
Tenancy Deposit Schemes
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 184W, on tenancy deposit schemes, who funds the free adjudication service for landlords in dispute over tenancy deposits. [30655]
Grant Shapps: The alternative dispute resolution services operated by the three tenancy deposit protection schemes are funded by the scheme providers as part of their overall running costs.