Rail High Level Group
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he plans to announce the membership of the Rail High Level Group; and what criteria he plans to use to determine its membership; [30588]
(2) whether he proposes to set out a remit for the Rail High Level Group in relation to (a) structural reform of the rail industry and (b) franchise reform. [30589]
Mrs Villiers: No decisions on the composition and terms of reference of the Secretary of State’s group, or the way in which industry and passenger interests will contribute to its work, have yet been taken. A further announcement about arrangements will be made shortly.
Railway: Electrification
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Thameslink project will include electrification of the railway between Carlton Road junction (Midland Main Line) and Haringey junction (East Coast Main Line). [29976]
Mrs Villiers: The scope of the Thameslink programme does not include the electrification of the railway between Carlton Road junction (Midland Main Line) and Haringey junction (East Coast Main Line).
Railways: Antisocial Behaviour
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department has issued to train operating companies on addressing antisocial behaviour on passenger rail services. [30433]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has not issued specific guidance of this nature. Train operators do, though, have long-established and well understood powers under railway byelaws to remove drunk or disruptive passengers from trains and stations. Enforcement is a matter for operators themselves, backed up as necessary by the British Transport police.
Railways: Bridges
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of the £40 million funding for refurbishment of disused railway bridges at Camden road announced by his Department in 2009. [29956]
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Mrs Villiers: We expect this scheme to be a strong candidate for funding in Railway Control Period 5 (2014-2019).
Railways: Concessions
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) current and (b) former employees of Network Rail who receive free rail travel or travel concessions also receive free travel or travel concessions for members of their family who have not worked for Network Rail; and how many such family members receive such free travel or travel concessions. [28586]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 3 December 2010]: These data are not available.
Railways: Construction
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent to date on the development of High Speed 2 between London and Birmingham; and how much is projected to be spent up to 2015. [29335]
Mr Philip Hammond: For the period between 14 January 2009 and the end of the 2009-10 financial year, HS2 Ltd spent £8.4 million (excluding VAT).
HS2 Ltd's budget for the 2010-11 financial year is approximately £21.2 million (excluding VAT). In addition, the Department for Transport estimates that around £25 million may be required to fund property purchases under the Exceptional Hardship Scheme in the 2010-11 financial year, although actual expenditure will depend on applications received.
For the four years from 2011-12 to 2014-15, the spending review settlement includes approximately £773 million to fund the development of the Government's proposals for a high speed rail network from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on consultants in respect of the preparatory work for the High Speed 2 project. [31010]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 16 December 2010]: High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd has been set up to take forward work on a new high speed line in the UK. As part of this remit, it has procured specialist engineering, railway operations, environmental assessment and demand modelling consultancy support. HS2 Ltd's budget for this work is £10.8 million in 2010-11. £4.04 million was spent in 2009-10.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the cost to his Department is of staff employed to undertake the preparatory work for the High Speed 2 project; [31024]
(2) how many staff are employed by his Department to undertake the preparatory work for the High Speed 2 project. [31025]
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Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 16 December 2010]: High Speed Two Ltd. has 56 staff (54.2 full-time equivalent). Its 2010-11 budget includes £3.85 million for employment costs.
Railways: Fares
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the likely effects of raising the present cap on rail fares on levels of carbon dioxide emissions; and if he will make a statement. [28094]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 6 December 2010]: As set out in my answer of 10 November 2010, Official Report, column 334W, the Department for Transport has not made a detailed estimate of the likely effects of increases in rail fares on transport emissions. Although the announced fare increases may reduce at the margin the increase in demand for rail travel, the overall impact on carbon emissions is likely to be small.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the effect of increases in rail fares on the number of commuters who travel to work by rail. [31080]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 10 November 2010, Official Report, column 334W. The Department for Transport has not carried out a breakdown of the impact of different types of rail travel.
Railways: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budgetary provision he has made for external consulting resources for the rail value for money study. [30579]
Mrs Villiers: The total consultancy budget for the Sir Roy McNulty study is £3,002,400.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultants his Department used in preparing the interim report of Sir Roy McNulty’s value for money review; and what the cost to his Department was of the services of those consultants. [30580]
Mrs Villiers: The interim report included early feedback from a number of research projects commissioned to inform the overall review. No work was specifically commissioned for the interim report. The total costs of the external consultancy work up to the point at which the interim report was prepared are in the region of £1,350,000. External consultants undertaking work on the review are RC&M, Amtec, Civity, Oxera, Atkins, Booz, Capita, Mott MacDonald, Albany Smith, DTZ, SDG, Red Personnel and Aecom.
Railways: Franchises
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when (a) his Department plans to begin work on the rail franchise specifications due for renegotiation in 2012 and (b) he expects officials of his Department to be available to meet hon. Members in constituencies affected by those franchises to discuss those specifications. [27947]
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Mrs Villiers [holding answer 2 December 2010]: Specification began in 2009 for those franchises due to be re-let in 2011 and 2012. A consultation paper for Greater Anglia and East Coast was issued in the early part of the year, when Members of Parliament, transport authorities and passenger representatives were able to comment on rail service issues in their constituencies.
Following a wider consultation on franchise reform that closed in October this year, the Secretary of State made an announcement in December setting out the next steps for the franchise programme. Officials in the Department for Transport would be available to discuss the franchise in the early part of next year.
Railways: Overcrowding
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the level of overcrowding on the east coast main line. [25529]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport receives passenger counts data from train operators for travel on weekdays during spring and autumn survey periods. The latest data available for the east coast main line show that, across the spring 2010 count period, the maximum average load did not exceed the planned capacity for the service on any of the days for which data were collected.
The Government’s overall strategy for the east coast main line is to increase capacity and improve journey times to meet forecast growth in demand. This will be delivered by a new timetable in May 2011, infrastructure enhancement in CP4 (2009-14) and further improvements to be delivered through a new franchise.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent assessment he has made of levels of passenger overcrowding on the rail network in (a) London, (b) non-metropolitan urban areas and (c) metropolitan areas; [25768]
(2) what work his Department is undertaking to collate data on passenger overcrowding on the rail network in (a) London, (b) non-metropolitan urban areas and (c) metropolitan areas; [25793]
(3) what data his Department collated on passenger overcrowding on the rail network in (a) London, (b) non-metropolitan urban areas and (c) metropolitan areas in the latest period for which figures are available. [25821]
Mrs Villiers: Franchised train operators are required by the Department for Transport to undertake passenger counts as part of their franchise agreements. These are requested from all relevant operators twice yearly in the spring and the autumn, focusing on the morning and evening peak demand into major cities, counting arriving train passengers between 0700 and 0959 and departing passengers between 1600 and 1859. The most recent surveys were undertaken during spring 2010.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) publishes statistics on “passengers in excess of capacity” in National Rail Trends (NRT) which is available on its website at:
www.rail-reg.gov.uk
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These figures were updated in July 2010 for London commuter services, based on autumn 2009 data, and will be published for other regional centres when this information is available.
Train operating companies submit morning and evening peak train plans to the Department for Transport for May and December timetable changes each year. Overcrowding levels are assessed by comparing counts of passengers against the plans. The assessments inform the plans for the next timetable iteration and the deployment of train capacity. These assessments contain commercially confidential information and are not published, but the Department uses the data as the base for strategic forecasts of peak demand change. The latest assessment for each of the franchised operators was for the May 2010 timetable change.
Railways: Recycling
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to ensure that holders of rail franchises recycle more waste from trains. [31095]
Mrs Villiers: The Government are currently developing changes to the rail franchising system to make franchises longer, more flexible, more responsive to the needs of passengers and more efficient. As part of this process we are considering how to encourage franchise holders to reduce environmental impacts including through recycling on-train waste.
Railways: South East Region
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with Network Rail on the laying of a dual track along the entirety of the Oxford to Worcester railway line. [30739]
Mrs Villiers: The Government are currently funding an upgrade programme to deliver dual tracking over two-thirds of the single track sections between Oxford and Worcester. Network Rail has established this will be sufficient to meet the Government's enhanced capacity and performance rail requirements for 2014. No discussions have taken place for laying dual track on the remaining 10 miles of single track.
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to include a new specification in the Malvern to London train franchise for 2013 to include an hourly service. [30740]
Mrs Villiers: Decisions on the specifications for future franchises will be made as each contract is due to be renewed. To date, there have been no decisions relating to future London to Malvern services.
Railways: Stevenage
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the potential effects of the East Coast Eureka timetable on passengers in Stevenage. [29084]
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Mrs Villiers: The effect of the new east coast main line timetable on passengers at Stevenage was assessed by the train operator and the Department for Transport as part of the rail industry's development of that timetable. Overall, Stevenage will enjoy an improved level of service. There will be a substantial increase in the number of long distance trains calling at Stevenage—27 per day instead of 19 per day—and although Stevenage will have fewer through trains to stations north of York, good connections will be available at Peterborough, Doncaster or York.
Railways: Suicide
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the incidence of suicide on the rail network in the last 10 years. [30573]
Mrs Villiers: This information is published by the Rail Safety and Standards Board, and can be found in Chart 97 on page 128 of its Annual Safety Performance Report, 2009-10, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House. It can also be found at:
http://www.rssb.co.uk/sitecollectiondocuments/pdf/reports/ASPR_2009_10_Full_Report.pdf
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what timetable he has set for his consultation on the renewable transport fuel obligation; and if he will make a statement; [31129]
(2) what plans he has to review the Government’s policy on biofuels. [31371]
Norman Baker: Amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel (RTFO) Order 2007 are being considered to implement both the transport elements of the renewable energy directive (RED) and aspects of the closely related fuel quality directive (FQD). It is our firm intention to consult soon on proposals to amend the RTFO and set out a timetable for implementation.
The RED contains a requirement that the European Commission undertake a wide ranging review of the directive by 31 December 2014 and propose amendments if appropriate. Any such proposal may lead to further revisions of the RTFO.
Rolling Stock
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to roll out on-train metering across the rail network. [29268]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport recognises the benefits of on-train meters in helping train operators manage their energy consumption more effectively. We are working closely with the Office of Rail Regulation, Network Rail and train operators to facilitate the roll-out of on-train metering. Installation of the necessary equipment is supported by Network Rail's £8 million safety and environment fund.
The Office of Rail Regulation is currently reviewing Virgin Trains West Coast application to opt in to on-train metering. Virgin Trains is already supplying metered energy data to Network Rail and will be billed based on
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these data if the application is approved. The Office of Rail Regulation encourages the use of on-train metering, but also has to make sure the Virgin Trains application does not have unreasonable financial implications for other train operators.
London Midland, First Scotrail and First Capital Connect have indicated that they plan to move to metered billing from April 2011. The Department for Transport has specified the fitment of energy meters to 28 trains as part of the Southern franchise.
The Office of Rail Regulation recently commissioned a review of opportunities to improve electrical energy efficiency. The executive summary of the resulting electrical efficiency summary report is available at:
www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/independent-reporter-b-amc-121110.pdf
The Department for Transport is working with the Office of Rail Regulation and the wider industry to respond to the review's recommendations. This will include consideration of further incentives and penalties for the next control period (2014-19) to encourage the fitment of on-train meters.
Rolling Stock: Procurement
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what class of rail travel will be provided in each of the new rail carriages which have been ordered. [28592]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 3 December 2010]: The Department for Transport does not normally specify this as it is a commercial matter for the train operator concerned.
Sea Rescue
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent meetings he has had with representatives of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Northern Ireland on the modernisation of the coastguard. [31948]
Mike Penning: Our proposals for the modernisation of the coastguard are now the subject of a 14-week consultation. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency plans formal negotiations with the trade unions, as well as a series of public consultation meetings and staff briefings.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons his Department's announcement on the modernisation of the coastguard has not been made according to the planned timetable. [31949]
Mike Penning: Our proposals have been developed over a period of time. Once we were satisfied that these would deliver a modernised coastguard for the 21st century, we made a written ministerial statement to the House.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish his Department's proposals for the modernisation of the coastguard. [31950]
Mike Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 16 December 2010, Official Report, columns 133-34WS.
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Taxis: Licensing
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether local authorities are required to determine the suitability of an individual to hold a (a) hackney and (b) private hire licence; and if he will make a statement. [31507]
Norman Baker: The legislation governing taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing places a statutory duty on local licensing authorities to ensure that any person to whom they grant a taxi or PHV driver licence is a fit and proper person. Local authorities have responsibility for deciding what constitutes “fit and proper”, for the standards that they impose for the granting of a licence and for subsequent enforcement.
The Department for Transport has provided best practice guidance to assist local licensing authorities in carrying out their taxi licensing responsibilities. The guidance includes advice about assessing taxi driver licence applicants. It can be found on the Department’s website at:
www.dft.gov.uk
Thameslink: King's Lynn
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many direct services from King's Lynn to London he expects to be maintained following the Thameslink upgrade. [30939]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 15 December 2010]: It is not anticipated that the number of direct trains from King's Lynn to London will alter as a result of the Thameslink upgrade.
Train Operating Companies: Compensation
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to require train operating companies to introduce a compensatory scheme to those passengers unable to access a seat on their journey. [29639]
Mrs Villiers: The cost of introducing a compensation scheme for passengers who have been unable to access a seat would be reflected in increased franchising costs for the taxpayer. There would also be significant issues to resolve with regard to how such a scheme could be administered.
The cost of providing a seat for every passenger on every journey, regardless of distance travelled is likely to be very high given the peaks in demand that occur in the system.
However, the Government remain committed to increasing the carrying capacity of the rail network and have recently confirmed major infrastructure schemes such as Crossrail and Thameslink and that some 2100 new carriages will be in service on the network by 2019.
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Waterloo Station
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) representatives of business organisations and (b) individual businesses on the future of Waterloo International terminal. [30575]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given on 9 December 2010, Official Report, column 407W.
West Coast Railway Line: Overcrowding
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on his decision not to approve planned extra carriages on west coast main line train services; and if he will make a statement. [27776]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has ordered 106 additional Pendolino vehicles for use on the west coast main line. These are under construction and the first vehicles are now being delivered for testing. Our long-term plans for the west coast corridor include a major increase in capacity with the construction of a new high speed rail network.
The Government received a proposal from Virgin to extend its franchise by two years which included a proposal to purchase a further 42 vehicles. I decided not to pursue the offer in order to maximise the passenger and taxpayer benefits through a competitive process to determine the future of the west coast franchise. The Department for Transport has received various representations on capacity issues on west coast.
Health
Addison Lee
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which it is responsible contract services from Addison Lee private taxi hire company. [30706]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not have a contract with Addison Lee.
The Department's arm's-length body sector is made up of nine executive non-departmental public bodies, one executive agency and eight special health authorities. For the purpose of this question, only the non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) that currently exist are included.
One NDPB, the Health Protection Agency, does have a contract with Addison Lee under an Office of Government Commerce (OGC) framework agreement. Although not a contract, some NDPBs do however have accounts with Addison Lee for financial reasons. Details for all the NDPBs are included in the following table:
| Non-departmental public body | Has contract with Addison Lee? (Yes/No) | Additional Information |
20 Dec 2010 : Column 1011W
20 Dec 2010 : Column 1012W
Advisory Group for National Specialised Services
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether treatments assessed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will be able to enter specialised commissioning through the new Advisory Group for National Specialised Services. [31053]
Mr Simon Burns: We would not normally expect a treatment to be referred to the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS) if it was considered appropriate for appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE can indicate if it believes a topic being considered for appraisal would more appropriately be assessed by AGNSS.
Autism: Research
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has evaluated on (a) a genetic link to autism and (b) potential treatments for autism associated with genetic conditions. [31955]
Paul Burstow: The Medical Research Council (MRC) funds a broad portfolio of research relating to autism including research on the genetic links to the condition.
Funded research projects span a number of years, many of which are still ongoing. Examples of MRC-funded research in this area include:
The Autism Genome Project led by Professor A Monaco, University of Oxford – which began March 2007 and concluded in September 2010. This project consists of 120 scientists from more than 60 institutions and 11 countries who have formed a first-of-its-kind autism genetics consortium. Support for this collaboration was brokered by Medical Research Council.
Professor F Happe, Institute of Psychiatry—A population-based twin-study of autism spectrum disorders—February 2007-November 2010.
Dr M D Spencer, University of Cambridge—A structural and functional imaging study of autism and its extended phenotype— December 2008-November 2012.
Professor S Baron-Cohen, University of Cambridge—Autistic traits, autism spectrum conditions, and foetal testosterone—July 2007-December 2011.
Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Trust: Public Expenditure
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the change in funding to Birmingham children’s hospital as a result of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review in each of the next five years. [31122]
Mr Simon Burns: No estimate has been made of changes to Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s funding as a result of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.
While not directly related to the comprehensive spending review, Departmental officials have held discussions in recent weeks with representatives from Birmingham children’s hospital and other providers of specialised services for children. These discussions have focused on arrangements for the 2011-12 Payment by Results national tariff, through which specialist trusts receive a proportion of their total funding.
Following the conclusion of these discussions, the Secretary of State for Health announced on 7 December his intention to set the top-up payment for specialised services for children at 60% above the tariff price and increase the number of procedures that will attract the top-up payment.
Cancer: Orphan Treatments
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of standard treatment appraisal methodologies for appraising ultra-orphan treatments for cancer; what assessment he has made of the effects of using such methodologies on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's capacity to develop guidance for such treatments; and if he will make a statement. [31054]
Mr Simon Burns: We have made no such assessment.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for the development of its own methodologies. NICE has appraised a number of drugs for the treatment of cancers with very small patient populations and has been able to recommend some as a clinically and cost effective use of national health service resources.
NICE issued supplementary advice to its Appraisal Committees in 2009 to clarify the circumstances in which it might be appropriate to recommend potentially life-extending treatments licensed for terminal illnesses affecting small numbers of patients that would not normally be recommended through the application of NICE’S standard technology appraisal methods. The supplementary advice is available on NICE’s website at:
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http://www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/howwework/devnicetech/technologyappraisalprocessguides/guidetothemethodsofte chnologyappraisal.jsp?domedia=l&mid=88ACDAE5-19B9-E0B5-D422589714A8EC6D
Care Costs
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in each local authority area who require assistance to meet their care costs in 2010-11. [31196]
Paul Burstow: The NHS Information Centre collects and publishes the number of people receiving services funded wholly or partly by Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs). The most recently published data are for 2009-10 and are provisional. These data are shown in the following table. Final data for 2009-10 will be published in 2011.
Data for 2010-11 will not be published until late 2011 and no forecasts are available.
| Clients receiving services during the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 (1) | ||
|
|
CASSR | Number |
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| (1) Provisional Note: England total may not add up due to rounding. | ||
Cataracts: Surgery
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2010, Official Report, column 890W, on cataracts: surgery, what his policy is on providing a wider choice of treatments for cataract surgery patients under his proposed reforms to NHS commissioning; and if he will make a statement. [30818]
Mr Simon Burns: As explained in the answer on 1 December 2010, Official Report, column 890W, we are currently consulting on proposals for giving patients and service users greater choice and control over their care and we will publish our response along with more detailed policy proposals early next year.
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Death: Winter
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the factors which contributed to the change in the number of excess winter deaths between 2008-09 and 2009-10. [31279]
Anne Milton: Estimates and analysis of excess winter mortality are provided annually by the Office for National Statistics. These are available at:
www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=10805
The most recent data for winter 2009-10 (provisional) show that there were an estimated 25,400 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2009-10. This is a decrease of 30% compared with figures for 2008-09.
Although excess winter deaths are associated with low temperatures, conditions directly relating to cold, such as hypothermia, are not the main cause. The majority of additional winter deaths are caused by cerebrovascular diseases, ischaemic heart disease and respiratory diseases.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the likely number of excess winter deaths in 2010-11. [31567]
Anne Milton: Estimates and analysis of excess winter mortality are provided annually by the Office for National Statistics. These are available at:
www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=10805
The most recent data for winter 2009-10 (provisional) show that there were an estimated 25,400 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2009-10. This is a decrease of 30% compared with figures for 2008-09.
Dementia: Health Services
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to require GP consortia to provide full and adequately financed care for all patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's and other dementia-related conditions. [30707]
Paul Burstow: The White Paper “Liberating the NHS” set out our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices, supported by the creation of an NHS Commissioning Board. The Government have consulted on how best to implement the White Paper and on 15 December, published their response.
GP consortia will be responsible for commissioning the great majority of national health service services to include those for patients with dementia. We will expect consortia to involve relevant health and social care professionals from all sectors in helping design care pathways or care packages for those with dementia that achieve more integrated delivery of care, higher quality, and more efficient use of NHS resources. This will create an effective dialogue across all health and, where appropriate, social care professionals
The Operating Framework for the NHS published on 15 December sets out that, during 2011-12, NHS organisations are expected to make progress on the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy. It
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also states that primary care trusts must work with GP consortia to develop their Operating Plans, providing support for the consortia development process and empowering consortia to take on new responsibilities when they are ready to do so.
Departmental Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many invoices his Department processed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [30753]
Mr Simon Burns: The number of invoices processed by the Department in the 12 month period from 1 December 2009 to 30 November 2010 is 63,233. This figure is drawn from the Department's accounts payable system and includes only those invoices paid directly to suppliers by the Department. Payments by arm’s-length bodies and executive agencies are therefore excluded.
Departmental Consultants
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts his Department has entered into for the provision of consultancy services since May 2010; and what the monetary value is of each such contract. [29730]
Mr Simon Burns: In line with Government efficiency controls, details of consultancy services contracts over £20,000 are now routinely published.
The latest publication, for the period 24 May to 31 October, was published on the Department's website on 16 December 2010 at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/HowDHworks/Transparency/index.htm
Departmental Pay
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid to officials in his Department and its non-departmental bodies in bonuses and other payments in addition to salary in each year since 1997; how many officials received such payments; and what the monetary value was of the largest 20 payments made in each such year. [27489]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is given in tables for the Department of Health and its non-departmental bodies.
For the Department itself, non-consolidated performance payments (NCPPs) are an integral part of the Department's reward strategy for all its staff. They have to be re-earned each year and do not add to future pay bill costs. These payments are used to reward outstanding performance and behaviours in delivering the Department's agenda.
Non-consolidated performance payments are funded from within existing pay bill controls. In the case of the senior civil service, the percentage of pay bill set aside for performance-related awards is based on recommendations from the independent Senior Salaries Review Body. For staff at administrative officer to grade 6, the percentage of pay bill set aside was determined by a three-year pay settlement introduced in 2008-09.
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The information is set out in the associated tables which have been placed in the Library. Details are not available for the core Department and its agency the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency before 2004-05 because of a change in service provider.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allowances and payments in addition to salary were available to officials in his Department and its non-departmental bodies in each year since 1997; and what the monetary value was of payments and allowances of each type in each such year. [27490]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has a number of allowances and payments in addition to basic pay. These include scarce skills allowances and overtime. Different allowances and payments exist in the Department's non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). The total payments for the Department and its NDPBs are shown in tables which have been placed in the Library. The Department moved to a new pay and grading system for staff below senior civil service in 2006 with much less reliance on allowances.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [31227]
Mr Simon Burns: All the Department’s employees (permanent civil servants and those on fixed term appointments) are paid at rates for which the hourly equivalent is above the current “London Living wage” of £7.85 per hour.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the effect of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax on his Department's annual expenditure. [31183]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has a wide variety of areas of expenditure which exposes it to different levels of VAT and the amount that can be recovered. Information on the amount of irrecoverable VAT (the amount affected by the increase in standard rate) is not collected as there is no business need for this information.
A high-level estimate, based on the best currently available information, indicates that the effect of each percentage point increase in the standard rate of VAT is around £130 million per year.
Diabetes: Finance
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on access to (a) consultant-led care and (b) diabetic consumables funded by the NHS for diabetics; what proportion of the NHS budget is allocated to diabetic care; and if he will make a statement. [31031]
Paul Burstow:
The Secretary of State for Health has not received any recent specific representations on consultant-led diabetes care. All people with diabetes should have access to a multidisciplinary diabetes specialist
20 Dec 2010 : Column 1019W
team, including a consultant in diabetes, when necessary. Treatment for people with diabetes must be tailored to each person’s individual needs at that particular time in his or her life.
It is for national health service organisations to determine the needs of their local population and to allocate resources appropriately to meet these needs. Diabetes is a complex condition that can affect every part of the body, which mean that it is difficult to calculate its exact cost to the NHS.
Disability: Children
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department plans to allocate to the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [29715]
Anne Milton: The Aiming High for Disabled Children programme, launched by the previous Government, will continue until the end of March 2011. The Childhood and Families Taskforce announced by the Deputy Prime Minister (Nick Clegg) in July this year is looking at ways to provide greater support for disabled children. Also £20 million is being made available to support respite care, funding recycled from the ending of the Government's contribution to Children's Trust funds.
The recently announced Special Educational Needs Green Paper also demonstrates that disabled children are a priority for the coalition Government. The important role of carers has also been recognised with the recent publication of a Carers Strategy in November. Government will provide local authorities with £800 million over the next four years to fund short breaks for families with disabled children.
The NHS White Paper “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS” will also provide a real opportunity for ill and disabled children and their families by placing patients firmly at the heart of everything the national health service does.
Domestic Violence: Public Expenditure
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has allocated for support to victims of domestic violence in each year of the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement. [31259]
Anne Milton: The spending review increased health spending in cash terms by 10.3% by 2014-15. All patients, including victims of domestic violence, will benefit from this additional investment in health care and from the White Paper reforms.
On 15 December 2010, the Department announced increased total funding for primary care trusts (PCTs) of 3% in cash terms, including PCT recurrent allocations.
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 health care needs of their local populations, taking account of both local and national priorities.
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Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has allocated for support to victims of domestic violence in each year since 2005. [31258]
Anne Milton: Support for victims of domestic violence may be provided by universal and specialist health services, which are commissioned by primary care trusts (PCTs). 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 health care needs of their local populations, taking account of both local and national priorities.
In addition to PCT allocations, the Department has also funded voluntary and charitable organisations to deliver a range of projects that support victims of domestic violence. This includes:
£500,000 grant payment to the National Domestic Violence Helpline in March 2009; and
£439,530 was committed to fund specialist services run by voluntary and charitable organisations through the Innovation, Excellence and Service Development (IESD) fund. Applications for the 2011-12 IESD fund are currently being assessed.
Headaches: Health Services
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much the NHS spent on interventions for headache and migraine sufferers in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [31481]
(2) if he will take steps to provide training to general practitioners on the prevention and detection of migraine and headaches among patients. [31483]
Paul Burstow: Data on national health service expenditure on interventions for headache and migraine sufferers are not collected.
Training of general practitioners in the prevention and detection of headaches and migraines is the responsibility of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Headaches: Research
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will promote research into the causes of migraines and headaches. [31485]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes applications for support into any aspect of human health, including migraine and headache. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.
The NIHR-funded University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre is undertaking research on headache and pain. A five-year budget of £3.7 million has been allocated to this work.
Health Visitors: Finance
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to allocate funding to meet the commitment contained in the 2010 Drugs Strategy to recruit 4,200 extra health visitors by 2015. [32061]
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Anne Milton: Spending review announcements in late October this year included confirmation of new investment in health visitors within the national health service settlement. The intention to increase the work force by 4,200 was also referenced in the Government's Drugs Strategy, published on 8 December.
Hepatitis
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what general health problems his Department has identified among people with hepatitis C infections which were attributable to the prior infection; and if he will make a statement. [31501]
Anne Milton: Acute hepatitis C infection usually occurs without causing any or only mild symptoms.
Chronic hepatitis C infection may be associated with a range of non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, bodily pain and joint symptoms. Chronic infection has also been associated with a range of specific conditions affecting parts of the body other than the liver, such as impaired cognitive function. A proportion of patients
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with chronic infection will go on to develop cirrhosis and primary liver cancer, and there may be a need for liver transplantation some cases.
Patients who have cleared chronic hepatitis C infection through drug therapy, or much more rarely without such treatment, do not usually experience ongoing symptoms, although patients who have already developed cirrhosis remain at risk of further complications.
Hip Replacement: Surgery
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hip replacement operations have taken place in (a) city of Manchester, (b) Greater Manchester, (c) north-west England and (d) England in each month since April 2010. [31470]
Mr Simon Burns: Information specific to “hip operations” is not available. The provisional count of finished consultant episodes where a main or secondary procedure was “hip replacement” is available in the following table. It has been broken down by the primary care trust (PCT)/strategic health authority (SHA) area of the patients' treatment between April 2010 and August 2010:
| Provisional (1) count of finished consultant episodes (2) where a main or secondary procedure (3) was “hip replacement” (4) broken down by the PCT/SHA area of the patients' treatment, April 2010 to August 2010—Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | |||||
|
|
April | May | June | July | August |
| (1 ) Provisional dataThe 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. (2 ) Finished Consultant Episode (FCE)FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. (3 ) Number of episodes with a (named) main or secondary procedureThe number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and four prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a hospital episode statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. For example, patients undergoing a “cataract operation” would tend to have at least two procedures—removal of the faulty lens and the fitting of a new one—counted in a single episode. (4) () OPCS Procedure codes used to define “Hip replacement”W37 Total prosthetic replacement of hip joint using cement W38 Total prosthetic replacement of hip joint not using cement W39 Other total prosthetic replacement of hip joint W93 Hybrid prosthetic replacement of hip joint using cemented acetabular component W94 Hybrid prosthetic replacement of hip joint using cemented femoral component W95 Hybrid prosthetic replacement of hip joint using cement W46 Prosthetic replacement of head of femur using cement W47 Prosthetic replacement of head of femur not using cement W48 Other prosthetic replacement of head of femur Note: Oldham PCT and Bury PCT are also considered in Greater Manchester but returned no episodes with a main or secondary procedure of “hip replacement.” Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |||||
The term “hip operations” is considered too broad by the clinical coding team at Connecting for Health, therefore counts of “hip replacements” have been provided.
Hospitals: Waiting Lists
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS hospitals did not meet the NHS Constitution waiting time target of 18 weeks for each reporting period from 2006 to 2010. [30676]
Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Constitution right for patients
“to access services within maximum waiting times, or for the national health service to take all reasonable steps to offer you a range of alternative providers if this is not possible”
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has been in place since 1 April 2010. NHS commissioners have a legal duty to commission services that meet maximum waiting time standards and to offer redress to patients who have waited longer if patients request this. The Department does not collect information centrally on patients who seek to exercise their right to redress under the NHS Constitution.
The Department collects and publishes monthly referral to treatment consultant-led waiting times for each NHS provider. These are available from January 2007 for patients admitted to hospital and from August 2007 for patients whose treatment did not require an admission. These data include information on how many patients waited more than 18 weeks before starting treatment and this information is contained in tables which have been placed in the Library. The Department does not collect information on the reasons why patients waited longer than 18 weeks but this will include those patients who chose to wait longer for personal or social reasons,
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for example to work around family or work commitments, or where waiting longer was clinically appropriate.
Kidneys: Transplant Surgery
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he made of the number of (a) female, (b) male and (c) child patients who died while waiting for a kidney transplant in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [30933]
Anne Milton: The figures for the number of patients dying while waiting for a kidney transplant should not be seen in isolation: although the number of deaths on the kidney waiting list has remained fairly static over the last five years, this needs to be seen in the context of an increase in patients being added to the waiting list along with the increase, year on year, in both donors and transplants.
| Number on patients who died while on the waiting list for a kidney transplant | |||||||
| Number on waiting list who have died while waiting for a kidney transplant | |||||||
|
|
Total number on kidney waiting list as of 31 March | Total number of deceased and living kidney donors | Total number of transplants from deceased and living kidney donors | Male | Female | Paediatric | Total |
This table includes patients who donated or received solely kidneys or kidneys and other organs.
Maternity Services
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to increase the (a) availability and (b) standard of provision for psychological and social support for new mothers of pre-term babies since 2009. [31047]
Paul Burstow: More and more people across England are getting access to psychological therapies for the most common mental health problems, such as anxiety disorders or depression. About 140 new psychological therapy services are now up and running around the country and by March 2011 60% of primary care trusts will have an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service. 900,000 extra people with depression and/or anxiety disorders will have been seen in the first three years of the programme. Some 3,600 more therapists will have been employed in the same period, already meeting the programme's March 2011 target.
The Health settlement in the spending review included funding to expand access to talking therapies. The money will complete the roll-out of the nationwide training programme and services which began in 2008 and begin to extend the benefits of talking therapies to the young, the elderly, those with serious mental illness and those who have anxiety disorders or depression alongside long-term physical health conditions such as diabetes, heart or lung disease. By March 2011, the roll-out will achieve 60% geographical coverage of England. The spending review settlement will complete this by 2014-15.
With regard to social support, the coalition programme committed the Government to reforming the system of social care in England to provide much more control to individuals and their carers. On 16 November 2010 we published “A Vision for Adult Social Care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens”, which sets the context for the future direction of adult social care in England and a copy has been placed in the Library.
The Vision focuses on the Government commitments to:
break down barriers between health and social care funding to incentivise preventative action;
extend the greater rollout of personal budgets to give people and their carers more control and purchasing power; and
use direct payments to carers and better community-based provision to improve access to respite care.
We want to make services more personalised, more preventative and more focused on delivering the best outcomes for those who use them. The document also states that councils should provide personal budgets, preferably as a direct payment, for everyone eligible, by 2013, and develop the Big Society, with more local preventative activity to support people's independence.
On 4 November 2010, the social care sector published “Think Local, Act Personal: Next Steps for Transforming Adult Social Care”, which sets out the sector's commitment to moving forward with personalisation and community-based support. To support its implementation, a number of best practice documents have been published and are available on the Putting People First website at:
www.puttingpeoplefirst.org.uk
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Memory Clinics
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS memory clinics there are in each primary care trust area; and how many of these have been set up since the launch of the national dementia strategy in February 2009. [29763]
Paul Burstow: The Department does not hold the data requested centrally. We will as part of the national audit of dementia services be collecting data on dementia services including memory assessment services. The first results from this are expected at the end of the year.
National health service organisations should already be working with partners to implement the national dementia strategy. Localities are asked to provide information that helps those with dementia and their families or carers to understand what is available in local services and the level of quality and outcomes that they can expect.
National Specialised Services Advisory Group
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the likely annual budget of the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services for the appraisal of ultra-orphan drugs; [31548]
(2) what account he expects the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services to take of reports by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; [31549]
(3) whether medicines for ultra-orphan diseases which have been rejected by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will be referred to the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services. [31550]
Mr Simon Burns: There is no specific funding identified for the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS) to undertake consideration of drugs for very rare conditions. It is part of the running costs for the secretariat to the group. Funds to run AGNSS are agreed on an annual basis and Ministers are currently considering the running costs for 2011-12.
AGNSS will take into account any relevant guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) where it relates to nationally commissioned services.
Drugs that have been appraised by NICE are not eligible for consideration by AGNSS.
NHS 111
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish a report on the outcome of his Department's pilots of the 111 service. [30844]
Mr Simon Burns: The final evaluation report on the NHS 111 pilots will be published by spring 2012.
NHS Litigation Authority: Claims
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the liabilities arising from claims received by the NHS Litigation Authority since 2000 in respect of (a) the time taken and (b) failures to carry out a caesarean section. [31000]
20 Dec 2010 : Column 1026W
Mr Simon Burns: I have been advised by the national health service litigation authority that the estimate of the liabilities arising from claims where a delay in performing caesarean section is mentioned in the claims is £52.3 million. The estimate of the liabilities arising from claims where failure to perform a caesarean section is mentioned in the claim is £49 million.
NHS Trusts: Finance
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospital trusts have a financial position supported by non-recurrent financial support; and how much each has received in such support in 2010-11 to date. [30845]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not provide any non-recurrent revenue financial support to support the financial position reported by hospital trusts.
The Department is able to issue non-recurrent cash support, in the form of interest bearing, working capital loans to hospital national health service trusts and foundation trusts. These loans are only approved where hospital trusts are able to afford the repayments
The Department is also able to issue capital investment loans to hospital NHS trusts and foundation trusts. However, due to the long-term nature of the investment they are supporting, they are not considered to be non- recurrent financial support.
Hospital NHS trusts also have the facility to borrow cash from the Department on a temporary basis in the form of public dividend capital. This will often occur in advance of a working capital loan or capital investment loan.
At a local level, strategic health authorities may provide financial support to hospital trusts for strategic investments or other local circumstances.
The following tables 1 and 2 detail the working capital loans that have been issued or agreed during the financial year 2010-11, and the temporary borrowing issued during the financial year 2010-11.
Table 3 show the amounts of non-recurrent financial support that has been provided to hospital trusts during the financial year 2010-11, as notified to the Department by the strategic health authorities.
Hospital foundation trusts are autonomous organisations and are accountable to Monitor, their independent regulator. Unlike hospital NHS trusts, they are exempt from supplying certain information to the Department. Therefore the information in the tables in respect of foundation trusts is only on working capital loans provided by the Department in 2010-11 and local financial support as notified by the strategic health authorities.
| Table 1: Working capital loans for hospitals issued or agreed in 2010-11 | |
|
|
Value of working capital loan ( £ million ) |
| (1) This has been agreed but has not yet been issued to the trust | |
20 Dec 2010 : Column 1027W
| Table 2: Temporary borrowing for hospital trusts issued in 2010-11 | |
|
|
Value of temporary borrowing (£ million) |
| Table 3: Local non-recurrent financial support provided to hospital trusts in 2010-11 | |
|
|
Value of revenue support (£ million) |
|
University Hospital of North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust |
|
North East England
Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which Ministers in his Department have visited the north-east since their appointment. [31739]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley) and my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Earl Howe), have both visited the north-east since appointment.