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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 25 January 2012
Work and Pensions
Baking Industry
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of asthma in the baking industry. [91647]
Chris Grayling: HSE provides advice and guidance to raise the awareness among employers and workers in the bakery industry of the risk of occupational asthma due to exposure to flour dust, and the protective measures that can be taken. HSE's website includes user-friendly resource such as case studies and downloadable material for both employers and workers. In addition, HSE has supported the Federation of Bakers in producing its own industry guidance on dust in bakeries, and the supermarket industry in producing standards for controlling flour dust in in-store bakeries. HSE and local authorities have undertaken inspection initiatives in recent years to embed and promote appropriate control practices.
More generally, HSE leads the Asthma Partnership Board (APB), a stakeholder group that has representatives from Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), industry and medical organisations. The APB encourages organisations to share information and incorporate the key messages on occupational asthma into their own preventative health programmes and initiatives. In addition, HSE works with the Group of Occupational Respiratory Disease Specialists (GORDS) to improve knowledge and awareness among health care professionals of occupational respiratory diseases including asthma, and to standardise its diagnosis and management.
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of cases of asthma caused by contact with flour in the baking industry. [91717]
Chris Grayling: Statistics specifically about the number of cases of asthma caused by high exposure to flour within the baking industry are not available. Published statistics do not allow the causative agent for cases of occupational asthma to be identified within a specific occupational group. Statistics for the occupational group “bakers and flour confectioners” are provided and these reflect the role of flour dust as a cause of occupational asthma.
Based on reports by chest physicians to the Surveillance of Work Related Occupational Respiratory Disease (SWORD) scheme and reports to the Occupational Physicians Reporting Activity (OPRA) scheme, the incidence of occupational asthma among “bakers and flour confectioners” during 2008–10 was estimated to be 19 cases per year. However, these statistics are subject to under-reporting and other statistical data sources suggest that the overall incidence of work-related asthma may be as much as tenfold higher than estimated by SWORD and OPRA.
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Cold Weather Payments
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid to pensioners as a result of the increase in cold weather payments in winter 2010-11. [91913]
Steve Webb: During the 2010-11 winter season, it is estimated that cold weather payments amounting to £264.4 million were awarded to pensioners. This has been presented in the Autumn 2011 Statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810.
Note:
The figure given is an estimate based on analysis of benefit caseloads from the DWP 5% Quarterly Summary Extract, and a 5% adjusted Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study along with cold weather payments expenditure from the Social Fund White Paper accounts. It is an estimate and not actual payments made to pensioners.
Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the potential savings to the public purse from freezing local housing allowance rates from April 2012 prior to uprating by the consumer prices index. [91648]
Steve Webb: Projected cash savings from the Budget 2010 decision to switch to CPI indexation for local housing allowance from 2013-14 are presented in the Budget 2011 document.
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_chapter2.pdf
On 6 December 2011, Official Report, columns 163-65, as part of the uprating statement, I announced to Parliament further details of the implementation of the switch to CPI uprating from April 2013. Updated projections of the fiscal impact of this measure will be published at Budget 2012.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the projected savings in cash and real terms are from the uprating of local housing allowance by the consumer prices index for the remainder of the comprehensive spending review period. [91649]
Steve Webb: Projected cash savings from the Budget 2010 decision to switch to CPI indexation for local housing allowance from 2013-14 are presented in the Budget 2011 document.
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_chapter2.pdf
The Welfare Reform Bill impact assessment presents the savings in constant prices.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hb-lha-cpi-uprating-wr2011-ia.pdf
Updated projections of cash savings will be published at Budget 2012.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the costs to local authorities of the application of the household benefit cap on temporary accommodation; and if he will make a statement. [91652]
Steve Webb:
The Government published their revised impact assessment of the benefit cap on 23 January 2012. This says that the cap is likely to affect where different family types will be able to live but that it is not
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possible to quantify any resulting costs because they are based on behavioural changes which are difficult to assess robustly.
The impact assessment can be found at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/household-benefit-cap-wr2011-ia.pdf
Work Capability Assessment
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK have attended a work capability assessment carried out by Atos Origin in the last 12 months. [91446]
Chris Grayling: Unfortunately, the information requested is not available in the format requested.
Information is not held by constituency or by specific areas within a region.
To be able to produce this we would need to have a complete list of all the postcodes relating to the constituency or the particular area concerned.
The answer could be provided in the requested format only at disproportionate costs exceeding the disproportionate cost limit of £800 for parliamentary questions.
The total number of completed Work Capability Assessments (WCA's) carried out between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011 in the north-east is 70,458.
However the DWP regions reduced from 11 to seven from 1 July 2011. The figures for completed assessments in the north-east from this date also includes Yorkshire and Humber.
The total number of WCA's completed nationally in 2011 was 580,688.
Northern Ireland
Economic Affairs
12. Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on economic development. [90836]
Mr Swire: We regularly meet the First and Deputy First Ministers and their colleagues in support of the Executive's efforts to develop the economy and I am accompanying the DETI Minister on a Trade Mission to the Gulf next month. We also work closely together on the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Rebalancing the Economy.
Scotland
Sovereignty
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is his intention that the consultation on a referendum on independence for Scotland will involve (a) trade unions, (b) religious groups, (c) Scottish business and (d) wider civic society. [90650]
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David Mundell: The aim of our consultation is to seek a wide range of views on how we can deliver a legal, fair and decisive referendum.
The Government believe that decisions which will have such an important impact on Scotland's future should not be taken behind closed doors. Through this consultation we are providing an opportunity for all people with an interest in Scotland's future to make their views heard.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on whether it is their intention that an independent Scotland would negotiate a mutual defence treaty with the rest of the UK. [90651]
David Mundell: The Scottish Government have not offered formal proposals on their plans for defence if Scotland were to become independent. The Government are confident that the people of Scotland will choose to remain part of the UK if a fair, legal and decisive referendum is held.
Treasury
Defence: Expenditure
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross national income is spent on defence; and what he estimates the proportion will be (a) at the conclusion of tranche 2 of the armed forces redundancy programme and (b) in May 2015. [90960]
Danny Alexander: I intend to answer this question by giving the proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) spent on defence, rather than gross national income, as this is the international measure used.
As a member of NATO, we have a target to spend at least 2% of GDP on Defence. The most recent 2010-11 NATO figures show the UK currently spends 2.7% of GDP on defence.
It is impossible to state exactly what percentage of GDP or gross national income will be spent in future years as the total figure includes the costs of operations, pensions and payments made under the armed forces compensation scheme. However, I expect the percentage to remain above the 2% NATO target.
Revenue and Customs
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects HM Revenue and Customs to meet its target of dealing with child benefit claims within 23 days. [86020]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 12 December 2011]:Current forecasts indicate that while HMRC expect improvements in the current financial year, they do not expect to achieve this target by the end of the financial year. One of the reasons for this is that HMRC did not fully understand the age profile of their work. Processing some of the older work had an adverse impact on the timeliness target. However, this work will put them in a much stronger position during 2012/2013 when they expect to pay child benefit claims within an average of 23 days.
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Tax Allowances: Offshore Trusts
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional revenue to the Exchequer that would be raised by ending the tax exemption for land held in offshore trusts; and if he will make a statement. [91409]
Mr Gauke: There is no tax exemption for land held in offshore trusts, and therefore no such estimate has been made.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to ask the National Audit Office to monitor and report on the effectiveness of Government Departments' participation in the big society initiative; and if he will make a statement. [91354]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
There are no plans to ask the National Audit Office to monitor and report on the effectiveness of Government Departments' participation in the big society initiative.
Unemployment
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a system for collecting data on the numbers of people who have experienced unemployment during set periods of time along the lines of the data collected by the US current population survey. [91689]
Miss Chloe Smith: The independent Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for producing official economic statistics for the UK. The independent Statistics Authority has powers to produce statistics, provide statistical services and promote statistical research. It provides the top level of governance for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), replacing the oversight role previously performed by HM Treasury Ministers.
HM Treasury, along with other users of statistics, have the opportunity to input into the work priorities of the ONS by contributing to consultations and users groups.
The ONS publishes detailed statistics on unemployment by duration. The latest release can be found at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/january-2012/table-unem01.xls
Working Tax Credit
Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the conclusion contained in his Department's comprehensive spending review 2010 on the level of saving to the Exchequer resulting from an increase in hours worked for couples to qualify to claim the working tax credit, how the saving figure was calculated; and what his Department's assumption was of how many couples would (a) receive a reduced level of working tax credit due to increasing their working hours and (b) cease to receive working tax credit due to falling under the increased hours threshold. [91538]
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Mr Gauke: The methodology used to calculate savings to the Exchequer from changes to tax credits at spending review 2010 can be found in the policy costings document: “Spending Review 2010 policy costings”. This document is available at:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_policycostings.pdf
The increase in the hours rules for couples from 16 hours to 24 hours is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review.
Estimating the impact of an individual measure does not give a clear indication of the full impact on an individual household.
The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the whole package of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf
Communities and Local Government
Charities: Shops
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the contribution of charity shops to the local community in (a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands. [90559]
Grant Shapps [holding answer 19 January 2012]: No assessment has been made. Charity shops deliver a public benefit by raising funds for worthy causes. Mary Portas considered charity shops in her independent report on the future of the high street that she presented to Government in December last year. The Government will respond to the report in the spring.
Council Tax Benefits
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with interested parties on proposals to transfer responsibility for council tax benefit to local authorities. [91608]
Robert Neill: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from the local government sector to discuss a range of matters.
Council Tax: Rates and Rating
Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will publish a table setting out the distribution between council tax bands A to H of (a) newly constructed properties added to the council tax register and (b) existing properties subject to a reassessment in (i) England and Wales and (ii) each housing authority in 2010-11 and the respective contribution of each to new homes bonus payments; [R] [90352]
(2) if he will publish a table setting out the distribution between council tax bands A to H of (a) the existing housing stock and (b) new additions to the housing stock in 2010-11 as submitted for the purpose of local authority new homes bonus claims in (i) England and Wales and (ii) each housing authority. [R] [90353]
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Grant Shapps: The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.
This Department does not hold information on re-assessments; but it does invite representations from local authorities in response to provisional allocations, and these representations could include properties which have been re-assessed.
Housing and local government finance for Wales is a devolved matter.
I would note that these figures illustrate that two-thirds of the 158,535 additional homes that the new homes bonus has rewarded were in bands A to C, reflecting how it has rewarded the construction of lower-cost homes.
Internships
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidelines his Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns. [89405]
Robert Neill: As I informed the hon. Member in my answer to her question of 21 November 2011, Official Report, columns 58-59W, neither my Department nor the public bodies that we are responsible for, has had any unpaid or expenses-only internships in the last 12 months (in answering that question, I distinguished internships from work shadowing and volunteering).
In that context, my Department has not issued specific advice on interns, but we would expect our public bodies to have regard to the Government's Social Mobility Strategy published in April 2011 (page 56 specifically addresses the issue of payment to interns).
Social Rented Housing
Mr Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to amend social housing allocation policy to classify under-occupying tenants as being in housing need from April 2013. [91837]
Grant Shapps: We are making it easier for landlords to address under-occupation by increasing mobility, through changes to the allocation rules contained in the Localism Act 2011 and the introduction of a national home swap scheme, HomeSwap Direct.
On 5 January we published for consultation new statutory social housing allocations guidance for local authorities advising them of the importance of giving existing social tenants who are under-occupying their accommodation appropriate priority for a transfer.
In addition, the Department has allocated £13 million over the next four years to help local authorities support under-occupying social tenants who wish to downsize, as well as funding an action team within the Chartered Institute of Housing to work with all social landlords to help them promote moves.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to measure progress on the implementation of policies supporting the big society initiative; and if he will make a statement. [91389]
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Andrew Stunell: The Government have always been clear that the big society is not an initiative with specific metrics but captured the Government's desire to enable communities to come together in the common good, encourage greater personal responsibility and social action, as well as reforming public services to give greater choice and control to users. The Department is primarily concerned with creating the conditions for communities to take greater control of where they live.
We are currently working to implement the provisions in the Localism Act, including the Community Right to Bid, Community Right to Challenge, Community Right to Build and Neighbourhood Planning. There are currently 125 frontrunner neighbourhoods developing plans at the local level across England. We have recently invited tenders to provide support for the Community Rights to Bid, Build and Challenge and will monitor the number of groups assisted as part of the performance management of the contract.
I also refer the hon. Member to my answer of 6 December 2011, Official Report, column 247-48W, on the steps we are taking to support the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
Education
Academies
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consultation is required to ensure that a change to academy status is voluntary. [90354]
Mr Gibb: There is a statutory requirement for all schools becoming academies under the Academies Act 2010 to carry out a consultation. The school's governing body must consult such persons as they think appropriate.
Children
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the working time directive on (a) family life and (b) children's subjective well-being; [90872]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of flexible working on (a) family life and (b) children's subjective well-being. [90873]
Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The organisation of working time is only one aspect of a broader suite of social and economic policy measures which impact on family life and children's well-being and work. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has published a series of work-life balance surveys which looks at issues relating to work-life balance including working hours, the provision and take-up of flexible working arrangements, and employee attitudes to work-life balance issues. The latest published survey is available on the BIS website and the fourth work life balance will be published later this year.
The Department has also commissioned and published five research reports on the effects of the working time directive, and a further two occasional papers on issues concerning the interaction between family structure and fathers working hours on work-life balance issues.
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Children: Disability
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, training or employment are (a) disabled and (b) on the autism spectrum. [90877]
Mr Hayes: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Table 1 shows the number and proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds(1) not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the third quarter of 2011 and who reported a Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and or work-limiting disability. Figures relating to the autism spectrum are not available.
| Table 1: Disability status of 16 to 24-year-olds NEET in England, Quarter 3 2011 | |||
| Number of 16 to 24-year- olds NEET | Percentage share of 16 to 24 -year- olds NEET | 95% confidence interval | |
| Notes: 1. Age refers to academic age, which is defined as the age of the respondent at the preceding 31 August. 2. Estimates of the number NEET are rounded to the nearest thousand and may not sum to totals due to rounding. 3. All estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey; Quarter 3 2011. | |||
Please note that these estimates are subject to sampling variability and should therefore be viewed in conjunction with their confidence intervals(2) ( )(CIs), which indicate how accurate an estimate is. For example, a CI of +/-5 percentage points (pp) means that the true value is between 5pp above the estimate and 5pp below the estimate.
Quarterly estimates of the number of people aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training (NEET) derived from the Labour Force Survey are published by the Department for Education. The latest publication can be found online at
http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/a00199328/dfe-neet-statistics-quarterly-3-2011
(1) Age used is respondents academic age, which is defined as their age at the preceding 31 August.
(2) Those given are 95% confidence intervals.
Curriculum
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the average number of hours of teaching time per week for pupils in (a) academies and (b) other maintained schools. [89905]
Mr Gibb:
We do not collect information on the average number of hours of teaching per week for pupils in academies or maintained schools. However, an evaluation of the academies programme in 2008 by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that 80% of academies were providing extended programmes of instruction and support for pupils by extending the number of teaching hours in the week. Academies have always had the freedom to vary the length of their school day and many continue to use this freedom to provide additional teaching time. We believe that this helps to raise standards
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particularly for those children from the poorest backgrounds and therefore in September 2011 this freedom was extended to maintained schools.
Departmental ICT
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many requests have been made to his Department's IT department from (a) officials and (b) special advisers working within his Department for information about the process of erasing data from (i) computer hard drives and (ii) all other forms of storage devices; and whether any such requests have received authorisation in each of the last 12 months. [90217]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 17 January 2012]: No requests have been made to the Department's IT service desk for information about the process for cleansing data from computer hard drives or other devices. No requests have been authorised. However the Department is moving to an IT infrastructure that no longer relies on individual storage devices on desks. As part of the roll-out of this system, security questions have been raised about the destruction of data on the old PC hard drives. The decision has been taken to move data held on individual hard drives into the new system or to create an archived record before secure disposal of obsolete equipment.
Official Visits
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether it is his policy to inform the relevant local education authority in advance of an official of his Department visiting a school. [89290]
Mr Gibb: We are keen to work in partnership with local authorities when officials from the Department visit schools and make every effort to notify the appropriate local authority in advance of a visit.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 15 December 2011 concerning a school in his constituency. [90562]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 19 January 2012]: The Under-Secretary of State for Education, my noble Friend, Lord Hill of Oareford, replied to the hon. Member on 18 January 2012.
Pupils: Assessments
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason the calculation in the RAISEonline performance tool Table 4.1.25 is based on the total number of pupils in the cohort for English and mathematics but not on the number of pupils entered for sciences; and if he will make a statement. [91523]
Mr Gibb
[holding answer 24 January 2012]: The RAISEonline report in question provides an analysis of a school's performance in the English baccalaureate. In 2010, only 15.6% of pupils achieved grades A*-C in the GCSEs which comprise the English baccalaureate, which was largely because of low entry levels for some of the
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subjects. This report therefore shows how a school performed in the separate subject areas so that a school's strengths and weakness can be understood.
As we expect the vast majority of pupils to be entered for English and maths GCSEs, the proportion of pupils achieving grades A*-C is calculated against the whole cohort of pupils at the end of key stage 4.
However, the entry patterns for science, humanities and languages are different, with less than 50% of the cohort entering some of these subjects. The report for these subjects is therefore based upon the number of pupils entered for the subject, rather than the whole cohort.
School Funding Reform
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his Department expects to respond to its consultation on school funding reform. [91255]
Mr Gibb: The Department for Education published the consultation on school funding reform in July 2011, and it closed in October. We received over 1,600 responses to the consultation and published a summary of these in December. We are considering the responses and will make further announcements in the spring.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department provided to (a) The Art Room, (b) the National Portrait Gallery, (c) Mountain Rescue England, (d) the English Schools Swimming Association, (e) the Scout Association and (f) Missing Links UK in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [90745]
Tim Loughton: The Department has not provided funding with any of these organisations in financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Culture, Media and Sport
Expenditure: Drinks
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on (a) wine, (b) other alcoholic refreshments and (c) bottled water since May 2010. [91634]
John Penrose: This Department's accounting system does not hold breakdowns of category spend by wine or other alcoholic refreshments specifically, and to collate this information would exceed the disproportionate cost limit.
In September 2008, the Department installed a system to filter and bottle tap water on site. The Department now no longer purchases bottled water.
Football Clubs
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent progress his Department has made on the reform of football governance to support the co-operative ownership of football clubs by supporters. [91718]
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Hugh Robertson: The Government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee football governance inquiry sets out a number of recommendations for the football authorities to consider around increasing supporter representation and ownership at football clubs. It is for the football authorities to determine the best way of achieving the right changes in the game, and so we look forward to their response to this at the end of February.
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received from Supporters Direct concerning a proposed football club licensing system; and if he will make a statement on those proposals. [91844]
Hugh Robertson: Our response to the Select Committee Report into football governance calls for the introduction of a new club licensing system that would include conditions to help supporters have a greater say in how their clubs are run. It is for the football authorities to respond to this, and to set out the content of that licence. However, am aware of the proposals that Supporters Direct have in this area, and I would therefore encourage the football authorities to engage with them as part of this process.
Supporters Direct
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of Supporters Direct since May 2010. [91769]
Hugh Robertson: I met the previous chief executive of Supporters Direct in the spring. I am also kept informed through my officials who meet regularly with representatives of Supporters Direct, including the chief executive, on key supporter issues.
Women and Equalities
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Legal Representation
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many (a) inquiries and (b) cases were dealt with by not-for-profit organisations funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission outside the civil legal aid scheme in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10, (iii) 2010-11 and (iv) 2011-12 to date; and what estimate has been made of the number of active cases being considered by these organisations. [89487]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 17 January 2012]: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an arm's-length body; the following is the information it has provided in response to this question:
The EHRC does not hold the information requested for (i) 2008-09 or (ii) 2009-10.
The EHRC holds information for (b) cases for (iii) 2010-11, and holds information for (a) inquiries and (b) cases for (iv) 2011-12; this information is as follows:
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(iii) (b) Cases dealt with in 2010-11: 4,002(1)
(iv) (b) Cases dealt with during six month period April 2011 to September 2011 (inclusive): 2,627
Cases commenced in this period: 1,523
Cases commenced in prior years; work is ongoing: 1,104.
(iv) (a) Inquiries dealt with during six month period April 2011 to September 2011 (inclusive): 5,577
Based on quarterly reports received from these organisations, as at 30 September 2011 these organisations had 1,237 discrimination-related cases active(2).
(1) The EHRC does not hold information on whether these cases commenced in 2010-11 or in prior years.
(2) An ‘active’ case means that the organisation has begun work on the case; the case may be at the stage of informal action.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Regulation
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce the burden of regulation on the farming industry; and if she will make a statement. [91581]
Mr Paice: In my written statement of 3 November 2011, Official Report, columns 40-41WS, I announced the publication of the interim response to the Independent Farm Regulation Task Force. I stated that the Government's final response will be published in early in 2012. This is still my intention.
Agriculture: Subsidies
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of landowners in receipt of subsidy payments under the (a) single payment scheme and (b) rural development programme whose land is held in an offshore trust; and if she will make a statement. [91419]
Mr Paice: No estimate has been made. Payments under the single payment scheme and rural development programme depend on the farmer having land at his or her disposal, not on the nature of the ownership. The Rural Payments Agency, therefore, does not hold information about whether land is held in an offshore trust.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will require the Rural Payments Agency to ensure landowners in receipt of subsidies under the single payment scheme and the rural development programme for England have registered their land with the Land Registry; and if she will make a statement. [91420]
Mr Paice: No. The Rural Payments Agency has no power under the EU scheme rules to make payments under either the single payment scheme or rural development programme conditional on landowners registering their land with the Land Registry.
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Animal Health and Welfare Board for England
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition her Department uses for (a) animal health and (b) animal welfare in the context of the Animal Health and Welfare Board. [90578]
Mr Paice: The terms of reference of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England defines animal health and welfare within the scope of its responsibilities as relating to all kept animals, with the exception of circus and zoo animals where the scope relates to animal disease prevention matters only. Further detail can be found on DEFRA's website.
Animal Welfare: Circuses
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the recent ruling of the Austrian Constitutional Court dismissing an application brought by Circus Krone to challenge Austria's ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, what steps her Department will take to introduce a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. [90643]
Mr Paice: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Fiona O'Donnell) on 17 January 2012, Official Report, column 734W.
British Waterways: Canal and River Trust
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the functions and assets of British Waterways in England and Wales to be transferred to the Canal and River Trust. [91645]
Richard Benyon: The length of the funding negotiations and parliamentary processes under the Public Bodies Act have put pressure on the launch date for the new charity. I will confirm shortly the date on which the new charity, subject to parliamentary consent, will be vested.
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish her objectives for the current round of discussions on common agricultural policy reform; and if she will make a statement. [91528]
Mr Paice: The common agricultural policy (CAP) negotiations are at an early stage. The Commission's proposals were released on 12 October 2011 and are currently being considered by member states in the Agriculture Council, as well as by the European Parliament for the first time, under co-decision.
The UK Government want to see ambitious reform of the CAP. We will continue to argue for a very substantial cut to the CAP budget, focused on Pillar 1. The CAP that remains should provide better value and prepare for a future without income support. It should be used to encourage improved productivity and innovation to increase the competitiveness of the agriculture sector and a higher proportion of CAP funds should be used
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for the cost-effective delivery of public goods. We will also argue for a less complex CAP, with reduced burdens for administrators and beneficiaries.
Dangerous Dogs
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to take steps to control the prevalence of dangerous dogs. [91532]
Mr Paice: The Government are finalising a package of measures to tackle irresponsible dog ownership and will be announcing these soon.
Internships
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines her Department issues to its non-departmental public bodies on the employment of unpaid interns. [89399]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA issued guidance to its non-departmental public bodies in July 2011 which makes clear that the employment of unpaid interns is not permitted.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding her Department allocated to (a) Centrepoint, (b) Crisis, (c) Skill Force and (d) Shelter in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement. [90394]
Richard Benyon: In the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 to date, DEFRA has not funded Centrepoint, Crisis, Skill Force or Shelter.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2012, Official Report, column 376W, on the third sector, how much direct funding of £250,000 or more her Department provided to each civil society organisation it funded in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how much it has allocated to each organisation in 2012-13; and if she will make a statement. [90750]
Richard Benyon: Direct funding of £250,000 or more, provided or allocated by DEFRA to civil society organisations in the years specified is as follows:
| £ million | |
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Health
Diabetes
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the national clinical director for diabetes to make a statement on the effect on diabetes care and provision of the proposed reforms to the NHS. [91508]
Paul Burstow: The National Audit Office is due to publish its report on “The management of adult diabetes services in the NHS” this summer. Dr Rowan Hillson, the national clinical director (NCD) for diabetes, will consider the report before making recommendations to Ministers on the next steps in providing consistent, quality healthcare for people with diabetes.
In the meantime, the Department continues to encourage current commissioners to use the national diabetes information service tools to ensure that all their. patients are receiving the care processes and outcomes required by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Quality Standard for diabetes, and to take action if this is not so.
Diabetes: Orthopaedics
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many amputations arising from diabetes-related complications have taken place in Leicester City primary care trust since January 2011; and how many such amputations were preventable. [91509]
Paul Burstow: The number of finished consultant episodes(1) with a primary diagnosis(2) of diabetes and a primary or secondary procedure(3) of amputation(4), performed by Leicester City primary care trust since January 2011 is 22 for the months January 2011 to September 2011. Data from April 2011 to September 2011 are provisional data(5) and subject to change.
Data on preventable amputation are not available.
(1) A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. 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.
(2) The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.
ICD-10 codes used:
E10—Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
E11—Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
E12—Malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus
E13—Other specified diabetes mellitus
E14—Unspecified diabetes Mellitus
(3) The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a HES record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record.
OPCS codes used:
X07—Amputation of arm
X08—Amputation of hand
X09—Amputation of leg
X10—Amputation of foot
X11—Amputation of toe
X121—Re-amputation at higher level
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(4) The 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 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.
(5) The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected.
First Aid: Education
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on bringing forward legislative proposals to require the teaching of emergency life support skills in schools. [91291]
Anne Milton: The teaching of emergency life skills will be considered as part of the Department for Education's current review of Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHE).
I have ongoing discussions with Ministers and officials about PSHE.
Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money the NHS has received from each EU member state for treatment of their nationals in the NHS in each of the last three years. [91268]
Anne Milton: The following table shows payments made to the United Kingdom Government by European economic area (EEA) countries for treatment provided to their citizens in the UK as either state pensioners, temporary visitors using the European Health Insurance Card, workers posted to the UK by an employer based in the debtor country and dependents of these categories.
| EEA medical costs: Claim payments | |||
| Payments to UK (£) | |||
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
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John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS has paid to each EU member state for the health treatment of UK citizens in each of the last three years. [91341]
Anne Milton: The following table shows payments made by the United Kingdom Government to European economic area (EEA) countries for treatment provided to UK citizens as either state pensioners, temporary visitors using the European Health Insurance Card, workers posted to that country, by a UK based employer and dependents of these categories.
Claims are submitted in arrears, sometimes several years in arrears. Payments made in any one year will therefore relate to claims for previous years, and do not reflect the value of claims made or received in that year. Payment totals may vary significantly due to variations in the timing of payments made or received for different countries and different claims.
| EEA medical costs | |||
| £ | |||
| Payments to member states | |||
| Claim payments | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
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Land: Contamination
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the effect of the new principles in his Department's proposed contaminated land statutory guidance on individual sites has been tested in a pilot; and whether any land assessed as presenting an unacceptable risk to human health is likely to be reclassified as safe under his Department's proposals. [91264]
Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries.
The new principles in the proposed contaminated land statutory guidance have not been tested in a pilot. However, the new guidance was developed in partnership with a broad range of experts and interested stakeholders; it reflects various issues that have come to light over the 10 years the regime has been in place that needed clarification. The revised guidance has been subjected to full public consultation. The existing statutory guidance continues to apply until the new statutory guidance has been issued.
The new statutory guidance would not require local authorities to re-determine the status of any sites. However, it would make it possible for local authorities to revisit a determination if new information came to light that changed the basis on which the land was determined as contaminated land.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 6 October 2011 regarding Saheed Onikeku. [91712]
Mr Simon Burns: A reply was issued to the right hon. Member on 31 October 2011.
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Muscular Dystrophy
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in each (a) local authority area and (b) age group in each of the last five years. [91902]
Paul Burstow: Information on the number of people diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is not collected centrally.
Neurology
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people with neurological conditions receive health and social care. [91625]
Paul Burstow: The proposed reforms to commissioning, the greater focus on improving quality and joining services up more effectively, alongside a stronger collective voice for patients and the public will ensure the delivery of better, more seamless, services and improve patient and public experience.
Commissioning in the past has been too remote from the patients it intends to serve. Clinical commissioning groups will ensure that commissioning decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local health care needs.
Our commissioning reforms also recognise the needs of patients for specialised services, with the NHS Commissioning Board, in future, commissioning such services. Additionally, there will be flexibility for commissioning groups to decide how to commission other low-volume services, for example, through collaboration.
Quality standards, developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, will be at the heart of the system, providing authoritative statements of high quality care. They will have real traction within the system, linking with tariffs that will see providers paid more for quality care.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the findings of the National Audit Office report on services for people with neurological conditions published on 16 December 2011; and if he will make a statement. [91626]
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the National Audit Office report on services for people with neurological conditions, how the Government's forthcoming long-term conditions strategy will address issues surrounding neurological services monitoring and quality. [91857]
Paul Burstow: We are considering the National Audit Office report on services for people with neurological conditions, and will be responding in due course.
NHS Foundation Trusts: Insurance
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of NHS foundation trusts which have left the NHS Litigation Authority and sought commercial insurance coverage. [91474]
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Mr Simon Burns: No national health service foundation trusts have provided the NHS litigation authority with notice to leave any of the NHS indemnity schemes.
NHS foundation trusts are free to purchase commercial insurance, and already do for a range of risks, including cover for motor vehicles and income generation activities.
NHS Litigation Authority: Finance
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that NHS foundation trusts' contributions to the NHS Litigation Authority are proportional to their claims histories and risk management strategies. [91242]
Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Litigation Authority already takes account of members' claims histories and risk management strategies when assessing contributions.
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the costs of membership are of the NHS Litigation Authority for each NHS trust and foundation trust. [91348]
Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) publishes details of members’ contributions in NHSLA Factsheet 5 under the publication section of its website at:
www.nhsla.com/Publications/
NHS: Compensation
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS has paid in compensation to NHS patients for operations and treatments in non-NHS hospitals and treatment centres in each of the last three years. [91270]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is in the following table.
| Amount paid in compensation to national health service patients for treatment in non-NHS hospitals and treatment centres | |
| Total paid (£) | |
| Source: NHS Litigation Authority | |
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money the NHS has recovered from private hospitals and treatment centres as a result of the NHS having to pay compensation to patients following NHS treatment in those hospitals and treatment centres in each of the last three years. [91271]
Mr Simon Burns: Information on how much money has been recovered from private hospitals as a result of the national health service paying compensation for NHS treatment is not collected centrally.
Where the NHS has paid compensation, the costs of such payments are factored into the contributions paid by primary, care trusts (PCTs) to the NHS Litigation
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Authority (NHSLA). Figures for PCT contributions can be found in NHSLA Factsheet 5 under the publication section of the NHSLA website at:
www.nhsla.com/Publications/
PCTs have local arrangements in place to recover costs from private health care providers.
NHS: Negligence
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) claims and (b) successful claims for clinical negligence have been brought against each NHS trust and foundation trust in the latest period for which figures are available. [91349]
Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) publishes details of claims received by members in NHSLA Factsheet 5 under the publication section of its website at:
www.nhsla.com/Publications/
Information about successful claims for clinical negligence has been placed in the Library in the document “Clinical negligence claims settled by the NHS Litigation Authority during 2010-11 with damages”.
Palliative Care: Finance
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to respond to the report of the palliative care funding review. [91445]
Paul Burstow: The independent palliative care funding review reported in July 2011. We have welcomed the review's final report, which has made an excellent start in looking at this complex and challenging issue. It has come up with a range of significant proposals, which we now need to consider in detail.
One of the review's key recommendations was that a number of pilots be set up to collect data and refine its proposals due to the lack of good quality data currently available. We will be setting up pilots from. April 2012. The pilots will run for two years, with the aim of having a new funding system for palliative care in place by 2015, a year sooner than the review proposed. We will be able to give a full response to the review's recommendations once the work of the pilots is concluded and the evidence they obtain scrutinised.
Speech Therapy
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the provision of speech and language therapy for children. [91169]
Anne Milton: The Government recognise the importance of ensuring that there is effective support for children with speech, language and communication difficulties. This is why at both ministerial and senior official level there are regular meetings, also involving key external partners, to discuss how these services can play a full contribution in improving patient care, experience and outcomes more widely.
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Surgery: Hertfordshire
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been refused routine operations until they lost weight in Hertfordshire in the last year. [91536]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not held by the Department.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to measure progress on the implementation of policies supporting the big society initiative; and if he will make a statement. [91396]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department encourages and supports the big society agenda. In health care, public health and social care, the big society vision has driven our work to help people take control over their lives, the services they use and communities they live in.
We are embedding this new approach throughout our proposed health and social care reforms. The vision set out for the national health service, social care and public health puts patients, service users and carers at the heart of services they use and in control of what they access—“no decision about me without me”. This is well aligned with a big society approach.
Over the coming years the Department will continue to have a strategic role in the design of the new health and care system. It will be a key shaper and architect and as such will ensure that our strategies and policies keep people at the forefront of all that we do, working together with our partners and stakeholders to achieve better experiences for all those who interact with the health and care system and help to grow the big society.
Tuberculosis
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to monitor the recent outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis in India, Italy and Iran and its effect on the UK. [91565]
Anne Milton: The Department is aware of the recent outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in India and is monitoring the situation. The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised that for the time being these cases should be considered extensively drug-resistant (XDR) rather than totally drug-resistant, as it is not clear that they are resistant to all drugs available to treat TB. The WHO is convening an expert meeting in March 2012 to consider the issues in detail and any wider implications.
In this country, early detection of drug-resistant TB cases is achieved through laboratory testing, tracing and screening of contacts of drug-resistant cases and epidemiological surveillance. Due to the complexity of managing XDR-TB, such patients should be referred to TB specialists with experience in treating drug-resistant TB through the national multi-drug resistant service.
This incident highlights the need to sustain and strengthen existing measures for TB control on an international level by early detection and diagnosis; effective and complete treatment; and contact-tracing. The United Kingdom continues to contribute to and support activities in global TB control.
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bell Pottinger Group
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official meetings he has had with third parties at the recommendation of, or with the assistance of, Bell Pottinger Group since May 2010. [91490]
China: Animal Welfare
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Chinese Government on (a) reports of cruelty in fur farms and (b) improving the standard of animal welfare in that country. [90591]
Mr Jeremy Browne: I have not raised the standards of animal welfare in fur farms in China with the Chinese Government. However the Government are supportive of work to raise standards of animal welfare at home and overseas. Where appropriate, we support co-ordinated action to promote standards internationally. The UK has been fully supportive of an EU-wide ban on the import, export and sale of domestic cat and dog fur and products containing such fur. It has taken the action required to enforce this ban.
We also welcome the work that non-governmental organisations such as Animals Asia Foundation, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals undertake with the Chinese authorities to improve standards of animal welfare in China.
EU Countries: Detainees
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens are currently in detention awaiting trial in (a) EU countries other than the UK and (b) non-EU countries; and how many in each case have been detained for over six months without being brought to trial. [91126]
Alistair Burt: As of September 2011 we were aware of 780 British nationals detained in EU countries other than the UFC and a further 1797 British nationals in detention in non-EU countries. These figures include individuals detained at all stages of the legal process. We are unable to estimate how many of these individuals are currently awaiting trial or how many have been detained for over six months without being brought to trial. Estimating these figures would prove difficult and incur disproportionate cost.
The primary role of consular staff is one of welfare. We aim to contact British nationals, depending on local circumstances, within 24 hours of being told of their arrest or detention, and provide all prisoners with an informative “Prisoner Pack”, which includes basic information about the local legal system and the non-governmental organisation Fair Trials International (FTI). We will consider approaching the local authorities if a British national is not treated in line with internationally-accepted standards, including if their trial is unreasonably delayed compared to local cases.
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Intercountry Adoption
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the number of intercountry adoptions in the last 10 years. [90003]
Tim Loughton: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Education.
Intercountry adoptions have declined since the mid- 2000s. The following table sets out the approximate number of applications received by my Department during the past 10 years. Not all applications result in adoptions and some applications can be for more than one child. Data on the number of adoptions are only available for 2010 and 2011.
| Number of applications (1) | Number of adoptions (1) | |
| (1) The data exclude applications/adoptions by prospective adopters resident in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man who apply to adopt from countries that have implemented the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, and, since 2010, all applications/adoptions from Scotland. | ||
Iran
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz; and if he will make a statement. [91025]
Alistair Burt: As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), said on 5 January:
“It is in the interests of all nations that the arteries of global trade are kept free, opening and running. Disruption to the flow of oil through Strait of Hormuz would threaten regional and global economic growth. Any attempt by Iran to do this would be illegal and unsuccessful.”
Given that 95% of Iran's oil exports transit the Strait of Hormuz, it is against Iran's own interests to seek to close the Strait.
Iran's threats will not distract our attention from the real issue, which is the nature of its nuclear programme. We call on Iran to respond constructively to the international community's concerns and engage seriously with the UK, United States of America, France, Germany, Russia and China—the so-called E3+3.
Iran: Oil and Gas
Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has a contingency plan to deal with a blockade of oil and gas shipments in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. [90908]
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Alistair Burt: As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), said on 5 January:
“It is in the interests of all nations that the arteries of global trade are kept free, opening and running. Disruption to the flow of oil through Strait of Hormuz would threaten regional and global economic growth. Any attempt by Iran to do this would be illegal and unsuccessful.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with other Government Departments and international partners on contingency arrangements for threats posed by Iran to UK interests.
Israel: Prisoners
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Israeli Government calling on them to end the practice of detaining children in solitary confinement. [91676]
Alistair Burt: We regularly discuss the treatment of prisoners with the Israeli authorities and have raised concerns over reports of solitary confinement. We remain concerned about the treatment of Palestinian children under the Israeli military justice system.
I discussed the treatment of prisoners most recently with Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon on 18 January 2012. The British ambassador to Tel Aviv discussed penal policy with senior Israeli officials on 6 October 2011, and with the Israeli Prison Service on 26 October, raising issues of concern such as visitation rights (especially for minors), and the treatment of minors, particularly cuffing and shackling. I also discussed the issue with Minister of Justice Neeman during his visit to the region in July 2011 and with the Israeli ambassador to the UK on 26 October 2011.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2012, Official Report, columns 585-6W, on Israel: prisoners, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterparts on the concerns raised in the report submitted to the United Nations on 28 December 2011 on the use of solitary confinement on Palestinian children held in Israeli detention. [91623]
Alistair Burt: We regularly discuss the treatment of prisoners with the Israeli authorities and have raised concerns over reports of solitary confinement. We remain concerned about the treatment of Palestinian children under the Israeli military justice system.
I discussed the treatment of prisoners most recently with Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon on 18 January 2012. The British ambassador to Tel Aviv discussed penal policy with senior Israeli officials on 6 October 2011, and with the Israeli Prison Service on 26 October, raising issues of concern such as visitation rights (especially for minors), and the treatment of minors, particularly cuffing and shackling. I also discussed the issue with Minister of Justice Neeman during his visit to the region in July 2011 and with the Israeli ambassador to the UK on 26 October 2011.
Richard Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2012, Official Report, columns 585-6W, on Israel: prisoners, what mechanism he
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expects the UN to use to respond to the report submitted to it on 28 December 2011 on the use of solitary confinement on Palestinian children held in Israeli detention. [91624]
Alistair Burt: We understand that the UN is considering its response to the report submitted to it on 28 December. It is not yet clear what form this might take.
We are in discussion with the Israeli Government on this issue and have raised concerns over reports of solitary confinement. We remain concerned about the treatment of Palestinian children under the Israeli military justice system.
We welcome Israel's decision on 4 October to raise the age of legal majority for Palestinian children in the Israeli military justice system from 16 to 18 years old. When fully implemented, this will be an important step towards protecting children's rights in the west bank. We continue to lobby for further improvements, including a reduction in the number of arrests that occur at night and the introduction of audio-visual recording of interrogations.
Languages: Education
Mr Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to reopen his Department's language schools; and if he will make a statement. [91344]
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), announced in his speech of 8 September 2011 that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will re-open a language centre in the FCO. The plans for this are being developed as part of FCO's wider Estate Reform Programme. At the same time, under the FCO's “Diplomatic Excellence” initiative, we are already strengthening our language training provision to ensure FCO staff build the expertise required to support British foreign policy priorities.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the attack on Mahmoud Abu Rahma in Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [91510]
Alistair Burt: The British Consulate-General in Jerusalem is aware of this incident. Mahmoud Abu Rahma is a human rights defender and Director of Communications and International Relations at the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights in Gaza. On 13 January 2012, Abu Rahma was walking from the house of his brother Mohammed to his home nearby when three masked individuals carrying sharp tools attacked him and stabbed him in his back, leg and shoulders. Abu Rahma sustained a stab wound in his hand as he tried to defend himself from attacks to his chest. Abu Rahma stated that the attackers had tried to stab him in his chest; however his laptop, which blocked a lot of the attacks, saved him. The attackers then withdrew while shouting death threats and insults.
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Abu Rahma had also recently received threats on his mobile phone and e-mail. It is suspected that these attacks were launched as a result of an opinion piece Abu Rahma had written titled “Absent Protection: Among Resistance, Government and Citizens” in which he criticised the growing power of the Palestinian militant groups and called for protection of the citizens from the militants’ growing power.
I issued the following statement on 20 January:
“I condemn the cowardly stabbing of Mahmoud Abu Rahma, Director of Communications and International Relations at the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, in Gaza on 13 January. Mr Abu Rahma, who studied human rights in the UK, had received a number of death threats over an article he had written in which he argued for greater respect for the rights of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza. Those who carried out this attack must be brought to justice. The freedom of brave activists like Mr Abu Rahma to speak out against the worsening human rights situation in Gaza must be protected.”
Morocco: Politics and Government
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Morocco on the development of democracy in Morocco. [91266]
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), visited Morocco in October 2011, where he discussed Morocco's programme of reform with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other political leaders. He expressed the UK's support for continued reform in Morocco. The Secretary of State also launched programmes under our Arab Partnership, which will support Morocco in its efforts to increase political participation and promote transparency in public institutions.
Following elections in Morocco, the Deputy Prime Minister spoke to the new Moroccan Head of Government Abdelilah Benkirane by telephone on 20 January. They discussed the new Government's reform plans. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed the UK's support for continued reform in Morocco.
Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received representations on the assets of former President Ben Ali of Tunisia held in UK or British Overseas Territories. [91265]
Alistair Burt: The UK is aware of, and fully supports, the Tunisian Government's attempt to recover misappropriated state funds and is committed to taking action consistent with domestic and EU law to return stolen assets.
On 4 February 2011, the EU adopted Council Regulation (EU) No 101/2011 which imposed an asset freeze on Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. The regulation has direct effect in the UK and has been extended to the Overseas Territories. An asset freeze is now in place against Ben Ali and 47 other individuals. We continue to work with the Tunisian Government to ensure they understand the legal processes involved in releasing and repatriating of assets.
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Cabinet Office
Business
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate has been made of the number of (a) micro, (b) small and (c) medium-sized businesses in (i) Newton Abbott constituency, (ii) Devon and (iii) the South West. [90299]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what recent estimate has been made of the number of (a) micro, (b) small and (c) medium-sized businesses in (i) Newton Abbott constituency, (ii) Devon and (iii) the South West. [90299]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprises are available from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at
www.statistics.gov.uk
The following table contains the latest statistics available, which show the number of enterprises in South West, Devon County and Newton Abbot by employee size band.
| Count of enterprises in the South West, Devon County and Newton Abbot by employee size bands for 2011 | ||||
| 0-9 (micro) | 10-49 (small) | 50-249 (medium) | Total | |
| Note: The above figures have been rounded to the nearest 5, to avoid disclosure. | ||||
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate has been made of the number of businesses in (a) Newton Abbott constituency, (b) Devon and (c) the South West that employ fewer than five people. [90300]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what recent estimate has been made of the number of businesses in (a) Newton Abbott constituency, (b) Devon and (c) the South West that employ fewer than five people. [90300]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprises are available from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at
www.statistics.gov.uk
The following table contains the latest statistics available, which show the number of enterprises in South West, Devon County and Newton Abbot by employee size band of 0-4.
| Employee size 0-4 | |
| Note: The above figures have been rounded to the nearest 5, to avoid disclosure. | |
25 Jan 2012 : Column 266W
Expenditure: Drinks
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department has spent on (a) wine, (b) other alcoholic refreshments and (c) bottled water since May 2010. [91632]
Mr Maude: The information required is not held in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Any expenditure on alcohol is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in “Managing Public Money” and the Treasury handbook on “Regularity and Propriety”.
The Department publishes monthly information on expenditure on
www.data.gov.uk