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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 29 February 2012
Energy and Climate Change
Departmental Regulation
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress his Department has made on the Red Tape Challenge; and which regulations have been (a) abolished and (b) revised as part of the Challenge. [97238]
Charles Hendry: DECG has regulations in both the Environment and Energy themes of the Red Tape Challenge and work is ongoing to review these. We expect announcements on the environment theme in the spring and on the energy theme in summer 2012. However, DECC has repealed 20 regulations since conducting its own review in 2010.
Electricity: Prices
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to reduce the electricity prices paid by energy intensive industry. [95454]
Gregory Barker: While prices paid by individual industrial customers are based on commercially confidential contractual arrangements between the customer and their energy supplier, Ofgem monitors the market to ensure that suppliers' profits are not excessive and that consumers pay a fair price for their energy. Electricity prices paid by industrial users in the UK are largely determined by the wholesale cost of electricity (itself driven by global fossil fuel prices and the marginal electricity generating technology at a given point in time).
Energy suppliers will also add the cost of transporting the electricity to the customer, any other administrative costs incurred in supplying electricity and a retail margin. Industrial electricity prices will also include the cost of the climate change levy as well as the cost of other energy and climate change policies which place an obligation on the retail energy supplier, which that supplier may pass on to their customers.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in his autumn statement on 29 November 2011, Official Report, column 807, a package of measures to reduce the transitional impacts of energy and climate change policies on the costs of electricity for those energy intensive industries whose international competitiveness is most affected by these policies.
This package is worth £250 million to British business over the current spending review period. It will consist, subject to EU state aid clearance, of compensation for the higher electricity costs arising from the EU Emissions Trading System and the Carbon Price Floor. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also announced an increase
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to 90% in the level of reduction on the rate of climate change levy for those industries who sign a Climate Change Agreement with my Department. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), is leading the development of the eligibility criteria for the compensation package and the metrics to be used in the criteria with support from the Department with HM Treasury.
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will consider capping the amount end consumers pay in respect of green taxes and charges via their electricity bill. [95455]
Charles Hendry: The Government are committed to ensuring that the transformation to a low-carbon economy and delivery of secure energy supplies happen at least cost to energy consumers. To help ensure that policies achieve their objectives cost-effectively and affordably the 2010 spending review set an overall cap for DECC's tax and spending through policies that entail levy-funded spending.
Currently energy and climate policies add just 1% on average to household electricity bills; while by 2020 households are estimated to be saving around 16% on average compared to what they would have paid in the absence of policies. For businesses, policies currently add around 21% to an average electricity bill paid by medium-sized business users, while by 2020 that will rise to 25%. However, for most businesses direct energy costs are a relatively small proportion of total costs.
The Government recognise that energy and climate change policies can potentially have distributional impacts, particularly for the most vulnerable households and the most energy intensive businesses, and have taken action to address this. For example, the warm home discount scheme helps eligible low-income and vulnerable households with their energy costs through a rebate on electricity bills. Last year the Government also announced a package of measures to reduce the impact of policy on the costs of electricity for the most electricity-intensive industries.
Energy: Meters
Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that any objections to the Draft Technical Specification by the European Commission or other EU member states will not delay implementation of the smart meter roll-out. [97194]
Charles Hendry: In line with the requirements of the Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC), the Government will notify the GB specifications for smart metering equipment to the Commission in the coming weeks. Some suppliers have indicated they will begin rolling out smart meters once the specifications are notified. This will provide consumers the opportunity to experience the benefits of smart meters ahead of mass roll-out. If objections are raised to the notification, they will be addressed ahead of the planned start of mass roll-out in 2014. The Government are engaging with industry experts, the Commission and other member states to minimise the risk of delay under the Technical Standards Directive Process.
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Shipping
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the European Commission proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. [97175]
Gregory Barker: The Government recognise the importance of addressing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. The UK is playing an active role in the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) work on technical, operational and market-based measures to reduce emissions on a global basis. The first best approach for dealing with emissions from the international maritime sector is through application of a global Emissions Trading System agreed through the IMO.
However, the Government recognise the value of a European approach to addressing emissions from shipping and looks forward to receiving the European Commission's legislative proposal, noting that the EU had given the IMO until the end of 2011 to reach an agreement on a global basis.
Fuel Poverty
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assistance the energy company obligation will provide to people on low pay who are at risk of fuel poverty but are not receiving benefits. [95729]
Gregory Barker: The Green Deal and energy company obligation will enable households to access energy efficiency measures at no up-front cost, while also providing extra assistance to those who need it most.
We have proposed that the Affordable Warmth element of ECO should be targeted at low income and vulnerable households. Means-tested benefits are one of the best ways of identifying those likely to be most at risk of suffering from the effects of fuel poverty. A number of the qualifying benefits target those in low paid work, such as child tax credit.
Under our proposals, all households would be able to access the support available under the carbon reduction element of ECO, including those on low pay who are at risk of fuel poverty but not receiving benefits.
We will also be developing guidance shortly under the Home Energy Conservation Act to encourage local authorities to promote the Green Deal/ECO in deprived areas.
Furthermore, the consultation invited views on whether there is a need for and the possible structure of any safeguards within the policy to ensure that those most at risk of fuel poverty will benefit sufficiently from ECO. We are considering carefully responses to the Green Deal and ECO consultation and the final details of the policy will be published in due course.
Gas: Prices
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the unit cost of disposal of advanced gas-cooled spent reactor fuel; and what the cost would be for the disposal of such fuel from a new fleet of nuclear power stations. [96332]
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Charles Hendry: In order to support the Government's development of a Waste Transfer Pricing Methodology for the disposal of higher activity waste from new nuclear power stations, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has provided cost estimates for the disposal of spent fuel, based on the current NDA reference case and also on a range of alternative scenarios which differ from the reference case, for example with regard to geology or inventory. These cost estimates relate to the disposal of a canister of spent fuel and the canister is designed to be capable of disposing of spent fuel from both advanced gas-cooled reactors and pressurised water reactors.
These figures were set out in Annex C of the "Waste Transfer Pricing Methodology for the disposal of higher activity waste from new nuclear power stations" published in December 2011, which is available at
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/nuclear-waste-transfer-pricing/3798-waste-transfer-pricing-methodology.pdf
No energy companies or reactor vendors are proposing the construction of advanced gas-cooled reactors as part of any new fleet of new nuclear power stations.
Green Deal Scheme
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what incentives he proposes to introduce to encourage take-up of the Green Deal. [95727]
Gregory Barker: Last year the Government announced a big injection of funding—£200 million—to help boost early take-up of the Green Deal which will provide a special time-limited introductory offer.
There are also existing or potential regulatory leavers that will help drive demand. We have acted to address the worst private rented sector buildings. From 2016 all domestic tenants will not be unreasonably refused consent from their landlords to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes and from 2018 it will be unlawful to rent out domestic or non-domestic properties which fall below an ‘E’ energy efficiency rating.
In addition, the Department for Communities and Local Government is currently consulting on changes to Part L of the Building Regulations that could further drive take-up of energy efficiency measures from October 2012.
DECC is also working in partnership with our stakeholders to look at further ways of stimulating demand.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Economic Situation
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the likely level of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to the 2008-10 recession. [96887]
Gregory Barker:
DECC has made an initial estimate of the impact of lower than expected growth on its CO2 emissions projections, based on the model it uses to produce its published energy and emissions projections. DECC estimates that projected CO2 gas emissions in the first carbon budget period (2008-12) are around 6%
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lower than they would have been if UK GDP were to have grown as forecast in the 2008 budget rather than as forecast in budget 2011.
Projections for the second and third carbon budget period (2013 to 2017) and (2018 to 2022) are around 8% and 9% lower respectively. However the analysis suggests that, under the central projections even if growth had remained as projected in 2008, the Government would still have been on track to meet the first three carbon budgets.
Housing: Insulation
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration his Department has given to a transition period for the move from subsidies for cavity wall and loft insulation to solid wall insulation under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target. [R] [95728]
Gregory Barker: Cavity wall insulation (CWI), loft insulation, and solid wall insulation (SWI) are all eligible measures under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT). To date, the obligated companies have focused primarily on insulation for lofts and wall cavities with only limited promotion of SWI, meaning that a large proportion of easy-to-treat cavities have already been filled or will have been by the end of 2012. The CERT will transition to the new Green Deal and energy company obligation (ECO) at the end of 2012. One of our key priorities for the new schemes will be to facilitate a stronger market for SWI. However, there will still be an important role for CWI and loft insulation under ECO, particularly in supporting uptake for low-income consumers.
We are now considering responses to the recent public consultation on Green Deal and ECO, and consideration of the transition between schemes will be included in the Government's response.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 479W, on renewable energy: feed-in tariffs, what estimate he has made of the number of solar PV installations since 12 December 2011; what estimate he has made of the annual cost of remunerating the amount of solar PV installed since 12 December 2011 at the Government's revised feed-in tariff rates; and what estimate he has made of the additional annual cost of remunerating the amount of solar PV installed since 12 December 2011 at the original tariff rates. [96994]
Gregory Barker: Latest data from the central FITs register and the microgeneration certification scheme database suggest there were around 37,000 solar PV installations between 12 December 2011 and 26 February 2012 (monthly and weekly deployment statistics are available on the DECC website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/fits/fits.aspx
Note that these data are provisional, and the installation numbers (particularly for the most recent week) are likely to be revised upwards in later releases.
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If all these installations receive the tariffs proposed in the October 2011 consultation (eg 21p/kWh for <4kW installations) for electricity generated from 1 April 2012, there would be an annual cost of approximately £25 million (nominal, undiscounted), or a lifetime cost of around £350 million (real 2011 prices, discounted). If all these installations receive the original tariffs (eg 43p/kWh for <4kW installations) for the 25-year tariff lifetime, there would be an annual cost of approximately £50 million (nominal, undiscounted), or a lifetime cost of approximately £750 million (real 2011 prices, discounted).
Note that these figures are lower than our earlier estimate of the potential costs of not seeking to appeal to the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal's judgment on feed-in tariffs for two reasons:
(1) they only include data on installations up to 26 February, rather than installations to end March; and
(2) the installation rate is lower than we anticipated it would have been if we had not sought leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Sellafield
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the (a) future of Sellafield and (b) long-term storage and handling of spent fuel; and if he will make a statement. [97150]
Charles Hendry: Land adjacent to the existing Sellafield site is one of the eight locations considered suitable for future nuclear power stations and plans to build a new nuclear reactor here were confirmed in June 2011, with a completion date of 2025. Sellafield may, in future, also house other facilities, including a fuel fabrication plant to convert plutonium to MOX fuel, or a viable alternative, for new reactors. Legacy facilities at the site are being decommissioned by Nuclear Management Partners, under contract to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). Intermediate and high-level waste will continue to be stored safely and securely until a geological disposal facility (GDF) is available.
The credible options paper on spent oxide fuel management, published by the NDA, concluded that the most viable option is to complete the existing contracts and then close the THORP plant, with any future spent fuel arisings being stored and not reprocessed. The assumption is that the spent fuel from new nuclear power stations will be kept on site, in interim storage, until the point at which it is disposed of in a GDF and that the encapsulation of spent fuel will also be carried out on site.
Wind Power: Yorkshire East
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what has been the total cost to the public purse of the Lissett windfarm in East Yorkshire. [96951]
Gregory Barker: The renewables obligation (RO) is currently the main financial mechanism by which the Government incentivise the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generation. It is a market-based subsidy and the funding comes ultimately from electricity consumers and is classified by the ONS as “tax and spend”.
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The RO is administered by Ofgem who issued Lissett windfarm with 179,765 ROCs in respect of the electricity it generated between February 2009 and November 2011. DECC estimate the value of this ROC support at £9.2 million in 2011-12 prices, based on a mixture of published and provisional data from Ofgem.
Transport
Recruitment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on (a) recruitment services and (b) executive search agencies in each month since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [93556]
Norman Baker: The central Department and its seven executive agencies have spent £51,967 on recruitment services since May 2010.
The Central Department and its seven executive agencies have not engaged executive search agencies since May 2010. All other recruitment is handled by an internal centralised resource.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many households (a) nationally, (b) in Warwickshire and (c) in North Warwickshire constituency have received assistance from the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme; and what the total monetary value is of compensation allocated in each case. [94795]
Justine Greening: The information requested is as follows:
47 applications have completed, with a total monetary value of £27,230,850.
13 applications have completed, with a total monetary value of £6,077,500.
(c) North Warwickshire Constituency
Six applications have completed, with a total monetary value of £3,045,000.
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in her Department are working only on the High Speed 2 project; and how many hours they spent working on the project in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011. [96037]
Justine Greening: There are currently 21 officials working full-time on high speed rail with additional input from a number of other officials within the Department.
I would also refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 19 January 2012, Official Report, column 916W.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to announce the route of the Y-route of High Speed 2. [97159]
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Justine Greening [holding answer 28 February 2012]:As set out in the departmental business plan, my intention is to take a decision on the line of route for the second phase of High Speed 2 no later than the end of 2014.
High Speed 2 Railway Line: Nature Reserves
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider all available information on (a) sites of environmental importance and (b) nature reserves and local wildlife sites when a preferred route for phase 2 of her Department's proposals for High Speed 2 is identified. [96511]
Justine Greening [holding answer 28 February 2012]:Sites of environmental importance, nature reserves and local wildlife sites will be considered in the accompanying appraisal of sustainability, which is appropriate for that stage of development. A more detailed environmental impact assessment would follow decisions on the ‘Y’ in much the same way as due process is being followed for the environmental impact assessment for phase 1.
M25: Hertfordshire
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the roadworks on the M25 near South Mimms to be completed and all carriageways opened; and if she will make a statement. [96952]
Mike Penning: The works on the M25 junction 16-23 project are expected to complete by July this year.
Motor Vehicles: Safety
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport has not responded to correspondence from Martyn Faulds on red indicators on classic American cars. [97174]
Norman Baker: The Department has no record of receiving correspondence from Martyn Faulds on red indicators on classic American cars but would be pleased to respond if a copy or copies can be sent to:
The Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR
Scotland
Action for Employment
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contracts his Department has with A4e; and what the (a) purpose and (b) value is of each such contract. [97016]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office has no contracts with A4e.
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Public Sector Pay
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 or more and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum in the latest period for which figures are available. [96907]
David Mundell: There are no officials in the Scotland Office or its non-departmental public bodies that are paid £100,000 or more per annum.
House of Commons Commission
Drinking Water: Costs
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the annual cost is of bottled water supplied to (a) Committee rooms and (b) Westminster Hall. [96684]
John Thurso: The cost of providing bottled water for House of Commons Committee and meeting rooms in the Palace of Westminster and Portcullis House for financial year 2010-11 was £6,983.25, and from April 2011 until December 2011 £8,110.70. It is not possible to separate the cost of water provided in Westminster Hall. The Commission has, following a proposal by the Administration Committee, agreed to trials using tap water and a water cooler, to test the proposition that alternative ways of providing water would have higher costs but result in reduced carbon emissions.
Northern Ireland
Action for Employment
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts his Department has with A4e; and what the (a) purpose and (b) value is of each such contract. [97026]
Mr Paterson: My Department does not have any contract with A4e.
Public Sector Pay
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 or more and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum in the latest period for which figures are available. [96906]
Mr Paterson: One official in my Department is currently paid over £100,000 pa. No officials are paid more than £142,500 pa.
There are currently no officials in any of the non-departmental bodies for which I am responsible who are paid more than £100,000 pa.
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Members
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times (a) he and (b) the Minister of State have received correspondence using House of Commons notepaper from hon. Members who have not taken their seats. [96822]
Mr Paterson: The information requested is as follows.
(a) Four times
(b) None
Political Parties
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with representatives of political parties in Northern Ireland on entitlement to allowances for parties whose Members have not taken their seats in the House of Commons. [96848]
Mr Paterson: I have had a number of discussions with representatives of political parties on this issue. These discussions are continuing.
Wales
Broadband
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) others on the provision of broadband in Wales. [96381]
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on a range of issues, including broadband.
The Secretary of State has also had recent discussions with the First Minister and the Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science on this issue.
Inward Investment
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps she is taking to promote Wales as a destination for inward investment. [96369]
Mrs Gillan: I am committed to working with UKTI, the Welsh Government and others to improve the levels of inward investment attracted to Wales.
The Welsh Affairs Select Committee report last week highlights a number of important issues, but in particular the need for joint working between this Government and the Welsh Government is very clear.
Culture, Media and Sport
Telecommunications: Competition
Helen Goodman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect on competition and consumers
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of the cost to smaller providers of submitting appeals under the current telecoms appeals framework. [96927]
Mr Vaizey: While no such assessment has been made I can confirm that issues regarding competition and consumers are at the heart of Ofcom's decision making. Appeals against Ofcom's decisions can be complex and therefore lengthy and costly. To see how this can be improved the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has carried out two consultations on the telecoms appeals framework and we are looking at steps to streamline the process to help all telecoms providers.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what comparative assessment he has made of the competitive advantage to larger telecoms providers, as compared to smaller competitors, of larger competitors' greater ability to afford the costs of appealing Ofcom's decisions. [96928]
Mr Vaizey: While no such assessment has been made I can confirm that issues regarding competition lie at the heart of Ofcom's decision making. Appeals against Ofcom's decisions can be complex and therefore lengthy and costly. To see how this can be improved the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has carried out two consultations on the telecoms appeals framework and we are looking at steps to streamline the process to help all telecoms providers.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the average cost of appeals submitted under the current telecoms appeals regime. [96929]
Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recognises that appeals against Ofcom's regulatory decisions can be lengthy and costly. That is why DCMS has carried out two consultations to explore options for improving the process. The recent consultation noted that the costs of appeals to industry are not known, as such costs are confidential to appellants, but anecdotal evidence suggests that such costs can range from £100,000 to millions of pounds.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposed amendments to the telecoms appeals framework on (a) the number of appeals submitted, (b) the average length of an appeal and (c) the average cost of an appeal. [96930]
Mr Vaizey: As noted in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's recent consultation on telecoms appeals there was no intention for the proposals to result in fewer appeals as there was no intention to restrict the right of appeal for telecoms providers. While no assessment has been made on the average length of appeals the consultation did note that the time spent by Ofcom in defending appeals was 11,500 staff hours in the financial year 2009-10 and 9,000 hours from April 2011 to January 2012. The average costs of appeals to industry are not known as such costs are confidential to appellants, but anecdotal evidence suggests that such costs can range from £100,000 to millions of pounds. The consultation noted that the costs of appeals to Ofcom were more than £2 million in 2010-11.
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Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he expects (a) amendments to the telecoms appeals framework in order to introduce a more streamlined and efficient appeals regime and (b) the introduction of secondary legislation to effect the necessary change will take place by his deadline previously announced as 6 April 2012. [96931]
Mr Vaizey: The consultation on the telecoms appeals framework suggested that potential legislative changes could be made in time to come into force on 6 April 2012. However, in light of the responses received it is now clear that whilst legislative change cannot be ruled out, the proposed options consulted on need to be explored further and that process will not be completed in time for reforms to come into force on 6 April 2012.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the commercial effect on smaller telecoms providers of time taken for Ofcom regulation due to additional work undertaken by Ofcom in order to prepare to defend its decisions against a potential appeal. [96933]
Mr Vaizey: No such assessment has been made. However, the Department remains concerned about the impact of lengthy and costly appeals against decisions on Ofcom's ability to regulate for the benefit of consumers. For that reason, the Department has held two consultations on the telecoms appeal framework: the first in autumn 2010, as part of a consultation on implementing changes to the electronic communications framework, and the second in August 2011 (closed October 2011). We are currently considering what action to take as a result of responses received.
Television: Licensing
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many pensioners in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley received a free television licence in each of the last three years. [97146]
Mr Vaizey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham), on 8 November 2011, Official Report, columns 193-94W.
Home Department
Action for Employment
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts her Department has with A4e; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value is of each such contract. [97076]
Damian Green [holding answer 28 February 2012]:The Home Department including its Executive agencies has no contracts with A4e.
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Arrest Warrants
Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many European arrest warrants have been issued for arresting and bringing to the UK a suspect from each EU country in each of the last eight years. [96811]
Damian Green: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for Scotland are the designated UK authorities responsible for processing European arrest warrants (EAWs). Information on part 1 cases (persons wanted from the UK by another member state) and part 3 cases (persons wanted by the UK from another member state).
Due to the way data were recorded prior to 1 April 2009, it is not possible to provide data on the number of warrants issued to each European Union member state prior to this date. For cases before this date, a manual examination of files would have to take place which would incur disproportionate cost.
The following tables show the number of part three requests issued by the UK for those persons wanted from another EU member state.
| Part three EAW requests issued by the UK in 2010-11 | |
| Country | Number of part three requests issued by UK |
| (1) This refers to requests issued to all EU member states because the location of the person is not known | |
| Part three EAW requests issued by the UK in 2009-10. | |
| Country | Number of part three requests issued by UK |
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| Part three EAW requests issued by the UK 2004 to 2008-09 | |
| Number of part three r equests issued by UK | |
British Nationality: Assessments
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Life in the UK citizenship tests have been sat in each year since 2007; and what the number and proportion was of such tests which were passed in each such year. [91795]
Damian Green: Since the test was introduced for Nationality in 2005 and extended to include settlement cases back in early 2007, over a million tests have been delivered.
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 (1) | Total | |
| (1) Up to May 2011 Note: These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, should be treated as provisional and is subject to change.) | |||||
Civil Disorder
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the recovery of small businesses affected by the public disorder of August 2011; and if she will make a statement. [93348]
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Nick Herbert [holding answer 8 February 2012]: Insurers have paid out, or made interim payments, to over three-quarters of businesses affected by the riots.
We are committed to reimbursing police authorities for the compensation they pay out, and it is in their interests to put in claims as swiftly as possible. Our key concern is to ensure that individuals and businesses receive the compensation to which they are entitled, and the majority already have.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with police authorities on compensation for people affected by riots. [95591]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 22 February 2012]:I have convened meetings with the chairs of affected police authorities together with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, the Association of Police Authorities and representatives of the insurance industry. Meetings have focused on ensuring that progress is made with compensation payments to victims of the August disorder.
Databases: Telecommunications
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any legislative proposals in respect of the communications capabilities development programme will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. [97351]
James Brokenshire: As set out in the Home Office's structural reform plan, details of the Government's legislative proposals to preserve the ability of the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies to obtain communications data within an appropriate legal framework will be announced in Parliament in due course.
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she consulted the Information Commissioner on the communications capabilities development programme. [97352]
James Brokenshire: Home Office officials have consulted the Information Commissioner on the communications capabilities development programme and continue to work with his team.
Research: Taser
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of the sixth Defence Scientific Advisory Council Sub-Committee statement on the medical implications of the use of Taser X26 and M26 less lethal systems on children and vulnerable adults and associated Taser matters. [96605]
Nick Herbert: The sixth Defence Scientific Advisory Council Sub-Committee statement on the medical implications of the use of Taser has today been placed in the House of Commons Library.
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Senior Civil Servants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many senior civil servants left her Department and its public bodies in each month since May 2010; what their names are; what the rate of turnover of senior civil servants in her Department was during this period; and if she will make a statement. [96248]
Damian Green: Since May 2010, 70 senior civil servants (SCS) have left the Department and its agencies. A monthly breakdown is shown in the table. The rate of turnover of SCS staff in the period May 2010 to February 2012 was 29.4%, and this represents an overall reduction in SCS numbers in the same period of 10%. Given our obligations under the Data Protection Act we are unable to disclose the names of all of these staff.
For the Home Office executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), this information cannot be provided as to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
Some information about senior staff in the Home Office and its NDPBs, including names of all staff at SCS Pay 2 level and above and SCS 1 staff where they hold senior positions or their names are already publicly available, is available on the Home Office website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/our-organisation/structure-salary-information/public-bodies-structure-salary/
The information shown is a snapshot as at 30 June 2010, 31 March 2011 and 30 September 2011.
| Number of SCS staff that left | |
29 Feb 2012 : Column 321W
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many checks have been carried out on Tier 4 sponsors in the last three months. [96793]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency carries out a range of checks on Tier 4 sponsors, these include: pre-licence verification; post-licence announced and unannounced visits; specific verification linked to sponsors who apply to be highly trusted; and intelligence-led non-compliance investigations. In the three months October to December 2011, the UK Border Agency carried out 725 such checks.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections of Tier 4 colleges have been carried out in the last three months. [96794]
Damian Green: All Tier 4 sponsors have been visited at least twice, once by their accreditation body and once by the UK Border Agency. In 2011, the UK Border Agency carried out approximately 900 inspections. Around half of these inspections were unannounced and approximately a third took place between October and December 2011.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 4 sponsors (a) have been found to be breaking the terms of their licence and (b) had their licences revoked as a result in the most recent period for which figures are available. [96795]
Damian Green: Where the UK Border Agency has serious concerns about a sponsor, it will suspend its licence pending further investigation. The total number of sponsors, since the inception of sponsorship, found to be breaking the terms of their licence is approximately 355. The UK Border Agency has revoked approximately 150 of these sponsors in total. In the last year 88 sponsors have had their licence revoked due to non-compliance.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) unannounced and (b) announced inspections were carried out on Tier 4 colleges, in each of the last twelve months. [96796]
Damian Green: All Tier 4 sponsors have been visited at least twice, once by their accreditation body and once by the UK Border Agency. In 2011, the UK Border Agency carried out approximately 900 inspections. Approximately half of these inspections were unannounced.
The data provided above are internal management information derived from live internal operational databases that has not been externally validated; it is therefore provisional and is subject to change. We would not normally consider this to be of publication quality.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 4 colleges have been (a) found to be bogus and (b) closed as a result in the most recent period for which figures are available. [96797]
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Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not use the term bogus in the context of compliance actions. The UK Border Agency records institutions' accreditation by an approved body, and whether it is compliant with its sponsor duties.
The UK Border Agency does not have the power to close any education or training provider. It can however revoke the Tier 4 licence of any sponsor found to be non-compliant with its sponsorship duties.
Foreign Nationals: Offenders
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national offenders who were released since May 2010 have subsequently been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted for further offences. [88770]
Damian Green: The following table sets out the number of foreign national offenders who were released after being in UK Border Agency detention between May 2010 and May 2011 and have been subsequently (a) arrested, (b)charged and (c) convicted for further offences:
| Arrested | Charged—on remand | Convicted | |
Figures are based on internal management information and are subject to change.
The UK Border Agency begins consideration of deportation of foreign national offenders (FNOs) 18 months before the end of the sentence, where the sentence length allows. In 2010, 43% of deportations took place in the Early Removal Scheme period of 270 days. Where removal is not possible by the end of sentence, the agency seeks to detain FNOs to protect the public and where there is a risk of absconding.
However, the agency has to operate within the law. It must release foreign offenders when ordered to do so by the courts and release low-risk offenders where there is no realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time. Where we believe there is a risk to the public we vigorously oppose bail applications or ask the court to impose reporting conditions and electronic tagging restrictions if bail is granted. When FNOs are released the agency works closely with both the police
29 Feb 2012 : Column 323W
and the National Offender Management Service to reduce the risk of reoffending. Deportation action continues in all cases.
Approximately 90% of those released on bail are released by the courts. The remaining 10% are released by the UK Border Agency, having assessed that the risk of harm posed to the public is low and that there is no realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national offenders due to be removed on release were awaiting removal in (a) May, (b) September and (c) December 2011. [88784]
Damian Green: The following table sets out the number of foreign national offenders who have completed their custodial sentence and are awaiting deportation.
| Detained | Non-detained | Total | |
Figures are based on internal management information and are subject to change.
The UK Border Agency begins consideration of deportation of foreign national offenders (FNOs) 18 months before the end of sentence, where sentence length allows. In 2010, 43% of deportations took place in the early removal scheme period of 270 days. Where removal is not possible by the end of sentence, the agency seeks to detain FNOs to protect the public and where there is a risk of absconding.
But the agency has to operate within the law. It must release foreign offenders when ordered to do so by the courts and release low-risk offenders where there is no realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time. Where we believe there is a risk to the public we will vigorously oppose bail applications or ask the court to impose reporting and electronic tagging restrictions if bail is granted. When FNOs are released the agency works closely with both the police and the National Offender Management Service to reduce the risk of reoffending. Deportation action continues in all cases.
Approximately 90% of those released on bail are released by the courts. The remaining 10% are released by the UK Border Agency, having assessed that the risk of harm posed to the public is low and that there is no realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable period of time.
Deportation can be delayed for many reasons including human rights and other legal challenges, the situation in the offender's home country and lack of co-operation by the offender and his/her home Government in getting essential travel documents.
Forensic Science Regulator: Finance
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department allocated to the Forensic Science Regulator in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; and how much it plans to allocate in 2012. [96293]
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James Brokenshire [holding answer 27 February 2012]:The budget allocated to the Forensic Science Regulator for the financial years 2009-12 were as follows:
| £ | |
| (1) Reduction in allocated funding for 2011-12 represents the salaries of staff who were transferred to Home Office Science shared finance and secretariat support functions, but continue to support the Forensic Science Regulator. (2) To be agreed | |
Knives: Crime
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidences of knife crime were recorded by the Metropolitan police force in each London borough in each month since May 2008; and if she will make a statement. [93143]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 2 February 2012]:The Home Office receives information at a police force area level on offences involving a knife or sharp instrument. We do not receive data relating to individual London boroughs.
Proceeds of Crime
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total value was of criminal assets (a) frozen and (b) recovered by (i) each police force in England and Wales, (ii) the Serious Organised Crime Agency and (iii) HM Revenue and Customs in (A) each of the last five years and (B) the year to date. [95400]
Nick Herbert: The value of frozen criminal assets is not held centrally. Information on the value of criminal assets recovered by each police force in each of the last five years is available in the House Library. Figures for the Serious Organised Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs are as follows:
| £ | ||
| Agency | ||
| Total value of criminal assets recovered in: | HM Revenue and Customs | Serious Organised Crime Agency |
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the total value was of criminal assets that were (a) frozen and (b) recovered in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) the year to date; [95401]
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(2) pursuant to the oral answer of 6 February 2012, Official Report, column 16, on serious and organised crime, what the improved performance has been in relation to the recovery of the proceeds of crime. [95425]
Nick Herbert: The value of frozen criminal assets is not held centrally. The value of criminal assets recovered in each of the last five years and the year to date is as follows:
| Total value of criminal assets recovered in: | £ |
Terrorism: International Co-operation
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the (a) maintenance and (b) utility of the directory of specialised competences in counter-terrorism among national counter-terrorist agencies established by EU Council Joint Action 96/610/JHA. [96749]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 27 February 2012]:This measure seeks to assist EU member states through a shared understanding of their respective specialised counter-terrorism competencies which might be made available to respond to requests for assistance received from other member states. The Government continue to value our working-level co-operation with other EU member states to combat the threat from terrorism, and we continue to review the effectiveness of measures such as this.
Health
Allergies: Children
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that GPs are aware of the risk of food allergies in children; and what measures are in place to ensure testing occurs. [96911]
Paul Burstow: Doctors are responsible for maintaining the clinical knowledge necessary for the area in which they practise. All general practitioners should be aware of the common allergic conditions in children, including food allergies, and should be familiar with the local pathways for testing and diagnosis of the less common allergies. Information is available from various sources including a clinical guideline from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and a set of clinical pathways from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding and assistance is given to Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust to help children with severe allergies. [96876]
Paul Burstow: The information requested is not held centrally.
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The provision of national health services, including diagnosis and treatment of children with severe allergies, is a matter for the NHS locally.
Antenatal Care
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) parents who attend (i) part and (ii) all of the antenatal and post-natal classes available to them and (b) antenatal and post-natal classes attended by (A) one parent and (B) both parents. [96807]
Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally.
There are many different ways of providing antenatal education from one to one discussions to workshop style groups. A Care Quality Commission survey of women's experiences of maternity services in England in 2010 found that 58% of women had attended national health service antenatal classes during their pregnancy.
“Delivered with care: a smaller survey of women's experiences of maternity care” published by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit in 2010 reported 40.2% of women had attended NHS antenatal classes or workshops. 67% of women who were offered and attended NHS antenatal classes said their partner was welcome to attend with them.
The Department launched “Preparation for Birth and Beyond: a resource pack for leaders of community groups and activities” in October 2011. The pack is a practical tool, which aims to improve outcomes for babies and parents through a refreshed approach to antenatal education.
The Department funded “Reaching out: Involving Fathers in Maternity Care and Top Tips: Involving Fathers in Maternity Care”, published by the Royal College of Midwives in November 2011. The Guide provides top tips and useful insight into how all maternity service staff might best encourage fathers' involvement throughout pregnancy and childbirth, and into fatherhood and family life.
Cardiovascular System: Health Services
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had on improving care pathways for cardiac services between district general hospitals and specialist units. [97313]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has had no recent discussions on improving care pathways for cardiac services between district general hospitals and specialist units.
The Cardiac Networks play an active role, working with both commissioners and providers of cardiac services, in improving care pathways for patients with heart disease and reducing variation in access to services.
Online Services
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public services his Department delivers online only. [96896]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not deliver any public services online only.
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Public Sector Pay
Fabian Hamilton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his
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Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum. [97039]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is given in the following table:
| Organisation | How many full-time officials are paid between £100,000 and £142,500 | How many officials (part-time) are paid between £100,000 and £142,500 (FTE) | How many full-time officials are paid above £142,500 | How many officials (part-time) are paid above £142,500 (FTE) |
| (1) Or fewer Notes: 1. FTE is full-time equivalent—proportional for part-time workers. 2. The table includes medically qualified staff, some part time, whose salaries with professional allowances bring them into the above pay ranges. | ||||
Diabetes: Chiropody
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Leicester East of 6 February 2012, Official Report, column 143W, on diabetes: chiropody, if he will request an audit of the implementation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Guideline 10: the Prevention and Management of Diabetic Foot Complications; how improvement to service provision is being supported by robust audit processes; and if he will make a statement. [96776]
Paul Burstow: NHS Diabetes is currently undertaking work to improve service provision of foot care for people with diabetes in England, and to pilot the auditing of this provision. There are three aspects to this work:
Looking at the structure of services. This has already resulted in foot care being included in DiabetesE (a web-based service improvement tool that supports implementation of the NICE Quality Standard for Diabetes);
Piloting the auditing of foot ulcer management; and
Diabetes foot care activity profiles.
Audit data on the management of foot ulcers are being tested in 20 pilot sites. Data collection started in September 2011 on all new cases of diabetic foot ulceration for a period of three months. Information on when the ulcer is healed or the outcome at 12 months (whichever is soonest) will also be collected. An analysis of the baseline characteristics will be presented at the Diabetes UK annual professional conference in March 2012. The National Diabetes Audit 2013 will be expanded to include further measures relating to foot care resulting from the findings of these projects.
The diabetes foot care activity profiles have been developed to provide information on the in-patient care of people with diabetes who are admitted to hospital for a range of foot care conditions. They are designed to allow those involved in the provision of this care to appreciate the scale of activity and relate this to similar trusts across England. The data used are from the Hospital Episode Statistics database and cover all episodes of in-patient care between April 2007 to 31 March 2010 (published August 2011) and April 2008 to March 2011 (published January 2012). A diabetes foot care profile is available for every primary pare trust in England.
NHS Diabetes has also launched national and regional foot care networks to bring together best practice such as integrated foot care services, up-to-date guidance and tools. NHS Diabetes has produced a commissioning guide for foot care that includes an intervention map detailing all of the elements needed for the service and a service specification template.
Diabetes: Orthopaedics
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Leicester East of 6 February 2012, Official Report, column 143W, on diabetes: orthopaedics, what assessment he has made of the variation in the incidence of (a) minor and (b) major amputations per 1,000 population across primary care trusts; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce such variation in incidence. [96777]
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Paul Burstow: Unwarranted variation in amputation rates of people with diabetes across the country is unacceptable. It is estimated that with the right care 80% of amputations carried out on patients suffering from diabetes would be preventable.
Decisions about the most appropriate therapeutic treatment for an individual patient are a matter for the local national health service. But through publishing more data like that in the National Diabetes Audit, the Department aims to help commissioners and providers identify where improvements need to be made. It is important that clinicians also review their own data to make improvements to the care that they provide to reduce variation.
Health Services: Ex-servicemen
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on monitoring the health and wellbeing of returning veterans in each of the last 10 years. [96789]
Mr Simon Burns: There are no current plans for a specific project of this nature. However, officials at the Department are currently working hard to deliver on the implementation of two key reports whose joint aim is to significantly improve the health and wellbeing of returning veterans. These are Dr. Andrew Murrison's reports into both mental health and prosthetics care for veterans. There is a budget of £22 million available to deliver against these reports. The development of a Veterans' Information Service (VIS) will form part of the Veterans' Mental Health recommendations. One of the aims of the VIS is to follow veterans up 12 months after they leave the service, as we are aware that both the mental and physical wellbeing of service personnel can be at risk in the months after they first discharge.
Hospices
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the newest hospice was built. [96669]
Paul Burstow: We do not hold this information.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much of his £40 million of capital funding for hospices in 2010-11 has been spent; [96670]
(2) which hospices have benefited from his £40 million of capital funding for hospices in 2010-11; and where such hospices are located; [96671]
(3) what plans he has to allow potential new hospices to bid for capital funds available to current hospices. [96672]
Paul Burstow: The recipients of the 2010-11 £40 million hospice capital grant scheme, and their location, are included as an annex of the “End of Life Care Strategy Third Annual Report”. A copy has already been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_130239
Of the £40 million made available, hospices spent £39,985,299 to improve the physical environment.
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There are currently no departmental capital funding schemes available for which hospices are able to bid to improve existing facilities or which could be used to build new facilities.
Hospitals: Waiting Lists
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been cancelled by hospitals in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) England in the last 12 months. [96673]
Mr Simon Burns: Data on the numbers of elective operations cancelled at the last minute for non-clinical reasons between Quarter 4 of 2010-11 and Quarter 3 of 2011-12 for acute NHS trusts in Nottinghamshire are shown in the following table.
| Number of last minute cancelled operations for non-clinical reasons, Nottinghamshire and England, Quarter 4 2010-11 to Quarter 3 2011-12 | |
| Number | |
| Source: Department of Health dataset QMCO | |
IVF: Leeds
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure sufficient provision of NHS-funded in-vitro fertilisation treatment in Leeds. [96983]
Paul Burstow: The national health service decides locally on the funding of fertility treatment, such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), based on the health priorities of local populations. David Flory, deputy chief executive of the NHS, wrote to primary care trusts in 2011, reminding commissioners of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, including the recommendation that up to three cycles of IVF are offered to eligible couples. A copy of the letter has already been placed in the Library.
McKinsey & Company
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the contribution by the Secretary of State for Health of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 909, on McKinsey & Company, what access to (a) the Transition Risk Register and (b) any of its constituent parts has been given to staff of McKinsey & Company. [97233]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department is not aware of McKinsey & Company having had any access to the Transition Risk Register.
Medical Treatments
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effect of a patient's level of optimism on their ability to fight (a) infectious and (b) cardiovascular diseases. [96837]
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Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not undertaken any assessment of the effect of a patient's level of optimism on their ability to fight infectious diseases.
Various studies highlight the benefits of reducing patients' pessimistic attitudes and increasing their optimism towards their recovery from cardiovascular disease. However, there has been no assessment of how conclusive these studies are and the types of interventions that might be put in place to help all patients have a more positive attitude towards their cardiovascular health.
Mental Health Services: Per Capita Costs
Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each primary care trust spent on mental health per head in each of the last five years. [97071]
Paul Burstow: Information on mental health spend has been placed in the Library.
Neurology
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with (a) Parkinson's disease, (b) multiple sclerosis, (c) epilepsy, (d) muscular dystrophy and (e) motor neurone disease died from (i) their condition and (ii) symptoms associated with their condition in each primary care trust area in each of the last five years. [97308]
Paul Burstow: The Department has made no analysis of the number of people dying in each primary care trust from the specific neurological conditions mentioned.
NHS: Reorganisation
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial cost to his Department was of the appeal against the Information Commissioner's ruling on 2 November 2011. [96813]
Mr Simon Burns: The cost to the Department of officials' time for work on the appeal is not broken down, as this forms part of their overall duties as civil servants.
The Department receives legal services through a block Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The costs of Government lawyers working on the appeal are part of the block SLA payment made by the Department to DWP. Costs of individual projects are not charged to the Department.
The costs of external counsel cover the costs of appealing against two decisions of the Information Commissioner made on 1 and 2 November 2011, relating to the strategic and transition risk registers respectively; both cases will be heard together by the tribunal.
To date, the amount billed to the Department by external counsel is £24,630 (including VAT). It is estimated that the total costs of external counsel in relation to the two appeals, including the two-day hearing on 5 and 6 March, will be just over £40,000 (including VAT).
Mr Nicholas Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the National Health Service Transition Programme on
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the morale of NHS staff; what representations he has received on this matter; and from whom such representation was received. [97116]
Mr Simon Burns: The annual NHS staff survey is used to monitor and benchmark the experiences of staff working for the NHS and provides an indication of morale. The 2010 survey is the most recent available, and demonstrates that against a background of significant change, NHS staff remain committed to delivering the best possible standard of care for their patients.
The Department's ministerial correspondence database does not have a specific keyword to index correspondence concerning morale among NHS staff. Providing a figure with regard to the number of items of correspondence received about the effect of the National Health Service Transition Programme on the morale of NHS staff would incur disproportionate cost. This represents correspondence processed by the Department's central correspondence team only.
Obesity: Bexleyheath
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to help tackle obesity in (a) adults and (b) children in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency. [97068]
Paul Burstow: Measures to tackle obesity at the local level are a matter for prioritisation by local national health service organisations. The Government have published “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England”. This sets out how obesity will be tackled in the new public health and NHS systems, and the role of key partners.
The “call to action” sets out a new national ambition to create a downward trend in excess weight in children and adults by 2020. Localism is at the heart of the new approach and local leadership will be important in preventing and tackling obesity. There will be a new ring-fenced public health budget for local areas, and continued investment in key programmes such as Change4Life.
Organs: Donors
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent assessment he has made of the shortfall in organ donations to meet demand for transplantation; [97179]
(2) what steps he plans to take to increase the proportion of potential organ donors who become actual donors. [97182]
Mr Simon Burns:
Despite the considerable progress made over the last few years, there is still a shortage of organs donated for transplant. Around 10,000 people are listed on the United Kingdom transplant waiting list and around three people die every day waiting for an organ to become available. The situation is even more serious for people from African-Caribbean and Asian backgrounds as they are three to five times more likely to need a kidney transplant than white people. We have a number of initiatives to encourage more people to support donation with specific initiatives within the
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black and minority ethnic populations such as working with faith organisations, local radio stations or organisations like the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.
People may sign up to the Organ Donor Register when they register with a new general practitioner; when applying for a new passport; when applying for a European Health Insurance Card, a Boots advantage card or a driving licence. NHS Blood and Transplant also publicises the need for more people to register as donors through public awareness campaigns, on their organ donation website and on their national helpline. There are now over 200 highly trained Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation based in hospitals across the country and NHS Blood and Transplant is continuing to train and recruit more staff into this vital role. Clinical Leads for Organ Donation have been appointed in every acute hospital working closely with hospital Organ Donation Committees to increase donation rates.
A Transitional Steering Group (TSG), chaired by Chris Rudge, has also been established to help maintain the momentum. The TSG will be focusing on the six big wins—optimising deceased donation rates through undertaking brainstem death testing and considering donation after cardiac death in all appropriate circumstances, increasing consent rates, increasing donation from emergency medicine, timely referral of donors and better donor management.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were registered as organ donors in the most recent period for which figures are available. [97181]
Mr Simon Burns: The current number of people on the Organ Donor Register is 18,617,022 as of 24 February 2012.
Physiotherapy: Greater London
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) changes in numbers of physiotherapy training places in London and (b) the closure of physiotherapy courses at the University of East London and South Bank University on the ability of the NHS to meet future demand for physiotherapy services; and if he will make a statement. [97003]
Mr Simon Burns: It is the responsibility of strategic heath authorities (SHAs) to plan their commissions based on local work force requirements.
The numbers of physiotherapy training commissions from 2006-07 to 2012-13, both for NHS London and nationally, are shown in the following table:
| Physiotherapy training commissions | |||||||
| Actual commissions | Planned commissions | ||||||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
While the intake into training places is important, SHAs have indicated that the reductions in training commissions reflect a number of factors, including increased retention of non-medical trainees and an
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increase in the number of people returning to training. Therefore, a similar output of qualified physiotherapists should be achieved, even though there are fewer training commissions.
NHS London has tendered for its physiotherapy training programmes starting in 2012-13. Higher education institutions were informed of the results of these bids in January 2012. The detail is confidential until the contracts are signed off, which is expected to be in March 2012.
NHS London has reviewed the level of commissions in the light of expected future demand for physiotherapists, taking into account factors such as attrition, retirement and clinical experts’ views on quality of education. While a degree of over-supply is desirable to allow for unforeseen changes in the future, NHS London believes that reductions in commissions are required to avoid large numbers of nurses and physiotherapists being unable to find employment.
Primary Health Care
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely proportion of primary health care commissioning being undertaken by (a) public sector employees directly employed by the state and (b) private sector employees under contract to primary health care commissioners for the year 2015-16; and what estimate he has made of future trends in this area. [96957]
Mr Simon Burns: No such estimate has been made.
Subject to the passage of legislation, the commissioning of primary care services will be the responsibility of the NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB) from April 2013. The NHSCB Authority, established on 31 October 2011, is leading the preparatory work for the NHSCB and developing proposals for how its functions could be discharged, including those for primary care commissioning and primary care support services such as general practitioner payments and patient registration (often known as FHS services).
In documents published for its board meeting on 2 February the NHSCB Authority was clear that staff in the 50 local offices of the NHSCB will include those involved in primary care commissioning. The cost of FHS services will also be the responsibility of these local office teams.
At the moment primary care trusts discharge FHS services through a number of different models which include in-house arrangements and outsourcing—both within and outside of the national health service.
The precise arrangements as to how these functions will be discharged in the future to secure high quality primary care services will be for the NHSCB to determine. However they are discharged, the NHSCB will remain accountable for all commissioning decisions.
Prostate Cancer
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve survival rates for men with advanced prostate cancer; and if he will make a statement. [97151]
Paul Burstow:
In 2008, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published the clinical guideline “Prostate cancer: diagnosis and treatment”.
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This sets out recommendations on the tests, treatment, care and support that men who have suspected or diagnosed prostate cancer should be offered, including those men who have advanced prostate cancer. To ensure that these recommendations continue to reflect the latest available evidence, NICE is currently updating this guideline.
Prostate Cancer: Drugs
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the draft guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence proposing to refuse approval of the use of abiraterone for patients in England and Wales, and of the effect any such refusal might have on men with advanced prostate cancer and their families; [97199]
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the use of cancer drugs for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer in advance of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on the issue. [97356]
Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising abiraterone (Zytiga) for two separate indications. NICE is an independent body and has not yet issued final guidance to the national health service on either indication.
The Department, as a registered stakeholder, has responded to NICE'S consultation on its draft guidance on the use of abiraterone for castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel-containing regimen.
We have received a number of representations from hon. Members, members of the public and industry with regard to this appraisal.
Transplant Surgery
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were awaiting transplantation surgery requiring (a) lungs, (b) a pancreas, (c) a heart, (d) kidneys and (e) a liver in the most recent period for which figures are available. [97180]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is provided in the following table.
| Active transplant list | ||
| Current at 23 February 2012 | ||
| Total | Paediatric <18 years | |
| Note: These figures are subject to change as information is updated. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant | ||