Thank you for your question in asking the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what contracts with his Department and its agencies A4e (a) is bidding for and (b) has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies.
The Agency is obliged to comply with EU public procurement rules when awarding contracts. This means that we take award decisions in accordance with the process and criteria, which have been published.
In accordance with these rules, A4e has been awarded an OLASS 4 contract. The award we have made to all providers is conditional on supply of the necessary references and evidence to support their bid. We have not yet signed any binding agreement on any of the OLASS 4 offers, and will only do so when providers have demonstrated that they can fulfil the terms of the service specification to which we have procured against. This process is likely take some months.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 600W
Business: Government Assistance
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies. [96762]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 1 March 2012]: The following support schemes are operated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS):
Designing Demand (delivered by the Design Council rather than BIS)
National Manufacturing Advisory Service
Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative
Business Angels
Green Investment Bank
Business Coaching for Growth
Leadership and Management Advisory Service
Employer Ownership Pilot
Improved BusinessLink.gov
K Innovation Investment Fund
Apprenticeships
Enterprise Capital Funds
TSB Innovation Schemes
Mentoring (mentorsme and Get Mentoring)
Venture Capital Trust Funds
Enterprise Finance Guarantee
Venture Capital Schemes
Regional Growth Fund
Export Enterprise Finance Guarantee
UK Export Finance (delivered by UKEF rather than BIS).
Grant for Business Investment
Smart
Collaborative R&D
Knowledge Transfer Networks
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Small Business Research Initiative
Eureka Eurostars
English and maths
Leadership and management skills support—prioritised on fast growing SME
Growth and Innovation Fund
Employer Ownership Pilot
Investors in People.
UK Trade and Investment provides a range of support and services, accessed either through their international trade advisers or their staff in 97 overseas markets. These include:
Passport to Export
Gateway to Global Growth
Tradeshow Access Programme
Export Market Research Scheme
Export Communications Review
Market Visit Support
Overseas Market Information Service.
I have asked chief executives of the executive agencies to respond directly to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 23 February 2010:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22 February 2012, UIN 96762, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 601W
Companies House does not operate any specific support schemes for business but it does put considerable effort into helping companies comply with their statutory responsibilities.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 27 February 2012:
The Secretary of State, Department for Business. Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies.
There are statutory provisions in place that enable the Insolvency Service's Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) to pay employees who have obtained a tribunal award against their employer for statutory redundancy if the employer fails to pay. The RPS also has discretion to offer financial assistance to employers who are unable to meet the lump sum redundancy payment at once without jeopardising other jobs, without the need for the employee to get a tribunal award, when approached by an employer, employee or employment tribunal. The criteria for receiving this assistance are very strict. Payment is made direct to the employees but only if the employer first proves that the redundancies are genuine, he cannot finance the payment by any other means, that other jobs will be saved, and that repayment to the NIF will be made as soon as possible but within 3 years of the RPS paying the employees.
Letter from John Alty, dated 29 February 2012:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 22 February 2012, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Intellectual Property Office—an executive Agency of BIS—offers the following support schemes for businesses:
1. IP Healthcheck online diagnostic tool—free diagnostic toolkit aimed at SMEs.
2. Regional Awareness events—free half day Intellectual Property (IP) awareness seminars for SMEs across the UK.
3. Publications—The booklets cover a range of topics including IP, Licensing, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Agreeing a price for IP rights and choosing the Right IP advisor.
4. IP Insight—the IPO's free monthly e-newsletter bringing SMEs the latest developments in Intellectual Property (IP) news.
5. IP Primers—a series of guides published by the IPO and UKTI to help British companies in major markets around the world.
6. Exhibitions and seminars—offering delegates advice and information about the benefits businesses gain from understanding, using and protecting their intellectual property.
7. IP audits—An IP audit can help a business identify unexploited or unprotected IP and develop management strategies for maximising the value they gain from their IP.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 27 February 2010:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 22 February 2012, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support schemes for business are operated by his Department and its agencies.
NMO do not operate any direct support schemes for business.
Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, dated 27 February 2012:
As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to reply to you in response to your Parliamentary Question asking what support schemes for business are operated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its agencies.
As a Government Trading Fund, Ordnance Survey engages with a wide range of businesses as a supplier, as a partner and as a customer.
To those businesses that are customers of Ordnance Survey and use our data, a support network, including a dedicated and expertly staffed Pre and Post Sales support team, is in place to ensure businesses are able to maximise the value they obtain from the information they license from Ordnance Survey. For businesses who may wish to use Ordnance Survey data, licences are available
5 Mar 2012 : Column 602W
which enable free testing and evaluation, enabling businesses to experiment with a dataset prior to licensing it. Support also extends to the retail trade who stock and sell our paper maps, and for whom a range of resources are available from Ordnance Survey to assist them.
Ordnance Survey also partners with over 200 businesses who license our data to provide products and services to industry, commerce and consumers. To support those who may wish to become partners, an Innovation Licence is in place which provides an ecosystem for organisations interested in building commercial offerings based upon Ordnance Survey data to sample data, and support to help them develop their applications and services. Many organisations in this programme then go on to commercialise their offering and become part of our partner and strategic alliances channel.
In addition, OS OpenData™ was launched in April 2010, offering access to a wide range of Ordnance Survey's digital mapping datasets free of charge for onward re-use, including for commercial purposes. OS OpenData offers businesses, as well as other users, the chance to use Ordnance Survey data both to develop new commercial opportunities and to improve business processes. Ordnance Survey also makes available an applications programming interface (API), OS OpenSpace®, which enables innovators and developers of websites to embed mapping information from a wide range of Ordnance Survey digital data products. Access to this API and the portfolio of products available through it are free, including for some commercial applications.
Finally, Ordnance Survey facilitates an open innovation initiative called GeoVation which provides support, and in some cases funding, to organisations and individuals seeking to develop ideas which use geography in order to bring about social, economic and environmental benefit. Since its inception, this initiative has provided support and funding to small businesses, social enterprises and other community-based organisations.
I hope this information is of use.
Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills regarding, what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies. (96762)
The UK Space Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not directly operate any support schemes for businesses but its strategy is designed to help industry as a whole and we do implement activities under BIS schemes.
Letter from John Hirst, dated 27 February 2012:
I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 22 February, UIN96762, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Met Office is recognised globally as a leading weather and climate service. As well as delivering a first-rate public service, including the issue of severe weather warnings which contribute to the protection of life, property and infrastructure, we work on a commercial basis, providing services to a broad range of businesses which can be affected by the weather. In addition, we provide tailored advice and services to help businesses adapt to the consequences of climate change. We also work to take science to the market and thereby help stimulate innovative use in the economy.
We are committed to operating ethically and with integrity across all our business relationships, including our interaction with suppliers. For example, we implement best practice in our procurement activities, focusing on achieving value for money, transparency and ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of suppliers. In this context, we encourage participation of SMEs and the Third Sector in our supply opportunities and we work to remove some of the barriers faced by these organisations during the purchasing process. We have also participated in Business in the Community initiatives aimed to help businesses build an understanding of how they can become more resilient to extreme weather and a changing climate.
I hope this helps.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 603W
Letter from Malcolm Dawson, dated 28 February 2012:
I am writing in regard to the Parliamentary Question you tabled on 22 February 2012 which asked the following:
To ask the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies.
I can advise on behalf of Land Registry, which is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, that we do not currently operate any support schemes for business.
Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 5 March 2012:
Thank you for your question in asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support schemes for business are operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies.
Please be advised that the Skills Funding Agency (the Agency) including the National Apprenticeship Service supports employers to engage in and deliver Apprenticeships and other skills programmes to its workforce.
Where employers request it, the Agency contracts directly with large employers. Smaller employers are supported through colleges and providers that are funded by the Skills Funding Agency. The Agency offers a single Adult Skills Budget within which the approved provider base (including employers) can engage learners and receive funding for the skills programmes previously mentioned but also for English and Mathematics.
English/Mathematics and Adult Basic Skills (ABS)
Following the Wolf Review of Vocational Education and BIS review of adult literacy and numeracy provision, BIS set out in “New Challenges, New Chances (December 2011)” that it will fund GCSE English and Maths qualifications for adults from August 2012. Functional English and Maths qualifications from Entry level up to and including Level 2 will also be funded. In addition Entry Level ABS qualifications will continue to be fundable in 2012/13.
Apprenticeships
The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) within the Skills Funding Agency supports, funds and co-ordinates the delivery of Apprenticeships throughout England.
NAS is responsible for increasing the number of high quality Apprenticeship opportunities and providing a dedicated, responsive service for both employers and learners. This includes simplifying the process of recruiting an apprentice through Apprenticeship vacancies, an online system where employers can advertise their Apprenticeship job vacancies and potential apprentices can apply.
NAS also manages Worldskills UK, a portfolio of skills competitions and activities run in partnership with organisations from industry and education.
Apprenticeships bring considerable value to organisations, employers, individuals and the economy. Businesses across the country are increasingly realising the enormous benefits that Apprenticeships create, not only in terms of developing a highly skilled workforce but also by boosting productivity and staff retention. Research shows that Apprenticeships are an optimal way of training, developing and up skilling people for the future, helping businesses to secure a supply of people with the skills and qualities they need and which are often not available on the external job market.
National Skills Academies
In addition to funding Apprenticeships and other skills qualifications, the Agency works with BIS to fund National Skills Academies. National Skills Academies have been established, shaped and led by employers to strengthen and improve business competitiveness in key areas of the economy. They deliver specialised skills to employees and learners to help them respond to employers' business needs.
National Skills Academies work with Sector Skills Councils and other industry bodies to drive change and achieve the priorities identified by employers for their sector. They act as a first point of contact for employers to quality-assured training provision.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 604W
Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF)
The Agency also partners UKCES in the promotion and management of the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) which helps employers develop their own innovative, sustainable skills solutions which have the potential to transform growth in their sector, region or supply chain. The skills and entrepreneurship of people up and down supply chains in different sectors of the economy can be a greater source of competitive advantage than ever before.
GIF offers an opportunity for businesses to benefit from a powerful injection of public investment to support ideas that would not otherwise get off the ground. GIF will co-invest up to £34 million with employers in 2012-13, with comparable levels of investment planned for the following two years. £29m remains available in 2012-13 for new projects with the balance sustaining existing GIF projects.
A variety of successful projects from our first round of bids are already under way with employers and other partners working together to create the tailored solutions that will grow the skills businesses need. These solutions all have a realistic prospect of taking root, achieving a sustainable future with further public investment and making a positive impact on growth.
Leadership and Management Advisory Service
The Skills Funding Agency operates the Leadership and Management Advisory Service, which is a skills support programme targeting key individuals within high growth Small to Medium Enterprises. The programme's budget for 2011/12 is £20m and the service is delivered through five contracted providers covering the nine English regions. The service offer consists of three elements:
1) An initial skills diagnostic and personal development plan
2) A grant of up to £1,000 (of which £500 must be matched by the employer) to up-skill a leader/decision maker
3) A follow-up advice and guidance session.
The programme is due to close at the end of March 2012 and will be replaced by a new Business Coaching for Growth programme, which will have a similar Leadership and Management element including the £1,000 grant. This new programme is managed and contracted by BIS.
Carbon Emissions
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how much funding from the European development fund was allocated to low-carbon projects in the UK in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011; [97959]
(2) how many businesses in the UK received funding for low-carbon projects from the European development fund in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011. [97960]
Mr Prisk: Information regarding funding from the European regional development fund for these purposes will be placed in the libraries of the House once the data have been collated.
Clinical Trials: EU Law
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Clinical Trials Directive on the competitiveness of the life sciences industry in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [98177]
Mr Willetts: In November 2010, the Government launched the healthcare and life sciences growth review. The review involved the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills working closely with the Department of Health, and with business, in an intensive programme of work to identify and remove barriers to life sciences investment.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 605W
This led to the publication of the growth review alongside the 2011 Budget
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_growth.pdf
and set out an ambitious package of measures to strengthen UK competitiveness, including a commitment to influence the Commission to bring forward soundly based proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in the European Clinical Trials Directive.
The European Commission has announced proposals to revise the directive. The draft of the final Commission proposals is expected during 2012 when formal negotiations can take place.
The Government believe that clearer definitions of the terms used in the directive, together with the adoption of a risk adapted approach to the regulation of trials, will reduce the scope for differing interpretations in member states, and inconsistencies in their application across the EU and ensure that regulatory oversight of all clinical trials is proportionate to risk. Greater consistency across the EU will also help to remove barriers to conducting multi-state clinical trials.
College of International Co-operation and Development
Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the activities of the College of International Co-operation and Development in Winestead, East Riding of Yorkshire. [97555]
Mr Hayes: We are not aware of any representations on the activities of the College of International Co-operation and Development in Winestead, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Competition Commission: Manpower
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent staff (a) work and (b) are planned to work for (i) the Competition Commission and (ii) the Office of Fair Trading; and if he will make a statement. [97625]
Norman Lamb: Currently the Competition Commission has 123 full-time equivalent staff (FTE) on their payroll. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) employs 540 FTE staff. There are no figures available on future planned staff levels at either organisation.
Construction: Schools
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills following the postponement of the Department for Education's Priority Schools Building Programme, what discussions he has had with the Department for Education on the effect on construction firms and their supply chains; and what assessment his Department has made of the change in levels of construction activity as a result of this decision. [98212]
Mr Prisk: Partnerships for Schools is currently assessing all applications for funding through the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP). To support this, it has arranged a site visit to all schools that have applied in order to validate the application and survey information provided.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 606W
This exercise will help ensure a rigorous and consistent approach to the consideration of all applications based on the condition of the schools.
We acknowledge the high level of interest in this programme but it is very important that this work is not rushed and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.
Consumers: Protection
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) illegal money-lending teams and (b) scambusters teams; and if he will make a statement. [97634]
Norman Lamb: Government reviews the performance of the Scambusters and Illegal Money Lending Teams on a quarterly basis.
The Government plan to publish their response to the consultation on the reform of the consumer landscape, including the Scambusters and Illegal Money Lending Teams, in March this year. The Government will make a written statement in conjunction with the publication.
Copyright
Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's Impact Assessment of 2 November 2011, BIS0317, on copyright exceptions, (1) whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option one to expand the types of works covered by education exceptions and enable copies to be communicated to students via interactive displays; [97611]
(2) whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option two to increase the proportion of a copyright work that can be copied under the education exceptions; [97612]
(3) whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option three to expand the definition of current education exceptions to enable distance learners to access educational materials over secure networks; [97613]
(4) whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option four to widen the definition of an educational establishment; [97614]
(5) whether his Department has estimated the monetised costs and benefits by main affected groups of option five to remove or limit the ability of licensing arrangements to restrict the use of exceptions. [97615]
Norman Lamb: The Impact Assessment in question is preliminary in nature. It provides illustrative estimates of potential costs and benefits in relation to the main affected groups, but it recognises that further data is needed before monetised estimates can be made. The Government are currently seeking more detailed evidence on the costs and benefits to all parties who could be affected by the proposals, through public consultation.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 607W
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions his Department has made under the 10:10 initiative. [97924]
Norman Lamb: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills achieved an 11.5% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions under the 10:10 initiative. This was achieved from May 2010 to May 2011 and performance details of all Government Departments and the initiative as a whole can be found on:
http://data.gov.uk/departmental-performance-co2-emissions-reduction-date
Savings are continuing to be realised as a result of the energy efficiency initiatives undertaken. These included installation of technology, reducing building plant operating times, estate rationalisation and behaviour change. These actions are helping BIS to achieve the 25% reduction in carbon emissions from the estate and domestic travel, by the end of 2014/15, as required by the Greening Government Commitments.
Export Controls
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department takes to provide information for UK exporters on avoiding breaking sanctions and export bans. [97970]
Mr Prisk: The Export Control Organisation (ECO) maintains a website that provides up-to-date information on all aspects of export controls. This can be found at:
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/exportcontrol
and is the easiest way for an exporter to find information about UK export control requirements. This website provides the facility for an exporter to sign up to receive the ECO mailing list of Notices to Exporters to receive the latest information on changes to export controls.
The ECO also operates a Control List Classification Advice Service that provides a technical assessment of goods to be exported and whether they are listed on a Control List. The option for an exporter to self-rate his goods through the use of online CheckerTools is also available through the website. In cases where there is an export of non-listed dual-use or military goods, an exporter can ask for advice from the ECO where there maybe concerns about end-use by using the End-User Advice service.
Officials from the ECO also run an extensive seminar programme on the different elements of export controls across the UK and these have included specific events focusing on sanctions and embargoes.
Exports: Saudi Arabia
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase exports to Saudi Arabia. [96877]
Mr Prisk:
Saudi Arabia is one of UK Trade & Investment's (UKTI) designated high-growth markets and receives considerable focus and attention from Ministers and officials. HRH the Duke of York, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend, Lord
5 Mar 2012 : Column 608W
Green of Hurstpierpoint, the Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my noble Friend, Lord Marland, and the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, my noble Friend, Lord Sassoon, and the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), have all visited in recent months promoting UK commercial interests and identifying new opportunities for British companies. Saudi Arabia is integral to HMG's Gulf Initiative
UKTI have indentified five particular high value opportunities which appear to offer the best chances for UK companies to win multi-million pound contracts, with supply chain opportunities for UK small and medium-sized enterprises. These opportunities are in petrochemicals, railways, water and wastewater, airports, healthcare and education. UKTI continues to support trade missions visiting Saudi Arabia and provide bespoke market research for UK companies.
The forthcoming Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) scheduled for 22 March will bring together UK and Saudi businesses to explore these and other potential opportunities. SBJBC will also address barriers to trade and investment, in particular institutional issues, management and financial challenges.
Exports: Tunisia
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value of exports to Tunisia was, broken down by type of export, in the last year for which figures are available. [97514]
Mr Prisk: The monetary value of goods exports to Tunisia during 2011 is shown in the following table, in order of magnitude. A breakdown of services exports is not available.
In total, the UK exported goods to the value of £146 million to Tunisia in 2011.
| UK exports of goods to Tunisia at two digit SITC level—2011 | ||
| SITC code | Description | £000 |
5 Mar 2012 : Column 609W
5 Mar 2012 : Column 610W
| nes = not elsewhere specified Source: BIS analysis of data from HM Revenue and Customs | ||
Higher Education
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what administrative requirements higher education providers must complete in order for their courses to be designated; and if he will publish the submissions by higher education providers associated with this process. [97725]
Mr Willetts: The arrangements for course designation depend on whether the courses are being provided by a publicly funded or privately funded institution. In most cases eligible higher education courses provided by publicly funded institutions in the UK are automatically designated for student support and institutions input details of eligible courses directly onto the Student Loans Company's (SLC) course database.
All full-time distance learning courses and eligible higher education courses provided by privately funded institutions may be specifically designated on a course by course basis for the purposes of student support at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable).
Institutions that wish to have courses specifically designated must complete an application form for each course they wish to have designated. They must also supply a current prospectus providing details of the course; a validation document from the validating body that demonstrates that a recognised UK award-making body validates the course to be run at the specific private institution; and, for full-time courses a timetable must be submitted providing details of the intensity of study. If the applications are approved the institutions have to complete a data capture form for SLC's Higher Institutions (HEIs) database team to enable the course details to be uploaded on the SLC course database.
A list of courses that have been specifically designated is published on the SLC's website
http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/policy-information/designated-courses/full-list.aspx
5 Mar 2012 : Column 611W
We do not routinely publish a list of all submissions for specific designation as there is a public interest in ensuring that the commercial interests of external businesses, such as those who have had their applications for the specific designation of courses rejected, are not damaged or undermined by disclosure of information which is not common knowledge and which could adversely impact on future business.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria must be met by a higher education provider in order for a course to be designated. [97726]
Mr Willetts: Eligible full- and part-time higher education courses provided by publicly funded institutions in the UK are automatically designated under the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2009, as amended. Full-time distance learning courses and eligible courses delivered at privately funded institutions may be specifically designated on a course by course basis for the purposes of student support at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable).
Institutions that wish to have a course specifically designated apply to the Student Loans Company (SLC). Applications are assessed by the SLC against the course designation criteria in the Education (Student Support) Regulations which include course type, duration and mode of study. In addition all courses must be validated by a recognised UK awarding body such as a university. This provides quality assurance.
BIS undertakes further checks on organisations that are applying for specific designation for the first time. These include consideration of management and governance, financial stability and longevity of an organisation. If the Department is satisfied that the course meets the course eligibility criteria; and that the provider does not pose a risk to the use of public funds; the course is specifically designated.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to reply to the letter of 6 February 2012 from the hon. Member for Walsall North; ref 281401. [97993]
Norman Lamb: I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 1 March 2012.
Multimedia: Archives
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Intellectual Property Office has commissioned research on the amount of audio-visual information archived by further and higher education institutions. [97902]
Norman Lamb: The Intellectual Property Office has not commissioned research on this topic.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 612W
Student Loans Company
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how often (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) civil servants within his Department have met representatives of the Student Loans Company about designated higher education courses; on what dates such meetings took place; what was discussed at each such meeting; and if he will list those meetings and the issues discussed. [97413]
Mr Willetts: There have been no meetings between BIS Ministers and the Student Loans Company (SLC) about designated higher education courses.
BIS officials work closely with the SLC on the operational implications of course designations. This includes frequent telephone and e-mail contact. Discussions have typically addressed outstanding applications and inquiries; the application pack and forms; and updates on regulatory reform issues.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish correspondence received from the Student Loans Company in respect of bi-annual reviews of providers of designated higher education courses. [97414]
Mr Willetts: The Student Loans Company (SLC) undertake a review of all specifically designated courses every two to three years. This requires providers to confirm that the course details the SLC hold are correct and that the designated courses are still running. Straightforward changes to validating arrangements or if courses are no longer running are dealt with by SLC. In some cases, such as a change of course name, duration or mode of study the change requires formal approval by BIS. We do not record centrally which change of circumstances arise specifically from the review and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many private higher education courses have been designated as eligible for student support after a negative recommendation by the Student Loans Company; and what the (a) name and (b) institution of each such course is. [97415]
Mr Willetts: No private higher education courses have been designated as eligible for student support after a negative recommendation by the Student Loans Company.
Students: Work Experience
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of university students spent a year in industry as part of their degree in England, broken down by (a) region and (b) county in each of the last five years. [97525]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 1 March 2012]: The latest available information on full-time first degree enrolments, including those enrolled on sandwich course, at English high education institutions is shown in the following table for each of the last five years. Information in the table is broken down by region of institution and a total for England is also given. Information on county of institution is unavailable as it is not centrally held. Information for the 2011-12 academic year will become available from January 2013.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 613W
5 Mar 2012 : Column 614W
| Full- time first degree enrolments (1) by region of institution. English higher education institutions—academic years 2006-07 to 2010-11 | |||||||||
| 2006 - 07 | 2007- 08 | 2008- 09 | |||||||
| Region of institution | Enrolments | of which sandwich course | % sandwich course | Enrolments | of which sandwich course | % sandwich course | Enrolments | of which sandwich course | % sandwich course |
| 2009- 10 | 2010- 11 | |||||
| Region of institution | Enrolments | of which sandwich course | % sandwich course | Enrolments | of which sandwich course | % sandwich course |
| (1) Covers students of all domiciles in all years of study. Notes: 1. Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population. 2. Percentages are based on unrounded figures and are given to one decimal place. 3. Where it is not yet known whether or not the student will undertake a placement the student will initially be encoded as not having enrolled on a sandwich programme. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record | ||||||
Supermarkets: Farmers
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of farm-gate prices paid by supermarkets on the livelihood of farmers. [97074]
Mr Paice: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Grocery retailers purchase relatively little directly from UK farmers. For example, most fresh produce is supplied to grocery retailers through intermediaries such as packers, processors and fresh food wholesalers. Six large grocery retailers told the Competition Commission that the combined total value of their direct purchases from farmers amounted to approximately £295 million in 2006. This compares to £14.3 billion in total agricultural production annually and £16.7 billion in fresh food sales by these grocery retailers in total. However, the Competition Commission did find that all large grocery retailers have extensive buyer power in relation to some of their direct suppliers, and this allowed them to transfer “excessive risks or unexpected costs” to some of their suppliers. We are committed to setting up the groceries code adjudicator as soon as possible, to help remedy this imbalance, although the GCA will not have a direct remit over the price paid to the supplier.
The Government believe that the market must drive both production and price levels and that this will ultimately help develop an efficient, profitable sector that can compete on the global market that we now operate in. Prices are a commercial matter, agreed by private negotiation within the parameters of competition law. Free and fair competition is the key to a healthy market. Retailers should not be prevented from securing the best deals and passing on benefits to consumers.
Tankers: Procurement
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with (i) Ministry of Defence Ministers and officials, (ii) Royal Navy personnel, (iii) UK businesses and (iv) trade associations to determine the capability of awarding the contract for Royal Navy fuel tankers to UK businesses; and if he will make a statement. [98214]
Mr Prisk:
Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have not had meetings with Ministry of Defence Ministers or officials, Royal Navy personnel, UK businesses and trade associations to determine the capability of awarding the contract for Royal Navy fuel tankers to UK businesses. The procurement was run according to European Union and UK law where non-warlike goods such as auxiliary tankers are subject to competition, and was open to shipbuilders from the UK and across the world. The winning bidder's solution was the one assessed as offering the best value for
5 Mar 2012 : Column 615W
money. While no UK companies submitted a final bid for the build contract, I understand that the UK content of the main contract is estimated to be up to 20%, with significant further investment in UK industry expected through customisation, trials and specialist engineering support.
Trade Descriptions Act 1968
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many prosecutions were brought under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [97635]
Norman Lamb: The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 was repealed in large part in 2008 with the introduction of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 which implemented the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive.
Trading Standards Departments have reported to the Office of Fair Trading the following numbers of prosecutions and intended prosecutions:
| Trade Descriptions Act 1968 | |
| Number | |
| The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (1) | |
| Number | |
| (1) Since their introduction to end of 2011. | |
UK Trade & Investment: Libya
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how big the UK Trade & Investment team in Libya is; what the team's budget is; what changes have been made to its (a) headcount and (b) budget in the last 12 months; and what reports he has received on the size of equivalent teams of the UK's international competitors. [97428]
Mr Prisk: The UK Trade & Investment team in Libya is currently eight strong. At present, the team does not have a predetermined budget. Instead it draws on a central budget in-country to fund a range of targeted activities in support of British business. This time last year there was no UKTI resource in Libya because of the conflict. I have received no formal reports on the size of equivalent teams of the UK's international competitors but I believe the British embassy has the largest commercial section of any mission in Tripoli by staff number or similar.
UK Trade & Investment: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had discussions on the opening of a UK Trade & Investment office in Wales. [96800]
5 Mar 2012 : Column 616W
Mr Prisk: The prospect of a UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) office in Wales has been raised formally with the Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and the Minister of State for Trade & Investment my noble Friend the Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint. UKTI are currently considering a request from the Welsh Government on the establishment of a UKTI office in Wales.
Health
Autism: Children
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders in each of the last five years. [98206]
Paul Burstow: That information is not collected centrally. The Office for National Statistics survey ‘Mental Health of Children and Young People in Great Britain’ (2004) found that 1.4% of boys and 0.3% of girls aged five to 16 had an autistic spectrum disorder.
Autism: Research
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has provided for research into autistic spectrum disorders in each of the last five years. [98205]
Paul Burstow: Expenditure by the Department on research relating to autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards is shown in the following table:
| £ million | |
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) is currently hosting nine studies relating to ASD that are in set-up or recruiting patients. Expenditure by the CRN on research relating to ASD cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
Prior to the establishment of the NIHR in April 2006, the main part of the Department's total health research expenditure was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From April 2006 to March 2009, transitional research funding was allocated to these organisations at reducing levels. The organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on some disease areas but do not provide details of spend on research relating to ASD.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 617W
Cancer: Health Services
Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the approval of treatments for cancers which predominantly affect men and women by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. [97616]
Mr Simon Burns: We have made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended a number of treatments for cancers which are predominantly gender specific.
Carers: Standards
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems are in place to ensure that health care support workers have minimum levels of (a) competence and (b) integrity. [97578]
Mr Simon Burns: All providers of health and social care regulated activities in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission, and meet its registration requirements. These include a requirement that the provider must have suitable arrangements in place to ensure that staff receive appropriate training, professional development and appraisal, and must operate effective recruitment procedures to ensure staff are of good character.
Registered professionals are also required to ensure that healthcare support workers are subject to relevant supervision and that they delegate to them appropriately.
We have also commissioned Skills for Health and Skills for Care to produce a code of conduct and minimum standards for education for health care support workers and adult social care workers. This will in future set clear expectations about standards of training and conduct and support appropriate delegation.
Cervical Cancer: Lancashire
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) screenings for and (b) deaths from cervical cancer there were in Lancashire in each of the last three years. [97545]
Paul Burstow: The information requested on screening is not available for the Lancashire area as a whole. Information showing the numbers of women screened through the national health service cervical screening programme by primary care trusts (PCTs) in Lancashire for the years indicated is shown in table 1.
Information showing the number of deaths where cervical cancer was the underlying cause for women in Lancashire county and by PCTs within Lancashire is shown in table 2.
| Table 1: NHS Cervical Screening Programme: Target age group (25 to 64), number of women screened by Lancashire PCTs in each of the last three financial years. | |||
| Number of women screened (thousand) (1) | |||
| PCT Name | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
5 Mar 2012 : Column 618W
| (1 )Excluding those women all of whose tests during the year were classified as 'inadequate'. Notes: 1. Women between the ages of 25 and 64 are invited for regular cervical screening under the NHS cervical screening programme. This is intended to detect abnormalities within the cervix that could, if untreated, develop into cancer. It should be noted that the NHS cervical screening programme does not screen for cervical cancer as such but information is available from the programme on the number of women screened. 2. Information for the Lancashire area is not recorded. However, figures are available for Central Lancashire PCT, East Lancashire Teaching PCT and North Lancashire Teaching PCT. 3. Information is collected by financial year and is provided for women aged 25 to 64 years (the target age range for cervical screening). 4. The figures given in the table are also available in Table 12 (number of women screened) of the following reports: Cervical Screening Programme, England 2008-09 Cervical Screening Programme, England 2009-10 Cervical Screening Programme, England 2010-11 Source: The Health and Social Care Information Centre: “Cervical Screening Programme, England 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11”. | |||
Information is provided by primary care organisation and is available on an annual basis.
These reports have been placed in the Library and are also available on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website:
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/screening/cervical-screening
| Table 2: Number of deaths where cervical cancer was the underlying cause of death, 2008-09 to 2009-10 (1, 2, 3) | |||
| Deaths (females) | |||
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 (4) | |
| (1 )Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases; Tenth Revision (ICD- 10) code C53. (2 )Based on boundaries as of 2011. 3 Figures are for deaths which occurred in each financial year. (4 )Death registration data for 2011 will be available in summer 2012. Death occurrences data for 2011 (on which the financial year data is based) will be available in autumn 2012. Source: Office for National Statistics: Death Occurrences database | |||
Children: Internet
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of children showing symptoms of addiction to (a) computers and (b) the internet. [98191]
Paul Burstow: No estimate has been made. While some researchers have described computer addiction and internet addiction, neither condition is currently recognised with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or International Classification of Diseases code.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 619W
Consultants
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2012, Official Report, column 115W, on consultants, what the monetary value is of the contract referred to in the calendar year 2012. [97898]
Mr Simon Burns: The total value of the Consumer Engagement Services contract January to March 2012 is £242,500, including an element of agreed performance payments. The remainder of the funding for the contract within calendar year 2012 is still subject to the Efficiency Reform Group.
Diabetes: Health Services
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which bodies are responsible for monitoring whether people with diabetes receive the nine health-care checks recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines; and which bodies will be responsible for such checks following the implementation of the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill. [97333]
Paul Burstow: Primary care trusts are currently accountable for delivery of care and thus responsible for monitoring service delivery. Diabetes features heavily in Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and currently has 17 QOF indicators. Many of these indicators reflect the key tests and measures that people with diabetes should receive on an annual basis in line with the nine care processes recommended in 2011 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Auditing of processes and outcomes is a means of monitoring. Those participating in the annual National Diabetes Audit submit information in response to the question, “What proportion of people registered with diabetes receives the key processes of diabetes care?” The NHS Atlas of Variation 2011 also compares those areas providing people with type I and II with the nine care processes.
Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will use the NHS Outcomes Framework and NICE quality standards to develop a proposed 2013-14 Commissioning Outcomes Framework and use this to hold clinical commissioning groups to account for the delivery of care, including the care of patients with long-term conditions, such as diabetes.
General practitioners will have significant flexibility within the legislative framework to join together in the clinical commissioning group they want to form, and will have the flexibility to commission services in the ways that they judge will deliver the best outcomes for local people.
Emergency Services
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the national review of how urgent and emergency services should be categorised. [97546]
5 Mar 2012 : Column 620W
Mr Simon Burns: The work being carried out on categorising urgent and emergency care services has not yet been completed, and internal discussions continue.
Health Services: North West
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the risk assessment in respect of the decision to locate a hub for vascular surgery at the Countess of Chester hospital rather than at Warrington and Halton NHS Trust is published. [97833]
Mr Simon Burns: Decisions about the publication of local national health service documents are a matter for the NHS locally.
The “Vascular Services Review Mid-Mersey Impact Assessment”, October 2011, was published online by the local NHS in November 2011. It can be accessed on the Wirral primary care trust website at:
www.wirral.nhs.uk/document_uploads/Boardcluster-Nov/Cluster-BoardPack-02-11-2011.pdf
Health Services: Regulation
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulatory regime covers the activities of (a) NHS employees and (b) private sector health care support workers who (i) administer medicines, including insulin and controlled drugs, (ii) provide cover for registered nurses, (iii) manage fluids, including monitoring drips and drains, (iv) inject medicines, (v) insert NH tubes, (vi) plaster fractured limbs, (vii) monitor vital signs in patients and (viii) feed and bathe patients. [97575]
Mr Simon Burns: All providers of health and social care regulated activities in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission and are required to meet 16 registration requirements, which set out essential levels of safety and quality of care and treatment.
This requires providers to ensure they have effective procedures in place to ensure that workers are fit for the job, have the right qualifications, skills and experience for their role, and are properly trained, supervised and. appraised.
The Medicines Act 1968 controls the sale, supply and administration of all medicines in the United Kingdom. There are further legal requirements in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations in relation to controlled drugs.
Health Visitors: Leeds
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he allocated for the provision of health visitors in Leeds North West constituency in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [97794]
Paul Burstow: Information about the allocation of funding for the provision of health visitors in the Leeds North West constituency is not held centrally.
The “Health Visitor Implementation Plan 2011-15—A Call to Action” was published in February 2011 and an accompanying management letter from the Department set out indicative trajectories of health visitor growth for each strategic health authority (SHA). It is for each SHA to agree with individual primary care trusts (PCTs) the specific levels of growth in their area and for the
5 Mar 2012 : Column 621W
PCT to allocate appropriate funding. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the chief executive of Leeds PCT, which may hold some relevant information.
Both a copy of the plan and letter have already been placed in the Library.
HealthWatch England
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he proposes for hon. Members in determining the future of HealthWatch in their constituencies. [97549]
Mr Simon Burns: We are encouraging all local authorities to engage widely with all members of their community and hon. Members about the development of local HealthWatch in their area.
Herbal Medicine
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) under what legislation the reclassification of (a) milk thistle and (b) black cohosh food supplements as unlicensed medicines by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is taking place; how many (i) milk thistle and (ii) black cohosh products have been reclassified; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such reclassifications on small and medium-sized businesses; [97907]
(2) which botanical, herbal and other products have been investigated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency since the coming into force of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive; and what the outcome was of the investigation in each case; [97908]
(3) what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive on (a) small and medium-sized specialist manufacturers and distributors of products previously considered to be food supplements or medicines exempt from the need for a medicinal products licence, (b) the number of such products on the market and (c) consumer choice; and if he will make a statement. [97909]
Mr Simon Burns:
The classification of products as medicines is made on a case-by-case basis by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc) Regulations 1994 as amended. The MHRA has taken regulatory action against one black cohosh product, FSC Black Cohosh l,000 mg, and the status, of a further four products is currently under investigation. The MHRA has taken regulatory action against one milk thistle product, FSC Milk Thistle 200 mg, and the status of a further 11 is currently under investigation. Neither of the two products where MHRA has taken regulatory action has been reclassified. The MHRA has been carrying out classifications in line with existing legislation and guidance therefore no new assessment of the regulatory impact is necessary. A full assessment of the impact of the European Community Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) was produced in 2005, in conjunction with the regulations implementing the directive. This assessment considered the impact on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME'S): a transitional period allowed companies seven years to
5 Mar 2012 : Column 622W
adjust to the requirements of the new regulations, up to 30 April 2011. A copy of the. impact assessment has already been placed in the Library.
The MHRA is currently investigating complaints about 21 companies selling some 148 herbal products which may fall within the definition of a medicine. Companies that are investigated. by the MHRA are entitled to their privacy especially where, following investigation, no subsequent enforcement action is taken against them. The MHRA considers that it would not be in the public interest to publish the names of companies, or their products, where no breach of legislation has been identified or where there is compliance with regulatory requirements; such an approach could also have legal implications. Where a case results in a final determination that a product is a medicine this information appears on the MHRA website. The MHRA is currently considering how effective, proportionate enforcement action can best ensure that the intended benefits of the THMPD for consumers and for companies compliant with the legislation are achieved.
Locums
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts audit the payment of funds to cover locum costs to ensure the funds have been spent on locums. [97910]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not collect information on primary care trusts (PCTs) auditing of general practice on locum cost expenditure.
Where a practice seeks additional funding from its PCT under the provisions of the General Medical Services Statement of Financial Entitlement to cover locum costs, it is a matter for each practice to demonstrate to their PCT the uses they propose to make of that discretionary funding. Should a contractor breach the terms under which the PCT has agreed funding the PCT has a right to recover payments made.
Meals on Wheels
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average charge was for meals on wheels in each English local authority in each year since 2000. [97796]
Paul Burstow: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 2 February 2012, Official Report, column 769W.
Monitor
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the principal anti-competitive modes of behaviour are, which he intends that Monitor will tackle. [97579]
Mr Simon Burns: Under the Health and Social Care Bill, Monitor would have a duty to exercise its functions with a view to preventing anticompetitive behaviour in the provision of national health service services which is against the interests of patients.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 623W
The aim is to protect patients' interests from self-serving abuses by providers that would harm those interests. Potential examples may include denying patients' rights to choice and collusion to restrict the range of services available to commissioners.
Neurology: Standards
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve neurological services. [97552]
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. Recognising the importance of influencing the changes in commissioning process, neurological stakeholders have formed the Neurological Commissioning Support to work alongside commissioners to improve the way that neurological services are commissioned.
Key developments aimed at improving services for those with long-term conditions, including neurological conditions, are the Quality, Innovation Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) programme and the NHS Outcomes Framework.
QIPP is a large scale transformational programme for the national health service, involving all NHS staff, patients and the voluntary sector and will improve the quality of care. Local commissioners are currently configuring their work to drive the necessary changes and ensure that providers work together to respond to the challenge.
The NHS Outcomes Framework will provide the framework for defining how the NHS will be accountable for outcomes. It encompasses five domains articulating the responsibilities of the NHS.
Responsibility for ensuring that locally commissioned neurological services meet the needs of patients lies with primary care trusts. However, we recognise that there are still unacceptable local variations in the provision of neurological services, as highlighted by the recent National Audit Office report. We will be responding to the recommendations arising from the report, and subsequent Public Accounts Committee hearing in due course.
NHS Commissioning Board
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposed local offices of the national commissioning board will include a lead for specialised services. [97318]
Mr Simon Burns: In documents published for its board meeting on 2 February, the NHS Commissioning Board Authority stated that, subject to the passage of legislation, the 50 proposed local offices would include a Head of Direct Commissioning.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 624W
However, there will be scope within the overall budget for local office functions for the Chief Operating Officer to determine whether particular functions should be undertaken by small numbers of local offices on behalf of groups of the others. These are likely to include specialised commissioning.
The distribution of the management resource between local offices will take account of these arrangements.
NHS Commissioning Board Authority: board meeting papers can be found on its website at:
www.commissioningboard.nhs.uk/2012/01/26/board-meeting-020212/
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Clinical Transitions Director in the NHS Medical Directorate on the plans for managed clinical networks for neuromuscular services to be established and funded by the national commissioning board. [97319]
Mr Simon Burns: Proposals for the establishment and development of Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) are being taken forward by the NHS Commissioning Board Authority. SCNs will play an important role in supporting Clinical Commissioning Groups and the Board to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients. Applications for establishing SCNs will be assessed against key criteria currently being developed with stakeholders.
NHS Foundation Trusts: Private Sector
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public policy considerations he took into account before making his decision to increase the cap on the volume of private work that foundation trusts can undertake; and what assessment he has made of behavioural changes by (a) foundation trusts and (b) patients as a consequence of that increase. [97580]
Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill proposes to remove the national health service foundation trust private patient income cap. The clause to remove the cap was included in the Bill on introduction to Parliament in January 2011 and debated on a number of occasions. A Government amendment at Lords Report clarified that a foundation trust's principal legal purpose requires it to earn the majority of its income from the NHS. This gives an assurance that foundation trusts must remain predominantly NHS providers after the removal of the cap.
The proposal to remove the cap was subject to public consultation in 2010. The Command Paper, “Liberating the NHS; Legislative framework and next steps”, and the impact assessments for the Bill consider the effect of removing the cap.
NHS: Pay
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average pay of (a) a Band 3 health care support worker was and (b) a state-registered Band 5 nurse in the most recent period for which information is available. [97574]
5 Mar 2012 : Column 625W
Mr Simon Burns: The latest published NHS Information Centre Quarterly Earnings Survey figures for England for the period July to September 2011 are shown in the following table:
| £ | ||
| Average earnings per full-time equivalent (FTE) | Average basic pay per FTE | |
Chronic Pain
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include spinal cord stimulators for the treatment of chronic pain within the national tariff; and if he will make a statement. [97497]
Mr Simon Burns: Spinal cord stimulators are currently excluded from the tariff.
Each year the High Cost Devices Steering Group reviews the devices that are excluded due to their high and disproportionate cost relative to the costs covered under the relevant health care resource group. The exclusion of spinal cord stimulators will be reviewed again this year.
The fact that spinal cord stimulators are excluded from tariff does not mean that their use is not funded. Reimbursement for their use is subject to local negotiation.
Pharmacy
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work his Department has undertaken to assess the suitability of a public service obligation for the supply of medicines in the UK. [97322]
Mr Simon Burns: There are existing legal duties on manufacturers and distributors to ensure appropriate and continued supplies to pharmacies within the limits of their responsibilities, so that the needs of patients are met. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is currently reviewing the public service obligations introduced by other European member states.
Pharmacy: Databases
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider introducing a data collection system with pharmacies for the purposes of providing accurate data to measure the scale and effect of the time taken to supply branded medicines. [97321]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department continues to work collaboratively with supply chain stakeholders to ensure that best practice supply arrangements are adopted to ensure patients receive the medicines they need. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee already collects data on branded medicines shortages.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 626W
Plastic Surgery: Regulation
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure professional bodies can provide input into the NHS Medical Director's review of the regulation of the cosmetic surgery industry. [97404]
Mr Simon Burns: It will be for Sir Bruce Keogh to determine precisely how the various interested parties can contribute to his review of the regulation of cosmetic interventions. We are sure that Sir Bruce will wish to engage very fully with the relevant professional bodies.
Prescription Drugs: Prices
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much his Department spent on the publication of the drug tariff in each of the last three years; and how often the drug tariff was published in each of the last three years; [97427]
(2) if he will estimate the annual savings which would accrue from publishing the NHS drug tariff online only; [97439]
(3) how much his Department has spent on (a) printing and (b) distribution of the drug tariff in February 2012. [97442]
Mr Simon Burns: The annual production costs to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) associated with the publication and distribution of the drug tariff for the past three years was £328,130 in 2009, £336,146 in 2010 and £338,288 for 2011 (2011 is estimated). In February 2012, the cost of printing the drug tariff was £20,577 and distribution was £6,330. These figures exclude forward distribution costs to general practitioner practices and pharmacies incurred by primary care trusts, and NHS BSA estate and management costs. The drug tariff is published each month.
A single process is used to produce the electronic and paper drug tariffs. Therefore only the printing and distribution costs would be saved if the paper drug tariff was discontinued. For the most recent available year, 2010, the annual saving from not producing the paper drug tariff would have been £303,677.
Primary Care Trusts: North-West
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the public purse of staff redundancies by primary care trusts in (a) Tameside and Glossop and (b) Stockport has been since May 2010. [97870]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. Information on the cost of exit packages for Stockport Primary Care Trust (PCT), and Tameside and Glossop PCT, in 2010-11 is shown in the following table.
5 Mar 2012 : Column 627W
5 Mar 2012 : Column 628W
| Cost of exit packages 2010-11 | |
| Organisation | £000 |
| Notes: 1. Data are taken from the audited summarisation schedules of PCTs and NHS trusts, from which the NHS (England) Summarised Accounts are prepared. The disclosure in the accounts reports the number and value of exit packages taken by staff leaving in the year. 2. The expense associated with these departures may have been recognised in part or in full in a previous period. 3. Exit packages include compulsory redundancies and other departures. The latter includes the cost of both early retirements (excluding those relating to ill-health) and voluntary redundancies. It is not possible to separately identify the value of either of these costs from the data collected. An overall figure for redundancies is therefore not identifiable. Source: Audited summarisation schedules of PCTs and NHS trusts. | |
Private Patients: NHS Trusts
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated as private patients by Warrington and Halton NHS Trust in each of the last five years; how many per year he expects to be treated as private patients under the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill; and what assessment he has made of the consequent effect on waiting times in each speciality. [97834]
Mr Simon Burns: Information on the number of finished admission episodes, including for private patients, at the Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for the years indicated, are shown in the following table.
| Count of finished admission episodes by administrative category at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for the year 2006-07 to 2010-11 | |||||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
| Notes: 1. A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly form 2006-07) and changes in NHS. Practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. 3. HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity. 4. Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the Information Centre for health and social care. | |||||
Subject to Parliament, the Government will remove the private patient income cap for NHS foundation trusts and ensure there are significant safeguards to protect NHS patients. This includes the role of NHS commissioners who remain responsible for ensuring timely and high-quality care for NHS patients through legal contracts with NHS providers. The proposal to remove the cap was subject to public consultation in 2010, The Command Paper “Liberating the NHS: Legislative framework and next steps” and the impact assessments for the Health and Social Care Bill consider the effect of removing the cap.