Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on opportunities for long-term unemployed people to re-skill as part of the Green Deal. [99892]
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Gregory Barker: The Department has been in close contact with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to ensure we maximise the economic benefits from the Green Deal.
The Department recently announced £3.5 million to fund the training of up to 1,000 assessors and 1,000 solid wall insulation installers under the Green Deal, Officials are working closely with the relevant Sector Skills Councils to ensure as much of this money as possible can be directed at helping those currently unemployed.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many formal expressions of interest his Department has received from people interested in becoming Green Deal assessors. [99893]
Gregory Barker: The Department has not sought any formal expressions of interest from people interested in becoming Green Deal assessors. Officials continue to discuss with a range of stakeholders the opportunities for Green Deal assessors and developments in this area.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish a copy of the guidelines and training materials which will be issued to (a) Green Deal assessors and (b) go-early Green Deal assessors. [99894]
Gregory Barker: The regulations, code of practice and standards will set out the expectations on all assessors operating under the Green Deal. These will be published in due course, following the analysis of consultation responses.
Responsibility for the publication and issue of training materials rests with learning providers.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of training a (a) Green Deal assessor and (b) go-early Green Deal assessor. [99895]
Gregory Barker: The qualification and training framework for Green Deal assessors will be finalised shortly. Training providers will then use this to determine the training requirement for Green Deal assessors.
Although it is for the market to deliver training for Green Deal advisers, Government have demonstrated their commitment to helping the market gear up. We recently announced the provision of £3 million in funding to train Green Deal assessors and installers. £1 million of this will be invested in training up to 1,000 assessors in readiness for the Green Deal.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average number of training hours (a) go-early Green Deal assessors and (b) Green Deal trainees will receive. [99896]
Gregory Barker:
The qualification and training framework for Green Deal assessors will be finalised shortly, including a final set of expected learning hours. We expect people with relevant experience and existing
13 Mar 2012 : Column 162W
skills to be recognised and given credit, requiring them to undertake fewer additional learning hours than those starting out from scratch.
Renewable Energy: Scotland
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much generation capacity from renewable sources from Scotland was installed in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011; and what the total value was of the renewables obligation certificate allocated to Scotland in each of those years, both as (i) an overall figure and (ii) a percentage of the total UK renewables obligation certificate allocation. [99536]
Charles Hendry: 544MW of new operational renewable electricity was installed in Scotland in 2010. Between January and September 2011, 220MW of new operational renewable electricity had been installed. Data for the full calendar year will be available in Energy Trends Q4, which will be published on 29 March 2012.
The information requested on renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) for total renewable electricity generation in Scotland is given in the following table. The obligation period runs from April to March so the figures are given for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
|
Percentage of the total UK ROCs allocated to generators in Scotland |
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Exports
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to maintain (a) standards of animal welfare and (b) the competitiveness of the farming industry in the exports market. [96353]
Mr Paice: This Government are committed to improving the welfare of farmed animals. But this need not be to the disadvantage of our farming industry in terms of their competitiveness in relation to our trading partners. We want to see consistent enforcement of welfare legislation within the EU and the adoption of equivalent welfare standards in countries outside Europe. We will continue to work towards these twin goals to ensure the continued competitiveness of our exports of livestock and livestock products.
On 27 January 2012, DEFRA, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), together with industry representatives announced “Driving Export Growth in the Farming, Food and Drink Sector: a plan of action”. The Government and industry will work to open markets and remove trade barriers; help build a business mindset of exporting as a key route to growth; encourage more SMEs to explore overseas opportunities and support those already doing so; and shift the focus of the sector towards the opportunities of emerging economies where there is the greatest future growth potential.
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One of the actions DEFRA will undertake will be to develop a strategy in collaboration with industry to remove barriers to trade for British animal and animal products into key overseas markets. This will focus on identifying the key markets and then negotiating the appropriate import conditions and associated guarantee documentation such as export health certificates to access those markets.
Dogs: Tagging
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the merits of introducing compulsory microchipping for dogs. [96281]
Mr Paice: The Government will make an announcement shortly on a package of proposals to tackle irresponsible ownership of dogs. In putting this package together, we have considered the benefits of compulsory microchipping of dogs.
Hydrofluorocarbons
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent assessment she has made of the potential effects on the UK chemical industry of (a) specific use bans, (b) production caps and (c) consumption caps to regulate further the use of hydrofluorocarbons; [98837]
(2) what recent assessment she has made of the potential use of (a) specific use bans, (b) production caps and (c) consumption caps as methods to further regulate the use of hydrofluorocarbons; and if she will make a statement; [98838]
(3) what her Department's policy is on the extension of the Montreal Protocol and the phasing down of hydrofluorocarbons; [98839]
(4) what representations she has made to European institutions on the future regulation of hydrofluorocarbons; and if she will make a statement. [98840]
Mr Paice: The UK Government welcome action on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to combat rising emissions of these powerful greenhouse gases through both the Montreal protocol and the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC). We support “in principle” an international phase-down of HFCs under the Montreal protocol as one of a number of potential measures because of the climate benefits that will be delivered. However, there are many technical issues to be discussed before any formal negotiations on a phase-down could take place.
The Montreal protocol is considered to be the appropriate forum in which to take action to counter the growth of HFCs, due to the expertise of the Montreal parties in phasing out the production of ozone-depleting substances, the ability to set targets for developing as well as developed countries and the existence of a ready-made, and very effective, mechanism to support implementation of new obligations being taken on by developing countries.
The UK Government have not undertaken any recent assessment of the use or impact of specific use bans, production caps or consumption caps. However, work is under way to ensure we have the appropriate evidence to give us a better understanding of important emerging trends, and what potential policy options there might be
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for future mitigation action on the use of HFCs. This includes examining the technical options under existing international proposals to phase down HFCs under the Montreal protocol to assess whether they could be realistic and achievable at a UK level.
The UK Government have not to date made any specific representations to European institutions about the future regulation of HFCs.
The European Commission has recently reviewed the EU regulatory regime that controls emissions of HFCs. Based on the findings of the review and a recent EU stakeholder consultation, the Commission is assessing the environmental, economic and social impacts of potential options for further EU action to regulate HFCs, both with and without global action under the Montreal protocol.
Livestock: Waste Disposal
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department has issued to regulate major excavation or reprofiling works where infected BSE carcasses are buried and where the exact location of the carcasses (a) is and (b) is not known. [96099]
Mr Paice: Some 6,117 BSE cattle were disposed of in landfill sites in Great Britain up to 1991 before incineration capacity was sufficient to deal with the number of cases. No BSE suspects have been disposed of to landfill since 1991.
The disposal of waste to landfill was then generally subject to control under the waste disposal licensing system under Part I of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. The then waste regulation authorities, principally county councils, were responsible for the administration of the system and were required to maintain a public register which showed the general types of waste each landfill site was authorised to take and any limitations on the quantity. In many cases the carcases of BSE suspects were not specifically identified. No central record was kept of the type and quantities of waste each landfill site took.
The then Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee considered the issue of BSE and the environment in May 1996, including the question of disposal to landfill sites. They concluded that it was unlikely that leachate from landfill sites would present significant risk and there was no justification for taking measures to excavate sites, including those which had previously been used for material such as BSE-confirmed cattle.
The Environment Agencies became responsible for the safe regulation of landfill sites in April 1996 under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and undertook qualitative assessments of all the sites concerned, taking account of the number of carcases estimated to be buried at each site based on various records, the degree of containment and the proximity to water sources. They also carried out more detailed quantitative assessments of a selection of sites which were judged to be typical of those sites that appeared most vulnerable. The results showed the potential risks to be very low, in line with previous advice given to the then Government by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee.
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Meat: Exports
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance is given to exporters of (a) pig meat, (b) lamb and (c) beef to countries (i) within the EU and (ii) internationally; what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth Affairs on promoting such exports; and if she will make a statement. [98921]
Mr Paice: On 27 January 2012 the Government published ‘Driving Export Growth in the Farming, Food and Drink Sector’, a joint industry-Government plan of action. DEFRA, UKTI and FCO together with industry will work to open markets and remove trade barriers; help build a business mindset of exporting as a key route to growth; encourage more SMEs to explore overseas opportunities and support those already doing so; and shift the focus of the sector towards the opportunities of emerging economies where there is the greatest future growth potential.
One of the actions DEFRA will undertake will be to develop a strategy in collaboration with industry to remove barriers to trade for British animal and animal products into key overseas markets. This will focus on identifying the key markets and then negotiating the appropriate import conditions and associated guarantee documentation such as export health certificates to access those markets.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and her ministerial team regularly meet with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and other FCO Ministers in the course of Government business and exports are a regular topic of discussion.
Pet Animals Act 1951
Jane Ellison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the operation of the Pet Animals Act 1951. [96805]
Mr Paice: I am satisfied that the Pet Animals Act 1951 provides local authorities with the necessary powers to investigate allegations of poor welfare in pet shops while at the same time is not over burdensome to small businesses.
Cabinet Office
Deaths
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many deaths were registered in England and Wales where the date of death was between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2005 and the waiting time between the date of death and the date of registration of death was longer than (a) 91 days, (b) 183 days, (c) 365 days and (d) 730 days; [99739]
(2) how many deaths were registered in England and Wales where the date of death was between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2005. [99740]
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Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions.
Table 1 provides the number of deaths in England and Wales where the date of death was between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2005 and the waiting time between the date of death and the date of death registration was greater than (a) 91 days, (b) 183 days, (c) 365 days and (d) 730 days.
There were a total of 515,076 deaths registered in England and Wales where the date of death was between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2005.
Annual figures on the number of deaths registered by sex, age group and cause in England and Wales are available from the Office for National Statistics at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-27475
| Table 1. Number of deaths where death registration was delayed more than (a) 91 days, (b) 183 days, (c) 365 days and (d) 730 days, England and Wales, 2005 (1, 2) | |
| Waiting time | Deaths |
| (1) Figures are for deaths occurring in 2005 and include deaths of non-residents (2) The date of death is not available for 11 deaths. These have been excluded from this table. Source: Office for National Statistics | |
Departmental Contracts
Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what the monetary value is of Government contracts awarded to (a) Prospects Services Limited and (b) associates of Prospects Services Limited (i) individually and (ii) in total since May 2010; [99056]
(2) what the monetary value is of Government contracts awarded to (a) Rehab Jobfit and (b) associates of Rehab Jobfit (i) individually and (ii) in total since May 2010; [99057]
(3) what the monetary value is of Government contracts awarded to (a) JHP Group Limited and (b) associates of JHP Group Limited (i) individually and (ii) in total since May 2010. [99058]
Mr Maude [holding answer 12 March 2012]:As part of my Department's transparency programme, details of contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder
http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of senior civil servants in his Department were from an ethnic minority in March (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and if he will make a statement. [98879]
Mr Maude: Civil servants are not required to declare their ethnicity. Diversity statistics are, however, published on the Cabinet Office website and on data.gov.uk.
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Food
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what proportion of food procured by No. 10 Downing street (a) meets the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering and (b) is from British sources; [99795]
(2) what proportion of food procured by the Cabinet Office (a) meets the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering and (b) is from British sources. [99796]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 1 December 2011, Official Report, column 1047W and 21 February 2012, Official Report, column 595W.
Government Departments: Cost Effectiveness
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Government Departments manage their property efficiently to deliver value for money. [99300]
Mr Maude: My Department's spending controls on government property are reducing the cost and size of the civil estate. The controls encourage Departments to work more closely together in planning their future estate needs, promote co-location and provide focus on government's core buildings.
Through these steps, the Government have exited over 800 holdings and already achieved a reduction in the central civil estate's annual running costs by around £210 million since May 2010.
Government Departments: Public Consultation
Mark Reckless: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Government consultations were active during the last purdah period; and how many were launched within 14 days of the start of the last purdah period. [99415]
Mr Maude: This information is not held centrally.
Mark Reckless: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance is issued to departments on holding consultations during a purdah period. [99772]
Mr Maude: In line with practice of previous Administrations, the Cabinet Office issues guidance to civil servants on their activities during the pre-election period which is different depending on the type of elections taking place. Previous versions of election guidance for both general and local elections are available on the Cabinet Office website and in the Library, of the House.
Morning Star
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many copies of the Morning Star newspaper are regularly purchased for (a) 10 Downing street and (b) the Cabinet Office. [99014]
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New Businesses: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new business start-ups there were in the City of York in each of the last 10 years. [99752]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many new business start-ups there were in the City of York in each of the last 10 years. [99752]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography at
www.statistics.gov.uk
The following table contains the latest statistics available, which give the number of enterprise births for the constituency City of York from 2002-2009 and York Central 2010.
| Count of enterprise births for the constituency of City of York 2002-09 and York Central 2010 | ||
| Constituency | Year | Count |
| (1) York Central is the new constituency which replaced the City of York and became operative on 6 May 2010. | ||
Northern Ireland
Overseas Ministerial Travel
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many overseas visits Ministers in his Department have undertaken in each year since 2010; and what the (a) destination and (b) purpose was of each such visit; [99828]
(2) what information his Department holds on the dates, matters discussed at and people met during visits undertaken by Ministers in his Department to each of the constituencies in Northern Ireland. [99890]
Mr Paterson: Details of ministerial overseas travel and meetings with external organisations and individuals are published on a quarterly basis. These can be found at:
http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/nio-publication/stats-and-research-publications.htm
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many regulations his Department has repealed between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and if he will estimate the likely savings to the public purse in each case. [97668]
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Mr Paterson: My Department has responsibilities chiefly on constitutional, electoral and national security matters. Since devolution the Northern Ireland Office has had no need for new regulations and therefore it has not made or repealed any during this period.
Security
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the St Andrew's Agreement of 2006, what assessment he has made of the application of national security arrangements to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [99031]
Mr Paterson: I am confident that the national security arrangements are operating in line with the principles set out in Annex E to the St Andrew's Agreement. As I informed the House on 19 December 2011, Official Report, column 145WS, and in my recent written ministerial statement on the Northern Ireland Security Situation on 27 February 2012, Official Report, column 16WS, my noble Friend Lord Carlile's recent report on the operation of arrangements for handling national security matters in Northern Ireland expressed satisfaction that there are no difficulties of any significance in the inter-operability between the PSNI and the Security Service. He concluded that their sound working partnership should be commended.
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what justice and security matters that affect Northern Ireland remain under the control of the UK Government. [99032]
Mr Paterson: Responsibility for policing and criminal justice was devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly in April 2010. National security remains an excepted matter under the Northern Ireland Act 1998. In addition a number of other specific matters are excepted or reserved, including drug classification, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, explosives security, extradition, and immigration.
Electoral Commission Committee
Consultants
Jake Berry: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how much the Electoral Commission spent on public affairs consultancy firms in the last 36 months; on which firms; and for what reason in each such case. [99338]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission has spent a total of £128,730 on public affairs consultancy companies in the last 36 months. The Commission uses public affairs consultancy firms to undertake parliamentary monitoring and for subscriptions to trade publications. The Commission also used a public affairs consultancy firm to undertake a stakeholder perception audit in 2009.
The Commission has not used public affairs consultancy firms for any other purpose during this time.
13 Mar 2012 : Column 170W
The following table shows the amount the Commission spent with each public affairs consultancy firm in the last 36 months. The table also details the purpose of the spend.
| Supplier | Total (£) | Purpose |
Culture, Media and Sport
Broadband
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure there is effective competition in procurements for superfast broadband supported by his Department. [99759]
Mr Vaizey: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Chi Onwurah) on 7 February 2012, Official Report, column 162W.
Data Protection: Internet
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the potential regulation of the collection and use of user data by internet companies. [97819]
Mr Vaizey: The Government believe that users should have control over their data and it is important that there are proper consequences for those who abuse the personal data of others online. Existing regulations require companies to get consent from users to process their data.
DCMS is working with Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to ensure that the proposed EU Data Protection Regulation is balanced, proportionate and delivers real benefits to users without imposing undue burdens on business. The MOJ call for evidence seeking views on the proposed regulation closed on 6 March. The Secretary of State has received no representations from internet companies on the potential regulation but such issues are raised by business stakeholders in the course of regular meetings with officials.
Libraries
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the socio-economic profile of the users of library services. [99295]
Mr Vaizey: This Department's Taking Part survey provides information on the socio-economic profile of people who have visited a public library in the last 12 months. The latest statistical release is available at:
http://www.dcms.gov.uk/publications/8734.aspx
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Data from 2005-06 and a breakdown by socio-economic variables can be found at:
http://www.dcms.gov.uk/images/research/TP_Y7_Q2_Figures_Libraries.xls
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what support he has given local authorities to strategically plan the future of library services for local communities. [99296]
Mr Vaizey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 1 March 2012, Official Report, column 405W
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of book stock levels in public libraries. [99297]
Mr Vaizey: Public library statistics are published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and reports that book stocks on 31 March 2011 stood at over 78 million volumes, or 1.5 books per person.
VisitEngland
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much VisitEngland spent on public affairs consultancy firms in the last 36 months; to which firms such expenditure was made; and for what reason in each such case. [99345]
John Penrose: The Department does not collate this information. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of VisitEngland to write directly to my hon. Friend with this information.
House of Commons Commission
Catering
Robert Halfon: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the House of Commons Commission's most recent estimate is of (a) the volume and (b) the monetary value of food and drink thrown away at each of the House's restaurants and cafeterias in the last year for which figures are available. [99150]
John Thurso: The estimated value of food and drink recorded as wastage in each of the restaurants and cafeterias operated by the House of Commons catering service over the past 11 months (April 2011 to February 2012) is set out in the following table. Monthly figures are not available for previous periods. Food wastage is recorded at selling price, but the cost price (based on the budgeted food cost percentage) has been estimated in order to answer this question.
| £ | |||
| Wastage at cost price | |||
| Venue | Food | Drink | Total |
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No information is held on the amount of food and drink recorded as wastage.
Food and drink wastage is inevitable in any cafeteria or restaurant business and food production planning is particularly difficult for the House of Commons catering service due to the daily uncertainty about the numbers of people attending the House, and the hour until which certain outlets must remain open. Despite these constraints, food and drink waste is below the industry norms for similar types of food businesses. This is achieved by making relatively little use of pre-made, packaged foods that have a limited shelf-life. Instead, food is where possible prepared in-house from fresh ingredients. Ingredients or prepared dishes left over at the end of the day are either transferred to another outlet for sale or conserved for future consumption, as long as it is safe to do so.
Trees
Mrs Main: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment he has made of the effect that the removal of the fig trees in Portcullis House would have on the acoustics of the building. [99015]
John Thurso: The removal of the trees would result in higher ambient noise levels.
Mrs Main: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House of Commons Commission has given consideration to the use of the space previously occupied by the fig trees in Portcullis House in the event that the trees are removed. [99016]
John Thurso: No. The Commission agreed on 27 February that the contract for the hire and upkeep of trees should be renegotiated at the earliest opportunity with the aim of reducing the cost significantly.
Removal of the trees would lead to a noticeable increase in noise levels and reduced levels of shade (especially in summer, where the glass roof would probably lead to a requirement for additional cooling). The trees also improve air quality.
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Treasury
Child Tax Credit
Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families with (a) one child, (b) two children, (c) three children and (d) four children will lose their entitlement to the family entitlement of child tax credit in each constituency from April 2012. [99604]
Mr Gauke: This information is not available.
The measure referred to in the question is the abolition of the second threshold for child tax credit and is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review. All of the tax credits measures interact with each other and isolating the impact of any of these measures would not be representative of the overall change in a family's tax credit award.
The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the packages of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_annexa.pdf
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf
Consultants
Jake Berry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Financial Services Authority has spent on public affairs consultancy firms in the last 36 months; on which firms; and for what reason in each case. [99041]
Mr Hoban: This is a matter for the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from government control and influence. This question has been passed on to the FSA, which will reply to you directly by letter. A copy of the response will be placed in the Library of the House.
Senior Civil Servants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many senior civil servants left his 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 his Department was during this period; and if he will make a statement. [96242]
Miss Chloe Smith: The following tables show the number of senior civil servants who have left since May 2010 to January 2012:
| SCS leavers HM Treasury | SCS leavers Asset Protection Agency (APA) | |
13 Mar 2012 : Column 174W
| SCS turnover table: May 2010 to January 2012 | |||
| Departments | SCS Leavers | Turnover as % of SCS only over 21 months | Turnover as % all current staff over 21 months |
| Note: To calculate turnover we have used the average staff number over the 21 month period (May 2010 to January 2012). | |||
| HM Treasury SCS turnover table: May 2008 to January 2010 (for comparison against May 2010 to January 2012) | |||
| Departments | SCS Leavers | Turnover as % of SCS only over 21 months | Turnover as % all current staff over 21 months |
| Note: To calculate turnover we have used the average staff number over the 21 month period (May 2008 to January 2010). | |||
No names have been included as these personal data are protected by the Data Protection Act 1998.
Income Tax
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the number of (a) underpayments and (b) overpayments of income tax in each year from 2003-04 to 2009-10 which are (i) outstanding and (ii) written off; and if he will make a statement. [42851]
Mr Gauke: The information is not available.
Under and overpayments of income tax are normally processed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as soon as liability has been established.
Most PAYE overpayments are identified on the reconciliation of a tax year and payable orders are issued shortly after the overpayment has been calculated.
HMRC notifies customers when a PAYE underpayment is identified on the reconciliation of a tax year. Actions are then taken to collect that underpayment. The majority are collected through a customer's tax code for a later tax year, customers may also make a voluntary payment.
Most underpayments are recovered through routine processes and do not become established and enforceable debts. However, where they do, HMRC collects almost all established tax debt and write offs are relatively low. I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to HMRC's published accounts which are available at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/annual-report-accounts-1011.pdf
HMRC has done significant work to improve the operation of dealing with under and overpayments in PAYE through the introduction of the new national
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insurance and PAYE system (NPS). For further information, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Dundee East (Stewart Hosie) on 8 November 2011,
Official Report,
column 184W.
Taxation: Loans
Steve Brine: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what information his Department holds on the number of employers that provide tax-free employment-related loans to employees; [99123]
(2) what assessment he has made of the level of uptake of employment-related loans by employees in the latest period for which figures are available; [99124]
(3) whether he has assessed the merits of raising the £5,000 tax-free threshold of employment-related loans provided to employees under section 180(1) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003. [99125]
Mr Gauke: Employers are required to report annually to HMRC details of taxable benefits and expenses payments provided to employees. Included in this report are details of taxable zero or low interest ‘beneficial’ loans.
There are certain exceptions which apply to prevent an employment-related loan becoming a taxable and therefore reportable, beneficial loan. These include the situation where the combined outstanding value of all outstanding loans to an employee from the employment does not exceed £5,000 at any time in the tax year. Because of this, HMRC does not hold data on the number of employers who provide or the number of employees who receive ‘tax free’ loans below this £5,000 threshold.
HMRC publishes data annually on taxable benefits and expenses. The June 2011 data for 2008-09 indicates around 130,000 individuals were in receipt of a taxable beneficial loan. This data is publicly available on the HMRC website in Table 4.5 (T4.5—taxable benefit in kind and expenses payments). The £5,000 threshold is intended to minimise the administration burden on employers of having to calculate the taxable value of the benefit of small loans made to employees. It can cover various types of loan, such as modest advances of salary or expenses as well as loans for the purchase of travel season tickets. Increasing the threshold would be likely to have a material Exchequer cost at a time when the Government have a clear commitment to reducing the budget deficit. The Government have no plans to raise the threshold.
Welfare Tax Credits: Warrington
Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Warrington North constituency are in receipt of (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit. [99443]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 12 March 2012]: The number of families in Warrington North in receipt of working tax credit and child tax credit are as follows:
| Warrington N orth | |
| Number (t housand ) | |
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This information is compiled using the December 2011 National Statistics dataset. The HMRC snapshot publication “Personal Tax Credits: Provisional Statistics—Geographical Statistics” contains data on the number of families in receipt of tax credits and the December 2011 publication can be found here:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-dec2011.pdf
Table 4 has this information by Westminster parliamentary constituency.
Working Tax Credit: Warrington
Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Warrington North constituency who are in receipt of working tax credits are part of a couple working for less than 24 hours per week. [99442]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 12 March 2012]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the parliamentary question answered on 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 72W.
That answer gave the number of couples with children and children benefiting from working tax credit and working between 16 and 24 hours as of December 2011. We have reproduced this in the following table, with the addition of the number of people who are part of a couple working for less than 24 hours per week.
| Warrington North | |
| Number | |
Work and Pensions
Access to Work Programme: Interpreters
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the payment of the travel expenses of interpreters under the access to work scheme. [98708]
Maria Miller: Travel expenses for access to work support workers, including interpreters, will be paid by the access to work scheme if they were included in the quoted hourly rate that was agreed by officials.
Carer's Allowance
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who have claimed carer's allowance in (a) England, (b) Cumbria and (c) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last five years. [99429]
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Maria Miller: The information requested is given as follows.
| Recipients of carer's allowance in England, Cumbria and Westmorland and Lonsdale parliamentary constituency: as at the dates shown | |||
| England | Cumbria | Westmorland and Lonsdale | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. Constituencies used for May 2010 and 2011 are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Prior to this, the constituencies used are for May 2005. 4. These figures are published on NOMIS at: www.nomisweb.co.uk. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data. | |||
Children: Day Care
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the budget was for (a) childcare support and (b) other childcare-related payments under the New Deal for Lone Parents in each of the last three years. [99455]
Maria Miller: The total amount spent on all child care-related payments for the last three years of operation of the New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) programme is shown in the following table. It is not possible to separately identify costs for child care support from other child care-related payments.
| Financial year | NDLP child care related payments (£ million) |
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of senior civil servants in his Department were from an ethnic minority in March (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and if he will make a statement. [98862]
Chris Grayling: The answer is in the table:
| DWP SCS by ethnicity | ||
| Number of SCS declared as ethnic minority | Ethnic minority percentage of total SCS declaring ethnicity | |
| (1) It is civil service policy that where there are fewer than 5 people from any ethnic group identified in summaries, exact numbers will not be published. Instead, the summaries indicate that there are '0-4'. (2) 31 January 2012 is the latest published data. | ||
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Dilnot Report
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to assess the implications of the Dilnot Report; and if he will make a statement. [99234]
Paul Burstow: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Health.
Following the publication of the report of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, the Government announced they would consult with a range of people and organisations involved in care and support on their recommendations and social care reform more broadly. “Caring for our future: Shared ambitions for care and support engagement” ran between 15 September and 2 December 2011.
The Government will publish their plans for social care reform in a care and support White Paper and progress report on funding in the spring.
Employment Schemes
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a guide price or fee per placement was suggested during the tendering process for the mandatory work activity scheme; and if he will make a statement. [99925]
Chris Grayling: The mandatory work activity (MWA) Invitation to Tender specification and supporting information set out the contract value per contract package area (CPA) and the minimum number of places that providers would be expected to provide per year in each CPA. As set out in the specification, this was based on a maximum cost of £800 per customer start.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data his Department hold on the mandatory work activity scheme. [99926]
Chris Grayling: All published data concerning the mandatory work activity (MWA) scheme can be found on the Department's statistics web page at the following link:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/mwa_feb12.pdf
Employment: Disability
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce barriers to employment for disabled people including (a) transport, (b) the physical environment and (c) attitudes of employers. [98825]
Maria Miller: The Government spent over £105 million in 2010-11 on supporting disabled people in mainstream employment through its successful and popular Access to Work Programme. This programme helped in excess of 35,000 people in 2010-11. It includes help with transport—for example by funding the additional costs of work related travel that some disabled people face, such as taxi fares or the cost of a travel buddy to help an individual learn how to use public transport. Access to Work also helps to reduce barriers within the physical environment by working with employers to negotiate and fund reasonable changes to the work environment.
On 7 March 2012 the Government published their response to the consultation on the recommendations made in Liz Sayce's independent review of specialist
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disability employment provision, including an acceptance of all her recommendations with respect to Access to Work and a commitment to work with disabled people on the further detail of this. We have also pledged an additional £15 million this spending review.
The Department works closely with employers through the employer-led Disability Employer Engagement Steering Group and Employers' Forum on Disability. Both groups work to improve employers' knowledge and confidence in dealing with disability issues and develop practical tools for the recruitment and support of disabled workers. The Department supports these organisations and their aims wherever it can.
Jobcentre Plus disability employment advisers also work with employers to help them explore job solutions such as the restructuring of a job's tasks/environment, or the provision/change of equipment.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will conduct a review into the likely effects of the Government's proposed welfare reforms on the employment of disabled people. [98826]
Maria Miller: The Department has undertaken a series of equality impact assessments for the Welfare Reform Bill, which have assessed the likely effect of the Government's proposals on disabled people. These are available on the Department's website. The Department will continue to fulfil its obligations under the public sector Equality Duty as we take forward our programme of reform.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people were enabled to enter and remain in paid employment as a result of payments from the Independent Living Fund in the last year for which figures are available. [98827]
Maria Miller: In accordance with data protection principles, the Independent Living Fund only holds the information necessary to administer awards to its users. This information does not include whether recipients of awards from the fund are in paid employment.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were employed as care and support workers either directly or indirectly through agencies or as a result of payments through the Independent Living Fund in the latest period for which figures are available. [98828]
Maria Miller: The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold information on the numbers of people employed as care and support workers.
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In accordance with data protection principles, the Independent Living Fund holds only the information necessary to administer awards to its users. This information does not include details of the number of personal assistants employed by users with monies provided by the fund.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people were in employment for each of the last five years for which figures are available. [98830]
Maria Miller: The following table shows the number of working age people aged 16-64 in Great Britain, who are disabled within the Equality Act 2010 definition, and in employment in each of the last five years(1):
| Number of disabled people in employment | |
| (1) Figures on people who are considered disabled within the Equality Act definition, are the summed value of the rounded categories: “DDA Disabled only” and “DDA disabled and work-limited disabled”, as published on the NOMIS website. Source: Annual Population Surveys (APS) 2006-11 (years ending June) | |
Flexible Working
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people from each socio-economic group with flexible working hours in the latest period for which figures are available. [98989]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of people from each socio-economic group with flexible working hours in the latest period for which figures are available. [98989]
The table provides the information requested for October to December 2011. The National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification is an occupationally based classification.
The estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and are not seasonally adjusted. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
| People with flexible working hours by National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, October-December 2011. Not seasonally adjusted | ||
| Thousand and percentage | ||
| Level | Rate (1) | |
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| (1) Proportion working flexible hours within each socio-economic group. Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below: Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 = CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 = CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 = CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ? 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS) | ||
Housing Benefit
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the financial impact of the housing benefit cap on homeless households in temporary accommodation. [99121]
Steve Webb: Less than 2% of local housing allowance rates are affected by the caps. It is possible that a number of tenants will need to find alternative accommodation, but there is no reason why anyone should be left without somewhere to live.
Although the caps came in to effect in April 2011, existing claimants were given nine months transitional protection. It is too soon to know how landlords will react to the caps.
The Department has commissioned an independent consortium of leading research organisations to evaluate the effects of recent local housing allowance changes. The evaluation team is led by Ian Cole of Sheffield Hallam university, includes Peter Kemp (Oxford university) and members from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Ipsos Mori. Their wide remit includes providing information on homelessness. Early findings are due to be published in May 2012.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Rebecca Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance of employment and support allowance claimants moving to jobseeker's allowance. [97485]
Chris Grayling: It is not currently possible to provide information on the number of people moving from employment support allowance to jobseeker's allowance and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
However, the Department has recently published a survey on the "Destinations of Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support and Employment and Support Allowance leavers 2011" that can be accessed from the following link. It shows that 41% of the ESA leavers included in the survey went on to claim another out of work benefit, which would include those going on to claim jobseeker's allowance:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2011-2012/rrep791.pdf
Maternity Pay
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value was of the highest single payment of statutory maternity pay to date. [99663]
Maria Miller: The information requested is not collected.
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average total statutory maternity pay was per claimant in the latest year for which figures are available. [99664]
Maria Miller: It is estimated that the average female who began a claim for statutory maternity pay in 2009-10 received the benefit for 33 weeks. The first six weeks of her claim will have been paid at 90% of her average weekly earnings. It is estimated that this payment would have been around £370 per week. The final 27 weeks will have been paid at the standard rate of £123.06 per week. Therefore, in total the average payment is estimated to be approximately £5,500 in 2009-10.
Source:
1% sample of employer P14 returns for 2009-10.
Additional information:
Figures are consistent with the latest (autumn 2011) expenditure forecasts at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/autumn_2011.xls
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what number and proportion of people in receipt of statutory maternity pay were earning in excess of £40,000 in the latest year for which figures are available. [99665]
Maria Miller: The information requested is not collected.
Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the Programme Assurance Review of the universal credit programme that took place in November 2011. [99659]
Chris Grayling:
The report setting out the findings of the Major Project Authority's Project Assurance Review is confidential to the senior responsible owner, and is
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framed to ensure that he gets candid and direct advice. Publication of these reports might impact on the directness and candour of the advice in future reports, and for this reason the report will not be published.
Winter Fuel Payments
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency and (b) South Lanarkshire received a winter fuel payment in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2011. [99537]
Steve Webb: The information requested is as follows.
| Number of people in receipt of winter fuel payment in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency and South Lanarkshire local authority | ||
| Rutherglen and Hamilton West | South Lanarkshire | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. 3. The latest figures for winter fuel payments are published at: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp Source: DWP Information Directorate | ||
Work Capability Assessment
Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of appeals were successful by people contesting the withdrawal of employment and support allowance following a work capability assessment in the latest period for which figures are available. [99047]
Chris Grayling: The Department regularly publishes official statistics on employment and support allowance (ESA) and the work capability assessment (WCA). The latest report was published in January 2012 and can be found on the internet at the following link:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
Table 3 of the publication shows outcomes of appeals heard on Fit for Work decisions in initial functional assessment on a yearly, quarterly and monthly basis.
Health
Dental Services
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of patients who have received dental treatment on the NHS in (a) England, (b) Cumbria and (c) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last five years. [99952]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested.
The number of patients receiving NHS dental services (‘patients seen’) in England and Cumbria Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) over a 24 month period are displayed in the following tables.
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| Table 1: Patients seen by an NHS dentist in England in the previous 24 months (including orthodontic patients) | |
| 24 month end date 31 December each year | Patients seen |
| Table 2: Patients seen by an NHS dentist who holds a contract with Cumbria Teaching PCT in the previous 24 months (including orthodontic patients) | |
| 24 month end date 31 December each year | Patients seen |
The number of patients seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months, in England, is available in Annex 2 and Annex 4 of the “NHS Dental Statistics for England—2011-12, Second quarterly report” by PCT. Information at constituency level is not available.
Note that the patients seen measure shows the number of patients who received NHS dental care in the previous 24 months. An equivalent measure covering the 12 month period is not available.
This report published on 16 February 2012 has been placed in the Library, and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats1112q2
Diabetes
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical commissioning groups have chosen to specialise in diabetes; and how many such groups his Department estimates will choose to specialise in diabetes. [99007]
Paul Burstow: Subject to the Health and Social Care Bill, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will be responsible for commissioning all appropriate services to meet patients' needs (except for those primary care and specialised services directly commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board), including services for diabetes. CCGs will not specialise as such in particular conditions, but will need to draw on the full range of appropriate expert advice in commissioning all services.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients with diabetes who were offered foot-care checks did not take them up in the latest period for which figures are available. [99398]
Paul Burstow: This information is not held centrally.
The completion rates for foot-care checks as a proportion of total patients in the National Diabetes Audit are available on page 11 of the National Diabetes Audit Executive Summary 2009-10 at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/Services/NCASP/Diabetes/200910%20annual%20report%20documents/National_Diabetes_Audit_Executive_Summary_2009_2010.pdf
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The National Diabetes Audit 2009-10 showed that, in England, 82.33% of people with diabetes had a foot examination. This shows a significant improvement compared to the 2004 -05 audit when 53.49% received a foot examination.
The National Exception rates for Diabetic Foot indicators DM09 and DM10 according to Quality Outcomes Framework data were between 5.8% and 5.9% respectively, nationally.
Diabetes: Leicester
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of diabetes patients in Leicester City Primary Care Trust did not have a foot check in 2011. [99397] [Official Report, 21 March 2012, Vol. 542, c. 1MC.]
Paul Burstow: There are two sources of data for assessing the extent to which foot checks are provided: the National Diabetes Audit and the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) achievement data.
The National Diabetes Audit shows that, from data received by 92.3% of practices, 18.3% of diabetics registered in Leicester City Primary Care Trust (PCT) did not have a foot check.
The QOF indicators for diabetic foot care in 2009-10 were as follows:
DM09: The percentage of patients with diabetes with a record of the presence or absence of peripheral pulses in the previous 15 months; and
DM10: The percentage of patients with diabetes with a record of neuropathy testing in the previous 15 months.
According to Leicester City PCT's QOF data for 2009-10, for DM09 the average underlying achievement for practices in the PCT was 89.5% and for DM10 89%. Underlying achievement means the percentage of eligible patients (excluding those who were excepted from the indicator) who received the checks. This indicates that for DM09, 10.5% and for DM10, 10.6% of patients (excluding those who were exception reported) did not receive the checks. The exception rate in Leicester City was reported as 5.5% for DM09 and 5.5% for DM10.
The differences in results between the audit and QOF may be ascribable to variations in scope and data assessment methodology. We are working with stakeholders to understand the reasons for the differences and to identify what needs to be done as a result.
Diseases
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to announce the launch of his proposed public consultation into the UK Rare Diseases Plan. [99010]
Mr Simon Burns: The consultation on the UK Plan for Rare Diseases was launched on 29 February 2012 Rare Disease Day. The consultation will run for 12 weeks and closes on 25 May 2012.
It is available on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/02/consultation-rare-diseases/
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First Aid: Curriculum
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential public health benefits that would result from introducing emergency life support skills as part of the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [99477]
Anne Milton: We have not had any discussions about the potential health benefits that would result from the introduction of emergency life support skills as part of the national curriculum. Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), the subject through which emergency life support skills is usually taught, is currently under review. The Department for Education hope to be in a position to consult on the future of PSHE later this year.
I have had a number of discussions about content of PHSE, both formally and informally, with the Department for Education.
Food: Labelling
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of food labelling on the adoption of a healthy diet. [99321]
Anne Milton: The Government keep international evidence on the impact of nutritional labelling under review. Evidence from research demonstrates that consumers value nutrition labelling and can use it to make healthier food choices, but that regular use of it is limited. The evidence also indicates that use of nutrition information increases when it is put on front of pack in a consistent manner. The Department will shortly consult partners on ways of bringing more consistency to the provision of the front of pack labelling in the United Kingdom.
Heart Diseases
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates. [99291]
Mr Simon Burns: It is for local national health service bodies to commission the provision of community resuscitation.
The National Defibrillator Programme and the Heartstart scheme are two initiatives aimed at improving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates.
The National Defibrillator Programme, which is the responsibility of ambulance trusts and is co-ordinated by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), installs automatic external defibrillators where they are most needed.
Through the Heartstart scheme, the St John Ambulance, the Red Cross and the BHF provide free emergency life support training in the community and schools. Most ambulance trusts also provide training in cardio pulmonary resuscitation.
Ambulance trusts now report on clinical outcomes of patients who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The number of patients who have a return of spontaneous circulation at the point of arrival at hospital and the
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number of patients who survive to discharge are recorded and published on the Department's website and on ambulance trust websites.
Herbal Medicine: EU Law
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what (a) meetings and (b) correspondence officials of (i) his Department and (ii) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have had with (A) the Safer Herbal Medicines Campaign and (B) Schwabe Pharma; and if he will place in the Library reports of all such meetings and correspondence; [98078]
(2) if he will pay compensation to small and medium-sized specialist manufacturers which cease to trade as a result of the implementation of the traditional herbal medicinal products directive; [98079]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of small and medium-sized specialist manufacturers of herbal and botanical remedies who are likely to cease to trade as a result of the implementation of the traditional herbal medicinal products directive; [98080]
(4) what assessment he has made of the effect of the enforcement of the traditional herbal medicinal products directive on small and medium-sized specialist manufacturers of herbal remedies. [98111]
Mr Simon Burns: Neither Ministers nor the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have held a meeting with the Safer Herbal Medicines Campaign. The MHRA has held a number of meetings with Schwabe Pharma and there has been correspondence with that company since the traditional herbal medicinal products directive (THMPD) was introduced, but the meetings and correspondence relate to the company's specific products. Details of the meeting and correspondence are commercially confidential. The MHRA has periodic meetings with representative bodies, including trade associations, from the herbal sector and such organisations will sometimes be represented by individuals from specific companies. Schwabe Pharma have submitted a number of complaints to the MHRA about companies and products they believe to be in breach of medicines legislation, but 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 correspondence as this would reveal the names of companies who have not breached medicines legislation or who have complied with regulatory requirements without the need for formal regulatory action; such an approach could also have legal implications.
In its impact assessment on the THMPD, the MHRA recognised that some businesses, including small and medium-sized manufacturers, were likely to be significantly affected, and that the impact would vary widely depending on the standards to which the businesses were currently operating. The assessment also suggested that some restructuring in the herbal sector was likely. This view has not changed. The Better Regulation Executive review of MHRA implementation of Hampton principles reported in 2009 that the agency had given extensive help to industry in preparing to meet the requirements of the directive. MHRA will continue to provide such support,
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which includes the opportunity for companies to have dialogue with the agency as to how they can most effectively progress their intended applications under the traditional herbal registration scheme. Companies had a seven-year transitional period ending on 30 April 2011 to adapt to the full implementation of the THMPD and there is no provision for compensation in the implementing regulations.
Companies were not required to notify the MHRA of unlicensed products marketed under section 12(2) of the Medicines Act 1968, therefore no estimates are available of how many products will be withdrawn from the United Kingdom market now that the THMPD is fully in force. As now there will continue to be many herbal products that potentially can be placed on the market either as medicinal products or under other product regulatory regimes depending on their presentation. The MHRA is presently investigating complaints about 21 companies selling some 148 herbal products which may fall within the definition of a medicine. The MHRA is currently considering how effective, proportionate enforcement action can best ensure that the intended benefits of the directive on traditional herbal medicinal products for consumers and for companies compliant with the legislation are achieved.
Hospices: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department allocated to hospices in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [99610]
Paul Burstow: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Brandon Lewis), on 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 689W.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospices received funding from his Department in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [99611]
Paul Burstow: Hospices that received funding from the Department's capital budget for hospices in 2010-11 are listed at Annex C of the “End of Life Care Strategy Third Annual Report”, which was published in September 2011. A copy of the report has already been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_130570.pdf
Children hospices received a one-off grant of £20 million for time-limited service projects during 2010-11. Details of the hospices and projects can be found at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_124044
The 40 children’s hospices in the following list also received funding from the Department's current annual Children’s hospice and hospice-at-home grant in the years 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Acorns—Selly Oak
Acorns—Walsall
Acorns—Worcester
Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice
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Brian House Children's Hospice
Butterwick House
CHASE (Children's Hospice Association South East)
Chestnut Tree House
Children's Hospice South West—Charlton Farm
Children's Hospice South West—Little Bridge House
Claire House Children's Hospice
Demelza Community—East Sussex
Demelza House—Sittingbourne
Derian House Children's Hospice
Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust
East Anglia's Children's Hospices—Ipswich
East Anglia's Children's Hospices—Milton
East Anglia's Children's Hospices—Quidenham
Eden House Children's Hospice
chYps/EllenorLions—Shining Lights
Francis House
Haven House Children's Hospice
Helen and Douglas House
Hope House Children's Hospice
Iain Rennie Grove House Hospice Care
James Hopkins Trust
Jessie May Trust
Julia's House
Keech Hospice Care
Little Havens
Martin House
Naomi House Children's Hospice (Wessex)
Rainbow's Hospice for Children and Young People
Richard House Children's Hospice
Shooting Star
St Andrew's Children's Hospice
St Oswalds Children's Services
The Children's Trust, Tadworth
Zoe's Place Baby Hospice—Liverpool
Zoe's Place Baby Hospice—Middlesbrough
Hospitals: Older People
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all elderly people are treated with respect and dignity in hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [99235]
Paul Burstow: The Government are determined to root out poor quality care in the national health service. We are taking action on a number of fronts, including measures in the 2012-13 Operating framework, where quality of care—particularly for older people—is established as one of the four key priorities for the service, giving it equal billing with Operational Performance, the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention programme and Reform.
The Care Quality Commission will be building on the 100 Dignity and Nutrition inspections it undertook in 2011 on behalf of the Department by undertaking a further 700 inspections this year. To improve on these inspections, the Prime Minister recently announced a new patient-led inspection regime, looking at nutrition, privacy, cleanliness and dignity.
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In addition, there are also a number of National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence quality standards that are either in place or are being developed for a range of conditions and pathways affecting older people, including incontinence, nutrition support in adults, patient experience in adult NHS services, delirium, dementia, osteoarthritis and falls in a care setting.
There is also renewed funding for National Audits relevant to older people's care.
There are a number of indicators in the NHS Outcomes Framework to support better care for older people around dementia care, hospital acquired infections, emergency readmission rates, improving recovery from fragility fractures and helping older people to recover their independence after illness or injury.
We have established the National Nursing and Care Quality Forum to work with patients, carers and professionals to spread best practice to increase the quality of services to older people.
Mental Health Services: Hampshire
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2012, Official Report, column 128W, on mental health services: Hampshire, if he will ask the Chairman of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust for what reason the information on acute mental health beds has not been provided to the hon. Member for New Forest East; what assessment he has made of the degree of complicity in compiling the number of such beds available within the trust's directorate on any given day; and if he will make a statement. [99754]
Mr Simon Burns: We understand the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust wrote to the hon. Member on 9 March 2012 addressing the points raised. A copy of the Trust's letter has already been placed in the Library.
Mental Health Services: Homelessness
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve mental health outcomes for homeless people. [99339]
Paul Burstow: People who are homeless have much higher rates of mental health problems than the general population and are less likely to be registered with a general practitioner and access health and other services. The Government's Mental Health Strategy “No Health without Mental Health” describes how improving access to and take up of effective, integrated services can promote a range of positive outcomes for homeless people with mental health problems. Later this year, we intend to publish an implementation framework for the Mental Health Strategy.
Within a broad strategy to tackle health inequalities across the country, the Department is looking to address the needs of those who are most vulnerable to poor health outcomes through the Inclusion Health programme. The early stage of this programme includes a focus on the homeless. Inclusion Health seeks to drive improvements, mainly through system reform and clinical leadership, to ensure everyone gets the care they need, regardless of their needs or circumstances.
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The Department is also a member of the Ministerial Working Group on Preventing and Tackling Homelessness (MWG). The MWG will release its second report this summer on preventing homelessness, particularly focusing on early intervention.
Neurology: Health Services
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the National Service Framework for Neurology; and if he will make a statement. [99609]
Paul Burstow: We have made no assessment of the effectiveness of the National Framework for Long-term neurological conditions. Responsibility for implementing the Framework lies with local health bodies.
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 the NHS. 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.