NHS: ICT
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what effect payments made to Computer Sciences Corporation for contracts under the Connecting for Health Programme in the next three financial years will have on the declared savings made through the accelerated dismantling of the National Programme for IT; [99036]
(2) what the value is of payments to Computer Sciences Corporation through contracts under the Connecting for Health Programme in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [99037]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department could not comment on. the effects payments to Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) could have, over the next three financial years, on the declared savings made through the dismantling of the National Programme for IT, as payments are made once a product or service has been delivered.
The CSC Contract Renegotiations are yet to complete, therefore the Department is not in the position to confirm monetary value for the contracts under National Health Service Connecting For Health in 2011-12, 2012-13 or 2013-14.
13 Mar 2012 : Column 192W
NHS: Reorganisation
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS authorities and trusts there were on 1 April 2011; and how many are proposed subject to the passage of legislation. [99074]
Mr Simon Burns: On 1 April 2011, there were 10 strategic health authorities, 152 primary care trusts, 120 national health service trusts and 137 foundation trusts. There were also 18 other national arm’s length bodies.
Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, we have proposed that there will be a single NHS Commissioning Board. There will also be a number of clinical commissioning groups, though the final number will depend on local circumstances, and the decisions made by the NHS Commissioning Board about the size clinical commissioning groups are required to be to commission effectively. We are not pre-empting that decision by announcing a pre-determined number of expected clinical commissioning groups.
The Government are also committed to all NHS trusts becoming foundation trusts. We expect the vast majority of NHS trusts to become foundation trusts by 2014.
The Department will also reduce the number of its other arm’s length bodies to 14.
NHS: Standards
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people waited longer than 18 weeks for a consultation in secondary services in (a) January 2010 and (b) January 2012. [97486]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department's Referral to Treatment waiting times data for January 2012 are not published until 15 March 2012.
21,311 patients who started non-admitted treatment during December 2011 had waited more than 18 weeks from referral.
17,221 patients who started non-admitted treatment during December 2009 had waited more than 18 weeks from referral.
First and foremost, it should be clinical priority that determines when a patient is treated, but no-one should experience undue delay at any stage of their treatment.
Ovarian Cancer
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the level of (a) awareness and (b) detection of ovarian cancer symptoms. [99008]
Paul Burstow: We know from the national baseline survey report, “Public awareness of cancer in Britain-Report for the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative”, published in 2009, that public awareness, of signs and. symptoms of cancer is low. We also know that certain cancers, such as ovarian and pancreatic, present particular problems in terms of symptom awareness and detection. This is because the symptoms associated with these cancers, especially in the early stages of disease, are shared by other less serious conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
13 Mar 2012 : Column 193W
To support earlier diagnosis of cancer we are providing more than £450 million over the spending review period. This money is funding a range of activity, including awareness campaigns and increasing general practitioner access to diagnostic tests such as non-obstetric ultrasound to support the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
More recently, the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) has conducted a survey of public awareness and beliefs within England and other countries in the partnership. The ICBP is an international collaboration seeking to understand how and why cancer survival varies between countries and jurisdictions, focusing on four tumour types, including ovarian. Included in the survey were questions on awareness and recognition of key cancer symptoms, many of which were relevant to ovarian cancer. The results will be published shortly.
Patients: Transport
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate how many patients in each primary care trust area have received funding from the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme in each of the last five years. [99953]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not collect information on the number of patients who have accessed funding through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.
Prescription Drugs
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received from (a) members of the public, (b) hon. Members, (c) pharmacists, (d) doctors, (e) nurses and (f) hospitals on prescription drug shortages in the latest period for which figures are available. [99038]
Mr Simon Burns: In the six month period 1 September 2011 to 29 February 2012, a number of written representations were identified as being received by the Department in relation to medicines shortages. There were 23 written representations from the public, identified by the Department's ministerial correspondence database. There were 65 written representations from hon. Members, identified by both the Department's ministerial correspondence and parliamentary questions databases. There were 11 written representations from pharmacists, identified by the Department's ministerial correspondence database. There were no written representations identified from either doctors or nurses, by the Department's ministerial correspondence database. Finally, there were 49 written representations from hospitals, identified by the Department's commercial medicines unit, which engages with the national health service when problems are encountered obtaining medicines for hospitals.
These figures are approximate, representing minimum figures received by the Department. Where a correspondent has not specified a profession, this correspondence has been included in written representations from the public. Where a hon. Member has written on behalf of somebody else, regardless of profession, this has been included in representations from hon. Members.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of prescription drug shortages. [99039]
13 Mar 2012 : Column 194W
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has made no assessment of the cost to the national health service of prescription drug shortages.
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with drug manufacturers and wholesalers to ensure that there will be sufficient supply of prescription drugs during the London 2012 Olympic Games. [99040]
Mr Simon Burns: Departmental officials have sought assurance from trade associations representing the supply chain that continuity of supply of prescription medicines will be maintained throughout the period of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many regulations his Department repealed between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and if he will estimate the likely savings to the public purse in each case. [97672]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department revoked 19 regulations between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012. These are set out in a table that has been placed in the Library.
Information on the likely savings to the public purse resulting from revoked regulations is not held centrally. This could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the Department.
Impact assessments in respect of the following revoked regulations have been published:
Health Service Branded Medicines (Control of Prices and Supply of Information)
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/2955/contents/made
National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2011:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1556/memorandum/contents
Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2011:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/2711/made
Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display) (England) Regulations 2010:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/445/memorandum/contents
Social Services
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the £648 million allocated for local authority spending on social care that also benefits health in 2011-12 was spent by each local authority in England on (a) prevention services, (b) communicating equipment and adaptations, (c) telecare, (d) crisis response services, (e) maintaining eligibility criteria, (f) re-ablement and (g) mental health. [99736]
Paul Burstow:
The Department does not hold the information in the exact form it has been requested. In September 2011, the Department collected information from primary care trusts to understand how the transfer of national health service money was progressing and
13 Mar 2012 : Column 195W
on which services it was being used. A demonstrative graph of all of the forms that the money is being spent on can be found in the NHS publication “The Quarter”, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
When the information was collected, the majority of money had yet to be transferred, but agreements had been made which set out on which services the money would be spent.
The proportion of £648 million NHS transfer to local authorities was spent on different services as follows:
(a) Prevention (not including community equipment and adaptations)—10%
(b) Community equipment and adaptations—5%
(c) Telecare—4%
(d) Crisis response services—8%
(e) Maintaining eligibility criteria—18%
(f) Re-ablement—18%
(g) Mental health—5%
The remainder of the transfer was spent on the following services:
Integrated crisis and rapid response services—8%
Bed-based intermediate care services—10%
Early supported hospital discharge schemes—8%
Other services—14%
13 Mar 2012 : Column 196W
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to introduce a national assessment framework for social care; and if he will make a statement. [99737]
Paul Burstow: 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. This will include responding to the recommendations made by the Law Commission and Commission on Funding of Care and Support on assessment.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received care packages following an assessment by social services in each local authority in each of the last five years. [99950]
Paul Burstow: Data on the provision of care packages provided by Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSR) are collected and published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre via the National Adult Social Care Intelligence Service.
Data on local authority care package provision are provided in the following table for 2006-07; 2007-08; 2008-09; 2009-10 and 2010-11. The data for 2010-11 is provisional and subject to change. Final data for 2010-11 are due to be published late March 2012.
| Total number of adult clients (all ages) receiving social care services following an assessment by each local authority area in the period 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 | |||||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 (provisional) | |
13 Mar 2012 : Column 197W
13 Mar 2012 : Column 198W
13 Mar 2012 : Column 199W
13 Mar 2012 : Column 200W
| Notes: 1. In 2009-10 the two councils Bedfordshire and Cheshire each split into two councils Bedford and Central Bedfordshire and Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester respectively. 2. All adult clients counted as receiving services must have had an assessment prior to the allocation of those services. 3. The information provided is derived from data collected annually on referrals, assessments and packages of care from CASSRs on the form proforma P1. The data contained within the table are rounded to the nearest five. Source: RAP P1 proforma | |||||
13 Mar 2012 : Column 201W
Social Services: Disadvantaged
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has allocated to the troubled families initiative in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [99173]
Paul Burstow: The Department is contributing funding of £0 in 2011-12, £15 million in 2012-13, up to £20 million in 2013-14, and up to £25 million in 2014-15 to the troubled families initiative.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants in his Department are working on the troubled families initiative. [99174]
Paul Burstow: Co-ordination of the Department's input to the troubled families programme is being carried out by three civil servants, although they are not working full-time on the troubled families initiative. Their total resource input is estimated to be around one full-time equivalent.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding the NHS will contribute from pre-allocated resources towards the troubled families initiative in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [99175]
Paul Burstow: The Department will contribute funding of £15 million in 2012-13, up to £20 million in 2013-14, and up to £25 million in 2014-15 to the troubled families initiative. This funding is drawn from the Department’s central budgets.
The national health service funding contributes, to a wide range of health care services which are available to troubled families. Some of these services are universal (such as access to general practitioners) while others are targeted on groups of people with specific needs (such as mental health services). It is not possible to identify exactly which NHS resources are used by people from troubled families.
Streptococcus: Pregnant Women
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration he has given to routinely offering Enriched Culture Method tests to pregnant women to detect Group B Streptococcus infection; [99908]
(2) if he will make an assessment of the merits of routinely assessing pregnant women for Group B Streptococcus infection. [99909]
Anne Milton: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including, screening policy for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. The UK NSC is currently reviewing the evidence for screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test against its criteria. A public consultation on the screening review will open in spring 2012.
13 Mar 2012 : Column 202W
Telemedicine
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of telehealth and telecare services on improving patient experience in the NHS and adult social services; and if he will make a statement; [99011]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of telehealth and telecare services on delivering efficiency savings in the NHS and adult social services; and if he will make a statement; [99012]
(3) what plans his Department has to support (a) primary care trusts, (b) clinical commissioning groups and (c) local authorities to commission telehealth and telecare services for people with long-term care needs; and if he will make a statement. [99098]
Paul Burstow: The Department has been trialling the effect of telehealth and telecare in the Whole System Demonstrator programme, a large-scale randomised control trial. Early headline findings published by the Department on 5 December 2011 have demonstrated that when used appropriately there is potential to reduce emergency admissions and mortality. The Department estimates there are 3 million people with long term conditions who could benefit from this approach, which is why the Department and leaders from industry signed a concordat demonstrating a commitment to deliver telehealth and telecare to those who will benefit. This is the Three Million Lives initiative launched on 19 January 2012.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Argentina
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect of Argentine trade restrictions on the UK economy. [98775]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK values its relationship with Argentina but was disappointed and concerned by the recent Argentine actions in respect of our trading relationships.
We have raised our concerns regarding Argentina's actions with their Chargé in London, and made clear that actions against legitimate commercial activity are unacceptable and a matter of concern not just for the UK, but for the EU as a whole. We will remain in close contact with UK businesses trading with Argentina, and will provide them all appropriate support.
It is not yet clear what impact, if any, Argentina's recent action will have on the UK economy. In 2011, Argentina had a trade surplus with the UK, exporting £589 million in goods and importing £383 million.
Council of Europe
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress under the UK Chairmanship of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers in (a) developing practical measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity and (b) streamlining the Council of Europe's activities in support of local and regional democracy. [99603]
13 Mar 2012 : Column 203W
Mr Lidington: In January the Council of Europe established a Committee on Equal Opportunities and Non Discrimination. This new Committee has a remit to progress broader equality issues, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGB&T) rights. The Council of Europe Secretariat has also, with the benefit of voluntary contributions, been able to establish a Unit to promote LGB&T rights with certain partner countries. To further this work the UK will host a conference to promote Council of Europe Recommendations on combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity in Strasbourg on 27 March.
The UK is working to streamline the Council of Europe's activities in support of local and regional democracy. We hosted a High Level Meeting on 13 February at Lancaster House where ideas to achieve better co-ordination and co-operation in order to deliver better value for money and impact were discussed. The next step will be for the UK to come forward with proposals that can command consensus.
Election Observers
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria the Government apply when deciding to which countries that are holding elections to send electoral observers. [98529]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Supporting elections and electoral processes is central to the UK's work to advance democracy. We support election observation by providing UK observers and financial assistance to international organisations that carry out election observation missions, in particular the EU, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Commonwealth. We encourage states to invite international observation missions; while not all states are obliged to, we welcome commitments, such as those by OSCE participating states, to do so.
We do not have set criteria in assessing which observation missions to support. We support requests for international observation where the basic conditions for free and fair elections are in place, and where practical conditions allow for a successful observation mission. The decision on whether to support would take into account a range of factors including UK foreign policy priorities, the risk of instability, fraud or conflict around the election.
Iran
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian Government concerning the sentence of 18 years imprisonment imposed on the human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani; and if he will make a statement. [99654]
Alistair Burt: I was appalled to see reports of the sentencing of lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani to 18 years in prison. It is shocking that the charges against him of co-operation with a non-governmental organisation and of receiving an international human rights award should be considered offences at all. We will continue to urge Iran to address its human rights record, including at the UN Human Rights Council which meets this month.
13 Mar 2012 : Column 204W
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Iranian counterpart on the safety of BBC Persia television staff and their families. [99917]
Alistair Burt: We remain deeply concerned about the unacceptable harassment of BBC Persia staff by the Iranian authorities. Last month, BBC Director General Mark Thompson revealed that the Iranian regime is intimidating the family members of their staff in order to put pressure on them, a truly deplorable tactic. In a statement on 2 February, I called on the Iranian authorities to cease immediately their harassment of all journalists, including those working for BBC Persia. I have not discussed this issue with my Iranian counterpart, but we will continue to raise our concerns about Iran's appalling human rights record, including at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this month.
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to secure visas for the families of BBC Persia staff following the closure of the UK embassy in Tehran. [99918]
Alistair Burt: Regrettably, the closure of our embassy in Tehran following the attack on our diplomatic compounds in November has meant that all applicants must now travel outside Iran to obtain a UK visa. However, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) does continue to offer a full visa service to Iranians through the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. As in all cases, UKBA must be satisfied that applicants meet the UK Immigration Rules.
The families of BBC Persian staff who have reported being harassed by the Iranian authorities have our full sympathy. I have called on the Iranian authorities to cease this harassment immediately.
Serbia: Ghana
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an official protest to the government of Serbia on its expulsion of the ambassador of Ghana following his country's recognition of Kosovo. [98288]
Mr Lidington: Despite media reporting regarding the absence of the Ghanaian ambassador to Serbia I am not aware of official statements from either Government clarifying the situation.
Turkey
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure a speedy resolution of Turkey's application to join the EU. [99194]
Mr Lidington: Her Majesty's Government strongly supports Turkey's accession to the EU. We believe this would benefit EU security and prosperity in both the EU and Turkey.
We are disappointed by the slow progress of the formal negotiations. We are encouraging Turkey to take forward the opportunity presented by the European Commission's ‘Positive Agenda' for reinvigorating the broader EU/Turkey relationship, as a complement to the formal accession process.
13 Mar 2012 : Column 205W
Practically, we will continue to provide technical support to assist Turkey's EU Accession, including projects focusing on capacity building and human rights. We will also continue to support the efforts of the two Cypriot leaders to reach a Cyprus settlement.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his German and French counterparts on Turkey's application to join the EU. [99195]
Mr Lidington: The UK remains the strongest supporter of EU membership for Turkey.
In November 2011 I spoke to Dr Werner Hoyer, then German Europe Minister, on the Cyprus Settlement negotiations and support for taking forward the EU's positive agenda for Turkey. I also had discussions with Ruprecht Polenz, (Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs in Germany). He emphasised that there were many in the Bundestag who supported eventual EU membership for Turkey. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and his German counterpart co-signed an article in December outlining support for Turkey's accession process.
The Secretary of State and I have also had regular discussions with our French and German counterparts in the margins of Foreign Affairs and General Affairs Councils. While our opinions on Turkey's EU accession may vary, we see the value of a strong EU/Turkey relationship and we continue to work closely on deepening foreign policy co-operation between Turkey and the EU.
Women and Equalities
UN Security Council Resolution
Naomi Long: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in Northern Ireland. [99099]
Lynne Featherstone: UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 makes provision for the protection of women in armed conflicts and to encourage their participation in conflict resolution and political and public life.
The situation in Northern Ireland has never been considered to be an armed conflict, as defined in international law. Nevertheless, some aspects of UNSCR 1325 such as participation in peace and political processes are relevant to all states and the Government will continue to work towards increasing the representation of women in Northern Ireland in public and political life.
Education
Child Minding
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps the Government have taken to maintain the standards which registered child minders are required to meet. [99231]
Sarah Teather:
Child minders caring for children aged 0-5 have to meet the requirements set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and those caring
13 Mar 2012 : Column 206W
for children aged 5-8 have to meet the requirements in the General Childcare Register (GCR). Ofsted inspects child minders on both of the registers to ensure that child minders are meeting these standards.
The Government are reforming the EYFS, reducing burdens on providers while continuing to drive improvements in quality. Along with revisions to the EYFS, we are making some changes to the requirements in the GCR to maintain the alignment between the two registers. The reforms will be implemented from September 2012.
We are also working with the sector in other ways to help child minders maintain and improve standards so they can continue to make a distinctive contribution to early education and child care, delivered in a home environment.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Construction
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been (a) begun and (b) completed in each local authority in the north-west since May 2010. [98061]
Andrew Stunell [holding answer 5 March 2012]: The following table shows the number of affordable homes started and completed in each local authority in the north-west between April 2010 and September 2011, the latest period for which data are available, as reported in the Homes and Communities Agency's six monthly National Housing Statistics. These statistics cover affordable housing that is delivered through the Homes and Communities Agency's national Affordable Housing programme, and therefore exclude affordable housing that is delivered without this Homes and Communities Agency grant funding. In the table housing starts cover new build homes only, while completions include new build and acquisitions.
| Starts | Completions | |
13 Mar 2012 : Column 207W
| Source: Homes and Communities Agency national Affordable Housing programme. Housing starts cover new build starts only while completions include new build and acquisitions. | ||
Homelessness: North West
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps are being taken to reduce levels of homelessness in the north-west. [99048]
Grant Shapps: This Government are committed to tackling homelessness. We have maintained funding for Homelessness Grant at 2010-11 levels—with £400 million over the next four years. A list of allocations for Preventing Homelessness Grant to individual local authorities in 2011-12 can be obtained from the Department's website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localgovernmentfinance/supportgrant/
In addition, Supporting People investment—at £6.5 billion over the spending review period—will protect the preventative services that help the most vulnerable live independently and retain their tenancies. On top of that the Government have announced an additional £70 million investment this year:
£20 million—Homelessness Transition Fund to support the roll-out of ‘No Second Night Out’ and protect vital front line services.
£20 million—Preventing Repossessions Fund to enable local authorities to intervene earlier and help people stay in their homes.
£20 million—Single Homelessness Prevention Fund to help ensure single homeless people get access to good housing advice.
£5 million boost to the Homelessness Change Programme (bringing the total investment to £42.5 million) to deliver improved hostel provision and provide over 1,500 new and improved bed spaces.
£5 million—Social Impact Bond—using a payment by results model to help persistent rough sleepers in London. This is the first Social Impact Bond set up to tackle homelessness in the world.
13 Mar 2012 : Column 208W
Homelessness is half the average rate under the previous Administration and it remains lower than in 28 of the last 30 years.
International Development
Bilateral Aid
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff his Department employs working on bilateral aid programmes. [99093]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development employs 486 home civil servants and 843 staff appointed in country all working overseas on bilateral aid programmes.
British Overseas Territories
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to improve broadband internet provision in British Overseas Territories. [99208]
Mr Duncan: Good connectivity is important for the aided overseas territories, especially for those which are particularly isolated and cannot easily link to regional IT providers. There is currently no broadband connection in any aided overseas territory.
The Government of St Helena is exploring the feasibility and potential costs of connecting St Helena with broadband suppliers. In the meantime, the Department for International Development has paid for recent increases in bandwidth of the satellite telecommunications link to St Helena. This is helping students to benefit from distance learning opportunities and allows the hospital to connect to better health service information.
The Government of Montserrat has commissioned a study on options to improve information communications technology. This is due to report later this month.
Tristan da Cunha and Pitcairn also rely on satellite connections links, paid for through the budget aid settlement. There are no plans to provide either territory with broadband connections.
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [98869]
Mr Duncan: The latest figures on the number and percentage of senior civil servants (SCS) in the Department for International Development (DFID) from a black and ethnic minority (BME) background were:
| Number | Percentage | |
These are based on quarterly returns. The data for March 2012 will not be available until after 31 March 2012.
13 Mar 2012 : Column 209W
DFID has produced annual departmental staff reports containing this information for several years and these have been available on request.
Food Aid
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the costs and benefits of early intervention in food crises. [98845]
Mr O'Brien: Our initial assessments show that early intervention in a food crisis can provide significant benefits, but more work is needed to develop and understand the evidence for this. The Department for International Development is currently funding a study to look at the response to the food crisis in the Horn of Africa. By analysing data on the investments made by international agencies and their impacts, this study will help to identify early interventions which provide best value for money. Its results should lead to more effective early action which will help to limit the impact of future crises.
Israel
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government over water supply policies in the Jordan Valley. [98794]
Mr Duncan: The fair and effective distribution of shared water resources across the middle east is of great concern to the UK. We have regular discussions with the Israeli authorities on the issue of access to water in the occupied Palestinian Territories, including the Jordan Valley. I raised this issue in June 2011 during my visit to the occupied Palestinian Territories and it was most recently raised by the British embassy in January 2012.
Palestinians
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Israeli Government on the reduction in permitted fishing off the coast of Gaza. [98795]
Mr Duncan: The UK regularly makes representations at both ministerial and official level to the Government of Israel on the urgent need to ease restrictions on Gaza. Most recently, the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), and the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), discussed these issues during visits to the region in December 2011 and January 2012.
As part of our engagement with the Israeli authorities, we frequently emphasise the impact restrictions have had on industry in Gaza. Alongside our EU colleagues, we have urged Israel to extend the fishing zone from three to twenty nautical miles, as stipulated in the Oslo Accords.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Israeli Government on ending restrictions on exports from Gaza. [98796]
13 Mar 2012 : Column 210W
Mr Duncan: The UK has made it clear to the Israeli Government that more needs to be done to meet its commitments to ease restrictions on exports, as agreed with the Quartet Representative in February 2011. This includes lifting restrictions on the transfer of goods to the West Bank and exports to Israel, which form Gaza's traditional markets. We continue to raise this issue regularly at both official and ministerial level, including in recent visits to the region by the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), and the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt).
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of unemployment in Gaza. [98797]
Mr Duncan: According to the latest figures from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, overall unemployment in Gaza declined from 38% in 2010 to 26% in the second quarter of 2011. Youth unemployment has declined over the same period, but remains very high at 38% for 15 to 29-year-olds. We are concerned that this upward trend in employment is unsustainable. Many of those now employed are working in short-term jobs created as a result of a construction boom fuelled by trade through the Hamas-controlled tunnels and a modest increase in international reconstruction projects. Overall labour force participation remains very low at less than 40%.
UK aid is supporting over 340 companies in Gaza to generate jobs for over 1,900 unemployed Gazans. We continue to urge the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions on Gaza to support the rebuilding of the Gazan economy and improve access to work for ordinary Gazans.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of Gazans dependent on food aid. [98798]
Mr Duncan: According to the latest figures from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), 66% of Gazans depend either entirely or partly on food aid. Over the next four years, UK aid will provide food vouchers to 5,750 poor households and temporary work opportunities to 5,300 vulnerable refugees each year to enable them to meet their basic food needs. We continue to call on the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions to enable the rebuilding of the Gazan economy and to reduce aid dependency.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Egyptian authorities on the full opening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza. [98799]
Mr Duncan:
During his visit to Egypt in May 2011, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed the relaxation of the Rafah crossing controls with the then Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil al-Arabi. Following these discussions,
13 Mar 2012 : Column 211W
the UK welcomed the decision by Egypt on 27 May 2011 to partially ease restrictions on the movement of people through the Rafah crossing. However, Rafah is not suitable for commercial goods or large amounts of humanitarian aid. We are clear that the key to the economic regeneration of Gaza is the easing of restrictions at the Israeli crossings into Gaza, including for exports, construction material imports and the movement of people.