Great Western Railway Line: Electrification
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many single track miles are to be electrified under her proposals for electrification of the Great Western Main Line. [100125]
Mrs Villiers: Over 600 single track miles are planned to be electrified by Network Rail as part of the Great Western Main Line programme.
M1: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects all roadworks and lane closures to be completed on the M1 between London and its junction with the M6; and if she will make a statement. [100413]
Mike Penning: The following road works are currently on or expected to start on the M1 between London and its junction with the M6. Their expected completion dates are as shown in the following table.
Motor Vehicles: Smoking
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2695) to introduce the same penalties for smoking whilst driving a vehicle as those for using a mobile phone whilst driving a vehicle; and if she will make a statement. [100672]
Mike Penning: We have no proposals to introduce the same penalties for smoking while driving a vehicle as for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving a vehicle. There are many potential distractions while driving and it remains the driver's responsibility to drive safely at all times. The police use the existing 'failing to have proper control' offence under Section 41(d) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to deal with those who are distracted while driving. This attracts similar penalties to the specific offence related to driving while using a hand-held mobile phone.
Piracy: Somalia
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential for use of BAE's laser system to prevent piracy off the coast of Somalia. [100563]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport has examined the capability of commercially available laser dazzling systems in a cross cutting technology review which was carried out in January 2008. The use of such technologies is a decision for individual shipping companies.
The Department for Transport recommends and promotes the adoption of the measures in Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy (BMP4).
The Government have also changed their policy to allow the use of armed private security companies as an additional layer of protection where necessary and in December 2011 issued “Interim guidance to UK flagged shipping on the use of armed guards to defend against the threat of piracy in exceptional circumstances”.
Road Traffic Control: Advertising
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether she plans to place requirements on (a) local authorities, (b) utility companies, (c) the Highways Agency, (d) property developers and (e) other businesses if the requirement to place traffic regulation orders in local papers is lifted; [100348]
(2) what representations she has received on advertising traffic regulation orders; [100349]
(3) how many traffic regulation orders were placed in local newspapers by (a) utility companies, (b) the Highways Agency, (c) local authorities, (d) property developers and (e) other businesses in the latest period for which figures are available. [100350]
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Norman Baker: Traffic Orders are made and advertised by the traffic authority—a local authority or the Highways Agency—although in the case of local authorities, frequently following a request from a utility company or other business.
The three sets of draft regulations published alongside the consultation document include requirements for the traffic authority to publicise the traffic order in such ways as they consider appropriate for the purpose of informing persons likely to be affected. Guidance on how to do this would be published, a draft of which was also provided with the consultation document. The traffic authority would still be able to choose to place advertisements in local newspapers.
The 12-week consultation period is due to end on 23 April. Following the conclusion of the consultation period, all responses will be summarised, and a Government response will be published.
In 2011, the Highways Agency placed approximately 3,178 advertisements for 1,681 Traffic Orders. All Traffic Orders are currently advertised twice, but in some cases, an advertisement will include more than one traffic order. Equivalent information for local authorities is not held centrally.
Treasury
Financial Services: Land Use
Hilary Benn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to deal with land banking for housing. [99233]
Miss Chloe Smith: The planning system currently overly restricts the supply of land and can make land release unpredictable. Limited land supply means that competition can be focussed on land acquisition.
This Government are making radical changes to the planning system ensuring they do everything they can to support long-term sustainable economic growth. This will open up more land for development and reduce the incentive to hold on to land for longer periods.
Income Tax
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of Scottish taxpayers who benefited from the increase in the personal allowance of income tax in 2011-12; and if he will estimate the likely number of Scottish taxpayers who will benefit from the increase in 2012-13. [101104]
Mr Gauke: The June 2010 Budget announced a £1,000 cash increase in the personal allowance for under 65s to £7,475 in 2011-12 (£820 above the previous Government's plans), with the benefits focused on individuals on low and middle incomes through accompanying changes to the basic rate limit and national insurance upper earnings and profit limits.
In 2011-12, the Government estimate that 22.6 million basic rate taxpayers will benefit in 2011-12, of which 2.0 million are Scottish taxpayers.
The 2011 Budget announced a £630 cash increase in the personal allowance for under 65s to £8,105 in 2012-13 (£240 above indexation), with an equivalent reduction in the basic rate limit to leave the higher rate threshold unchanged.
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In 2012-13, the Government estimates that 25 million taxpayers will benefit, of which 2.2 million are Scottish taxpayers.
These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook.
Income Tax: Rates and Bands
Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the number of local government staff in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax once the income tax threshold is set at £10,000; [101092]
(2) if he will estimate the number of fire fighters in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax once the income tax threshold is set at £10,000. [101093]
Mr Gauke: The increase in the personal allowance for those aged under 65 by £1,000 in 2011-12 and by £630 in 2012-13 is estimated to remove 1.1 million individuals out of income tax altogether.
These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes data projected to 2011-12 and 2012-13 in line with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 forecast assumptions.
The information requested is not available specifically for either local government staff or fire fighters.
The Government are committed to supporting lower and middle income earners by raising the personal allowance to £10,000, and removing the lowest income individuals out of income tax. Decisions on future changes in the personal allowance will be taken as part of the annual Budget process in the context of the wider public finances.
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the number of (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants in each (i) region and (ii) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax once the income tax threshold is set at £10,000; [101110]
(2) if he will estimate the number of (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants in each (i) region and (ii) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax following the increase in the personal allowance in April 2012; [101111]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants who will benefit from an increase in their income tax personal allowance in 2012-13; [101112]
(4) if he will estimate the number of (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants who benefited from an increase in their income tax personal allowance in 2011-12. [101113]
Mr Gauke: The June 2010 Budget announced a £1,000 cash increase in the personal allowance for under 65s to £7,475 in 2011-12 (£820 above the previous Government's plans), with the benefits focused on individuals on low and middle incomes through accompanying changes to the basic rate limit and national insurance upper earnings and profit limits.
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The 2011 Budget announced a £630 cash increase in the personal allowance for under 65s to £8,105 in 2012-13 (£240 above indexation), with an equivalent reduction in the basic rate limit to leave the higher rate threshold unchanged.
As a result of these measures, the Government estimates that 22.6 million basic rate taxpayers will benefit in 2011-12, among which 830,000 of the lowest income taxpayers will be removed from tax altogether.
In 2012-13 the Government estimate that 25 million taxpayers will benefit, among which 260,000 of the lowest income taxpayers will be removed from tax altogether.
These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook.
The information requested is not available specifically for teachers or teaching assistants.
The Government are committed to supporting lower and middle income earners by raising the personal allowance to £10,000, and removing the lowest income individuals out of income tax. Decisions on future changes in the personal allowance will be taken as part of the annual Budget process in the context of the wider public finances.
Inheritance Tax
John Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what value of inheritance tax collected was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11; [100149]
(2) how many officials of HM Revenue and Customs are employed in the collection of inheritance tax. [100150]
Mr Gauke: Receipts from inheritance tax in 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 are published in the National Statistics table “HM Revenue & Custom Receipts” available from the HMRC website at;
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_receipts/tax-receipts-and-taxpayers.pdf
As at the end of February 2012, there were 512 officials employed in the collection of taxes relating to trusts and estates. This includes other taxes as well as inheritance tax (IHT) and the numbers dedicated solely to collect IHT cannot be split out from the total.
McKinsey and Company
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department paid to McKinsey and Company in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [100570]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Department has not made any payments to McKinsey during 2010-11 or 2011-12.
Pensions
Sandra Osborne:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people affected by the Government Actuary Department's decision to reduce the limit of withdrawals from income drawdown pension schemes
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from 120 per cent. to 100 per cent.; how many such people will be affected by more than a 17 per cent. reduction; and if he will make a statement; [100391]
(2) if he will consider putting in place special arrangements for people who are being financially affected by the Government Actuary Department's decision to reduce the limit of withdrawals from income drawdown pension schemes from 120 per cent. to 100 per cent., particularly to those who are being affected by an income withdrawal of more than 17 per cent. lower than under the previous limit. [100392]
Mr Hoban: To improve flexibility for individuals while ensuring that pension savings provide a sustainable income over an individual's lifetime, the Government have made income drawdown (now known as “capped drawdown”) available throughout the whole of an individual's retirement, with a single annual withdrawal limit equivalent to 100% of the value of a comparable annuity. This responded to long-standing concerns from savers and pension providers that the previous rules were unnecessarily restrictive after reaching the age of 75.
The Government estimated in the Taxes Information and Impact Note (TUN) published on 9 December 2010 that there were up to 200,000 individuals with drawdown arrangements and a considerably larger number of individuals who could potentially benefit from not being required to purchase an annuity by the age of 75. The TUN entitled “Removing the effective requirement to annuitise by age 75” is published on the HMRC website at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget-updates/autumn-tax/tiin2955.pdf
There are a number of factors which will influence the maximum annual income which individuals can withdraw from their pension pot, along with the Government's recent reforms to remove the requirement to annuitise at age 75. These include:
The yield on UK 15 year gilts at the time of an individual's investment review—gilt yields are set by the market and are currently at a historic low,
Investment returns, which may be depressed as a result of current economic conditions; and
The individual's own withdrawals over the period since their last review, so leaving a reduced capital pot from which to draw down.
Revenue and Customs: Telford
David Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many formal documented one-to-one meetings took place between HM Revenue and Customs staff and their managers as part of the estate rationalisation process in Telford. [101023]
Mr Gauke: When an office in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is proposed for closure, feasibility work, including one-to-one meetings between affected staff and their managers, is undertaken before a final decision is made.
As part of the reduction in HMRC's estate to meet the spending review efficiencies, two staff at Hollinswood, Telford, had formal documented one-to-one meetings prior to the decision to close the office in 2012-13. 23 staff declined a meeting.
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Kelsall House, Telford, is one of the offices recently proposed for closure during 2014-15. Feasibility work is still being undertaken and, to date, 66 one-to-one meetings have been undertaken while 43 staff have declined.
David Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs staff will be required to move office if Kelsall House in Telford is closed; and whether any staff in Reynolds House in Telford will have to move as part of the rebalancing of the workforce against available accommodation. [101024]
Mr Gauke: Kelsall House, Telford is one of 17 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offices which have been proposed for closure during 2014-15. There are currently 122 staff in the building and if closure goes ahead, the intention is that they will relocate to either Abbey House or Reynolds House, both in Telford. However, this may alter depending on individual circumstances or on changes to business plans after the feasibility process is completed.
The current feasibility process will also look at whether there is sufficient space and that will be a factor in making decisions. There may be some movements of staff between the buildings depending on individual business needs.
Tobacco: Smuggling
Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the expenditure incurred by his Department on salaries for full-time equivalent staff allocated to tackling tobacco smuggling (a) in total, (b) engaged in detection, (c) engaged in investigations and (d) working on intelligence matters in 2010-11; [100547]
(2) what expenditure HM Revenue and Customs has incurred in operating x-ray scanners to tackle tobacco smuggling in 2010-11; [100548]
(3) what expenditure HM Revenue and Customs incurred on Government publicity campaigns to prevent tobacco smuggling in 2010-11; [100549]
(4) how much HM Revenue and Customs spent on the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy in 2010-11; how many of his Department's staff worked on implementing the strategy in 2010-11; and how many of those were engaged in (a) detection, (b) intelligence-gathering and analysis, (c) investigations and (d) the provision of legal advice. [100550]
Miss Chloe Smith: It is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of overall expenditure from allocated funds in the format requested.
The full-time equivalents of staff employed on tackling tobacco smuggling in detection, intelligence gathering and investigation for 2010-11 are shown in the following table:
| 2010-11 | |
| Number | |
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These figures represent HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) best estimate of the way resources were used in the year specified, bearing in mind that anti-fraud and smuggling activity often covers a number of different taxes and commodities.
Expenditure incurred on salaries for full-time equivalent staff allocated to tobacco smuggling is shown in the following table:
| 2010-11 | |
| £ | |
HMRC is unable to disaggregate time spent on the provision of legal advice on tobacco from time spent on other advisory work.
HMRC incurred no expenditure on targeted media campaigns to support their anti-tobacco smuggling strategy in 2010-11.
The UK Border Agency is responsible for X-ray scanner provision.
VAT: Charities
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to relieve charities of the value added tax applied on shared services if they do not qualify for the VAT cost sharing exemption included in Finance Bill 2012. [100254]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Government are introducing the EU VAT cost sharing exemption into UK legislation in Finance Bill 2012. HMRC will be working with charities and other interested parties to produce detailed guidance on the exemption's operation which will be published before the legislation takes effect. Although the objective is to make the exemption useful for charities and other organisations, its application is restricted by the requirements of European VAT legislation.
Welfare Tax Credits
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse is of tax credit payments to households with incomes below (a) 60 per cent., (b) 50 per cent. and (c) 40 per cent of the median. [100876]
Mr Gauke: This information would be available only at disproportionate cost.
Working Tax Credit
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to bring forward the draft regulations to implement his proposed changes to working tax credits relating to couples working between 16 and 24 hours. [101105]
Mr Gauke: The Tax Credits (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012 No. 848 were made and laid before Parliament on 16 March 2012.
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Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 72W, on working tax credit, for those parliamentary constituencies for which no figures were given, whether this was because (a) no couples fell into category and (b) no figures were available at the time of answering; and if he will provide figures where they have become available since his answer. [101114]
Mr Gauke: The figures provided in the in the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 72W, were drawn from a sample of administrative data and are therefore not statistically robust below a certain sample size. In line with our practice for publishing National Statistics, estimates for any constituencies where the sample figure is less than 25 have not been given and, as a result, figures for a number of constituencies were presented as “-”.
Further information on methodology and sampling uncertainty can be found in Appendix B of “Child and Working Tax Credits statistics December 2011”, available at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-dec2011.pdf
Health
Alcoholic Drinks: Pricing
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had on alcohol minimum pricing with (i) members of the beverage alcohol manufacturing industry, (ii) supermarkets, (iii) pubs and other members of the on-trade and (iv) members of health and other alcohol NGOs since September 2011. [100565]
Anne Milton: Details of all official ministerial meetings with external parties are published quarterly in arrears on the Department's website. Data from 1 January 2010 up to the end of June 2011 can be found at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Departmentdirectors/DH_110759
From a search of officials' diaries, the issue of alcohol minimum pricing was discussed at meetings with:
the Association of Chief Police Officers, Licensing and Harm Reduction working group, on 8 September 2011;
the Alcohol Health Alliance, on 12 September 2011;
a round table organised by the British Liver Trust and the UK Public Health Association, on 13 September 2011;
NHS Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth Alcohol event held in Portsmouth, on 9 December 2011;
Ian Gilmore, Royal College of Physicians, on 16 January 2012; and
Paul Lincoln, National Heart Forum, on 8 March 2012.
Breasts: Plastic Surgery
Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has taken steps to put pressure on Transform cosmetic clinic to (a) remove and (b) replace, free of charge, PIP breast implants sold by that clinic to its patients. [100420]
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Mr Simon Burns: When we published the interim report of Sir Bruce Keogh's expert group on PIP implants on 6 January we made clear that the national health service would remove and replace PIP implants for any NHS patient if, informed by an assessment of clinical need, risk or the impact of unresolved concerns, the woman with her doctor decides that it is right to do so. We also made clear our expectation that private cosmetic surgery organisations should offer the same aftercare to their patients, and many have already done so. We have repeated this message on many occasions, most recently in the press statement issued last Friday. We understand that Transform now offer their former patients a free consultation, imaging where required, and free removal of implants whether or not there is clinical evidence that the implant has ruptured or leaked, but will charge at cost price for replacement of the implants.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Services
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the treatment and care of those with myalgic encephalomyelitis in the last five years; and how much has been spent on research into the condition in that period. [100602]
Paul Burstow: Information on the expenditure for the treatment and healthcare of people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is not collected centrally.
Expenditure by the Department on research on CFS/ME through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards is shown in the following table.
| £ million | |
Expenditure by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) on research into CFS/ME cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
Prior to the establishment of the NIHR in April 2006, the main part of the Department's total health research expenditure was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From April 2006 to March 2009, transitional research funding was allocated to these organisations at reducing levels. The organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on some disease areas, but do not provide details of spend on research on CFS/ME.
Coeliac Disease: Health Education
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department offers to people with coeliac disease on (a) diet management and (b) obtaining gluten free food. [100603]
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Anne Milton: There is a wide range of gluten free products available from supermarkets, health food stores and on prescription. Information on managing diet and obtaining gluten free foods is available on the NHS Choices website and that of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
The FSA, which has responsibility for food aspects of food allergy and intolerance, works closely with Coeliac UK and health professionals to ensure that patients are provided with the relevant information on food labelling to manage their diet. The FSA has recently collaborated with Coeliac UK to produce a leaflet for consumers to help them understand changes in the way gluten free foods are labelled and advise them on how to buy food which is safe for them to eat. The FSA has also produced a general leaflet on buying food for those with a food allergy or intolerance, including coeliac disease, which guides them through the steps they need to take when buying food and eating out.
Diabetes: Medical Equipment
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will work with manufacturers of testing strips for diabetes to bring forward a standard for testing strips to increase interoperability between test strips and meters. [100278]
Mr Simon Burns: Once manufacturers of medical devices have demonstrated their products' conformance with the medical devices directive and consequently earn the right to place the CE conformity mark on their products, either through self-declaration for the lowest class of medical device or from an officially accredited European notified body for the higher class of medical devices, they are entitled to place their product on the European Union market. There is currently no requirement in the regulations for manufacturers to standardise different devices, or components of the devices, to make them interoperable with devices from different manufacturers that perform the same function.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has been in regular contact with the two companies who produce diabetes test meters with similar size test strips, about the issue of problems with users trying to interchange, their glucose test strips between their testing meters. An MHRA investigation concluded that labelling for both companies' meters and strips is clear regarding intended use. However they took the precautionary measure of reinforcing the information about compatibility issues to users/health care professionals.
One of the companies has undertaken a campaign to remind users of the correct strip/meter combinations to use. They have also identified a means by which their system would reject the other company's test strips. However this would involve considerable extra cost for both manufacturers and implementation of such a change would be a commercial decision for both to take. To date the other company have said that they will monitor the situation.
In addition to this, the MHRA also provided an addition to the EMIS drug database (which includes prescribing information and product availability for general practitioner practices and health care professionals), whereby a message reminding users to confirm that test
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strips are compatible with the meter in question, will appear on first prescribing any glucose meter test strips.
In September 2006 the MHRA issued the One Liners (a sheet aimed at health care professionals, which highlights problems with the use of medical devices) Issue 44, which has been placed in the Library.
On 12 February 2008 the MHRA issued the ‘Medical Device Alert’ (MDA/2008/006), which has been placed in the Library.
In February 2011 the MHRA issued the ‘One Liner Issue 83’, which has been placed in the Library.
Drugs: Prices
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to review the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme. [100356]
Mr Simon Burns: As set out in the Government's response to the consultation ‘A new value-based approach to the pricing of new medicines’, the Government expect the negotiations on the new pricing arrangements for branded medicines (including successor arrangements to the current pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS) which will apply to the vast majority of branded medicines placed on the market before 2014) to begin this year. Our intention is that the new arrangements would be introduced from 1 January 2014.
Drugs: Schools
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on teaching of the dangers of drug abuse in schools. [100417]
Anne Milton: Ministers in this Department and their counterparts in the Department for Education worked closely to develop the plans in the Government's drug strategy for schools-based drug prevention work and continue regular discussions to review progress and identify scope for further action. They will also work together in developing plans for personal social and health education, which take account of the responses to the consultation last year.
Health and Wellbeing Boards
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of health and well being boards on the role and influence of public governors in NHS foundation trusts. [101096]
Paul Burstow: The Government's vision is for health and wellbeing boards to be the local system leader for health and wellbeing. Through health and wellbeing boards, councils, commissioners across the health system and local communities will work and lead collaboratively to improve health and care services, joining them up around the needs of local people, and improving the health and wellbeing of local populations.
Health and wellbeing boards will bring together councils, clinical commissioners and local communities to assess local needs and priorities, and develop a strategy in response to these. Through involving democratically
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elected councillors, representatives of patients and the public through local Healthwatch, and wider local communities, the boards will help put local people at the heart of commissioning decisions. It is for boards locally to determine how they engage with wider partners, including foundation trusts and their governors as well as other providers, who have a crucial contribution to delivering the strategy. Local Healthwatch will also need to make their own local arrangements with other key forums for patient and public involvement, such as foundation trust members, and feed in their views to the health and wellbeing boards work.
McKinsey and Company
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department paid to McKinsey and Company in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [100578]
Mr Simon Burns: The total expenditure with McKinsey and Company by the Department (core Department and Connecting for Health) since May 2010 for the 2010-11 financial year was £139,000; and for the 2011-12 financial year to end of January 2012 was £224,920. The figures are based on information held in the Department's business management system on purchase order amount receipted.
In addition, the Department has paid for consultancy services from McKinsey and Company to the value of £220,000 for analytical support for provider development. This work was procured by NHS London on behalf of the Department in May 2011.
McKinsey held a contract with the Department under the previous Administration to a value of £5.2 million. The final payment under this contract was made to McKinsey in May 2010.
Mental Illness: Young People
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under 18 have been held under the Mental Health Act in England in each of the last five years. [101102]
Paul Burstow: Details of in-patients detained in adult mental health services under the Mental Health Act are included in the NHS information centre's Mental Health Bulletin for 2011. This gives the number of children and young people detained under the Mental Health Act in each year as in the following table.
| Number | |
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients under the age of 18 spent time on adult psychiatric wards in England in each of the last 10 years; and how long on average they spent in such wards. [101103]
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Paul Burstow: The information is not held centrally in the form requested. However, the number of bed days for children on adult psychiatric wards were collected from 2005-06 (until 2010-11) onwards. These are given in the following table.
| Bed days | |
| Notes: 1. Data on this issue was first collected in 2005-06 but data up until Quarter 3 of 2005-06 are not comparable with the data for Quarter 4 2005-06 onwards as information was collected on a different basis. 2. From 2008-09 onwards it was not mandatory for national health service foundation trusts to submit returns on bed days for children on adult psychiatric wards and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services wards but they did so on a voluntary basis. Source: Vital Signs Monitoring Returns from providers | |
Midwives
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 701W, on midwives, what proportion of people completing midwifery courses started as midwives in the NHS in each year since 2002-03; and what other careers such students go on to in each such year. [101212]
Anne Milton: The Higher Education Statistics Agency is the official agency for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about higher education.
The following table shows the percentage of midwifery graduates who started work as midwives in the national health service within six months of graduation in each year from 2002-03 to 2009-10.
| Of which: | |||
| Year of graduation | Graduates from midwifery courses (1) | Working (2) in midwifery | Percentage working in midwifery (3) |
| (1) Covers graduates of all domiciles from full-time and part-time postgraduate and undergraduate courses. (2) Covers full-time, part-time and voluntary employment and work and further study. (3) Based on the Standard Occupational Classification. Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of five, .so components may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on unrounded figures and are given to one decimal place. 2. Subject information is shown as Full Person Equivalents (FPEs) in the table. FPEs are derived by splitting student instances between the different subjects that make up their course aim. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey | |||
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Further information regarding graduates from midwifery courses who were working six months after graduation, but not working as midwives has been placed in the Library.
Milk: Standards
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely risks posed by unpasteurized milk obtained from (a) resellers and (b) farmers. [100379]
Anne Milton: We are advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has responsibility for food safety matters, that the Government's Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) has assessed the risk posed by unpasteurised or raw drinking milk on four separate occasions, most recently in 2011. The ACMSF assessed the risks of unpasteurised milk in relation to foodborne disease, but did not differentiate between the risks posed by different routes of sales. The ACMSF reports are available at:
http://acmsf.food.gov.uk/acmsfreps/acmsfreports
The FSA board will be discussing a paper on the microbiological safety of raw drinking milk at their next open board meeting on 20 March. The board will consider whether a review of the current controls governing the sale and marketing of raw drinking milk and cream is required.
Multiple Sclerosis: Health Services
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the findings of the Royal College of Physicians' national audit of services for people with multiple sclerosis 2011. [100932]
Paul Burstow: The Department has made no assessment of the findings of the National Audit of Services for People with Multiple Sclerosis, produced by the Royal college of Physicians. Responsibility for commissioning and providing services to meet the needs of people living with multiple sclerosis lies with primary care trusts.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published a clinical guideline for multiple sclerosis. This guideline provides comprehensive evidence-based information on the benefits and limitations of the various methods of diagnosing, treating and caring for people with multiple sclerosis. This helps health professionals and patients decide on the most appropriate treatment.
NHS: Drugs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Wholesale Dealer's Licences are valid; how many such licences were valid 12 months ago; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change. [100779]
Mr Simon Burns: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) an executive agency of the Department, regulates manufacturers and wholesale dealers of medicinal products for human use in the United Kingdom on behalf of the UK Licensing Authority.
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Records held on the MHRA's main data repository for information on wholesale dealer's licences has identified that 1,711 licensed wholesale dealers are authorised to wholesale deal in prescription only medicines for human use.
While this data repository for licences is not structured in a way to establish how many valid licences there were 12 months ago, figures obtained from the data repository in April 2011 show that there were 1,563 valid wholesale dealer licences.
The Licensing Authority regulates in the interest of public health. It is not a competition regulator and does not set a limit on the number of UK licensed wholesale dealers.
However licensed wholesale dealers must meet statutory safety standards. It has not made an assessment of the reason for this change.
Pancreatic Cancer: Health Services
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase the amount spent on pancreatic cancer research. [101010]
Paul Burstow: The Department is fully committed to clinical and applied research into treatment and cures for cancer. The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes high quality funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including pancreatic cancer. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.
The United Kingdom has the highest national per capita rate of cancer trial participation in the world.
The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) is currently hosting 16 trials and other well-designed studies in pancreatic cancer that are in set-up or recruiting patients. Details can be found on the UK CRN portfolio database at:
http://public.ukcrn.org.uk/search
In August 2011, the Government announced £800 million investment over five years in a series of NIHR biomedical research centres and units. This includes £61.5 million funding for the Royal Marsden/Institute of Cancer Research Biomedical Research Centre, and £6.5 million funding for the Liverpool biomedical research unit in gastrointestinal disease (which will have a major focus on pancreatic cancer).
Prescription Drugs
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the criteria by which prices paid to UK-based manufacturers of drugs prescribed under the NHS are set; [100279]
(2) what measures he has put in place to control the price at which prescription drugs are sold by manufacturers for use by UK patients. [100790]
Mr Simon Burns:
The Government regulate the prices of branded medicines through the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, which sets the national health service
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list price (i.e. the reimbursement price to community pharmacies). It is a maximum price as hospitals and community pharmacies may be able to purchase medicines at a discount.
The Department does not set the prices paid by pharmacies to manufacturers/wholesalers for generic drugs. The prices of generic medicines are set by the market. Generic manufacturers have the freedom to set the prices of their products. However, this price cannot be set higher than the price of the branded equivalent at the point the patent expired.
Community pharmacies purchase the drugs and appliances they provide from suppliers (manufacturers or wholesalers). Community pharmacies providing services under the Pharmaceutical Service Regulations 2005 are paid for drugs and appliances dispensed in primary care in accordance with the Drug Tariff, which is published each month and sets out Secretary of State payment Determinations.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a formal review of the prescription drugs supply chain; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require those involved in the supply of prescription drugs to take steps to deliver such drugs to UK pharmacies within a set time period. [100281]
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2012, Official Report, column 477W, on NHS: drugs, what his policy is on bringing in regulations to improve the supply of branded medicines if the published guidelines do not improve supply. [100776]
Mr Simon Burns: We are not currently proposing to undertake a formal review of the prescription drugs supply chain but we continue to work collaboratively with supply chain stakeholders to ensure patients continue to obtain their medicines quickly and conveniently. The Government are cautious about increasing the regulatory burden on the supply chain.
Procurement
Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his
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Department and
(b)
agencies for which he is responsible were rewarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in the latest period for which figures are available. [100371]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department, excluding Connecting for Health, awarded 9% of its contracts by value in the period between April and December 2011 directly to small and medium-sized enterprises.
To conduct a similar search and analysis for Connecting for Health would incur a disproportionate cost due to the nature of their information technology (IT) systems.
To conduct a similar search and analysis for the Department's agency (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) would incur a disproportionate cost due to the nature of their IT systems.
Self-harm: Young People
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of children and young people of each gender and of each age who committed acts of self-harm in England in 2011. [101101]
Paul Burstow: While figures are collected on the number of hospital admissions and the number of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances for self-harm, it is not possible to determine directly the overall number of children and young people that commit self-harm. There are no figures on those treated in a primary care setting or those who do not seek or require medical attention.
Details of the numbers of males and females of each age from 0 to 18 admitted to hospital as a result of deliberate self-harm between 2001-02 and 2010-11 as well as the numbers seen in A&E for the same reason between 2007-08 and 2010-11 are in the tables. The figures show that 17,694 children and young people aged 0-18 were admitted to hospital in 2010-11 as a result of deliberate self-harm and that 79% of them were female. They also show that of the 18,253 children seen in A&E as a result of deliberate self-harm, 68% were girls. These figures should not be added together since not all attenders at A&E are admitted to hospital and not all hospital in-patients were admitted via A&E.
| The total finished in-patient admission episodes (1) for intentional self-harm (2) by sex (including unknown) and age (under 19) for each year 2001-02 to 2010-11. Additionally, total A&E attendances for intentional self-harm (3) by sex (including unknown) and age (under 19) for each year 2007-08 to 2010-11—Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | |||||||||||
| In - patients | |||||||||||
| Sex | Age | 2010-11 | 2009-10 | 2008-09 | 2007-08 | 2006-07 | 2005-06 | 2004-05 | 2003-04 | 2002-03 | 2001-02 |
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| Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS information Centre for health and social care. | |||||||||||
| A&E | |||||
| Sex | Age | 2010-11 | 2009-10 | 2008-09 | 2007-08 |
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| (1 ) Finished admission episodesA finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2 ) Cause codesA supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. Only the first external cause code which is coded within the episode is counted in Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). ICD10 Cause codes used for Intentional self-harm are X60-84 and Y87.0 (3 ) A&E Patient GroupA code that indicates the reason for the A&E episode. Group 30 indicates those admitted for intentional self-harm A&E TreatmentTreatment is any intervention that takes place during an A&E attendance. For the financial year 2007-08, providers had the option of using one of three different treatment classifications of codes; A&E treatment codes, OPCS-4 and READ-5. For more information on these, visit HESonline: www.hesonline.nhs.uk From April 2008, all providers are mandated to use the A&E classification of treatment codes. Analysis of treatment based on A&E HES data is produced using A&E treatment codes unless stated otherwise. Providers are able to submit unlimited number of treatments for each attendance; however, only the first 12 treatment codes are available in HES. Analysis on treatment in A&E HES is based on the primary treatment code submitted, unless stated otherwise. The coverage and quality of treatment data available in 2007-08 A&E HES is poor and therefore great caution is needed before interpreting this in any way. Further information on the quality and coverage of treatment data is available in the 2007-08 A&E HES publication, which is available on HESonline: www.hesonline.nhs.uk. A&E data quality HES are compiled from data sent by a number of NHS providers across England. The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. A&E HES data is available for the year 2007-08, which covers attendances reported between April 2007 and March 2008. The A&E HES data for 2007-08 is the first record level national A&E attendance data to be available within HES. The current coverage and quality of A&E data in HES is poor and for this reason the dataset has been labelled as “experimental”. Allowing access to this data will also help stimulate discussion and encourage trusts to improve quality for subsequent releases. The 2007-08 A&E HES publication addresses some of the key data quality and coverage issues. This report is available on HESonline: www.hesonline.nhs.uk. Assessing growth through timeHES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Data qualityHES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics {HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |||||
Social Services: Finance
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has considered a cap on lifetime social care payments. [100601]
Paul Burstow: The coalition agreement set out the Government's clear commitment to reforming the system of social care to provide much more control to individuals and their carers, and to ease the cost burden that they and their families face.
This commitment to reform is why we acted quickly to set up the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, which published its report in July 2011.
The Commission recommended a “capped cost model”, where people's lifetime care costs are limited at between £25,000 and £50,000. Once someone has accrued eligible care costs up to this level, the state would cover their remaining care costs.
The Commission's report has formed the basis of Government's recent engagement with stakeholders. This engagement exercise examined the impact of these recommendations, and brought them together with other priorities for reform from across the social care system to look at the trade-offs between them.
When the Commission published its report in July 2011, Government set out their commitment to publish a White Paper on social care and a progress report on funding reform in the spring—a timetable to which we remain committed.
Tobacco
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings he has had with (a) people or (b) organisations (i) representing the tobacco industry and (ii) campaigning against the tobacco industry in the last 12 months. [100700]
Mr Simon Burns: Details of all official ministerial meetings with external parties are published quarterly in arrears on the Department's website. Data from 1 January 2010 up to the end of June 2011 can be found at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Departmentdirectors/DH_110759
Data for July to September are due to be published shortly and data for October to December will be published in the summer.
Tobacco: Packaging
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the potential effects of introducing plain packaging of tobacco products on smoking rates in the UK; [101122]
(2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the potential effects of an introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products on smoking rates. [101209]
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Anne Milton: The Department will publish a consultation on tobacco packaging in spring 2012, including a consultation-stage impact assessment.
The Department has commissioned a systematic review of the available evidence on plain packaging. The review has been supported through the Public Health Research Consortium, a network of researchers funded by the Department's Policy Research Programme, and will be made available at the same time as the consultation. The Department has also commissioned some further work on the potential effects of introducing plain packaging of tobacco products on smoking rates in the United Kingdom.
Further assessment of the potential effects of introducing plain packaging of tobacco products on smoking rates in the UK will be made in the light of consultation on this work and responses to the consultation.
Tuberculosis: Health Services
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to develop patient-centred tuberculosis services; [100983]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to support and monitor the quality of services in primary care trusts with high incidences of tuberculosis; [100984]
(3) with reference to his Department's public health outcomes framework, what steps his Department is taking to increase levels of tuberculosis treatment completion for groups with lower rates of completion; [100985]
(4) what steps his Department is taking to ensure compliance with clinical guidelines in respect of treatment of tuberculosis. [100986]
Anne Milton: Forthcoming new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on identifying and managing tuberculosis (TB) in hard-to-reach groups, and from the Royal College of Nursing on TB case management and cohort review, will complement existing NICE clinical guidelines, and help national health service organisations improve diagnosis, treatment and treatment completion for TB. It will also promote a more patient-centred approach.
It is for local NHS organisations working in partnership with the Health Protection Agency (HPA), local authorities, the voluntary sector and other relevant bodies to improve treatment completion levels and ensure compliance with clinical guidelines. The HPA collates and publishes information on the epidemiology of TB and aspects of service provision to assist local NHS organisations in service planning, commissioning and provision. The Public Health Outcomes Framework indicator on TB treatment completion will further encourage local organisations to improve outcomes on treatment completion and will help track progress.
Work and Pensions
Atos Healthcare
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what payments from the public purse have been made to Atos for each year since his Department's contract with Atos has been in place. [99479]
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Chris Grayling: Atos Healthcare and the Department for Work and Pensions entered into the Medical Services Agreement dated 15 March 20b5.
DWP's contract and terms with Atos Healthcare to perform Medical Services on behalf of the Department commenced on 1 September 2005 and is ongoing.
Payments from the public purse in respect of the DWP Medical Services Contract since 1 September 2005 are as follows:
| Financial period | £ |
| (1) Year to date. | |
The figures in the table not only cover the total number of assessments undertaken across all benefits, including IB Reassessment, but also costs relating to written and verbal medical advice, fixed overheads, administrative costs, investments new technology and other service improvements.
Since May 2010, DWP has undertaken activity to drive down Atos Healthcare costs which has achieved Value for Money (VfM) savings. The VfM savings achieved are set against a backdrop of increased volumes and the delivery of IB Reassessment, which started in April 2011. The activities to achieve these savings have included the negotiation of better deals for contract changes to reduce the price paid.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been filed with his Department about the conduct of Atos. [99480]
Chris Grayling: The DWP Medical Services Contracts Correspondence Team have, since 1 January 2009 to 29 February 2012, received a total of 1,714 complaints about Atos Healthcare. Unfortunately it is not possible to state how many of these complaints were related to the “conduct of Atos”, as this is not a category that is used.
The categories used within the correspondence team are: policy/contractual clinical findings/scrutiny; administration; HCP specific; accommodation; assessment; recording of assessments; delay to being assessed.
To provide a response to this question would involve the undertaking of a detailed review of all these cases to ascertain how many of the complaints were related to the “conduct of Atos” and exceed the disproportionate cost limit of £800 for parliamentary questions.
However, DWP monitors the performance of Atos Healthcare, including service delivery and the quality of the work of its health care professionals (HCPs) and this is achieved through a variety of methods, which include:
monthly management information;
claimant satisfaction surveys;
feedback from complaints.
All customer complaints received are taken seriously and are properly investigated prior to a response being issued.
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Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2012, Official Report, column 787W, on Atos Healthcare, whether he met the Chief Executive Officer of ATOS at his meetings with that company; and what was discussed at each meeting. [99964]
Chris Grayling: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), has not met with the chief executive officer of ATOS.
However I, as the Minister responsible, have on a number of occasions and the subject discussed was Work Capability Assessments.