Cholesterol
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England have high cholesterol; and if he will make a statement. [102190]
Anne Milton: Using data from the Health Survey for England (2008) and population statistics it is estimated that approximately 12 million men and 13.2 million women in England have raised cholesterol levels (levels greater than 5 millimoles per litre). Average cholesterol levels were 5.2 millimoles per litre for men and were 5.4 millimoles per litre for women.
Contraceptives
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated expenditure was on community contraceptive services for women (a) aged under 20 years and (b) aged 20 years and over in (i) England and (ii) each primary care trust area in (A) 2010, (B) 2011 and (C) the latest period for which figures are available in 2012. [101788]
Anne Milton: Expenditure on community contraceptive services for women, and for individual age groups, is not collected centrally. The Department currently makes recurrent revenue allocations direct to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of a national weighted capitation formula which is used to determine each PCTs target share of available resources. PCT recurrent revenue allocations are not broken down by policy or service area. Once allocated, it is for PCTs to commission the services they require to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations, taking account of both local and national priorities.
Crosby-Textor
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) senior officials in his Department have met employees of Crosby-Textor since May 2010. [102217]
Mr Simon Burns: Details of all 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 September 2011 can be found at:
http://data.gov.uk/dataset/dept-of-health-ministers-meetings-2010-onwards
Data for October to December 2011 will be published in the summer.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1106W
Information on whether senior officials have met with employees of Crosby-Textor since May 2010 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Doctors: Training
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received on the application process for those applying for entry to the Foundation Programme in August 2012; [100103]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that all graduates of medical schools are able to gain a place on the 2012 Foundation Programme; and if he will make a statement; [100104]
(3) what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the UK Foundation Programme Office on the response to oversubscription of the 2012 Foundation Programme; and if he will make a statement; [100105]
(4) what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the UK Foundation Programme Office on plans for responding to oversubscription of the Foundation Programme in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [100106]
Anne Milton: To date, all eligible applicants have successfully secured a place on the Foundation Programme.
However, this is an issue that is continually monitored by the four United Kingdom Health Departments, in liaison with the UK Foundation Programme office. Similarly, it is also considered by the Medical Programme Board of Medical Education England which includes representation from all the relevant stakeholders. To this end, the Medical Programme Board has recently established a working group specifically to consider potential pressures on future Foundation Programme applications.
For programmes starting in August 2012, 7,089 secured a place following the first recruitment round, leaving 81 applicants on a reserve list. We are confident these will all ultimately be placed as other applicants withdraw or fail their final examinations. (There was a larger reserve list in 2011 and all applicants were placed).
The numbers for the next three years cannot be known at this stage. However, if there is oversubscription the existing processes for managing this through the reserve list will be invoked.
Epilepsy: Health Services
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to address the misdiagnosis of epilepsy and non-epileptic seizure disorder. [102227]
Paul Burstow: Epilepsy can be difficult to diagnose because there are many other conditions that can cause seizures. There are no specific tests for epilepsy, however in some cases tests can highlight an underlying medical condition which may be causing the seizures.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline on epilepsy recommends a review by an epilepsy specialist within two weeks of presentation.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1107W
General Practitioners
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answers of 19 March 2012, Official Report, column 556W, on clinical commissioning groups, if he will take steps to prevent the NHS Commissioning Board undertaking activities before it has been established. [101699]
Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Commissioning Board will be established later this year, and only then will it be able to carry any of the functions set out in the Health and Social Care Bill.
The NHS Commissioning Board Authority was established as a special health authority on 31 October 2011, to prepare for the establishment of the NHS Commissioning Board. Its functions are restricted to those set out in the relevant establishment legislation, including directions made by the Secretary of State for Health.
These can be found at the following links:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/2237/made
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsLegislation/DH_130917
The Department will hold the authority to account against the functions and objectives it has been given.
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answers of 19 March 2012, Official Report, column 556W, on clinical commissioning groups, (1) whether the interpretation of the Competition Act 1998 referred to in the answers included the possibility that a clinical commissioning group might count as an association of undertakings; and if he will make a further statement; [101700]
(2) if he will consult the European Commission about the application of European competition law to the decisions of clinical commissioning groups; and if he will make a further statement; [101701]
(3) what discussions his Department has had with the NHS Commissioning Board Special Health Authority about the application of European competition law to the decisions of clinical commissioning groups; and if he will make a further statement. [101702]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department's view is that competition law will not apply to clinical commissioning groups in their roles as commissioners of services because the case law is clear that where public bodies carry out an activity of an exclusively social nature, neither that activity, nor the bodies' purchase of goods or services for the purpose of that activity, will generally be treated as an economic activity. A clinical commissioning group will be a statutory body, not an association of undertakings.
I understand departmental officials have briefed individuals within the NHS Commissioning Board Authority regarding the Government's position. We have no plans to consult the European Commission.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1108W
General Practitioners: Management Consultants
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of expenditure by primary care trusts on management consultants contracted to support shadow clinical commissioning groups in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date. [101731]
Mr Simon Burns: Information relating to the management consultancy spend by primary care trusts on supporting emerging clinical commissioning groups is not held by the Department.
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to emerging clinical commissioning groups on the acceptance of support from management consultancy firms on a pro bono or commercial basis. [101965]
Mr Simon Burns: No guidance has been given by the Department. Primary care trusts (PCTs) will remain statutorily responsible and accountable for commissioning NHS services in 2012-13. Strategic health authority and PCT clusters are able to accept external expertise (from either the public, voluntary or private sectors) to help clinical commissioning groups develop the range of skills, knowledge and working arrangements needed to commission health services effectively in the future.
Health Visitors: Crimes of Violence
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many physical assaults on health visitors were recorded in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) the latest period for which figures are available in 2012. [101790]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The number of reported physical assaults against national health service staff in England is collated annually. Information is available for each NHS body but not broken down by professional occupation. Information on the number of reported physical assaults against NHS staff and criminal sanctions following assaults, broken down by NHS body, for the year 2009-10 and 2010-11 is in the “Tables showing the number of reported physical assaults on NHS staff in 2009-10, broken down by NHS trust/PCT” and “Tables showing the number of reported physical assaults on NHS staff in 2010-11, broken down by NHS trust/PCT” which have already been placed in the Library.
The NHS staff survey provides information from staff in all trusts and social enterprises who have experienced violence. The following table shows the percentage of staff responding to the survey who reported that they had experienced physical violence from patients, relatives or members of the public.
| Percentage | |||
| National | All nursing staff | Health visitors | |
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1109W
Health: Management Consultants
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by his Department's arm's length bodies on external consultants in (a) 2010-11 and (b) each of the last five years for which figures are available. [101871]
Mr Simon Burns: External consultancy services expenditure for the Department's arm's length bodies and executive agency for the last five closed financial years is shown in the following table:
| Executive non-departmental public bodies, executive agencies and special health authorities (1,2,3) | |
| £000 | |
| Notes: 1. Figures for 2009-10 and 2010-11 for executive non-departmental public bodies, executive agencies and special health authorities are on a different basis to those for earlier years and are therefore not directly comparable. 2. Figures included for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are for ‘Professional and administrative fees’. This category includes litigation and other legal costs as well as expenditure on consultancy services, which cannot be separately identified. 3.Figures included for the Care Quality Commission do not include external legal advice. It is not possible to identify how much of this expenditure falls within the definition of “consultancy services”. | |
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on expenditure on external consultants by (a) his Department, (b) its arm’s length bodies and (c) Connecting for Health. [101966]
Mr Simon Burns: Department of Health Ministers have not met the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), in the last 12 months to specifically discuss management consultancy expenditure.
The Department submits information on approved consultancy expenditure by the Department and its arm’s length bodies (ALBs) to the Cabinet Office every month using the Cabinet Office consultancy spend tracker. Departmental officials and Cabinet Office officials hold regular discussions concerning consultancy expenditure. As part of the Cabinet Office’s efficiency controls, there is an ongoing freeze on all Department and ALB management consultancy spend unless it is deemed an operational necessity. All expenditure over £20,000 requires approval by the Department’s director of finance.
Herbal Medicine: EU Law
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency implements the traditional herbal medicinal products directive in a manner that does not impose unnecessary burdens on the manufacturers of such products. [102277]
Mr Simon Burns:
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is committed to effective, proportionate implementation of the European
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1110W
directive on traditional herbal medicines which can best ensure its benefits for consumers and for companies compliant with the legislation. The classification of products as medicines is made on a case-by-case basis by the MHRA under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc) Regulations 1994 as amended. The MHRA document Guidance Note 8 “A guide to what is a medicinal product” is currently being revised to clarify the MHRA’s position on the European directive on traditional herbal medicines and this will be discussed with industry trade associations in April.
Hospital Beds
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many older people were subject to delayed discharge from hospital as a result of malnutrition in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) the latest period for which figures are available in 2012. [101827]
Paul Burstow: The information requested is not collected centrally. Delayed discharges occur when a patient is medically fit to be transferred from hospital, but is still occupying an acute bed because of a lack of capacity in the wider system. If a patient is suffering from malnutrition and is not medically fit, they would not be ready for discharge from hospital and therefore could not be counted as delayed.
Maternity Services: Greater London
Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid in compensation in respect of maternity cases by Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust in each of the last five years; and how many claims are outstanding. [101688]
Anne Milton: The following table shows the amount of damages paid in respect of obstetrics claims against Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust in the years 2006 to 2011.
| Total damages paid (1) obstetrics (£) | |
| (1) Damages paid in a given year may be from claims settled in that year, payments made on unsettled claims, (e.g. an interim payment), or claims settled in earlier years that have ongoing annual payments. Source: National Health Service Litigation Authority website March 2012 | |
The number of claims relating to obstetrics that have not been settled at Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust is 28.
Monitor: Consultants
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts with external consultants were held by Monitor in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; how many have been held in 2011-12 to date; for what services the contracts were made; and what the cost was of each. [101868]
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1111W
Mr Simon Burns: The following table sets out information held in central records about contracts held by Monitor since 2008, together with a description and cost, including VAT.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1112W
|
Clarify legal implications of staffing Future Organisation with people from Monitor, CCP and PbR |
||
Monitor: McKinsey and Company
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work was carried out by McKinsey under contracts held by Monitor in 2011-12; and what the duration is of those contracts. [101771]
Mr Simon Burns: The following table sets out information on the work carried out by McKinsey and Company for Monitor in 2011-12 to the end of January 2012, including the duration of those contracts.
| Description of work | Duration of contract |
Muscular Dystrophy: East Midlands
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the NHS East Midlands Specialised Commissioning Group has made in developing neuromuscular services in the region; and if he will make a statement. [101896]
Paul Burstow: The East Midlands Specialised Commissioning Group has established a Neuromuscular Network Group to advise on commissioning of neuromuscular services. From April this year, the Yorkshire and The Humber Specialised Commissioning Group will commission specialised neuromuscular services for the people who live in the hon. Member's constituency of Bassetlaw.
NHS Foundation Trusts
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has powers to refuse the merger of NHS foundation trusts covering two adjacent counties. [101907]
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1113W
Mr Simon Burns: Under the National Health Service Act 2006, the Secretary of State for Health does not have powers to stop two NHS foundation trusts merging. This position would remain unchanged following Royal Assent of the Health and Social Care Bill. The Bill will enable foundation trusts to make their own decisions about organisational change including mergers, subject to strengthened accountability arrangements that require governors to approve decisions.
Foundation trusts will continue to be under a duty of public involvement on matters involving the planning of, and changes to, service provision. Before a merger between two foundation trusts could proceed, the trusts would also need to satisfy NHS commissioners and Monitor of the impact on the continuity of essential services to NHS patients. It could also be reviewed by the Office of Fair Trading whose role is to protect consumers and, in this case, patients’ interests. In all cases, the Care Quality Commission would continue to safeguard appropriate standards of quality and safety.
NHS: Advocacy
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the capacity of advocacy organisations to absorb the administrative costs associated with achieving the quality performance mark; [101999]
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the commissioning processes of local authorities for advocacy services for people with learning disabilities are Compact compliant (a) nationally and (b) in Birmingham; [102000]
(3) what his policy is on requiring local authorities to include the administrative cost of third sector advocacy organisations achieving the quality performance mark in assessments of full cost recovery required for Compact compliance purposes when commissioning. [102001]
Paul Burstow: The information requested is not collected centrally. The vast majority of advocacy and support is not a legal or statutory requirement, but commissioned on a discretionary basis by local authorities and primary care trusts.
The Department supported and funded the Advocacy Quality Mark as a social care sector led initiative to promote quality in the advocacy sector. It is an initiative which encourages the advocacy sector to reflect on what quality means to them and their clients in a cost effective manner. The Department provided funding for organisations providing Independent Mental Capacity Advocate services for people who lack the capacity to make certain important decisions, to assist them in attaining the Quality Mark. Many other advocacy organisations have chosen to apply for the Quality Mark to demonstrate that their services are high quality. Advocacy organisations decide themselves whether they wish to apply for the Quality Mark; these are locally made decisions.
The Department is committed to the principles of the Compact and pursues a “compact compliant” way of working in its business with civil society organisations. The Department strongly supports local authorities signing up to local compact agreements that will ensure
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1114W
commissioning processes for voluntary sector advocacy services are Compact compliant. The Department promotes the principles of full cost recovery and as such, takes the view that administrative costs associated with achieving the Quality Mark should be included in the assessment of full cost recovery. However, local Compact agreements are the responsibility of local authorities, together with other local partners, including local voluntary sector advocacy services.
NHS: Management Consultants
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by NHS bodies on external management consultants in 2011-12 to date. [101772]
Mr Simon Burns: The quarter three of 2011-12, year to date expenditure on consultancy services in national health service trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities totalled £179.3 million(1).
(1) The Department does not collect data from NHS foundation trusts. Where an NHS trust obtains foundation trust status part way through any year, the data provided are only for the part of the year the organisation operated as an NHS trust.
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to commission external consultants to carry out independent assessments of the boards of NHS trusts. [101869]
Mr Simon Burns: A Board Governance Assurance Framework for aspirant foundation trusts has been developed to assist trust boards through a combination of self and independent assessment processes to ensure that they are appropriately skilled and prepared to achieve foundation trust status.
The assurance framework is structured into two key stages. The first stage is the Board Governance Memorandum—a mandatory process where boards self-assess their current capacity and capability, which is supported by appropriate evidence and then externally validated by an independent supplier. The second stage is the development modules where boards can opt to gain a deeper level of assurance into the specific areas of quality governance, organisational strategy and financial governance.
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by NHS bodies on external consultants in 2010-11. [101870]
Mr Simon Burns: The national health service spent £291,047,000 in financial year 2010-11 on consultancy services.
Note:
This includes primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and NHS trusts. The Department does not collect data from NHS foundation trusts. Where an NHS trust obtains foundation trust status part way through any year, the data provided is only for the part of the year the organisation operated as an NHS trust.
Source:
NHS audited summarisation schedules (which does not include information on NHS spend with individual consultancy firms).
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1115W
NHS: Standards
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2012, Official Report, column 192W, on NHS: standards, how many people waited longer than 18 weeks for a consultation in secondary services in January 2012. [101389]
Mr Simon Burns: 25,496 or 2.9% of patients who started non-admitted treatment in January 2012 had waited more than 18 weeks from referral. The median time waited for patients who started non-admitted treatment in January 2012 was 4.4 weeks, and at the end of January, the number of patients waiting longer than 18 weeks to start treatment was the lowest level since referral to treatment data were first published in 2007.
NHS: Theft
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many thefts from NHS premises were recorded in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) the latest period for which figures are available in 2012. [101791]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Pancreatic Cancer: Health Services
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to improve pancreatic cancer survival rates; [101863]
(2) when he last made an assessment of the standards of care and treatment available to pancreatic cancer patients; [101864]
(3) what recent assessment he has made of geographical variations in care for cancer patients; [101865]
(4) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that pancreatic cancer patients are (a) more involved in their care and (b) supported by clinical nurse specialists. [101866]
Paul Burstow: We are committed to improving survival rates for all cancer patients, including those with pancreatic cancer. We know that late presentation and patients having a more advanced stage of disease at diagnosis are two of the main reasons for variation in cancer survival outcomes. This is why we have prioritised achieving earlier diagnosis in “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer”, published on 12 January 2011. The Strategy, backed by more than £750 million over the spending review period, sets out an ambition to save an additional 5,000 lives every year by 2014-15 through earlier diagnosis of cancer and improved access to screening and treatment.
We know that there are regional variations in the treatment, care and support provided to cancer patients in England. To support the national health service to tackle this, we are providing data to providers and commissioners that allow them to benchmark their services and outcomes against one another and to identify where improvements need to be made. Through the National Cancer Intelligence Network, we have already made available data collections on survival rates and surgical resection rates across a range of cancers, including pancreatic.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1116W
In August 2011, the Department and the National Cancer Action Team published the “Radiotherapy Dataset First Annual Report” to help tackle unwarranted variation in radiotherapy services and from April 2012 we are mandating the collection of chemotherapy data to achieve the same. In “Improving Outcomes a Strategy for Cancer: First Annual Report”, published on 13 December 2011, we have said that continuing to provide the NHS with benchmarked data on variations in services and outcomes as a lever for improvements is a priority for 2012.
“Improving Outcomes in Upper Gastro-intestinal Cancers”, published in. 2001, sets out recommendations on the treatment, management and care of patients with upper, gastro-intestinal cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Our Cancer Outcomes Strategy makes it clear that the Improving Outcomes in Cancer guidance, now the responsibility of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), will continue to be a feature of all commissioned cancer services. Through National Cancer Peer Review, a national quality assurance programme, NHS cancer services are. part of a rolling programme of assessment against a nationally agreed set of quality measures based on the NICE Improving Outcomes in Cancer guidance.
To assess cancer patients' experience of care, during the first three months of 2010 the Department undertook a national survey of cancer care. “The National Report of the 2010 Cancer Patient Experience Survey”, published in December 2010, is the largest England-wide survey of cancer patients' experience of care with over 67,000 respondents from 158 trusts. Patients with pancreatic cancer are included within the results for the 3,577 patients with upper gastro-intestinal (upper GI) cancers who participated in the survey. In the following table are the survey responses most relevant to the information requested. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
To incentivise quality improvements in patient treatment, care and experience, all participating trusts were sent a bespoke report showing their own results. Each report displayed the results for each question in the survey benchmarked against other trusts. These findings are helping the NHS to identify areas in cancer care that need improvement locally and develop services that are more responsive to patients' needs. We are carrying out a survey for 2011 that will show where improvements have been made and where further action is needed.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1117W
To support the NHS to develop the CNS workforce, the Cancer Outcomes Strategy sets out our intention to build the evidence base for the benefits and costs savings that CNSs can offer. This follows an independent report we published in December 2010 that showed that, in many scenarios, the costs of additional support roles are likely to be outweighed by the savings that can be achieved. A series of case studies have now been produced to align with the Department's Nursing Career Framework, and the cancer version of the framework will be used to attract new nurses into oncology and aid the career development of the existing CNS workforce.
Prostate Cancer
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide an update on the status of the prostate cancer drug Abiraterone. [101653]
Paul Burstow: Abiraterone (Zytiga) is licensed for the treatment of metastatic prostrate cancer and there are no national restrictions on its prescribing in the national health service.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising abiraterone for two separate indications. NICE is an independent body and has not yet issued final guidance to the national health service on either indication.
In the absence of final positive NICE technology appraisal guidance, primary care trusts (PCTs) are required to take funding decisions locally based on an assessment of the available evidence and to have processes in place to consider individual funding requests for drugs. Where a cancer drug is not routinely funded by a PCT, patients may be able to access it through the Cancer Drugs Fund.
Royal Sussex County Hospital
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on proposed investment in and redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital; whether formal agreement of the funding required for this project will be secured by the end of this financial year; and if he will make a statement. [102116]
Mr Simon Burns: Brighton and Hove city council granted full planning permission for the Royal Sussex County Hospital development project (known as the “3Ts”) at the end of January 2012, a condition of approval for the scheme's outline business case (OBC), which considers the overall value for money, affordability, strategic fit and commercial issues involved.
Ministers understand that the OBC will now be considered by the Board of South of England Strategic Health Authority at the end of March 2012. Subject to approval the Department and Treasury will then need to consider the OBC and also give their decision, a process which will take at least two months. The trust then needs to complete a full business case (FBC) which it is anticipating will be complete this autumn, and is hoping it can submit a final FBC to the Department and Treasury for consideration in early 2013. It is only at this point that the public capital funding required for the scheme can be confirmed.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1118W
Tuberculosis
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of progress in tackling tuberculosis in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [101397]
Anne Milton: Provisional data for 2011 show a 7.1% increase in the number of cases in England (8,418), compared to the provisional figures for 2010 (7,862), although the incidence is lower than in 2009 (8,423). This increase in 2011 followed a 6.7% decrease last year for provisional 2010 data compared to provisional 2009 data.
The Health Protection Agency advises that the provisional data for 2011 should be interpreted with caution as numbers are subject to change due to late notifications and de-notifications of cases. It is therefore too early to determine whether or not this is a return to the upward trend of cases seen in the past two decades, or if it is fluctuation of case numbers over time. Final data for 2011 will be published later this year with further analysis.
However, these data underline the need for national health service organisations and their partners to sustain efforts to improve the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.
Information relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administrations.
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he gave to the need for (a) service co-location and (b) accountability when taking the decision that tuberculosis services should be commissioned at the local rather than the sub-national level under the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill. [101807]
Anne Milton: The Health and Social Care Bill provides for clinical commissioning groups to work collaboratively on commissioning, for example by entering into lead commissioning arrangements or pooled budgetary arrangements. The NHS Commissioning Board Authority is supporting emerging clinical commissioning groups in considering how they might commission certain services, such as for tuberculosis (TB), collaboratively and at scale.
Recent public health guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on identifying and managing tuberculosis in hard to reach groups recommends that commissioners could consider collaborative commissioning arrangements for TB prevention and control services, which may, for example, cover a major metropolitan district, taking into account factors such as local TB incidence and existing service configurations for organisations involved in TB prevention and control.
The Health and Social Care Bill also sets out the Government's intention that the new NHS Commissioning Board should have responsibility for directly commissioning a number of services. Included within these services are specialised services for people with rare conditions. We are currently considering the scope of national commissioning to be carried out by the Board and the extent to which this will cover highly specialised TB services.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1119W
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how tuberculosis control is included in local health protection plans. [101831]
Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) works with local national health service organisations to support planning for local tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control services.
The HPA is supporting local NHS organisations in cohort reviews of TB cases and incidents as recommended in new public health guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, and is piloting a model of multidisciplinary review of local TB services that will be evaluated.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cars, vans and lorries have been intercepted at points of entry into the UK as part of the UK Border Agency's steps to tackle alcohol duty fraud in the last (a) 12 months and (b) two years. [101962]
Damian Green [holding answer 26 March 2012]: Border Force does not hold central records on the number of vehicles intercepted at UK ports of entry specifically related to tackling alcohol duty fraud. Local management records are retained. However information can be extracted only at a disproportionate cost.
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from the drinks industry on the Government's alcohol strategy. [101932]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 26 March 2012]: Home Office ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of partners, organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. We will consult on a number of elements in the alcohol strategy.
Aviation: Security
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many iris scanners there are at airports in the UK. [101737]
Damian Green: Border Force has seven operational IRIS gates installed at five locations (Heathrow Terminals 1, 3, 4 and 5 and Gatwick North).
British Nationality: Families
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will review the rights of family members who do not have the nationality of an EU member state enjoying the same rights as an EU citizen whom they have accompanied to the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement; [100116]
(2) if she will implement a mandatory short stay visa requirement under Regulation No. 539/2001 for all future accompanying persons from 1 July 2012. [100117]
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1120W
Damian Green: The rights of European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and their family members to live and work in other European countries, and to be accompanied by their third country national family members, are set out in legislation (Directive 2004/38/EC, known as “the Free Movement Directive”) by which all EU member states are bound. The UK has implemented the directive via the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006 (“the EEA Regulations”). Non-EEA nationals who wish to accompany or join their EEA national family members in the UK may, in accordance with the EEA Regulations, apply for an EEA Family Permit before travelling to facilitate their journey to the UK.
The EEA Regulations are regularly reviewed to ensure that free movement law, as interpreted by the UK's courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union, is implemented correctly.
The United Kingdom is not bound by Regulation No. 539/2001 as we do not participate in the migration aspects of the Schengen acquis. Our visa requirements for third country nationals who are not family members of EEA nationals are therefore set out in separate United Kingdom Immigration Rules.
The Government are committed to protecting free movement rights from fraud and abuse and the Secretary of State for the Home Department has shared the UK's views on the matter with other member states at JHA Council on every occasion that she attended since June 2011.
Crime Prevention: Motor Vehicles
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Article 5 of EU Council Decision 2004/919/EC, what the UK contact point is for tackling cross-border vehicle crime; and on how many occasions it has exchanged information with the contact points of other EU member states on methods and best practices of preventing vehicle crime in each year since 2005. [101728]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 26 March 2012]:Between 2007 and April 2011, a representative of the Association of Chief Police Officers' Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) attended twice-yearly meetings with European counterparts, and AVCIS participated in four joint operations.
Drugs: Crime
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to EU Council Decision 2003/847/JHA of 27 November 2003, whether the drugs 2C-I, 2C-T-2, 2C-T-7 and TMA-2 are subject to control measures and criminal penalties in the UK. [101199]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 20 March 2012]: The EU Council Decision 2003/847/JHA defined the following substances as new synthetic drugs to be made subject to control measures and criminal sanctions by member states:
2C-I (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine);
2C-T-2 (2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine);
2C-T-7 (2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine); and
TMA-2 (2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine).
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1121W
No action was required by the UK as these have been controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as Class A drugs since 1977. The possession, supply and production of these drugs is therefore prohibited and, unless under lawful authority, attracts Class A criminal penalties.
Drugs: Regulation
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to lift the restriction on certain controlled drugs to enable full nurse prescribing to be implemented; and if she will make a statement. [100991]
James Brokenshire: [holding answer, 20 March 2012]: The Home Office is currently working on a Statutory Instrument to implement changes to controlled drugs legislation to enable nurse and pharmacist independent prescribers to prescribe all controlled drugs within their competence. The Statutory Instrument will be laid in Parliament this month, subject to consideration by Ministers. The expectation is that the changes will take effect in April 2012.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1122W
Entry Clearances: Foreign Workers
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many out-of-country visas were issued to both main applicants and dependents for intra-company transfers between 2000 and 2011. [97837]
Mrs May: Tier 2 of the points based system (PBS) for intra-company transfers (ICT) has been reformed in recent years. For this reason, direct comparisons before and after the changes in both November 2008 and April 2011 would be misleading.
The PBS Tier 2—ICT category was introduced in November 2008. Prior to this, intra-company transfers were included in the work permit system.
In April 2011, there was a further change to the PBS ICT route whereby it was separated into long- and short-term categories including both main applicants and dependants. Prior to April, dependants of the ICT category were issued visas under the PBS Tier 2—Dependent category.
The available information is provided in the following table:
| Tier 2 intra-company transfers out of country visas to the United Kingdom issued, main applicants and dependants | ||||||||
| Main applicants | Dependants | |||||||
| Tier 2—intra-company transfers | Tier 2—intra-company transfers, short-term | Tier 2—intra-company transfers, long-term | Total | Tier 2—intra-company transfers | Tier 2—intra-company transfers, short-term | Tier 2—intra-company transfers, long-term | Total | |
| (1) Not applicable (2) Not available Notes: 1. PBS Tier 2 and the category intra-company transfers were introduced in November 2003. 2. PBS Tier 2 categories for short- and long-term intra-company transfers were introduced in April 2011. Prior to April 2011, dependants of those issued visas under the PBS Tier 2 ICT category were recorded differently. 3. Figures for entry clearance visas are Management Information and are provisional and are subject to change. | ||||||||
Those issued with visas in the short-term ICT category are granted leave for no longer than 12 months and are not included in ONS figures for net migration.
Some entry clearance visas continued to be issued in pre-PBS categories for a period following the introduction of PBS. These would include those for the purposes of work for employees of multinational companies who were being transferred to a UK branch of the organisation, but these are now at a very low levels.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1123W
The pre-PBS work permit system was a two-stage process. Not all those granted work permits took up jobs and some may have been refused entry clearance or leave to enter. The UK Border Agency does not hold visa data for ICTs prior to November 2008 in a readily available form. These figures could be obtained only by examining individual applications at disproportionate cost.
Data relating to out of country visas issued under Tier 2 intra-company transfers are published in table ‘be.04.q’ of the Home Office statistical release ‘Immigration Statistics’.
A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics October to December 2011 is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics web pages at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q4-2011/
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the plans to reduce staffing levels at the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the potential effect of such plans on the fulfilment of the Commission's statutory remit on equality and human rights. [100388]
Lynne Featherstone: It is for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to determine what level and structure of its staffing, including grading and staff numbers, is appropriate to its functions and to the requirements of economy, efficiency and effectiveness, within its available resources and its overall staffing complement. Like all public bodies, the EHRC must ensure value for money in its use of public funds.
Following the Government's spending review, we announced in October 2010 that we will be reducing the EHRC's budget by over half, from £55 million in 2010-11 to £26 million in 2014-15. In deciding on its budget allocation, we took account of concerns about the EHRC's performance to date.
In March 2011, we set out plans to reform the EHRC in our consultation document Building a Fairer Britain: Reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. We will respond to the consultation shortly.
Foreign Workers: Domestic Service
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics her office holds on the number of migrant domestic workers reporting unlawful working conditions. [100176]
Damian Green [holding answer 15 March 2012]: This information is not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols.
Published statistics are available on a quarterly and annual basis, which report on the number of overseas domestic workers granted settlement. In 2010, the number of grants was 1,062(1).
(1) Data taken from tables ‘se.03’ of the statistical release “Immigration Statistics October-December 2011”. This publication is available
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1124W
from the Library of the House and from the Home Office science, research and statistics website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q4-2011
Freezing Orders: EU Action
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many freezing orders the UK (a) sent to and (b) received from other EU member states under the procedure established by EU Council Framework Decision 2003/577/JHA of 22 July 2003 in each year since 2003; and how many such freezing orders were executed. [101200]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 20 March 2012]: Council Framework Decision 2003/577/JHA) establishes rules under which an EU member state recognises and executes in its territory a freezing order for property or evidence issued by the judicial authority of another EU member state in the framework of criminal proceedings. The UK Central Authority (UKCA) within the Home Office deals with incoming and outgoing freezing order requests in relation to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. To date, there have been no freezing order requests sent to member states, and four freezing order requests have been received from member states. Of these, one has been executed by the UK.
Immigration
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for EEA2 residence cards were made by non-EU nationals living in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford, (b) the London borough of Bexley and (c) England in each of the last five years. [101362]
Damian Green: Constituency level data are not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols. However, the UK Border Agency publishes statistics on a quarterly and annual basis that cover all EEA applications to the UK broken down by nationality. Published statistics regarding EEA applications can be found under table ee.02 at the following location:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-tabs-q4-2011/eea-q4-2011-tabs
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of people who had been granted limited leave to remain for an initial five-year period were then granted another period of leave to remain in the latest period for which figures are available; and what assessment she has made of the effect of limited leave to remain on the ability of individuals to apply for a job. [101591]
Damian Green [holding answer 23 November 2011 ]: This information is not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols.
However, published statistics are available on a quarterly and annual basis that report on applications for extensions. This publication is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office science, research and statistics website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q4-2011
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1125W
With reference to the applicant’s ability to apply for a job when granted limited leave to remain, individuals must abide by the conditions of their leave, and their ability to work will vary depending on the category of leave they have. In some circumstances individuals may need to make a further application if they wish to take up a job in the UK.
Immigration Controls: Olympic Games 2012
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will put in place additional border checks at all points of entry to the UK for the duration of the London 2012 Olympic Games. [100118]
Damian Green: Border Force will continue to undertake the full range of standard checks at the border for all passengers arriving during the Olympic and Paralympic period.
In addition, from 30 March, biometrics will be captured at the border from visa national games family members who use their accreditation card as a visa waiver where they have not previously provided fingerprints and facial images.
Olympic and Paralympic Games family members such as athletes, coaches and officials will be required to obtain accreditation for the Olympic or Paralympic Games before participating in the games, and will undergo a series of biographical security checks (for example name and date of birth) undertaken by the Home Office prior to being granted accreditation and receiving the Olympic or Paralympic Identity and Accreditation Card.
Immigration: Lewisham
Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the number of foreign nationals in Lewisham, Deptford constituency pursuing applications of any kind with the UK Border Agency who do not have access to public funds; and how many such foreign nationals are children. [101683]
Damian Green: Constituency-level data are not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols.
However the UK Border Agency publishes immigration statistics on a quarterly and annual basis. The latest published statistics on asylum and non-asylum applications can be found here:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q4-2011/
Immunity Certificates
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether public interest immunity applications were made in the inquest into the 7 July 2005 bombings. [101527]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 22 March 2012]: In the 7 July inquests the Secretary of State for the Home Department made three public interest immunity applications and West Yorkshire police made one.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1126W
Intellectual Property
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has a role in developing intellectual property policy. [100354]
Damian Green: The Home Office does not take a specific policy role in developing policy on intellectual property (IP) matters, but responds to consultations and contributes to IP-related forums as they arise, depending on relevance. It is currently considering making a response to the consultation launched by the Intellectual Property Office on proposed changes to UK copyright legislation. The Department will make a decision on whether to respond before the deadline of 21 March.
Lasers
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has plans to alter the regulation of the (a) importation to the UK and (b) sale of lasers. [101165]
James Brokenshire: The Government have no current plans to alter these regulations.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to classify lasers as an offensive weapon. [101171]
James Brokenshire: The Government have no current plans to classify lasers as an offensive weapon.
Lasers sold in the UK and the EU are covered by safety standards governing which lasers should be used by trained operators and are therefore not suitable for use by the general public. Only Class 1 and Class 2 lasers (under 1 mw in strength) are suitable for general consumer use.
Any deliberate misuse of Class 1 or Class 2 lasers, including shining lasers at aircraft, is a matter for the police and prosecution authorities. Under the Air Navigation Order 2009 it is an offence to act in a manner likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft. Any person found guilty of such an offence could face a custodial sentence of up to five years.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have had recent discussions with their US counterparts on dangers arising from the aiming of lasers at aircraft. [101172]
James Brokenshire: Neither the Secretary of State for the Home Department, nor officials in the Home Office have had recent discussions with their US counterparts on dangers arising from the aiming of lasers at aircraft.
Lost Property
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what property has been lost or stolen from her Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property. [100898]
Damian Green: The Home Office reports figures for lost or stolen BlackBerrys, mobile phones and laptops on an annual basis. The most recently published figures related to the period 1 January to 31 December 2010 and are shown in the following table.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1127W
Figures relating to the period 1 January to 31 December 2011 are due for release in April 2012.
Lost and stolen laptops include both Remote Access Service (RAS) and non-RAS laptops. A premium is paid to our IT provider which covers all lost or stolen RAS equipment. There is no additional cost to the Home Office when RAS equipment is lost or stolen. An estimated replacement cost of £1,000 has been assumed for all non-RAS laptops.
Lost and stolen BlackBerry devices and mobile phones are reported together. The cost of a lost or stolen BlackBerry device is £135. An estimated value of £50 has been assumed for other mobile phones.
Arrangements for the management of physical assets other than ICT across the Home Office estate vary, and central data on thefts and losses is therefore collated annually at the end of the financial year. Further information for the last 12 months could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Device/incident | Total number |
Metropolitan Police: Public Appointments
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to bring forward proposals to enable local authorities to be involved in the selection of borough commanders in the Metropolitan Police Service. [101337]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 26 March 2012]: None. The selection and recruitment of borough commanders in the Metropolitan Police Service is a matter for the Commissioner.
Money Laundering
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Article 4 of EU Council Framework Decision 2001/500/JHA of 26 June 2001, on money laundering and confiscation of proceeds of crime, how many requests for mutual assistance in asset identification, tracing, freezing, seizing and confiscation were (a) received and (b) issued by the UK authorities in each year since 2002; and how many of those requests have been granted. [99988]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 14 March 2012]:This information is not held centrally. I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 18W.
Olympic Games 2012
Mr Hanson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 814W, on Olympic Games 2012, what additional resources her Department has allocated to meet the cost of
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1128W
commitments relating to the London 2012 Olympic Games by each force listed in 2012-13; [97153]
(2) how many officers from each police force area are expected to be deployed to the Metropolitan Police in support of policing of the London 2012 Olympics. [97256]
Nick Herbert: Provisional funding allocations from the Home Office for the financial year 2012-13 for host police forces for the additional costs of Olympic safety and security are not yet confirmed.
Mutual aid between police forces for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is co-ordinated through the Association of Chief Police Officers' Police National Information and Co-ordination Centre (ACPO PNICC). The number of officers to be requested is kept under constant review, and it is expected that all non-venue forces across the UK will be asked to supply resources during the London 2012 Games. Final figures for requests are not yet available, but PNICC will ensure that this is proportionate to their relative size and capacity. Donor forces will be reimbursed in accordance with the prevailing mutual aid arrangements, which will allow the chief constable, should he or she choose to do so, to back fill for officers abstracted, thereby mitigating any potential impact on local service delivery.
Organised Crime
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish a strategy for tackling violence initiated or facilitated by gangs; and if she will make a statement. [100521]
James Brokenshire: The Government's strategy for tackling violence involving gangs is set out in the Ending Gang and Youth Violence Report which the Home Secretary published on 1 November 2011.
A copy of this report can be found at
www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Organised Crime: EU Action
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of liaison officers operating under EU Council Decision 2003/170/JHA of 27 February 2003; and how many such liaison officers the UK (a) sent to and (b) hosted from other EU member states in each year since 2003. [101202]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 20 March 2012]: UK law enforcement agencies collaborate closely with a number of EU member states in the fight against organised crime in various global locations. This collaboration is consistent with EU Council Decision 2003/170/JHA. For operational reasons, law enforcement agencies do not publish details of liaison officer numbers in specific locations.
Police and Crime Commissioners
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what date she expects to lay all outstanding secondary legislation in respect of police and crime commissioners. [101654]
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1129W
Nick Herbert: In order to establish the Mayor's office for policing and crime in January secondary legislation relating to police and crime commissioners, including the statutory protocol, has already been laid and approved by Parliament. All remaining secondary legislation will be laid in good time for the elections of police and crime commissioners.
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to publish secondary legislation on elections for the posts of police and crime commissioner. [101669]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 26 March 2012]: I am currently considering the response to our consultation from the Electoral Commission which closed last week, and will lay the secondary legislation before Parliament as soon as possible.
Police: Private Sector
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will make a statement on the out-sourcing of police services to the private sector; [100612]
(2) whether front-line policing will be contracted out to the private sector; [100613]
(3) whether her Department is consulted before police forces choose to outsource back office staff functions to reduce costs. [100621]
Nick Herbert: No front-line police officers will be contracted out to the private sector. The Government are clear that the private sector can help the police service achieve cost savings and better services for the public. Every pound saved means more money for front-line services. Only police officers have the power of arrest and they will continue to patrol the streets, respond to 999 calls and lead investigations. There is no intention to allow private companies to carry out police activities which require warranted powers, except to the extent that this has already been achieved for detention and escort officers by legislation passed under the previous Government. While the Government support the police in considering the value of private sector partners, it is a matter for individual chief constables and their police and crime commissioners to make decisions around deployment and allocation of resources for their force.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps her Department is taking to ensure that operational control remains with chief police officers under the Business Partnering for Police project; [101582]
(2) whether she has made an assessment of the compatibility of the public service ethos of the police with the involvement of profit-making private sector companies in core public policing activity through the Business Partnering for Police project. [101585]
Nick Herbert
[holding answer 23 March 2012]: The Business Partnering for Police programme in the West Midlands and Surrey is a matter for the relevant police authorities and forces. The private sector can help to deliver some police services better and at lower cost.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1130W
The Government are clear, however, that policing will remain a public service, accountable to the people through elected police and crime commissioners with chief constables retaining operational control and accountability.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's (a) analysis of the merits of and (b) business case for the Business Partnering for Police project. [101583]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 23 March 2012]: The Government support the police in considering the value of private sector partnering to achieve cost savings and better services for the public. It is for individual police authorities (from November, Police and Crime Commissioners) to consider the merits of specific proposals relating to their police force areas. The papers considered by the Surrey and West Midlands police authorities regarding the Business Partnering for Police programme are publicly available from their respective websites.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether elected police and crime commissioners in the West Midlands and Surrey police force areas will have the ability to halt the proposals contained in the Business Partnering for Police project. [101586]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 23 March 2012]: The current timetable for the Business Partnering for Police programme means that the newly elected police and crime commissioners for the two forces will take the final decision on any eventual contracts.
Proceeds of Crime: EU Action
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK has fully enacted the provisions of EU Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA; and what assessment her Department has made of its effectiveness in combating illicit drug trafficking. [101723]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 26 March 2012]: The mandatory elements of EU Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA which lays down the minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking has been fully transposed into UK law.
The UK must decide, no later than 31 May 2014, whether to accept full European Court of Justice jurisdiction over those EU police and criminal justice measures adopted before 1 December 2009 which have not been amended or replaced. This measure falls within the scope of that decision and will be reviewed accordingly.
Security: Football
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of EU Council Decision 2002/348/JHA of 25 April 2002 on improving security at international football matches. [100179]
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1131W
James Brokenshire [holding answer 15 March 2012]: The UK must decide, no later than 31 May 2014, whether to accept full European Court of Justice jurisdiction over those EU police and criminal justice measures adopted before 1 December 2009 which have not been amended or replaced. This measure falls within the scope of that decision and will be reviewed accordingly.
Taxis
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012. [101411]
Damian Green: The Home Office and its agencies spent £165,927.73 on taxis between August 2011 and January 2012. Of this £6 was spent on taxis for Ministers.
Metal Theft
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of metal thefts which have occurred in the last year (a) nationally and (b) in Milton Keynes. [101647]
James Brokenshire: The information requested is not available centrally. From 1 April 2012, metal theft offences will be recorded separately providing the number of offences at national and police force area level.
UK Border Agency: Manpower
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many frontline UK Border Agency staff there were working at the UK borders in (a) 2010, (b) 2009, (c) 2008, (d) 2007, (e) 2006, (f) 2005, (g) 2004, (h) 2003, (i) 2002 and (j) 2001. [101049]
Damian Green: Before 2010, workforce statistics were not compiled in such a way as to be split between front-line and corporate services in accordance with the current definitions.
Because of this, and changes in the structure of the UK Border Agency and its predecessors over time, it is not possible now to answer this question directly except at disproportionate costs as retrospective decisions would have to be made about the historical role of individual officers and teams.
UK Border Force
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the staff that will be transferred to the UK Border Force from the UK Border Agency are frontline staff. [101050]
Damian Green: Border Force has 7,539 staff (FTE). Many of these staff perform a variety of duties in protecting our borders.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Force will receive additional funding to improve its control of UK borders. [101060]
Damian Green: The funding for the UK Border Force is set out in the published spending review plans.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1132W
UK Border Force: Manpower
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many frontline UK Border Force staff there are working at the UK borders. [101048]
Damian Green: Border Force has 7,539 staff (FTE). Many of these staff perform a variety of duties in protecting our borders.
War Crimes: EU Action
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to EU Council Decision 2002/494/JHA of 13 June 2002, what the UK contact point is for the exchange of information concerning the investigation of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes; on how many occasions since 2002 that contact point has been requested to provide available information under Article 2(1) of the Decision; and what assessment her Department has made of the Decision's effectiveness. [100992]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 20 March 2012]:For the purposes of Article 1 of the Council Decision 2002/494/JHA (setting up a European network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes) the UK has notified the General Secretariat of the Council of three contact points; the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Metropolitan police, and Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division. Through this network UK contact points have attended a number of meetings and presentations in which information regarding genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes has been shared among contact points. There is no centrally held record for the number of times the contact points have had a request for information.
The UK must decide, no later than 31 May 2014, whether to accept full European Court of Justice jurisdiction over those EU police and criminal justice measures adopted before 1 December 2009 which have not been amended or replaced. This measure falls within the scope of that decision and will be reviewed accordingly.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Arms Trade
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what arms export licences have been revoked subsequent to the Government's response, Cm 8079, to the First Report of the Committee on Arms Export Controls, on Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2011), HC 686; and if he will provide this information in the same format as that used in Annex 1 of Cm 8079. [101393]
Mr Prisk: Further to the Government's response to the First Report of the Committee on Arms Export Controls (CM8079), on Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2011) there has been no further revocations in north Africa and the middle east, since we responded to named day parliamentary question 71627 tabled by my right hon. Friend on 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 258W.
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1133W
The one licence that was revoked and previously referred to in 71627 is:
| End user country | Annual report summary | Rating | reason for revocation |
|
Due to the arms embargo imposed by the EU this licence was reassessed and found to contravene Criteria 1 |
Values of items licensed for export have been provided for extant Standard Individual Export Licences. No values are given for extant Open Individual Export Licences because there no generally no limit to the quantities that may be exported under these licences and it is not possible for exporters to provide this information when they make a licence application.
Basic Skills
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effect on English for speakers of other languages learners in further education colleges of the removal of basic skills qualifications in literacy and numeracy after academic year 2012-13. [102280]
Mr Hayes: I can confirm that funding for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) qualifications will continue for the academic year 2012/13, and this Department is currently considering the future shape and content for qualifications for ESOL learners for the academic year 2013-14.
Business: Loans
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Technology Strategy Board spent in each region in each of the last three years; how many grants it awarded in each such year; and which companies received financial assistance from the board in each such year. [101243]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 22 March 2012]: Regional information is only available for the Technology Strategy Board’s spend on its collaborative R and D activity—other programmes could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The collaborative R and D spend by region in each of the last three years, together with the total number of grants issued, is shown in the following table.
| Financial year ( £ million ) | ||||
| Region | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 (1) | Total number of grants for 2009/10 to 2011/12 (1) |
27 Mar 2012 : Column 1134W
| (1) Up to 29 February 2012. | ||||
A list of the companies that received financial assistance in respect of the above expenditure has been placed in the Libraries of the House.