Hospitals: Yorkshire and the Humber
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how long on average an NHS outpatient in (a) York, (b) North Yorkshire and York and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber waited from referral by a GP to their first consultation at hospital for (i) all specialties taken together and (ii) each specialty separately in each year since 1992; [111432]
(2) how long on average an NHS (a) inpatient and (b) day case patient from (i) York, (ii) North Yorkshire and York and (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber waited for treatment in (A) all specialties taken together and (B) each specialty separately in each year since 1992. [111433]
Mr Simon Burns: These data can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Lead Ingestion
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what scientific research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on any effects of lead ingestion on the incidence of crime and anti-social behaviour. [111643]
Mr Simon Burns: Neither the Department nor the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have carried out research on the effect of lead ingestion on crime and antisocial behaviour. The FSA has provided input to evaluations carried out by United Kingdom, European and international Committees that have assessed the safety of lead in food. These evaluations have included scientific studies on the effect of lead on behaviour.
Liver Disease: Death
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died in England and Wales of liver disease in each of the last five years; where liver disease was most prevalent in each such year; and how many people who died from liver disease in each such year were aged (a) 16 to 25, (b) 26 to 40, (c) 41 to 60 and (d) over 60. [112200]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died in England and Wales of liver disease in each of the last five years; where liver disease was most prevalent in each such year; and how many people who died from liver disease in each such year were aged (a) 16 to 25 (b) 26 to 40 (c) 41 to 60 and (d) over 60.(112200)
The following table provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause was a liver disease in England and Wales broken down by age groups (a) 16-25 (b) 26-40 (c) 41-60 and (d) over 60 for the years 2006 to 2010 (the latest year available).
ONS does not hold data on the prevalence of liver disease only of those whose underlying cause of death was liver disease.
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause and place of death are published annually and are available here:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-27475
| Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause was liver disease in England and Wales by age group, 2006-10(1,2) | |||||
| Deaths (persons) | |||||
| Age group | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year and include non-residents. (2) Cause of death for liver disease was defined using the International Classifications of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes K70-K69. | |||||
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Low Birthweight Babies
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential effects of low birth weight on the well-being of (a) babies, (b) infants and (c) children; and if he will make a statement. [111649]
Anne Milton: The Department recognises that low birth weight is undesirable as it is associated with adverse effects on the health outcomes of babies, infants and children, and into adulthood. This is supported by an assessment of the evidence from the Health Development Agency published in 2003, a copy of which can be accessed at:
www.nice.org.uk/niceMedia/documents/low_birth_weight_evidence_briefing.pdf
Medical Records: Databases
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for future use of electronic health records; and what cost efficiencies he expects to result from this. [111485]
Mr Simon Burns: Some electronic health records already exist but the quality of data currently held is variable and the Government's information strategy for health and social care in England commits us to effecting significant and lasting improvements. The strategy, “The Power of Information” which was published on 21 May 2012, sets out a vision in which we will all have secure electronic access to our own health and care records. This will include access to letters, test results, personal care plans and needs assessments.
Electronic access to our own care records, where we request this, will start with GP records by 2015 and our social care records as soon as information technology systems allow.
In addition, health and care professionals will be able to access relevant records online, simply, securely and all in one place. These professionals will lead better, more standardised and useful recording of information in our records, wherever possible capturing data at the point of care.
Data from our records will be combined and linked with other data in a secure-environment, then made anonymous. This aggregated data can then be used to audit quality, improve services, guide commissioning, support research and identify trends and patterns of health.
The strategy has already been placed in the Library and is available at:
http://informationstrategy.dh.gov.uk/
The full economic cost of implementing “The Power of Information” has been estimated at £1,275 million over 10 years. Health and efficiency gains over the same period have been estimated at £6,334 million. Therefore, we estimate that over 10 years the net economic benefit to the taxpayer will be £5,059 million.
Medical Treatments: Research
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage the healthcare industry to employ new graduates in clinical research. [111022]
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Mr Simon Burns: The Government's Strategy for UK Life Sciences, launched in December 2011, introduces a suite of incentives designed to ensure that the sector has the skills it needs at all levels. These include the development of an accreditation programme by the Society of Biology for degrees in the biological sciences and the Sector Skills Council—Cogent—developing an industrial placements programme for the sector, which will equip graduates with a range of business and employability skills.
There are also a number of other initiatives in this area. These include the Royal Society and the Wellcome Trust's Sir Henry Dale Fellowship programme for outstanding young biomedical scientists looking to build an independent research career in the United Kingdom, and the Medical Research Council doctoral training programme in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, developed in partnership with the universities of Liverpool and Manchester.
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of clinical research professionals; [111023]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to develop clinical research in the UK; [111024]
(3) what his policy is on accredited training for clinical research professionals; [111025]
(4) what plans he has to make the UK a centre for excellence for clinical research training and education. [111549]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government has demonstrated a strong and urgent commitment to clinical research in the White Paper ‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’, in the 2010 spending review, in establishing the Health Research Authority, and in the powers and duties set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
Established in 2006, the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) aims to create a health research system in which the national health service supports outstanding individuals, working in world class facilities, conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public.
The Faculty is at the heart of the NIHR. It includes all of the NIHR funded people working in the NHS, universities and registered charities in England, who generate research ideas in clinical and applied healthcare research, lead or support this research, and evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare interventions and policies.
The Faculty has goals to build a leading research capability to attract, develop and retain the best clinical, health service and public health research professionals, and to provide support to the academic training paths for all healthcare professionals and other key disciplines involved in health and social care research.
The ‘Strategy for UK Life Sciences’ included a commitment to fund clinical research leaders who can make a real difference early in their careers. In February this year the Government announced eight new NIHR Research Professorships, and the second Professorship competition is in progress.
There has been an increase in training opportunities available for clinical research professionals in the last three years. The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) provides standardised courses in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) for staff delivering NIHR CRN portfolio studies.
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Mental Health Services
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on mental health services in Worcestershire in the most recent period for which figures are available. [110974]
Paul Burstow: Information on all expenditure on mental health services in Worcestershire, is not held centrally.
However, in 2010-11 expenditure on mental health by Worcestershire primary care trust was £106.2 million. The data for 2011-12 are not currently available.
Mental Health Services: Veterans
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS facilities are available for veterans with mental health issues in Worcestershire. [110997]
Mr Simon Burns: This Government considers the health and wellbeing of its armed forces personnel, veterans and their families to be a top priority. My hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), published his review of mental health services for the armed forces and veterans in October 2010, and funding of £7.2 million was immediately announced to implement his recommendations. As a result, England as a whole now benefits from a number of enhanced services targeted at veterans' mental health and wellbeing. There is the 24-hour helpline run by Rethink, in partnership with Combat Stress; the emotional health support service Big White Wall; and a general practitioner awareness-raising e-learning package run with the Royal College of General Practitioners. In addition, enhanced veterans' mental health support services are now being put in place across the country; by the end of this calendar year they will be up and running across England.
Turning to Worcestershire more specifically, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust have an established and effective service and pathway to respond to post traumatic stress disorder. Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust provide a specific post traumatic stress disorder therapy as required. Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service is also in a position to support and refer as appropriate. NHS Worcestershire also continues to work proactively with military colleagues to promote early identification of service personnel who are likely to require follow up by health and social care services. There are also a number of organisations dedicated to meeting the needs of ex-service personnel locally and they provide effective follow up and signposting to this group of people. There is a veterans multi-agency forum that meets annually where updates and good practice are shared.
Mental Illness: Children
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the World Health Organisation's prediction of a 50% increase in the rate of childhood mental illness between 2005 and 2020; and whether his Department has made a comparative estimate for England. [111714]
Paul Burstow:
The King's Fund report, “Paying the Price, The cost of Mental Health Care in England to 2026”, published in 2008, which has been placed in the
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Library, predicted that the number of children with conduct disorders, emotional disorders, hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD) and co-morbid disorders will increase by 13.3% between 2007 and 2026.
Nearly 10% of children aged five to 16 suffer from a clinically recognisable mental disorder. Half of those with lifetime mental health problems first experience symptoms before the age of 14, and three quarters before their mid-20s. The Government's mental health strategy “No Health Without Mental Health: a cross-Government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages” takes a life course approach and emphasises the importance of providing equal access to age-appropriate services.
Key to reducing the estimated £105 billion annual cost of mental ill-health to the economy is to intervene early to stop problems developing and to prevent illness through public mental health and well-being actions. The Government have taken action in a number of areas including increasing the number of health visitors to improve early intervention, extending improving access to psychological therapies to children and young people, starting work on extending training for people working with youngsters outside of health settings, such as in schools or youth groups, and commissioning a children's health outcomes strategy.
Mental Illness: Drugs
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with health authorities on the use and provision of donepezil for those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. [112206]
Paul Burstow: We have had no such discussions. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence issued technology appraisal guidance in March 2011 that recommends donepezil as an option for the management of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Decisions on the prescribing of donepezil are made by individual clinicians.
Neurology
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what data will be provided to support clinical commissioning groups in the commissioning and evaluation of neurological services; [111627]
(2) what steps he plans to take to support improvements in the commissioning of neurological services. [111628]
Paul Burstow: A number of tools and resources already exist to support the commissioning and evaluation of neurological services. These include the long-term neurological conditions reference dataset and neurological indicators within national health service comparators, which are available from the Information Centre.
The neurological charities have also produced a quality neurology audit and evaluation tool, which allows commissioners to receive a comprehensive evaluation of how an organisation fulfils all of the quality requirements specified in the national service framework for long-term neurological conditions.
Additionally, Neurological Commissioning Support, which was established by the MS Society, Motor Neurone Disease Society and Parkinson's UK, have developed
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Neuronavigator, a tool to help commissioners to understand the complexity of support and services that need to be provided for people affected by a long-term neurological condition
A number of developments to the health and care system, provided for by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and wider health reforms, will ensure improved access and more local accountability for services for neurological conditions.
The NHS Outcomes Framework defines and enables measurement of the key outcomes that matter to patients. All five domains within the framework have relevance to long-term neurological conditions, while domain two, enhancing the quality of life for people with long-term neurological conditions, seeks to capture specific information on how successfully the NHS is supporting people with long-term conditions to live as normal a life as possible
The NHS Commissioning Board, supported by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), will develop a Commissioning Outcomes Framework (COF), which will inform national and local priority setting. The draft indicators published earlier this year by NICE for potential inclusion in COF include indicators derived from the NHS Outcomes Framework.
The NHS Commissioning Board will take on responsibility for certain specialist services. The Department is working with NHS colleagues who currently commission specialised services towards producing a list of services for direct commissioning by the board.
Additionally, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will have flexibility to decide how best to commission other low-volume services, for example through collaboration and lead commissioner arrangements.
Health and Wellbeing Boards will have a strong role in direct commissioning and promoting locally integrated provision. The local authority and clinical commissioning groups will be required to undertake a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment through the Health and Wellbeing Board, leading to a Health and Wellbeing Strategy. This will provide an objective analysis of local current and future needs for adults and children spanning the NHS, social care and public health, and potentially wider issues such as housing or education.
NHS: Empty Property
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) vacant, (b) unoccupied and (c) surplus office spaces in NHS properties are managed by (i) hospital trusts, (ii) primary care trusts and (iii) other NHS bodies; what the value is of such properties; and how much was spent on maintaining them in the latest period for which figures are available. [110996]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is not collected centrally on national health service office space that is vacant, unoccupied or surplus.
NHS: Finance
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to change the formula for NHS resource allocation; and whether he has undertaken any consultation on this matter. [112036]
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Mr Simon Burns: From 2013 the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for the future allocation of resources to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the Department will make a ring-fenced public health grant to local authorities for their new public health responsibilities.
We are committed to robust, needs-based approaches to the allocation of resources to both CCGs and local authorities, to support their new public health responsibilities. The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), has asked the Advisory Committee on resource allocation (ACRA), an independent expert committee, to make recommendations that support this.
On 14 June, the Department published “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Update on Public Health Funding”. This set out ACRA's interim recommendations on the preferred distribution of public health resources, as well as providing an update on the health premium incentive, and setting out the proposed conditions on the public health grant, including proposals for reporting. A copy of this document and supporting technical documents have been placed in the Library. The document can be accessed on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/06/ph-funding-la/
We welcome feedback on the proposed approach to the preferred distribution of public health resources and will engage with a range of stakeholders, including public health and local government representatives and the wider national health service community. This feedback will inform ACRA's continuing work to finalise its recommendations for actual 2013-14 allocations to be published by the end of 2012.
Further details on ACRA's recommendations relating to the allocation of resources to CCGs will be published in due course.
NHS: Staff
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent NHS (a) consultants and (b) junior doctors were employed in each clinical specialty at hospitals in York (i) in cash terms and (ii) at current prices (A) in total and (B) per capita in (1) 1992 and (2) each year since 1992. [111420]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. Full-time equivalent staff totals for national health service staff employed at York Hospitals NHS Trust and North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust, in each clinical speciality from 1992 and each year since have been placed in the Library.
NHS: Pensions
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pension lump sums paid in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 under the NHS pension scheme were valued at (i) £100,000 to £199,999, (ii) £200,000 to £299,999 and (iii) £300,000 and above. [110912]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is shown in the following table. The requested data are not currently available for the months between February and March 2012.
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| Number of lump sums paid | |||
| Lump sum paid | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12(1) |
| (1) As at January 2012 Source: NHS Business Services Authority | |||
NHS: Reorganisation
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of NHS reorganisation in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available. [111374]
Mr Simon Burns: National health service bodies are constantly in the process of reorganisation to modernise services and improve value for money. We do not monitor the cost of all local reorganisations.
Nursing and Midwifery Council: Fees and Charges
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he plans to have with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on its consultation on the annual fee for registered nurses. [111478]
Anne Milton: I met with the chair and chief executive of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) on 10 May 2012. In this meeting, the NMC advised of their intention to consult on raising its registration fees.
As an independent statutory body, the fee which the NMC proposes to charge is a matter essentially for them, after having consulted their registrants and the wider public, and subject to Privy Council approval of the statutory instrument required to make any change.
The Government has already publicly made it clear to all the health regulators that we would not expect to see rises in registration fees unless an increase is essential to enable them to fulfil their statutory duties, and we await the outcome of the consultation.
Nutrition
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on advertising the benefits of good nutrition to (a) adults, (b) children and (c) pregnant women in each of the last five years. [111651]
Anne Milton: The Department's External Relations Directorate (formally Communications Directorate) has not run any stand-alone campaigns on the benefits of good nutrition. Information on any other promotional work on nutrition that may be run on behalf of the Department is not held centrally and cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.
The yearly spend on figures for the Change4Life advertising campaign, which includes nutrition, began in January 2009, and is as follows. To split by the required groups would also incur disproportionate costs.
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| Change4Life advertising (media) spends | |
| £ | |
| (1) Figure is net media plus agency fees and commissions (rounded to nearest £10,000) but excluding production and COI fees and VAT. (2) Provisional figures based on local records (rounded to nearest £10,000). Figures exclude VAT, production and COI fees. | |
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the average level of consumption of (a) salt, (b) hydrogenated fat, (c) refined sugar and (d) saturated fat by (i) adults and (ii) children in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the effects of these foods on (A) physical and (B) psychological well-being; [111653]
(2) what recent assessment his Department has made of the addictive qualities of (a) high fat and (b) high sugar diets on (i) children and (ii) adults; [111654]
(3) if he will make an assessment of the 2002 recommendation of the US Food and Nutrition Board on the zero intake of trans fats; [111655]
(4) if he will make an assessment of any effects of (a) sugar and (b) fish oil consumption on the patient outcomes for (i) schizophrenia and (ii) depression; [111700]
(5) what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the intake of highly unsaturated fatty acids on the childhood incidence of (a) dyslexia, (b) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (c) dyspraxia and (d) autism spectrum disorders. [111715]
Anne Milton: The Department assess the nutrient intake of the United Kingdom population using data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). Salt intake has also been assessed in stand alone surveys.
The most recent data on the intakes of salt, trans fatty acids, non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) and saturated fats are given in the following table.
| Age (years) | Trans fat (% of food energy)(1) | Non-milk extrinsic sugars (% of food energy)(1) | Saturated fat . intake (% of food energy)(1) | Salt (grams per day)(2) |
| (1) Data National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Headline results from years 1 and 2 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008-09 to 2009-10) (2) Data from NatCen MRC (2008). | ||||
The NDNS reports intakes of trans fats, rather than “hydrogenated fats”. This includes trans fatty acids from all sources, including those occurring naturally in products from ruminant animals (such as milk) and artificially by hydrogenation of fats.
The NDNS reports intakes of sugars as NMES rather than refined sugar. NMES includes table sugar and the sugars found in honey and fruit juice.
The Department's advice on saturated fats and NMES are based on recommendations from the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA)(1,2). The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), who replaced COMA, has provided independent scientific advice to the Department on salt(3) and trans fatty acids(4) in relation
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to health. SACN is currently reviewing the evidence on carbohydrates and health, which includes evidence on sugar.
The Department has no plans to specifically assess the 2002 recommendations of the United States Food and Health Board on trans fatty acids. The SACN advice on trans fatty acids was based on an assessment of the available scientific evidence published in peer reviewed journals up to 2007.
The Department has not examined the effect of salt, hydrogenated fat (or trans fatty acids), highly unsaturated fats, refined sugar or saturated fats on psychological well-being, schizophrenia, depression, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyspraxia and other autism spectrum disorders or the addictive qualities of high fat and high sugar diets.
(1) Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (1991) Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom, HMSO.
(2) Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (1994) Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease, HMSO.
(3) Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition Salt and health (2003) London, The Stationery Office.
(4) Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition Update on trans fatty acids and health (2007) London, The Stationery Office.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the proportion of (a) children and (b) adults who have sufficient daily intake of zinc. [111656]
Anne Milton: The Department collects information on intakes of nutrients, including zinc, through the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). Average daily intakes of zinc in different population groups are compared with reference values including the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI), which is the amount of a specific nutrient that is sufficient for only a few individuals with low needs. Habitual intakes below this level are almost certainly inadequate for most individuals.
The proportion of different age groups with average daily intakes of zinc below the LRNI is shown in the following table:
| Age | Proportion of the population with mean daily intake of zinc (from food sources only) below LRNI (%) |
| Note: These data are taken from the most recent report of the NDNS: Bates, B., Lennox, A., & Swan, G. (Eds.). (2011). National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Headline results from years 1 & 2 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008-09 to 2009-10) [Online]. These data suggest that the majority of the population has a sufficient daily intake of zinc. | |
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the potential effects of the consumption of trans fats on structural fats in the central nervous system of foetuses, babies and infants; and whether his Department recommends a tolerable upper intake of trans fats for these groups. [111713]
Anne Milton: The Department has not commissioned any research to investigate the potential effects of the consumption of trans fats on structural fats in the central nervous system of foetuses, babies and infants.
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The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) reviewed the evidence of the health effects of trans fats in 2007. This included a review of the evidence of the effect of trans fats on early development. SACN concluded that while there is evidence that trans fats from the maternal diet accumulate, in fetal and infant tissue via placental transport or consumption of breast milk, there is limited and contradictory information as to effects on the health of the child.
The Department recommends that average trans fat intakes should not exceed 2% of energy from food.
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to introduce nutritional science modules into the curriculum for medical students. [112335]
Anne Milton: The content and standard of medical education is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC) as the independent regulatory body.
Through its role as the custodian of quality standards in education and practice, the GMC is committed to ensuring high quality patient care delivered by high, quality health professionals and that healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to deal with the problems and conditions they will encounter in practice.
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nutritional therapists are employed in the NHS. [112336]
Anne Milton: The number of nutritional therapists employed in the national health service is not collected centrally. However, the annual NHS workforce census shows that at 30 September 2011 there were 3,610 full-time equivalent (FTE) dieticians working in the NHS in England. There has been an increase of 1,355 FTE dieticians (60%) since 2001.
Obesity
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on treating obesity-related conditions in each of the last five years; and how much it expects to spend in the next five years. [111642]
Anne Milton: The Department does not hold information on how much the NHS has spent on treating obesity-related conditions in the last five years, or on projected spend in the next five years.
The Foresight team which is part of the Government Office for Science, published “Tackling Obesities: Future Choices” in 2007. The Foresight team estimated the cost of obesity and overweight to the national health service (in terms of the cost of treating the conditions and diseases attributable to overweight and obesity) to be £4.2 billion in 2007; more recent research suggest that this could be as high as £5.1 billion.
Older People: Day Centres
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many publicly-funded elderly day care centres there were in each of the last five years. [111707]
Paul Burstow: The information requested is not collected centrally.
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Out of Area Treatment: Wales
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients registered at an address in Wales received treatment at a hospital in England in each month since May 2010. [112236]
Mr Simon Burns: The following tables show the number of finished admission episodes (inpatients), outpatient attendances (outpatient) and Accident and Emergency (A&E) attendances for patients identified as resident in Wales Strategic Health Authority.
| In-patient finished admission episodes (FAEs) | Out-patient attendances | A&E attendances | ||||
| Wales | Total | Wales | Total | Wales | Total | |
| Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) | ||||||
It should be noted that for each of these measures, the number does not necessarily equate to the number of patients as it is possible for an individual to have more than one admission or attendance within the period.
The data from April 2011 is provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected.
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Palliative Care
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to improve end-of-life care. [111486]
Paul Burstow: The Government remains committed to improving choice and quality in end of life and palliative care and we continue to work to implement the Department's End of Life Care Strategy. Important initiatives we are undertaking include: the national survey of bereaved relatives; the roll-out of Electronic Palliative Care Co-ordination Systems; the work on Palliative Care Funding; support for the Dying Matters Coalition; the introduction of a £60 million capital scheme for hospices; and implementation of the End of Life Care for Adults Quality Standard developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on requiring patients to routinely be asked about their wishes for end-of-life care including provision of antibiotics, intubation and intravenous feeding. [111534]
Paul Burstow: The Department's End of Life Care Strategy clearly states the importance of establishing people's preferences and wishes about their end of life care. It advocates the process of care planning, including advance care planning, as a mechanism for doing this. Advance care planning aims to clarify a person's wishes in the event of a future, anticipated deterioration in their condition, with attendant loss of capacity to make decisions and/or ability to communicate wishes to others. An outcome of an advance care plan may be the completion of a specific action, such as an advance decision to refuse treatment as set out in the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
The End of Life Care Strategy has been responsible for several initiatives which support advance care planning. These include the development and roll-out of Electronic Palliative Care Co-ordination Systems, which capture key information about people's care and their expressed preferences and make these instantly accessible to relevant staff, and the development of e-learning modules, which include advance care planning and are free to access for health and social care staff.
Pancreatic Cancer
Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds his Department will make available to further research into pancreatic cancer in the next three years. [112253]
Paul Burstow: The Department is fully committed to clinical and applied research into treatment and cures for cancer.
Expenditure in the next three years on research in pancreatic cancer will depend on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including pancreatic cancer. These applications are subject to
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peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.
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 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 has a major focus on pancreatic cancer).
Pay
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to introduce regional pay since 20 March 2012; and if he will make a statement. [111541]
Mr Simon Burns: No steps have been taken by the Department to introduce regional pay for its staff since 20 March 2012. The Department is currently drawing up a three-year reward strategy to consider the introduction of local pay which is expected to be completed by July 2012.
Postnatal Depression
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on research into (a) postnatal depression and (b) postnatal stress and anxiety in each of the last five years. [111712]
Paul Burstow: Expenditure by the Department through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards on research on postnatal depression, stress and anxiety is shown in the following table.
| £ million | |
Expenditure by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) on research on these topics 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 the topics covered in this reply.
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Prescription Drugs
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the consultation on an Early Access to Medicines Scheme as announced in the UK Life Sciences Strategy. [110923]
Mr Simon Burns: The consultation on an Early Access Scheme will be published shortly.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have made representations to his Department on prescription drug shortages since January 2012. [110991]
Mr Simon Burns: The hospitals from which representations were received from 1 January to 11 June 2012, where the primary question related to a medicines supply issue are shown in the following list. There has been more than one representation from some of these hospitals. These figures are approximate, representing minimum figures received by the Department, and form part of the routine work that the Department undertakes on mitigating and resolving shortages related to manufacturing issues.
Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
London specialist pharmacy services
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Foundation Trust
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospital of North Tees NHS Foundation Trust
Pro-Cure NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
University College London Hospitals NHD Foundation Trust
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Procurement
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total (a) number and (b) value of contracts issued by (i) his Department and (ii) bodies for which he is responsible which were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises was in the latest period for which figures are available. [111192]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department provides monthly reports about procurement expenditure with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the Cabinet Office. For April 2012, the total procurement expenditure reported by the Department, excluding Connecting for Health, with SMEs was £2,654,261. The number and total value of contracts issued by the Department awarded to SMEs relating to this spend information is not available. To provide that information would incur a disproportionate cost.
To provide the same information on spend, the number and total value of contracts with SMEs by Connecting for Health would incur a disproportionate cost due to the nature of their information technology.
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The total procurement expenditure reported to the Cabinet Office with SMEs in April 2012 by the National Health Service Business Services Authority, Monitor and the Human Tissue Authority was £280,353. To provide the same information on SME spend with the Department's other arm's length bodies and its agency would incur a disproportionate cost due to the nature of their information technology.
Recruitment
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 489W, on recruitment, to what extent his Department and its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies used name-blank CVs or the blind sift function on the Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system to recruit staff in the last year. [110969]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department and its non-departmental public bodies together with its executive agency (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) do not recruit staff (of any grade) using name-blank curricula vitae or the blind sift function as methods of recruitment on the Civil Service Resourcing e-recruitment system.
Respiratory System: Screening
Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have qualified personnel to carry out a specific bronchial challenge test. [112252]
Paul Burstow: The information requested is not collected centrally. In addition, the methods used to diagnose asthma are a matter for local clinical discretion.
Sexually Transmitted Infections: Young People
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under the age of 18 years in each (a) socio-economic, (b) ethnic and (c) gender group were treated for sexually transmitted diseases in each of the last 10 years. [110978]
Anne Milton: The data collected by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on all acute sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by socio-economic deprivation, ethnicity and gender group are only available since 2009. Data are provided on STI diagnoses in those aged 13 to 17 inclusive. The data refer to the number of diagnosed infections as data on treatment are not collected.
The information is provided in tables 1, 2 and 3 as follows:
Table 1 contains the number and rates of acute STI diagnoses by deprivation index;
Table 2 contains the number of acute STI diagnoses by ethnic group. It is not possible to provide rates by ethnic group and age; and
Table 3 contains acute STI diagnoses and rates by gender.
All tables include data from genito-urinary medicine clinics. Chlamydia diagnoses made in community settings are included in Table 3 only as data by ethnicity and area of residence are not collected in all community settings reporting Chlamydia data.
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Acute STIs include the following diagnoses: Chlamydia (complicated and uncomplicated), Gonorrhoea (complicated and uncomplicated), Syphilis (primary, secondary and early latent), Genital Herpes simplex (first episode), Genital Warts (first episode), Non-specific genital infection/urethritis, Chancroid, Lymphogranuloma venerum (LGV), Donovanosis, Molluscum contagiosum, Trichomoniasis, Scabies, Pediculus pubis.
| Table 1: The number and rate of acute STIs diagnosed in 13 to 17-year-olds by deprivation quintile using the Index of Multiple Deprivation, England: 2009-11 | ||||||
| Number of acute STI diagnoses | Rates per 100,000 population (aged 13-17 years) | |||||
| Deprivation quintile | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Notes: 1. Data are sourced from the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset (GUMCAD) and are collected from all GUM clinics in England. 2. GUMCAD does not collect data on the socio-economic status of individuals. Data on the area of residence of patients attending GUM clinics are collected and these were used to assign each patient to a Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) in England. Deprivation was measured, using the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) for each in England. All LSOAs were ranked according to the IMD score and assigned to quintiles (IMD group 1—least deprived; IMD group 5—most deprived). 3. LSOA data were not known for 2,567 cases in 2009, 939 cases in 2010 and 686 cases in 2010 and so are excluded from the table. 4. The data available from the GUMCAD returns are the number of diagnoses made, not the number of patients diagnosed. 5. Rates per 100,000 population aged 13 to 17 years have been calculated using mid-2009 ONS population estimates. Source: Health Protection Agency, GUMCAD returns: Date of data: 12 June 2012 | ||||||
| Table 2: The number of acute STIs diagnosed in 13 to 17-year olds by ethnic group, England: 2009-11 | |||
| Number of acute STI diagnoses | |||
| Ethnic group | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Notes: 1. Data are sourced from the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset (GUMCAD). 2. The data available from the GUMCAD returns are the number of diagnoses made, not the number of patients diagnosed. 3. Ethnicity was patient-defined and classified into standardised national health service categories. 4. Rates per 100,000 population have not been calculated as age-specific ONS population estimates by ethnicity are not available. Source: Health Protection Agency, GUMCAD returns: Date of data: 12 June 2012 | |||
| Table 3: The number and rates of acute STIs diagnosed in 13 to 17-year-olds by gender, England: 2009-11 | ||||||
| Number of acute STI diagnoses | Rates per 100,000 population | |||||
| Gender | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
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| Notes: 1. Data are sourced from the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset (GUMCAD), National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) and non-GUM, non-NCSP returns. 2. The data available are the number of diagnoses made, not the number of patients diagnosed. 3. The NCSP offers opportunistic Chlamydia screening targeting those aged 15 to 24 years attending a variety of non-GUM clinic settings. Some 13 and 14-year-olds may be screened and diagnoses in this age group are also included in the table. 4. Rates per 100,000 population aged 13 to 17 years have been calculated using mid-2009 and mid-2010 ONS population estimates. Source: Health Protection Agency, GUMCAD returns, NCSP returns and non-GUM, non-NCSP returns: Date of data: 12 June 2012 | ||||||
Social Services
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been to date of the Productive Community Services project (a) in the Brighton and Hove area, (b) in Sussex and (c) nationally; what the projected future cost in each such category is; and if he will make a statement. [111149]
Mr Simon Burns: £1.4 million has been invested to-date in developing and implementing the Productive Community Series programme within the English national health service. Of this.£50,000 relates to supporting 175 teams of staff in Sussex. There is no separately identifiable amount to Brighton and Hove. A further £55,000 investment is planned to support the programme nationally.
Strokes
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people his Department estimates to have had a stroke (a) nationally and (b) in South Swindon constituency in the last year. [111484]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. However, the following table provides information on the number of finished admission episodes where the primary diagnosis was stroke during 2010-11. It is possible for an individual to have more than one admission to hospital with a stroke within any given year and so the information given in the table is not a count of the number of people who have had a stroke.
Count of finished admission episodes (FAEs)(1) with a primary diagnosis of ‘stroke'(2) for England and where the patient parliamentary constituency of residence(3) is E22—South Swindon—2010-11.
(1)Finished admission episodes
A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
(2)( )Primary diagnosis
The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.
ICD—10 Codes
160—Subarachnoid haemorrhage
161—Intracerebral haemorrhage
162—Other nontraumatic intracranial haemorrhage
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163—Cerebral infarction
164—Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction
(3)( )Parliamentary constituency of residence
The parliamentary constituency containing the patient's normal home address. This does not necessarily reflect where the patient was treated as they may have travelled to. another area or region for treatment.
Data quality
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) 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.
| Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | |
| Geographic area | Count of FAEs |
| Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre | |
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the average age of people who have had a stroke in each of the last 10 years. [111488]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. However, the following table provides information on the mean age of people admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of stroke. Not all records include the patient's age and, where this is the case, the record has not been included in the calculation of the mean age.
| Average age of the patient at the start of the episode for finished admission episodes (FAEs)(1) with a primary diagnosis of 'stroke'(2) for England | |
| Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | |
| Average age | |
| (1)Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2)Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. ICD—10 Codes 160—Subarachnoid haemorrhage 161—Intracerebral haemorrhage 162—Other nontraumatic intracranial haemorrhage 163—Cerebral infarction 164—Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) 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), Health and Social Care Information Centre | |
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Thalidomide
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet the National Advisory Council to the Thalidomide Trust to discuss years two and three of the Government's pilot financial support scheme for Thalidomide survivors. [112238]
Paul Burstow: I met with the chief executive of the Thalidomide Trust and members of the National Advisory Council on 12 June 2012 and aim to meet them again in the autumn.
Departmental officials are also due to meet members of the National Advisory Council and the Thalidomide Trust in July of this year to discuss the evaluation report for year two of the grant.
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will introduce national social sustainability criteria for the production and imports of (a) biofuels and (b) other bioenergy. [112062]
Gregory Barker: The sustainability criteria that apply to support schemes for electricity generated from bioliquids and transport biofuels are set under the renewable energy directive; the UK cannot deviate from these. The European Commission is required to report every two years, starting in 2012, on the social impacts of the increased demand for biofuels and if appropriate propose corrective action.
The Government introduced sustainability criteria for liquid biomass feedstocks under the renewables obligation (RO) in April 2011. These criteria include a greenhouse gas lifecycle assessment and restrictions to protect land with high biodiversity or carbon sink value.
The Government also introduced requirements for solid and gaseous biomass feedstocks under the RO to report against sustainability criteria relating to greenhouse gas emissions and the land used to produce the biomass. The sustainability criteria apply to imported and domestically produced feedstocks. There are exceptions from the criteria for some types of biomass such as wastes.
We intend to expand our sustainability criteria for solid biomass with the addition of sustainable forest management criteria to the RO and expect our proposals will build on existing global and national sustainable forestry standards which include some requirements on social issues. We also intend to link payments under the RO to meeting these criteria from April 13. We will be consulting on these proposals shortly.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of proposed power plants in the UK planning to use bioliquids for electricity generation that will use bioliquids derived from (a) wastes or residues and (b) virgin vegetable oil, including (i) palm oil and (ii) jatropha. [112064]
Gregory Barker:
DECC's renewable energy planning database (REPD)(1) tracks the progress of renewable electricity projects from inception, through planning,
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construction and operational phases and is updated on a monthly basis. The REPD does not collect data on feedstock types.
The latest available REPD data (April 2012) show that dedicated bioliquid plants represent less than 1% of the total renewable electricity installed capacity that has been granted planning consent and is awaiting construction.
DECC has also assessed the deployment potential of plants using bioliquids to generate renewable electricity as part of the current renewables obligation banding review. The Government response to the recent consultation on proposed subsidy levels will be published shortly along with a final impact assessment.
(1) https://restats.decc.gov.uk/cms/planning-database
Carbon Emissions
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure low carbon generation projects which need to make final investment decisions before legislation relating to the Contract for Difference mechanism comes into force are provided with information about the strike prices that these projects will receive. [112042]
Charles Hendry: Under the Final Investment Decision Enabling Project set out in the Technical Update on Electricity Market Reform published in December 2011, the Government may provide information on strike prices for low carbon generation projects that need to make final investment decisions before legislation implementing EMR takes effect. There will be full transparency over the terms agreed for any investment instruments or contracts for difference that are issued.
Combined Heat and Power
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will review the principle of mandatory connection in order to encourage the use of combined heat and power and district heating schemes. [111003]
Gregory Barker: We are exploring ways to promote the development of low carbon combined heat and power and district heating as part of our ongoing heat strategy work to decarbonise heating in the UK.
We are currently involved in EU negotiations of the draft energy efficiency directive.
The directive includes provisions exploring opportunities for connection of CHP and district heating where cost-effective.
Coryton Oil Refinery
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what his policy is on the provision of state aid to maintain operations at the Coryton Oil Refinery; [111526]
(2) whether his Department has sought legal advice on the possible provision of state aid to Coryton Oil Refinery. [111527]
Charles Hendry
[holding answer 14 June 2012]:Working closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which has policy responsibility
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for state aid, the Department has sought legal advice on the possible provision of state aid to Coryton Oil Refinery.
The Government do not intend to provide state aid to Coryton Oil Refinery. The case for doing so is not compelling enough: there are no strong security of supply or energy resilience arguments in favour of financial support; doing so is likely to place a significant liability on the public purse; and the Government do not believe that it would be the best way of securing a sustainable future for the site.
Refining rationalisation is taking place across Europe, and our priority should be to restore the competitiveness of the sector rather than delaying necessary re-structuring or putting up trade barriers. We should not risk taking actions that could lead to a further worsening of the situation given the decline in regional product demand and low refining margins.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the letter from the Minister of State for Energy of 11 June 2012, on Coryton Refinery, whether his Department has had any (a) correspondence, (b) meetings or (c) discussions with the French government in respect of assistance provided to the Petit Couronne Refinery. [112567]
Charles Hendry: The British embassy in Paris, on behalf of the Department, has exchanged correspondence with the French Government about the assistance provided to the Petit Couronne Refinery.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the letter from the Minister of State for Energy of 11 June 2012, on Coryton Refinery, (1) for what reason his Department has concluded that public money could not be used to keep the refinery open; [112568]
(2) whether his Department has had any (a) correspondence, (b) meetings or (c) discussions with the European Commission in respect of the possible provision of state aid to the Coryton Refinery; and what (i) form and (ii) date any such communication took; [112564]
(3) with which other Government Departments his Department has discussed the possible provision of state aid. [112566]
Charles Hendry: The Department, working closely with Departments across Government, concluded that because of existing overcapacity in the refining industry and declining demand for petrol it would not be sustainable for government to provide assistance to the Coryton Oil Refinery.
As set out in the answer I gave to the right hon. Member on 14 June 2012, Official Report, columns 563-64W, the Department has concluded that there are no significant risks to security of fuel supply or energy resilience of the Coryton Oil Refinery closing, which further reduces, the case for Government intervention.
The Government would only approach the European Commission if it decided to provide state aid to the refinery.
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Electricity Generation
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what guidance his Department provides to Ofgem on appraising the environmental impacts of overground electricity transmission scheme proposals. [111915]
Charles Hendry: It is for the Planning Act 2008 regime, rather than Ofgem, to appraise such environmental impacts for obtaining planning consent for overground electricity transmission schemes. Ofgem's role is to consider the case for investment proposals. The Government's guidance on appraisal for planning consent in England and Wales is set out in the National Policy Statements (EN-1(1) and EN-5(2)). The Scottish Government is responsible for such guidance in Scotland. Ofgem has set a regulatory framework, so that transmission owner companies can take full account of environmental impacts of new transmission infrastructure consistent with the relevant planning requirements.
(1) Department for Energy and Climate Change : Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy: July 2011
(2) Department for Energy and Climate Change: National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure : July 2011
Energy Supply
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) if he will publish correspondence between his Department and the European Commission on the application of state aid rules to the Contracts for Difference in the draft Energy Bill; [111348]
(2) when he last discussed state aid rules with the European Commission in relation to Contracts for Difference in the draft Energy Bill. [111380]
Charles Hendry: Subject to parliamentary approval, the Government will ensure that the provisions of the draft Energy Bill are applied in a way that is consistent with the state aid rules.
State aid issues are a bilateral matter between the Government and the European Commission. The Government is in discussion with the Commission as to the application of the state aid rules in this context. In common with other similar situations, such discussions cover whether or not state aid may be present, and if there is state aid, whether it is approvable under the treaty.
If the Government makes a formal notification of its arrangements, we expect the Commission to make a decision as soon as possible consistent with the proper exercise of its responsibilities. Such Commission decisions are published and include an explanation of how the decision has been reached.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects a decision to be made by the European Commission on state aid rules in relation to the Contracts for Difference in the draft Energy Bill. [111381]
Charles Hendry: The Government will ensure that the provisions of the draft Energy Bill are applied in a way that is consistent with the state aid rules.
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State aid issues are a bilateral matter between the Government and the European Commission. The Government is in discussion with the Commission as to the application of the state aid rules in this context. In common with other similar situations, such discussions cover whether or not state aid may be present, and if there is state aid, whether it is approvable under the treaty.
If the Government makes a formal notification of its arrangements, we expect the Commission to make a decision as soon as possible consistent with the proper exercise of its responsibilities. Such Commission decisions are published and include an explanation of how the decision has been reached.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to page 14, Annex A, of the Draft Energy Bill, whether he plans to publish the budget envelope for the delivery of EMR under the Levy Control Framework. [111744]
Charles Hendry: If the Electricity Market Reform policies fall within the scope of the Levy Control Framework, the budget envelope will be set and published at the next spending review.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) if he will make it his policy to seek a firm commitment from Energy Company Obligation suppliers that they will use his proposed brokerage facility to direct a defined and significant percentage of their obligation towards smaller suppliers; [112410]
(2) if he will make it his policy to seek a firm commitment from Energy Company Obligation suppliers that they will use his proposed brokerage facility for a defined and significant percentage of their obligation. [112411]
Gregory Barker: We are committed to the development of a competitive energy efficiency market.
Our intention is to have in place by October 2012 a brokerage system that will facilitate the access of a diverse range of delivery partners to ECO subsidy.
We will seek a firm commitment from obligated energy suppliers to put a significant proportion of their ECO funding through brokerage.
We will also consult in late summer to establish whether regulatory intervention is required to enforce the use of the brokerage platform by obligated parties and if so at what percentage.
Energy: Conservation
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 19 April 2012, Official Report, column 484W, on energy, what the outcomes were of his officials’ meeting with representatives from a number of companies supplying voltage optimisation devices to explore more fully the potential for a national roll-out of voltage optimisation devices. [111492]
Gregory Barker: DECC held a productive meeting with representatives from the voltage optimisation and management industry, as reported in the paper on qualifying energy improvements published as part of the Government’s Green Deal consultation response on 11 June 2012.
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Technical discussions are still ongoing, and are focused on quantifying the energy saving potential of voltage optimisation for use in the Green Deal assessment tools.
Energy: Prices
Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with Ofgem on his proposals that all gas and electricity bills should display prominently how much customers could save by switching to that supplier's cheapest tariff. [111415]
Gregory Barker: DECC Ministers meet with Ofgem officials on a regular basis to discuss energy issues, including issues relating to energy consumers.
It is for Ofgem, as the independent regulator of the gas and electricity markets, to consider requirements relating to the information that is provided on energy bills. DECC Ministers and officials support the fullest consideration by Ofgem of various recommendations regarding the content of energy bills, including those put forward by the Billing Stakeholder Group, as part of the work Ofgem are doing to improve energy bills as part of their Retail Market Review.
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that energy tariffs are clear and comparable with each other. [111490]
Charles Hendry: Ofgem, the independent regulator of the gas and electricity markets, has consulted on proposals to simplify energy tariffs so that consumers can compare tariffs more easily. Ofgem is considering consultation responses and plans to bring forward further proposals before winter.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the electricity market reform impact assessment, whether his Department plans to provide letters of comfort, or any other reassurances, to those low carbon generation projects which will make final investment decisions before legislation providing for the Contract for Difference mechanism is brought into force; and what the letters of comfort will contain. [112237]
Charles Hendry: The electricity market reform White Paper of July 2011 set out the Government's commitment to work actively with developers of low carbon electricity generation projects to enable early investment decisions to progress to timetable wherever possible, including those required ahead of implementation of the feed-in tariff with Contracts for Difference (CfD).
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has a number of options for giving comfort to developers of relevant projects, as set out in the summary impact assessment for the draft Energy Bill. One of these options is to provide non-binding letters of comfort offering assurance to developers covering, for example, eligibility, strike price banding, high-level risk allocation, and wider Government action to support investments. Another option is for the Secretary of State to use the provisions set out in the draft Energy Bill to issue investment instruments (which will be broadly
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similar to CfDs) on terms and conditions that he considers appropriate in advance of the implementation of CfDs. For all options, the actual form and detail of comfort that might be offered would be project specific, and would depend on the projects that come forward for the FID enabling process and the outcome of any engagement with relevant investors and developers.
Fuel Poverty
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to tackle fuel poverty following the closure of the Warm Front scheme. [112166]
Gregory Barker: In future, the new Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) will be our flagship policy for improving the energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock. Due to launch in October 2012, ECO will run alongside the Green Deal and will have twin objectives to help reduce carbon emission and tackle fuel poverty. ECO requires energy suppliers to help households access more expensive insulation measures such as solid wall and hard to treat cavity wall insulation through the Green Deal and to provide measures to low income and vulnerable households to help reduce the costs of staying warm and healthy. Through ECO around £540 million will be spent annually by suppliers to assist low income households and low income areas.
Through the Warm Home Discount scheme, worth £1.1 billion between 2011 and 2015, we expect to assist 2 million low income vulnerable households per year. This includes from 2012-13 onwards around 1 million of the poorest pensioners who will receive a Core Group discount of £130 to £140, mostly without having to claim, a significant benefit for a group which may struggle to claim.
To ensure that resources could be focused in the most appropriate way, the Government commissioned Professor Hills to undertake an independent review of fuel poverty in March 2011. The final report from Professor Hills' review of the fuel poverty definition and target was published in March 2012. In his report, Professor Hills made it clear that accurate measurement was a prerequisite for effective policies and that the current indicator of fuel poverty has misrepresented trends and masked the impact of policy interventions. This is why we have committed the Government to the adoption of a revised approach to measuring fuel poverty, and to consulting on an alternative definition for fuel poverty in due course.
Fuel Poverty: Rural Areas
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effect of fuel poverty on rural communities. [111685]
Gregory Barker: The table shows the number of fuel poor households in England by rural classification for the latest available year 2010 from the English Housing Survey (EHS).(1)
(1) The definition of Rural/Urban is agreed as an official National Statistic first introduced in 2004. It defines Census Output Areas forming settlements with populations of over 10,000 as urban, while the remainder are defined as one of three rural types: town and fringe, village or hamlet 2010.
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| Rural classifications | Number of households in fuel poverty (thousand) | Percentage of households in fuel poverty (%) |
DECC is working closely with DEFRA to raise awareness of fuel poverty and energy efficiency schemes in rural areas. Furthermore, the DECC business plan commits the Department to producing advice with DEFRA for households living in rural areas to improve the energy efficiency of their home and reduce their energy costs.
Under the forthcoming Energy Company Obligations, energy suppliers will be required to deliver 15% of their Carbon Saving Community target to low income rural households.
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the final Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) impact assessment, how many installations of energy efficiency measures under the Green Deal or ECO may have adverse effects on householder health. [112329]
Gregory Barker: There is a risk that poor installation of energy efficiency measures can in some circumstances lead to issues which affect householders' health, which is why we have worked with industry and other stakeholders to develop the Code of Practice and an installer authorisation regime to protect the consumer and minimise installation risks under the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation. However, it is also the case that failing to insulate homes at all, or having inefficient heating systems, can have adverse effects on health.
The Green Deal Installer standard (PAS2030) focuses on the installation processes for Green Deal measures, the management of the processes and the quality of the service provided to the customer before, during and after the installation. All installations under the Green Deal will need to comply with this standard, and with the Code of Practice. Following consultation we are strengthening the provisions in the Code of Practice relating to certain risks associated with installations. For example, Green Deal providers will now have to ensure that ventilation requirements are taken into account during installations.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the net number of jobs that will be created as a result of the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation. [112619]
Gregory Barker: Projections of the number of insulation sector jobs required to deliver the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation were published in the Final Impact Assessment. The total number of jobs in the insulation sector is projected to rise from around 26,000 today to between 38,000 and 60,000 by 2015. No estimate has been made of the net impact of the policies on the total number of jobs in the economy.
The Green Deal and ECO Final Impact Assessment can be found at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/green-deal/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf
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Hinkley Point C Power Station
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether Hinkley Point C has applied for a contract under the Contract for Difference support mechanism. [112041]
Charles Hendry: NNB Generation Company Ltd, a joint venture owned by EDF and Centrica, have approached DECC to express their interest in being part of DECC's work on enabling investment decisions for early projects for Hinkley Point C as provided for in the Technical Update on electricity market reform published by DECC on 15 December 2011.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what negotiations his Department has had with EDF on a Contract for Difference for Hinkley Point C. [112043]
Charles Hendry: The Department has entered into dialogue with NNB Generation Company Ltd regarding potential Transitional Arrangements for NNB's Hinkley Point C project on the basis set out in the Technical Update on electricity market reform published in December 2011. These discussions are at an early stage, and no offers of comfort have been made by the Department.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what indications he or officials in his Department have provided, or will provide to EDF Energy on the strike price it will receive for electricity produced at Hinkley Point C. [112581]
Charles Hendry: The Department has not provided EDF Energy or NNB Generation Company Ltd with any indications regarding the strike price that could be received for electricity produced at Hinkley Point C.
Under the Final Investment Decision Enabling Project set out in the Technical Update on Electricity Market Reform published in December 2011, the Government may provide information on strike prices for low carbon generation projects that need to make final investment decisions before legislation implementing EMR takes effect. The terms of any investment instrument or contract for difference issued for electricity produced at Hinkley Point C will be subject to negotiation focusing on delivering a fair deal which is affordable, provides clear value for money, and is consistent with the Government's policy on no public subsidy for new nuclear. There will be full transparency over the terms agreed for any investment instruments or contracts for difference that are issued.
National Grid
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by National Grid in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; [111720]
(2) how many full-time equivalent staff are employed by National Grid; [111721]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of full-time equivalent staff expected to be employed by National Grid in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015, (d) 2016, (e) 2017 and (f) 2020. [111722]
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Charles Hendry: DECC does not routinely hold information on National Grid’s staff numbers or make estimates of future staffing levels. National Grid’s annual report contains information on its staff numbers, and is available at:
http://www.nationalgrid.com/annualreports/2012/documents/national%20grid%20ar/ng_ar_full_web.pdf
Natural Gas
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what action his Department is taking to secure liquid natural gas supplies for the UK. [111574]
Charles Hendry: The Government supports companies in securing liquid natural gas supplies by deepening links with key actual and potential supply countries, encouraging environmentally responsible gas production internationally, and maintaining a competitive UK market that is attractive to suppliers. The contracts signed recently with Norway and Qatar evidence the success of this approach and the increased Government focus on such arrangements.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what contingency plans he has put in place to deal with any shortfall of liquefied natural gas imports. [111576]
Charles Hendry: The UK has a diverse range of sources of gas supply, including domestic production, pipeline imports from Norway and the EU, liquefied natural gas from global markets, and storage. There is also demand-side flexibility. Gas shippers can draw on all these sources to ensure they meet overall demand.
The Government has given Ofgem new powers to strengthen the incentives on shippers to meet their gas security of supply obligations. We have also asked Ofgem to report on whether there is a need for further measures to improve gas supply security.