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Chris Grayling: Information on assessments in December 2011 and in 2012 to date is not available. Information on assessments between January and November 2011 has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether to include these statistics in part of an upcoming statistics release in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Work Capability Assessment: Appeals
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 12 October 2011, Official Report, column 439W, on work capability assessment: appeals, what the cost to his Department was of appeals made to the work capability assessment in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012 to date. [115254]
Chris Grayling: The cost to the Department for work capability assessment appeals in financial year 2010-11 was £12,076,455.
The cost to the Department for work capability assessment appeals in financial year 2011-12 was £15,410,571.
Justice
Child Abuse
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward legislative proposals to change the sentencing options for criminal neglect of children to ensure that what happens to neglectful parents is in the best interests of the child. [115649]
Mr Blunt: The Government have no plans to bring forward legislation in relation to sentencing for child neglect. The courts have the full range of sentencing options available to them when sentencing for child neglect and will take into account the best interests of the child when determining the appropriate sentence. The sentencing guideline. “Overarching Principles: Assaults on children and Cruelty to a child”, makes clear that the court must strike a balance between the need to reflect the serious view which society takes of the ill-treatment of very young children and the need to protect those children, and also the pressures upon immature and inadequate parents attempting to cope with the problems of infancy. In deciding the appropriate sentence in each case, the judge or magistrate must consider the seriousness of the offence and have regard to the purposes of sentencing, which include rehabilitation as well as punishment and public protection. In considering whether a custodial sentence is appropriate, any adverse effects that the sentence could have on the victim are taken into account, including all available information concerning the future care of the child, particularly if the offender is the sole or primary carer of the victim or other dependants.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many complaints were received by HM Courts and Tribunals Service concerning waiting times for appeals tribunals in the latest period for which figures are available; [115469]
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(2) what the average waiting time for an appeal tribunal hearing in HM Courts and Tribunals Service was in the latest period for which figures are available; [115470]
(3) what steps HM Courts and Tribunals Service intend to take to tackle backlogs in appeals tribunals. [115471]
Mr Djanogly: These questions have been interpreted as relating to the First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS).
A unified administrative complaints procedure for Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) was launched in October 2011. HMCTS has received 88 complaints concerning waiting times for the SSCS Tribunal in the period October 2011 to March 2012, the latest date for which information is available (these data are taken from management information). Over the same period HMCTS disposed of 214,200 SSCS appeals.
In the period January to March 2012 (the most recent period for which statistics have been published) the average waiting time for an SSCS Tribunal hearing was 23.2 weeks, down from 23.9 weeks in the period July to September 2011.
HMCTS has continued to respond strongly to the significant increase in appeal cases received by the SSCS Tribunal. It is working hard to increase the capacity of the SSCS Tribunal and reduce waiting times. It has implemented a range of measures which include recruiting more judges and medical panel members; increasing administrative resources and streamlining processes; securing additional hearing venues across the country; increasing the number of cases listed in each Tribunal session; running double shifts in its largest processing centre; running Saturday sittings in some of the busiest venues; reviewing all information for appellants to ensure that it is as clear and comprehensive as possible, and setting up a customer contact centre to deal with telephone inquiries.
All of this is having a positive effect. The total number of disposals has increased significantly from 279,000 in 2009-10 to 380,000 in 2010-11 and 433,600 appeals in 2011-12, with the capacity for half a million disposals in 2012-13. Perhaps most notably, the Tribunal disposed of more appeals than it received in every month between January 2011 and February 2012 (14 consecutive months) and the caseload outstanding fell by 25% in 2011-12 to reach 145,000 on 31 March 2012. The average waiting time has stabilised nationally, and is beginning to fall across many venues.
Work is ongoing to increase the Tribunal's capacity further, including the recruitment of additional judges and medical members; review and continuous improvement of administrative processes both internally and between HMCTS and the Department for Work and Pensions; including implementation of Section 102 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 which creates the opportunity for additional improvements to business processes.
Work Capability Assessment: Appeals
Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 31 January 2012, Official Report, column 624W, on work capability assessments, appeals, how many staff were employed by
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the Tribunal Service to deal with appeals to the work capability assessment in each month in
(a)
2011 and
(b)
2012 to date. [115318]
Mr Djanogly: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) (decisions in which the work capability assessment is a key factor) rather than appeals against work capability assessment decisions themselves.
It is not possible to identify how many staff deal specifically with ESA appeals. The following table shows the number of administrative staff employed in relation to the Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) Tribunal as at the end of each month between January 2011 and May 2012 (the latest date for which figures have been published). The tribunal hears appeals on a range of benefits, of which ESA is one.
Of the 988 staff in post as at 31 May 2012, 807 were permanent staff and 181 staff were on fixed term contracts.
| Social Security and Child Support Tribunal staff numbers January 2011-May 2012 | |
| Number of Staff(1) | |
| (1) The data are taken from management information. The figures quoted refer to the total number of people employed and includes those who work part-time or on a full-time basis and on temporary or fixed-term contacts. Some of the staff included may work in multi-jurisdiction a I centres dealing with other work as well as social security and child support appeals. | |
The Social Security and Child Support Tribunal disposed of 433,600 appeals in 2011-12. This is a 14% increase when compared to 2010-11 (380,200).
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 13 December 2011, Official Report, column 724W, on Tribunals Service: work capability assessment, which tribunal centres (a) currently operate a six-day week to hear appeals against the work capability assessment (WCA), (b) are planning to operate a six-day week to hear appeals against the WCA, (c) currently operate a seven-day week to hear appeals against the WCA and (d) are planning to operate a six-day week to hear appeals against the WCA. [115319]
Mr Djanogly:
Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) (decisions in
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which the work capability assessment is a key factor) rather than appeals against work capability assessment decisions themselves.
HMCTS has continued to respond strongly to the significant increase in appeal cases received by the First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS). It is working hard to increase the capacity of the SSCS Tribunal and reduce waiting times. The SSCS Tribunal disposed of 433,600 appeals in 2011-12. This is a 14% increase in output when compared to 2010-11 (380,200) and 56% more than 2009-10 (279,300).
All SSCS hearing venues hear appeals on the range of benefit types, including ESA. Saturday sittings are used on a flexible basis in a number of hearing venues to meet particular increases in demand for hearings. Appellants are asked whether they are willing to attend a hearing on a Saturday before their case is listed and the hearing will proceed exactly as it would on a weekday.
The following hearing venues are currently running Saturday sittings: Sutton, Bexleyheath, London (Fox Court), Cardiff, Leeds, Enfield, Basildon, Bedford and Derby.
The Newcastle and Darlington hearing venues will run sittings on Saturdays from July 2012.
Saturday sittings have previously been held in Wrexham, Langstone, Plymouth, Dundee, Hamilton, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Nottingham and Liverpool.
There are currently no sittings held on a Sunday and there are no current plans to extend sittings to seven days a week.
Transport
Air Traffic
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers she has to make air traffic distribution rules at UK airports. [115582]
Mrs Villiers: The application of air traffic distribution rules (TDRs) is governed by European law. Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community states that:
“A Member State, after consultation with interested parties including the air carriers and airports concerned, may regulate, without discrimination among destinations inside the Community or on grounds of nationality or identity of air carriers, the distribution of air traffic between airports satisfying the following conditions:
the airports serve the same city or conurbation;
the airports are served by adequate transport infrastructure [...];
the airports are linked to one another and to the city or conurbation they serve by frequent, reliable and efficient public transport services; and
the airports offer necessary services to air carriers, and do not unduly prejudice their commercial opportunities.
Any decision to regulate the distribution of air traffic between the airports concerned shall respect the principles of proportionality and transparency, and shall be based on objective criteria.”
Under Article 21 (1008/2008), all TDRs must be approved by the Commission before implementation. Following submission of TDR proposals to the Commission, they have six months to determine whether the TDRs proposed are compatible with EU law.
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Section 31 of the Airports Act 1986 provides the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), with powers to introduce TDRs relating to airports in the UK, provided that they comply with EU law. Prior to the introduction of such TDRs, the Secretary of State must consult the CAA who in turn must consult the aviation industry.
Aviation: EU Action
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed new EU regulation on the allocation of slots at EU airports would require airlines to include in their published accounts the market value of the slots that they hold. [115655]
Mrs Villiers: The European Commission's proposal to recast the EU regulation on the common rules for the allocation of slots at EU airports does not include such a requirement.
BMI Airline
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions she has had with the (a) Civil Aviation Authority and (b) Office of Fair Trading on the sale of British Midland International; and who she (i) met and (ii) spoke to on each such occasion; [110758]
(2) what discussions she has had with the European Commissioner for (a) Transport and (b) Competition in the last six months on the sale of British Midland International; [110759]
(3) what discussions she has had with (a) International Airlines Group, (b) British Airways, (c) Virgin Atlantic and (d) Lufthansa on the sale of British Midland International; and who she (i) met and (ii) spoke to on each such occasion; [110760]
(4) what discussions her officials have had on the sale of British Midland International; and who they (a) met and (b) spoke to on each such occasion; [110761]
(5) what discussions she has had on the sale of British Midland International; and who she (a) met and (b) spoke to on each such occasion. [110762]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has not had any discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority, the Office of Fair Trading, International Airline Group, or Lufthansa regarding the sale of British Midland International.
The Secretary of State had formal introductory meetings with the chief executives of Virgin Atlantic Airways and British Airways on 30 January and 1 February respectively, during which the proposed sale of BMI was briefly mentioned. In addition the Secretary of State spoke to the chief executive of British Airways several times in March to gain a factual appreciation of developments regarding the sale of BMI.
The Secretary of State had two telephone conversations with the European Competition Commissioner on 27 and 28 March, to make him aware of the UK Government's concerns about the implications of BMI becoming insolvent.
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Department for Transport officials took part in a telephone call with European Commission competition authority officials, at their request, in February to provide the Commission with factual information about bilateral air services agreements covering certain routes, as part of the Commission's evidence-gathering for its consideration of the proposed sale of BMI.
Department for Transport officials have had various meetings and discussions with British Airways, International Airlines Group and Virgin Atlantic, both before and after the sale of BMI, at which the sale of BMI and its implications were discussed.
Department for Transport officials also had telephone discussions with Office of Fair Trading officials during February 2012 to confirm details of the latter's process for referring the proposed sale to the European Commission competition authority.
Cable Cars
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on plans for further cable cars to be built over the Thames. [115333]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has had no discussions with the Mayor on plans for further cable cars to be built over the Thames.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Mr Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of proposed closures of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency offices on rural areas. [115810]
Mike Penning: An impact assessment has been completed which considers the effect of the proposed closures. Under the DVLA's new “Front Office Counter Services” contract, services will be provided by between 4,000 and 6,000 local outlets and will offer more localised face to face services in comparison to the current 39 local offices. This will benefit motorists in rural areas who will no longer have to travel as far to transact with the DVLA. The plans will also ensure that more DVLA services will be delivered electronically or by telephone, allowing motorists to transact with the DVLA at their convenience.
Mr Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to announce the timetable for Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency office closures. [115811]
Mike Penning: The timetable outlining the proposed closure of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency local office closure was announced on 4 July and was included in the outline business case. The proposed timetable for closure is as follows:
31 October 2013—Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Brighton, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Edinburgh, Ipswich, Lincoln, Norwich, Oxford, Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Stockton, Swansea.
30 November 2012—Bangor, Beverley, Chester, Dundee, Exeter, Inverness, Maidstone, Peterborough, Sidcup, Theale, Truro, Worcester.
31 December 2013—Birmingham, Borehamwood, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Northampton, Portsmouth, Preston, Wimbledon.
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The work of the regional enforcement centres, which are co-located with 10 local offices, will be centralised at the DVLA’s headquarters in Swansea by 31 March 2013. Staffing levels will be kept under review throughout the transition period and the viability of each office will be reviewed on a regular basis. As a result, the closure plan may be subject to change.
Driving Under Influence: Drugs
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to hold a public consultation on the findings of the Expert Panel on Drug Driving; and if she will make a statement. [116108]
Mike Penning: Yes, I do plan to hold a consultation about the findings of the expert panel.
Indeed there is a requirement in the clause on the new specific drug driving offence for there to be consultation about which controlled drugs would be specified in the new offence and what the specified limits for them would be.
The regulations specifying controlled drugs and limits for the new offence would be subject to the affirmative procedure.
Driving: Licensing
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure compliance with European Commission Directives 2009/113/EC and 2006/126/EC regarding eyesight requirements for licensing group 1 and group 2 drivers; and whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure such compliance. [116001]
Mike Penning: Following a public consultation on the European Commission's proposals to amend the eyesight standards, legislative changes are now being introduced. These changes will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary process allows and we hope to have them in place by early autumn.
In the meantime administrative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that all driving licence applicants meet the minimum acuity standards required by the directives.
Fuels: Rural Areas
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps she is taking to mitigate the effect of filling station closures on the availability of fuel for people in rural areas; [110158]
(2) if she will take steps to help people living in rural areas which are up to 30 miles away from the nearest forecourt or petrol station to have easier access to fuel; [110159]
(3) if she will take steps to subsidise fuel costs for those on low incomes in rural areas. [110161]
Mike Penning: My ministerial colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published in March a summary of actions taken by the Government on ‘The Cost of Fuel in Rural Areas’, including availability, which is available on DEFRA's website:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13741-fuel-cost-rural.pdf
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Since then the Government has announced that the planned 3p rise in August 2012 will be postponed.
In addition, the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), have jointly written to the fuel retail industry inviting them to bring forward proposals on transparent pricing.
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of geographical inequalities in the cost of car insurance; and what steps she is taking to address such inequalities. [115268]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport has not made a recent assessment of the geographical inequalities in the cost of motor insurance. Insurers use their claims experience to assess risk and while location is a factor, other factors such as the driver's age and driving record will also influence premiums.
The Government is determined to tackle the rising cost of motor insurance. On 2 May 2012 the Secretary of State hosted a cross-Government summit with the insurance industry on measures to reduce the rising cost of premiums.
Parliamentary Private Secretaries: Visits Abroad
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will list any occasions since May 2010 on which her Parliamentary Private Secretary has travelled overseas with her or on her behalf. [115351]
Norman Baker: To the best of my knowledge, there have been no such occasions.
Pedestrian Crossings: Schools
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is her policy that there has to be a fatality before road crossing measures are implemented outside schools. [115757]
Norman Baker: No. It is for individual local highway authorities to determine whether or not a pedestrian crossing is necessary, taking into account local factors which they are best placed to judge. The Department for Transport provides guidance on assessing the need for pedestrian crossings and for their design, through Local Transport Notes 1/95 and 2/95.
Public Expenditure
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 23 April 2012 at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, (1) what progress her Department has made on identifying a proportion of its resource budget that can be re-prioritised; what steps she has taken to identify such funds; and which parts of her Department's resource budget she has identified as suitable for re-prioritisation; [115141]
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(2) what discussions she has had with her Department's agencies and the non-departmental bodies for which she is responsible on the contribution they will make to identifying resource budget for possible re-prioritisation; [115142]
(3) when she will make public the areas of her Department's resource budget she has identified for possible re-prioritisation; and when she plans to report to the Transport Select Committee on the outcome of this exercise. [115148]
Norman Baker: The Department is working with the Treasury to agree contingency plans as set out in “Improving Spending Control”
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/improving_spending_control.pdf
Plans and options for reprioritisation will not be published. They should be “live” plans that are reassessed and updated on an on-going basis.
Railways
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory requirements exist for public consultation in respect of (i) ticket offices, (ii) timetable changes, (iii) service levels, (iv) line closures, (v) station closures, (vi) staffing levels, (vii) safety and (viii) enhancements on the railways. [113705]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 26 June 2012]:The information is as follows:
(a) For ticket offices, consultation requirements are non-statutory and are set out in the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA). These requirements cover proposals on ticket office opening hours falling into the “major changes” category defined in the TSA. The TSA is owned and maintained by the Association of Train Operating Companies, and is available from its website at
http://www.atoc.org/about-atoc/rail-settlement-plan/governance
There are no public consultation requirements in respect of proposals that fall into the category of “minor changes”.
(b) Franchised passenger operators are required by their franchise contracts to consult on the details of timetable changes according to specified time scales—usually four weeks.
(c) Franchise agreements provide that the Secretary of State for Transport may stipulate any reasonable procedural arrangements and timescales with regard to train operator proposals to permanently amend the service specification. Generally, the Secretary of State has required franchised train operators to comply with the Government's adopted Code of Practice on consultations, whereby a minimum 12 week consultation period should be undertaken by the promoting body with appropriate stakeholders. These include Passenger Focus, London TravelWatch and local authorities with responsibility for transport (usually county councils, metropolitan boroughs or unitary authorities).
(d) As regards changes to service levels which involve the ceasing of all passenger services on a line, line closures, and station closures, statutory requirements for consultation are set out by statute in schedule 7 of the Railways Act 2005 which is available from the Government website.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/14/pdfs/ukpga_20050014_en.pdf
(e) There are no statutory or non-statutory consultation requirements in relation to the staffing of rail stations, other than those referred to above for ticket offices, and those contained in the general law on employment.
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(f) The Office of Rail Regulation is responsible for safety issues in the rail industry.
(g) The Government sets out its requirements for rail outputs and enhancements in its High Level Output Specification (HLOS) which covers a five year regulatory control period. The HLOS is accompanied by a statement of funds available to the rail industry to deliver those requirements. The choice of schemes needed to deliver those requirements is made as part of an industry process, overseen by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). The ORR carries out a number of focussed consultations around its proposed approach, funding structures and the outputs to be delivered. Its process and arrangements for consultation can be found at
www.rail-reg.gov.uk
(h) Enhancements to the rail network which involve changes to the contractual arrangements for station and/or track access under section 22 of the Railway Act 1993 require consultation with all relevant industry bodies, any relevant Passenger Transport Executive(s), relevant devolved bodies, as well as Passenger Focus and (where appropriate) London TravelWatch.
(i) Rail enhancements which require planning permission are subject to the consultation requirements contained in general planning law.
Roads: Accidents
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many cyclists were (a) killed and (b) injured on the roads in each police force area in each of the last 10 years; [115890]
(2) how many pedestrians were (a) killed and (b) injured in road accidents in each police force area in each of the last 10 years. [115891]
Mike Penning: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many pedestrians were (a) killed and (b) injured in collisions with cyclists in each police force area in each of the last 10 years; [115892]
(2) how many cyclists were (a) killed and (b) injured in collisions with pedestrians in each police force area in each of the last 10 years. [115893]
Mike Penning: The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.
Figures for cyclists who were injured or killed after a road collision involving a pedestrian are included only for cases where the pedestrian was also injured in the accident. It is not possible to identify pedestrian involvement in collisions where only the cyclist was injured.
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many cyclists were (a) killed and (b) injured contravening red lights in each police force area in each of the last 10 years; [115894]
(2) how many pedestrians have been (a) killed and (b) injured by cyclists contravening red lights in each police force area in each of the last 10 years. [115895]
Mike Penning: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department.
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of people killed (a) by cars and (b) in road accidents between 2010 and 2011. [115950]
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Mike Penning: The number of people killed as a result of a collision involving a car rose by 7% in Great Britain, from 1,117 in 2010 to 1,196 in 2011. Numbers of people killed in a road accident rose by 3% in Great Britain, from 1,850 in 2010 to 1,901 in 2011.
Since 2003, deaths in road accidents have fallen steadily, and 2010 saw the highest ever fall (17%) in a single year. Despite the increase in fatalities in 2011 the annual total is below that of 2009, and is indeed the second lowest figure since the end of the First World War.
There are a number of factors that may have contributed to the year-on-year increase in road fatalities from 2010 to 2011. However, there is evidence that extreme winter weather conditions tend to reduce the number of road fatalities, as there is much less traffic than usual and those motorists who do venture out tend to drive more slowly and cautiously.
In this context it is particularly notable that there were two separate periods of sustained snow and ice across many areas of Great Britain during 2010 (one at the beginning of the year, one at the end), but no such periods on a comparable scale during 2011. This year-on-year difference would be expected to lead to a higher number of fatalities in the winter months of 2011 than in the winter months of 2010, holding all other factors equal.
The statistics bear this out: during the four winter months of 2011 (January, February, November and December) there were 81 more road fatalities than in the same months of 2010. During the remaining eight months of the year (March to October inclusive), which were not affected by extreme winter weather, there were 30 fewer fatalities in 2011 than in 2010.
Tonnage Tax
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of (a) onboard, (b) port-based and (c) other onshore jobs which have been created in the domestic maritime sector as a result of the introduction of the tonnage tax in each year since 2000-01. [R] [115933]
Mike Penning: No such estimate has been made. The availability of tonnage tax as an optional taxation regime for shipping companies is helping to maintain the competitiveness of the UK maritime sector, which is essential to job creation.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) UK and (b) non-UK seafarers were employed on vessels in the tonnage tax scheme in each year since 2002-03; and what estimate she has made of the likely number in each such category in 2011-12. [R] [115934]
Mike Penning: The number of seafarers employed, as reported to us by companies and groups for each tonnage tax training commitment year, are shown in the following table.
| UK | Non-UK | |
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John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many journeys by vessels in the tonnage tax were (a) between UK ports, (b) one port voyages, (c) to the UK from an international port and (d) from the UK to an international port in each year since the scheme’s inception; [R] [115935]
(2) what proportion of the UK’s (a) imports and (b) exports in each year since 2000-01 were undertaken by vessels in the tonnage tax. [R] [115936]
Mike Penning: The Department does not hold this information.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to answer question 111043 tabled by the hon. Member for South Northamptonshire on 8 June 2012 for answer on 13 June 2012. [115974]
Justine Greening: I will respond before the summer recess.
Home Department
Antisocial Behaviour
18. Mr Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to empower local communities to tackle alcohol-related antisocial behaviour. [115555]
Lynne Featherstone: Together, the Government's alcohol strategy, published in March, and the White Paper on antisocial behaviour, which was laid before Parliament in May, will provide communities with powerful new tools to tackle alcohol-related antisocial behaviour.
22. Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to promote collaboration between voluntary organisations and the police to tackle antisocial behaviour. [115559]
James Brokenshire:
Antisocial behaviour is a problem that needs a local solution, and in many areas voluntary
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organisations play an important role alongside the police and their local partners. The Home Office looks to highlight examples where collaboration is working well, and from November police and crime commissioners will be able to fund voluntary organisations directly to tackle local priorities.
Cleveland Police
21. Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of the current investigation into Cleveland police. [115558]
Nick Herbert: The costs of the investigation for 2011-12 were £1.6 million. I have approved the payment of a special grant to Cleveland police to cover this cost. The provisional estimate of the investigation costs for 2012-13 is £2.2 million.
Deportations (Human Rights Legislation)
23. Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that foreign criminals are not able to use human rights legislation to avoid removal. [115560]
Mrs May: The Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules that I laid before the House on 13 June has come into effect today. This introduces clear new rules to protect the public from foreign criminals who try to hide behind family life as a reason to stay here. For the most serious offenders, only in exceptional cases will the public interest in deportation be outweighed by other factors.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many antisocial behaviour orders on application have been issued in (a) England and Wales, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) Ashfield constituency in the last three years; [115359]
(2) how many antisocial behaviour orders on conviction have been issued in (a) England and Wales, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) Ashfield constituency in the last three years. [115360]
James Brokenshire: The number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued in England and Wales, and in the Nottinghamshire criminal justice system (CJS) area, on application and following conviction in 2009 and 2010 (the latest year for which data are currently available), are shown in the following table. Data collated centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the number of ASBOs issued are not available at parliamentary constituency level. ASBO data for 2011 are planned for publication in October 2012.
| Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued at all courts, as reported to the Ministry of Justice(1) by the Court Service, made on application(2) and issued following conviction(3), in the Nottinghamshire criminal justice system (CJS) area and England and Wales, 2009-10 | ||||
| 2009 | 2010 | |||
| Area | On application | On conviction | On application | On conviction |
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| (1) Prior to the creation of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007, the number of ASBOs issued were reported to Home Office by the Court Service. (2) Comprises ASBOs issued on application by magistrates courts acting in their civil capacity and county courts, which became available on 1 April 1999. (3) Comprises ASBOs made following conviction for a relevant criminal offence at the Crown court and at magistrates courts (acting in their criminal capacity), which the Police Reform Act 2002 made available from 2 December 2002. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Prepared by Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice. | ||||
Antisocial Behaviour: Alcoholic Drinks
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to tackle alcohol-related antisocial behaviour. [115561]
James Brokenshire: Through the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act, the Government have already given significant powers to local communities to tackle alcohol-related antisocial behaviour. We have set out further proposals to tackle the harms caused by alcohol misuse in the Government's Alcohol Strategy, which was published on 23 March 2012. The White Paper on antisocial behaviour, laid before Parliament in May, set out further proposals to give communities the power to ensure that action is taken to deal with persistent antisocial behaviour.
British Nationality: Assessments
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the statement of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 48, on family migration, whether applicants who successfully meet the English language requirements and pass the Life in the UK test prior to 9 July 2012, but who experience delays on the part of the awarding organisations with the issuing of the necessary certification, will be admitted under the rules in place prior to 9 July 2012 if the certification is not received until after that date. [115007]
Damian Green: Applicants for limited leave to enter or remain in the UK as a spouse or partner must provide evidence that they have attained the relevant language qualification. If there is a delay in receiving a certificate, UK Border Agency may be able to accept a transcript from the exam board. However, if it cannot be established that the person has met the relevant requirement, the application cannot be granted. Applications received on or after 9 July will be dealt with under the new family migration rules described in the statement of 11 June.
Changes to the Life in the UK Test, which is required for those seeking indefinite leave to remain in the UK, will not take place until later this year. From October 2013, applicants for indefinite leave will be required to pass the revised Life in the UK test and obtain an intermediate level speaking and listening qualification in English (i.e. at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Databases: Telecommunications
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2012, Official Report, column 865W, on databases: telecommunications, what the names are of all the telecommunication companies and representative trade associations which have been involved in discussions with the cross-Government Communication Capabilities Development programme since its inception. [114769]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 2 July 2012]:We have had discussions with the following trade associations: the Internet Service Providers Association, the Internet Telephony Service Providers Association and the London Internet Exchange.
Effective engagement with industry is central to the CCD programme; we have regular discussions with a number of companies. Revealing exactly which companies have been involved in discussions can reveal and compromise the operational capabilities that we develop in partnership with the industry. In order to maintain our ability to protect the public, we do not disclose the companies we are in discussion with.
Deportation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who had their visas revoked and were scheduled for deportation in each of the last five years have not been deported. [115515]
Damian Green: The data requested are not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols or produced as part of the UK Border Agency's standard reports.
The Home Office publishes immigration statistics on a quarterly and annual basis, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House. The latest published statistics on removals can also be found at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q1-2012/
Detention Centres
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department uses a risk-based assessment in respect of detention at immigration removal centres; and if she will publish any assessment criteria used. [115489]
9 July 2012 : Column 79W
Damian Green: Decisions to detain are taken on an individual basis in the light of all relevant circumstances known. The factors which should be considered and the guidance available to assist UK Border Agency officers in reaching these decisions are published in Chapter 55 of the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance, available at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/enforcement/detentionandremovals/chapter55.pdf?view=Binary
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if her Department will set a maximum period for detention at immigration removal centres. [115490]
Damian Green: There are no plans to set a maximum period for detention at immigration removal centres.
Drugs: Misuse
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent representations she has received on the legal high Benzo Fury (6-APB); [115296]
(2) what advice she has received from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on the legal high Benzo Fury (6-APB); [115297]
(3) whether she plans to use the powers contained in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2012 to ban the legal high Benzo Fury (6-APB). [115298]
James Brokenshire: ‘Benzo Fury' is a brand name product currently advertised as a “legal high” in the UK. In those ‘Benzo Fury' products analysed under the Home Office Forensic Early Warning System (FEWS), a number of Class B controlled drugs have been identified as well as 5-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (5-APB) and 6-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (6-APB).
We are monitoring ‘Benzo Fury' and its contents through our early warning systems. The national drug awareness service website, FRANK, has been updated to include information on 5-APB and 6-APB. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is reviewing 5-APB and 6-APB and considering the available evidence on the harms of these drugs. Any legislative response from the Government would be informed by the ACMD's expert advice.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research her Department has conducted on the potential benefits of drug consumption rooms. [115307]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office has not undertaken any research on drug consumption rooms. The Department of Health is the lead Department for research in this area.
Entry Clearances
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many transit visas were issued in each of the last three years. [115656]
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Damian Green [holding answer 6 July 2012]: In 2009, 2010 and 2011 there were, respectively, 32,302, 28,955 and 26,935 transit entry clearance visas issued.
Data relating to transit entry clearance visas issued are published in table “be.04.” of the quarterly Home Office statistical release “Immigration Statistics”.
A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics January-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/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
Europol
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the UK has (a) informed and (b) been informed by the Europol Security Coordinator of a data breach under Article 3(2) of EU Council Decision 2009/968/JHA in each year since 2010; and what action resulted from those breaches. [115384]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 5 July 2012]: Since 2010 the UK has not:
(a) informed the Europol Security Coordinator or other party of a data breach under Article 3(2) of EU Council Decision 2009/968/JHA.
(b) been informed by the Europol Security Coordinator or other party of a data breach under Article 3(2) of EU Council Decision 2009/968/JHA.
Extradition
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies her Department has undertaken of the differing legal systems of states to which the UK can extradite people through the European Arrest Warrant since 2003. [112125]
Damian Green: The UK has not conducted any such studies. It has participated in a peer evaluation of member states' implementation of the European Arrest Warrant, and this Government commissioned a comprehensive, independent review of the operation of the UK's extradition arrangements, including the European Arrest Warrant, which included consideration of the standards applicable across member states' criminal justice systems. The Government will respond to the review shortly.
Illegal Immigrants
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to tackle illegal immigration. [115514]
Damian Green:
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) is taking steps to tackle illegal immigration. These include significantly tightening the work, study and family migration
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routes and bringing in reforms to break the link between temporary and permanent migration. In parallel, the UKBA is taking action against those entering sham marriages, those who use false sponsors as a means of entering and staying in the UK and those who otherwise abuse the asylum route to the detriment of those in need of protection. UKBA crime teams are working with other law enforcement agencies here and abroad to tackle organised immigration crime.
The UKBA must do more to find and remove those with no right to be in the United Kingdom, it is taking action to strengthen contact management with migrants whose leave has expired and to improve the system of tracing absconders. Greater emphasis is being placed on promoting voluntary removals which has helped to increase the numbers taking up assisted voluntary return.
Anyone found living or working here illegally remains liable to be detained and removed.
Immigration
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on her immigration policy; and if she will make a statement. [115503]
Damian Green: Over the past two years, the Government have consulted on a series of major reforms to the immigration system. We have published four consultation documents covering work and study routes, settlement rules and family migration. Together these generated approximately 52,000 responses. The Department continues to receive significant volumes of correspondence on immigration issues from members of the public, MPs, peers and others.
The Government's policy is to reduce net migration back to the levels of the 1990s—to the tens of thousands’ not hundreds of thousands—and restore public confidence in the system. The reforms we have made lay the foundations for a more selective immigration system that meets the needs of the UK.
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to respond to the 2010 application by a constituent of the right hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton, Amina Begum, for a reconsideration of her case to remain in the UK under human rights considerations; for what reasons she was informed that a decision would be made within approximately 12 weeks; and what the reason is for the time taken. [116051]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency apologises for the delay in considering the further submissions made by Ms Begum, to which it had aimed to respond within 12 weeks. I can confirm that a decision has been made to grant Ms Begum and her dependants three years discretionary leave. The UK Border Agency will write to both the right hon. Gentleman and Ms Begum confirming the decision.
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Immigration Controls
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the Immigration Rules prevent a non EEA spouse of a British citizen from settling in the UK with their British children whilst the British citizen is working overseas. [116044]
Damian Green: When a person is applying for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom as a non-EEA spouse of a British citizen, they need to give evidence of their intention to live permanently in the UK.
If the British citizen is not present and settled in the UK at the time of the application, it would be more difficult for them to show this intention.
The fact that the British citizen in question works overseas is not a barrier in itself to settlement in the UK.
Licensed Premises: Security
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2012, Official Report, column 34W, on licensed premises security, whether the guidance will be published before the House rises for its summer recess; and if she will make a statement. [115662]
Lynne Featherstone: As I stated in response to the hon. Lady's previous question, on 25 June 2012, Official Report, columns 33- 34W, the revised guidance will be published shortly. I have nothing further to add to that answer.
Misuse of Drugs Ministerial Group
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which Ministers sit on the Inter-Ministerial Group on Drugs; and how many times each Minister has attended the Group since May 2010; [114622]
(2) how many times the Inter-Ministerial Group on Drugs has met since 2010; how many times drug prevention has been discussed by the Group since 2010; how many times the Group has discussed drug education in schools; and whether the Group has discussed the closure of the drugs education forum. [114623]
James Brokenshire: Ministerial membership of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Drugs is defined by its Terms of Reference:
Home Office;
Department for Education;
Department for Health;
Ministry of Justice;
Department for Work and Pensions;
Department for Communities and Local Government;
Cabinet Office; and
HM Treasury
9 July 2012 : Column 83W
Ministerial attendance varies according to the agenda of the meeting and their availability. Other Ministers or senior officials and advisers may attend subject to the agenda. The IMG on Drugs has met 15 times since May 2010.
Prevention and education forms a key part of the drug strategy as part of the reducing demand theme. The IMG regularly discusses progress at its meetings on each of the themes of the strategy. Ministers have not discussed the closure of the Drug Education Forum.
Offences Against Children: British Nationals Abroad
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has to expand the capability and capacity of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre to investigate cases of abuse of children overseas by British sex offenders. [112811]
Lynne Featherstone: The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) works with a network of organisations in areas such as south-east Asia to protect children. The International Child Protection Network (ICPN) brings together law enforcement agencies, NGOs and the private sector to increase the capacity and capability available to tackle the threat posed by British nationals to children in those countries. As a result of becoming part of the National Crime Agency (NCA), CEOP will have access to the full range of operational tools at the disposal of the NCA to prevent harm to children in the UK and abroad and disrupt the activities of paedophiles.
Passports: Scotland
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of people registered at an address in Scotland have a UK passport. [115483]
Damian Green: The Identity and Passport Service does not collate data on the basis of the geographical location of passport applications.
Police: Job Satisfaction
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will make an assessment of the effect on police morale of (a) changes in police budgets, (b) annual pay freezes for police and (c) police pension reforms; [112992]
(2) what recent assessment she has made of the effect of changes in police budgets on the morale of police forces in England and Wales. [113013]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 21 June 2012]:The Government have no choice but to deal with the deficit. Reductions in Government funding to the police over the spending review period are challenging but manageable. There is no question but that the police will still have the resources to do their important work.
I understand that police officers are concerned about the potential changes to their pay and conditions and changes to police budgets. I, along with other Ministers and officials, maintain regular contact with police forces and officers to monitor the impact of these reforms.
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This includes discussing the proposed changes relating to pay and pensions with police officer staff associations at the Police Negotiating Board.
Schengen Agreement
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has (a) made and (b) published (1) on the potential benefits to the UK of involvement in aspects of the Schengen system; [115320]
(2) of the value of UK use of the Schengen Information System. [115820]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 5 July 2012]: The UK partially participates in the Schengen acquis, with the primary purpose of connecting in due course to the second generation of the Schengen Information System (SIS II). The UK also participates in Schengen activities where drug and arms trafficking are involved. There are no plans for the UK to join those elements of Schengen pertaining to border controls.
SIS II has been recognised by successive Governments as being important to the UK, as it will provide UK law enforcement agencies with real-time access to the EU's most comprehensive law enforcement database via the UK's Police National Computer. The National Policing Improvement Agency public facing website currently outlines the high-level overview of SIS II:
http://www.npia.police.uk/en/9619.htm
Measures directly related to the UK's involvement in the Schengen acquis are on the list of 133 notified to Parliament on 21 December 2011 as part of the decision to be made on whether we accept European Court of Justice jurisdiction for pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures in 2014. These measures will be reviewed accordingly.
Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2012, Official Report, columns 260-61W, on sexual offences: victim support schemes, for what reasons the commissioning of a sexual assault referral in North Yorkshire has been delayed; and if she will make a statement. [115184]
Lynne Featherstone: The commissioning of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in North Yorkshire is a joint collaboration between North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust and North Yorkshire police. The commissioning of this SARC is a local issue, so I am unable to comment as to why a delay has occurred. However, I understand from the police that a joint management board has now been set up to oversee the development of the SARC which is expected to open in early 2013.
Metal Theft
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of metal thefts in (a) England, (b) Lancashire and (c) Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency in the last 12 months. [115429]
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James Brokenshire: The information requested is not held centrally. A new recording classification for metal theft offences reported to the police commenced on 1 April 2012 which will, for the first time, provide accurate information on the number of offences and where they have been committed.
Work Permits: Overseas Students
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for work permits by Romanian and Bulgarian students were completed within three months in each of the last five years. [115427]
Damian Green: The data requested are not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols, or produced as part of the UK Border Agency's standard reports. However, the UK Border Agency publishes immigration statistics in relation to Romanian and Bulgarian work permit applications on a quarterly and annual basis, a copy of which can be found at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-tabs-q1-2012/eea-q1-2012-tabs?view=Binary
Health
Abortion
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions he has had on the reasons for geographical variations in the stage of pregnancy at which women are seeking abortions with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and (b) the Minister for Women and Equalities; what steps he is taking to ensure that police use existing powers to protect women from intimidation and harassment at abortion clinics; and if he will make a statement; [115368]
(2) if he will assess the extent to which anti-abortion protests outside clinics are having an effect on the stage of pregnancy at which women are seeking abortions (a) in Brighton and Hove, (b) in Reading, (c) in Stratford and (d) nationally; and if he will make a statement. [115369]
Anne Milton: We are aware of reports of protests outside abortion clinics over the past few months. However, we are not aware of any evidence that these protests are contributing to geographical variations in women seeking abortions, or the stage at which they seek an abortion. Variations in early access to abortion services can be influenced by a number of factors. If clinics have concerns about protests, they should contact their local police force for advice and support. In addition, every national health service body has a local security management specialist, which can be called upon for assistance, details of which are available through the local primary care trust.
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the Care Quality Commission's investigation into abortion clinics is due to be completed; [115528]
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(2) whether the outcome of the Care Quality Commission's investigation into abortion clinics will be published; [115529]
(3) what progress the Care Quality Commission has made on its investigation of abortion practices that are not compliant with the law. [115531]
Anne Milton: The Care Quality Commission publishes a report following every inspection of a provider of a regulated activity that it carries out. These reports are available on the Commission's website. Reports of the recent inspections of providers of termination of pregnancy services are currently being finalised and will be published in due course.
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that all women requesting abortions are seen by two doctors; [115530]
(2) what steps he plans to take to ensure that all abortions performed are compliant with the law; and if he will make a statement. [115532]
Anne Milton: The Abortion Act 1967 requires that two registered medical practitioners must certify that they are of the opinion, formed in good faith, that at least one and the same ground for abortion exists, taking account all the particular circumstances of the individual case. There is no requirement that both doctors must see and examine the woman. The Department has contacted three police forces, the General Medical Council and the Care Quality Commission about reports of gender selective abortion and about the pre-signing of HSA1 forms. Investigations and reviews are currently under way and the results will inform what steps may need to be taken to ensure that termination of pregnancy services are compliant with the law.
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to conduct research into high levels of alcohol consumption at home amongst (a) men and (b) women. [116039]
Anne Milton: The Office for National Statistics, “Opinions Survey Report No 42 Drinking: adults' behaviour and knowledge in 2009” includes a section on the “circumstances in which people drank last week.”
The Department has also commissioned research into publishing estimates of alcohol consumption based on a daily drinking diary as part of the 2011 Health Survey for England. The diary will provide information about where respondents say they drank on each day in the week of the survey. The results are expected to be published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre towards the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013.
Atos
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2012, Official Report, column 786W, on Atos, what the total value per year was of each contract between his Department and Atos in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012. [115285]
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Mr Simon Burns: The IMS3 contract was awarded in January 2012. The total estimated spend with Atos relating to this contract for the financial year (FY) 2012-13 is £15.9 million.
The Choose and Book contract with Atos incurred the following costs from 2009-12, split by FY, as follows:
| £ million | |
| Notes: 1. FY 2009-10 and 2010-11 are actual costs. 2. FY 2011-12 are actual costs, but they are subject to final audit approval. 3. FY 2012-13 are actual costs up until 30 June 2012 which are also subject to final audit approval. | |
Cancer
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership study is progressing as quickly as possible. [115519]
Paul Burstow: The International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) is a unique and innovative international partnership of clinicians, academics and policymakers seeking to understand how and why cancer survival varies between different countries and jurisdictions.
The ICBP is chaired by England's National Clinical Director for Cancer, Professor Sir Michael Richards. The Department funded the first ICBP research module, Module 1, in order to develop and establish the partnership as quickly as possible. Other modules are co-funded by other members of the ICBP.
Results on Module 2, ‘Population awareness and beliefs’, as well as further papers on Module 1, are currently being submitted for peer review. Further work on other modules is under way. While this is being progressed as quickly as possible, the need for academic rigour, the complexity of the work and the challenges associated with working across international boundaries means that it takes time to deliver the planned programme.
Continuing Care
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients diagnosed with (a) Parkinson's disease and (b) dementia are eligible for long-term care funding; and how many such patients claim for it; [115818]
(2) whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of Parkinson's disease and dementia patients who have funded their own care since 2004. [115906]
Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally.
Anyone assessed as having a certain level of care needs may receive national health service continuing health care. Eligibility is decided after an assessment has been made by a multidisciplinary team using the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-Funded Nursing Care. The eligibility criteria for NHS continuing health care are not disease specific.
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It is the extent of the individual's assessed primary health care needs and the care required to meet those needs, rather than the diagnosis, that determine eligibility.
Diabetes
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to consult on the companion document on diabetes that will be published alongside the long-term conditions outcomes strategy. [115924]
Paul Burstow: The first meeting of the Diabetes Advisory Group was held on the 21 June. This is a task and finish group which will oversee the production of the diabetes companion document.
This group includes expert members in their field, patient representatives and members of relevant voluntary sector organisations, including Diabetes UK.
This group is consulting with the Department, and across Government Departments, in the development of this document, which is expected to be published alongside the Long Term Conditions Outcome Strategy towards the end of this year.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the cardiovascular disease outcomes strategy will include outcomes for people with diabetes; and if he will make a statement. [115925]
Paul Burstow: The primary focus of the outcomes strategy will be on conditions causing or resulting from “atheromatous” disease of the arteries, but a range of other conditions will also be included, such as arrhythmias and heart failure. It will consider the inter-relationship between different conditions, including diabetes, and the growing challenge of multiple morbidities. There are estimated to be 3.1 million people with diabetes in the United Kingdom and they are at two to four times greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than people without diabetes. Since it accounts for a significant proportion of the CVD burden, the outcomes strategy will therefore cover diabetes as a key risk factor for CVD, rather than its detailed management.
Dialysis Machines
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that ancillary services for renal dialysis patients will be commissioned as part of specialist renal services in order to avoid the risk of fragmentation. [115919]
Mr Simon Burns: No final decisions have been taken on which services will be directly commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board and which will be commissioned by Clinical Commissioning Groups. Work is in hand to determine the list of services that the board will commission and the results of this work are due later in the summer.
Drugs: Misuse
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has conducted on the potential benefits of drug consumption rooms. [115306]
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Anne Milton: The Department has not commissioned any research into drug consumption rooms.
As the possession of controlled drugs without a licence is illegal, the provision and use of consumption rooms for illicit drugs would be a criminal offence. The aims of the Government's drug strategy are to promote recovery from dependence and to reduce illicit and other harmful drug use.
Drugs: Pregnancy
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS holds a specific list of drugs know to pass through the placenta; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential advantages of keeping such a list. [115331]
Mr Simon Burns: It is now widely accepted that most medicines can pass through the placenta to some degree(1). Medicines should only be prescribed in pregnancy if the expected benefit to the mother is considered greater than the risk to the foetus and all medicines should be avoided if possible during the first trimester.
The British National Formulary provides prescribers, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals with independent and up-to-date information about the use of medicines. Where relevant, information is provided on the use of specific medicines in pregnancy.
Information is also available from UK Medicines Information
www.ukmi.nhs.uk
and through the UK Teratology Information Service
www.uktis.org
commissioned by the Health Protection Agency.
(1) Syme et al. Drug transfer and metabolism by the human placenta. Clinical Pharmacokinetics. 2004; 43(8): 487-514.
Drugs: Prisons
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of prisoners entered each prison with an addiction to drugs in 2011-12. [115365]
Paul Burstow: Information is collected by the Department in respect of the total number of prisoners receiving clinical interventions for drug dependence in prisons in England and Wales and within each prison in 2010-11, the most recent year for which data are available. Data are not yet available for 2011-12.
In 2010-11, a total of 30,459 detoxification drug treatments were provided to male and female prisoners of all ages and a total of 30,650 extended prescribing maintenance treatments were provided. Data in respect of each prison have been placed in the Library.
Drugs: Safety
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department takes when notified of pharmaceutical companies contravening the rules contained in legislation on medical safety; [115308]
(2) what records he requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to keep of reported adverse reaction to their drugs. [115309]
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Mr Simon Burns: Pharmaceutical companies have a statutory obligation to report adverse reactions and any information which may influence the evaluation of benefits and risks for medicinal products marketed in the United Kingdom, to the UK regulatory body, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Criminal penalties (fines and incarceration) exist for breaches of these obligations in UK legislation.
MHRA conducts a programme of statutory pharmacovigilance inspections of UK marketing authorisation holders in order to examine compliance with the safety reporting requirements and in order to ensure that action is taken to address non-compliance.
MHRA evaluates all notifications of breaches of medicines legislation which are made to the agency and, where appropriate, investigations are conducted. When serious non-compliance with the safety reporting requirements for medicinal products is identified (through regular risk-based inspection or other means), MHRA can employ a range of options to address the findings. These include repeat inspections to assess whether appropriate corrective and preventative actions have been implemented; the issuing of warning letters; action through marketing authorisations and new marketing authorisation applications when considered appropriate (e.g. suspension of authorisations); referral for criminal prosecution in the UK (if offences have been committed); and referral to the European Medicines Agency for action to be taken under the European Union infringement regulation for medicinal products authorised via the central EU process, which may result in a marketing authorisation holder being fined.
UK Statutory Instrument 3144:1994 (as amended) states:
“The holder of a marketing authorization shall maintain a record of reports of which he is aware of suspected adverse reactions in accordance with the relevant Community provisions which shall be open to inspection by a person authorised by the licensing authority, who may take copies of the record and, if the licensing authority so directs, the authorization holder shall furnish the licensing authority with a copy of any such reports of which he has a record or of which he is or subsequently becomes aware.”
Current Community legislation (EU Directive 2001/83/EC) requires marketing, authorisation holders to maintain detailed records of all suspected adverse reactions of which the company becomes aware and to report suspected serious adverse reactions to relevant competent authorities (to MHRA in the UK).
Drugs: Young Offenders
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of young offenders were addicted to drugs on arrival at each young offender institute in England and Wales in 2011-12. [115300]
Paul Burstow: This information is not available as requested and data are available only in respect of young male offenders. In 2010-11, the most recent year for which data are available, 347 young male offenders were provided with clinical intervention for drug dependence in young offender institutes. Data are not currently available for 2011-12.
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Data are not held centrally on young female offenders with drug addiction. Female young offenders are detained in women's prisons and data about prisoner drug addiction do not identify whether or not an inmate is a young offender.
Health and Wellbeing Boards
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers he has to intervene in the event that a health and wellbeing board consistently underperforms. [115923]
Paul Burstow: Health and wellbeing boards will be established as local committees of local authorities and ‘as such’ it is not for central Government to monitor their performance. The boards will work with local communities to agree local priorities for action to improve both health and care services and the health and wellbeing of local people through joint health and wellbeing strategies (JHWSs). JHWSs should include clear outcome measures which health and wellbeing boards can use to demonstrate whether they have been successful in tackling these priorities and against which local people can hold health and wellbeing boards to account. The involvement of local councillors and local Healthwatch on health and wellbeing boards will support this transparency and accountability to local people.
Health and wellbeing boards will also be subject to overview and scrutiny committees of the local authority
9 July 2012 : Column 92W
which will be able to review and scrutinise the decisions and actions of health and wellbeing boards and make reports and recommendations to the authority or its executive. As such, the Secretary of State for Health will not have any national intervention powers in relation to health and wellbeing boards.
Health Services: Greater London
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts in Greater London employed consultants in each of the last five years; and how much was spent by each trust. [115400]
Mr Simon Burns: Information regarding expenditure on consultancy services by national health service trusts within the London strategic health authority (SHA) area for the years 2007-08 to 2010-11 is contained in the tables. Expenditure on consultancy services by NHS bodies was first collected in the audited summarisation schedules in 2007-08, so data for 2006-07 are not separately identifiable.
Owing to changes in the organisational structure of the NHS over the period requested, a separate table has been provided for each year.
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.
| Expenditure on consultancy services by NHS Trusts within London SHA for the years 2007-08 to 2010-11 | |
| Table 1: 2007-08 spend on consultancy services by NHS Trusts in London SHA economy area | |
| Organisation | Operating expenses: consultancy services (£000) |
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| Source: 2007-08 NHS Trusts Audited Summarisation Schedules | |
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| Source: 2009-10 NHS Trusts Audited Summarisation Schedules | |
| Table 4: 2010-11 spend on consultancy services by NHS Trusts in London SHA economy area | |
| Organisation | Operating expenses: consultancy services (£000) |
| Source: 2010-11 NHS Trusts Audited Summarisation Schedules | |
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts sold land in Greater London in each of the last five years; and what the value was of each sale. [115401]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not collected. National health service organisations locally decide on how their estate is used, including the disposal of land.
Kidneys: Diseases
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will create a national specialised service for the treatment of atypical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome. [114110]
Mr Simon Burns: The Advisory Group for National Specialised Services met recently to consider whether there should be a nationally commissioned service for the treatment of atypical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome. Ministers have yet to receive its recommendation.
Mental Illness: Children
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2012, Official Report, column 802W, on mental illness: children, how many and what proportion of children aged five to 16 suffered from a clinically recognisable mental disorder in each of the last 30 years. [115783]
Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally. However, two surveys were carried out by the Office for National Statistics.
In 1999, the Office for National Statistics carried out a survey on behalf of the Department, the Scottish Health Executive and the National Assembly for Wales. The results, published in ‘Mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain’ (ONS 2000), stated that 9.5% of five to 15-year-olds had a clinically recognisable mental disorder. The report included a review of previous research. This noted that epidemiological surveys in Great Britain that have focused on psychiatric morbidity among children have concentrated on specific disorders, particular age ranges, and comprehensive studies in particular localities.
In 2004, the Office for National Statistics carried out a survey on behalf of the Department and the Scottish Executive. The results, published in ‘Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain, 2004’ (ONS 2005), stated that 9.6% of five to 16-year-olds had a clinically recognisable mental disorder.
NHS: Public Opinion
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the consideration which should be given to (a) public views of any proposed
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reconfiguration in the NHS and
(b)
any differences of opinion amongst clinicians before final decisions on reconfiguration are made. [116045]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government's policy is that reconfigurations of health services must be able to demonstrate evidence against the Secretary of State for Health's four tests. The tests set out that reconfiguration proposals should have: support from clinical commissioners; strengthened public and patient engagement; clarity on the clinical evidence base; and support for patient choice. Effective local engagement should ensure that services continually improve, based on the feedback of local communities.
It is important that proposals are locally-led, developed by clinicians and based on a thorough assessment of clinical need and the evidence for change. It is for clinical commissioners, working in partnership with clinicians in the provider sector, to agree on the case for change. The National Clinical Advisory Team supports this process by providing an independent external clinical review to assure the case for any reconfiguration.