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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 4 September 2012
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Africa: Human Rights
13. Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the protection of human rights in Africa; and if he will make a statement. [118509]
Mr Bellingham: The promotion and protection of human rights is at the heart of UK foreign policy. Our embassies and high commissions in Africa monitor human rights situations on an ongoing basis, as they do in all regions of the world. We will continue to raise human rights concerns wherever they arise.
Syria
14. Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of young people who have left the UK to take part in the conflict in Syria. [118510]
Mr Hague: The Government take very seriously reports that British nationals are among foreign fighters in Syria. We cannot provide any estimates as there are numerous travel routes, all via third countries. We are monitoring the situation as closely as possible. Where there is evidence that British nationals are involved in terrorist or other illegal activity, the Government have a range of powers to stop them travelling and will use them appropriately.
UK Exports
16. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress his Department has made in increasing UK exports overseas; and if he will make a statement. [118513]
Mr Hague: The FCO supports British exports around the globe.
We have created over 100 new positions in our overseas network in the fastest growing cities, including two new deputy high commissions in India, Hyderabad and Chandigarh.
Our focus on emerging markets is bearing dividends. Compared with Q2 a year ago, exports of goods were up 9.2% to non-EU countries.
Malawi
17. Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the President of Malawi to next visit the UK. [118514]
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Mr Bellingham: Her Excellency President Joyce Banda had a productive visit to the UK for her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June. The Secretary of State for International Development and I have also visited Malawi this year. While no concrete plans are in place for a substantive visit this year, I hope that President Banda may be able to visit the UK again in 2013.
Middle East and North Africa
18. Dr Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote political and economic freedom in the Middle East and North Africa; and if he will make a statement. [118515]
Alistair Burt: In addition to strong political and diplomatic support for the dramatic changes of the past 18 months, our Arab partnership, now worth £110 million, has supported projects including electoral reform, media transparency and employment skills in 15 countries, while we continue to work through multilateral institutions.
UK Market Share
19. Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to expand UK market share in the fastest growing economies; and if he will make a statement. [118516]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We have strengthened the UK's diplomatic network in support of the Government's trade and investment agenda. We are demonstrating our determination to further our commercial interests in the fastest growing economies. We will continue, as a priority, to devote ministerial time to advance this agenda.
Somaliland
22. Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to encourage use of the Somaliland Development Corporation to promote private and public investment in the economy of Somaliland following the Somalia Conference. [118519]
Mr Bellingham: Attracting inward investment will help bring prosperity and stability to Somaliland. The Somaliland Development Corporation's initiative can help achieve this; at the request from the SDC, the Secretary of State for International Development has decided to provide a grant to support its operation.
Yemen
23. Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the situation in Yemen; and if he will make a statement. [118520]
Alistair Burt:
I welcome President Hadi's dedication to restoring stability, notably in Abyan Governorate, and preparing for inclusive National Dialogue. Yemen faces considerable challenges and needs international
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support. Today's donor meeting in Riyadh will help. And later this month my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will chair a Friends of Yemen meeting to show political support for transition.
Burma
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Burma on relations between Muslims and Buddhist communities; and if he will make a statement. [118377]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK remains concerned by the outbreak of inter-communal violence between Rohingya Muslim and Rakhine Buddhist communities in Burma's Rakhine (Arakan) state.
The UK is one of the most active and vocal members of the international community in raising these concerns with the Burmese authorities. We will continue to be so. Through our embassy in Rangoon and through ministerial statements we have repeatedly called for the Burmese Government to put an end to the violence, to allow unhindered humanitarian access to the areas affected, to resolve the issue of nationality and to grant the full respect for human rights to all the people of Burma, notably the Rohingya.
The Government of Burma has announced that it will establish an independent Investigative Commission to probe the violence in Rakhine state. In a statement released on 20 August, we welcomed this development, but made clear that for the Commission to be credible, it needed to involve a consultative process with all of the affected communities, including the predominantly Muslim Rohingya people.
Colombia
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received about demonstrations in Colombia by the human rights movement, the Patriotic March. [118264]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Our embassy in Bogota met members of the Patriotic March in April and was aware of the march which took place on 23 April to launch the movement. The Patriotic March is calling for a consultative process about how to achieve peace, and for the Colombian Government to invest more in social matters.
We are concerned about reports of threats to members of the movement, including Carlos Lozano, Fredy Chate, and about the assassination of Gustavo Londono. The embassy has made representations to the Colombian Government following the disappearance of Hernán Henry Díaz, a leader of the movement, and continues to monitor the situation closely.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the President of Rwanda on the involvement of senior figures in his
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army in the rebellion taking place in the province of North-Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [118390]
Mr Bellingham: We have had and continue to have, extensive high level contact with the Rwandan Government in Kigali and in the UK, during which we have raised our serious concerns about the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
EU Economic Policy
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of EU policies for the promotion of economic growth; and if he will make a statement. [118511]
Mr Lidington: We welcome the clear support from the European Council for measures to strengthen the Single Market, cut regulation, negotiate more free trade agreements and increase trade online. The key test for the EU should be whether its policies will promote growth and competitiveness.
G4S
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the human rights record abroad of G4S. [117900]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The British Government strongly supports the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and, in line with the framework set out in the Guiding Principles, expects UK business enterprises to behave with respect for human rights wherever they operate.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about foreign policy issues. Such discussions are confidential.
Mexico
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has had any recent correspondence with (a) Enrique Pena Nieto and (b) Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. [118350]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Neither the Foreign and Commonwealth Office nor our embassy has recently had correspondence with Enrique Pena Nieto, although our embassy is in regular contact with his team and our ambassador has previously met him on a number of occasions. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs issued a statement on 2 July offering his congratulations to Mr Pena Nieto on winning the presidential election according to provisional results. The independent Mexican Electoral Tribunal will ratify the result by 6 September.
We have not had any recent correspondence with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. However on 23 July our ambassador to Mexico received a letter about the presidential election from the Revolutionary
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Democratic Party, one of the political parties represented by Mr Lopez Obrador. Our ambassador replied on 28 July.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Correspondence
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average time taken was by his Department to reply to correspondence from hon. Members and Peers in the last 12 months; and for what proportion of letters the time taken to send a response was longer than (a) one month, (b) six weeks, (c) two months, (d) three months and (e) six months in that period. [118651]
Norman Lamb: In the last 12 months (1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012), an average of 11 working days was taken to reply to correspondence from hon. Members and Peers to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The proportion of replies that took longer than (a) one month was 9%, (b) six weeks was 4%, (c) two months was 2%, (d) three months was less than 1% and (e) six months was less than 0.1% (based on one month consisting of 20 working days).
Furthermore, the Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members’ correspondence. The report for 2011 was published on 15 March 2012, Official Report, columns 30-33WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House
Farepak
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish the court transcripts of the Farepak disqualification proceedings. [119309]
Norman Lamb: The release or publication of transcripts of the proceedings are a matter for the court.
Higher Education: Patents
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK universities have made a patent application in each of the last five years. [118201]
Norman Lamb: Global data on the numbers of patent applications made by UK universities are not readily accessible, especially in relation to those made outside the United Kingdom or through routes other than direct to the Intellectual Property Office. At the Intellectual Property Office the number of universities filing published patent applications over each of the last five years was:
| Number of universities | |
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This table is derived from data presented in the answer I gave the hon. Gentleman on 24 May 2012, Official Report, column 888W.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Health Education
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2012, Official Report, column 545W, on alcoholic drinks: education, what the reasons were for the reduction in spending on alcohol awareness between 2010-11 and 2011-12; and how much she expects to spend on alcohol awareness campaigns in each of the next five years. [115782]
Damian Green: The Government are committed to ensuring that people across the country are aware of the need to consume alcohol responsibly. This is why we are continuing to invest in educating the public about healthy alcohol consumption through the Department of Health's Change4Life campaign. We also recognise the very effective work being done by police forces and partners like Drinkaware and would not want to duplicate needlessly the messages put out by such organisations.
We are not currently in a position to confirm future spending plans on alcohol awareness campaigns.
Olympic Games 2012: Security
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how checks for those going through the proposed lanes for travellers from New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the US will differ from those for travellers from other non-European economic area countries. [118081]
Damian Green: Travellers to the UK from New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the United States undergo the same checks on arrival as travellers from other non-EEA countries.
Police ICT Company
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role she proposes the Police ICT Company will play in standardising ICT equipment and procedures across police forces in England and Wales. [118337]
Nick Herbert: The new Police ICT Company has been set up to deliver value for money and improve innovation. The company will provide strategic ICT advice and be responsible for the procurement, implementation and management of ICT solutions and associated business change.
The company will provide services that support forces and other customers in their drive for
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interoperability. It will seek to harness the purchasing power of the police service by aggregating the requirements of as many forces as possible. The company will support standardisation of equipment and procedures where forces have agreed that this will provide them with interoperability and cost savings.
UK Border Force: Data Protection
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for the overhaul of information management and record-keeping at the UK Border Force. [118090]
Damian Green: Work is already under way in Border Force to improve its management information and data management systems as part of its wider transformation programme and to implement the recommendations made by the independent chief inspector in his investigation into border security checks. A key part of this is ensuring that staff know what to record and why. All changes in procedures already include record-keeping and assurance mechanisms that are in line with the new operating mandate for the Border Force. Appropriate systems are already in place to record the suspension of checks described in the operating mandate, and this addresses a key concern of the independent chief inspector.
Defence
Armed Forces: Bullying
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in how many cases an assisting officer has been withheld from a soldier wishing to make a complaint of bullying and harassment in the latest period for which figures are available. [114477]
Mr Robathan: During calendar year 2011, there were a total of 493 Service complaints submitted to the Army, of which 228 related to allegations of bullying or harassment. Of the overall total, 94 complainants did not receive an assisting officer, of which 88 formally confirmed that they did not require one.
Information is being sought on whether any of the six cases without an assisting officer were complaints of bullying and harassment and, if so, to establish whether an assisting officer was refused. I will write to the right hon. Gentleman when this is received.
Substantive answer from Andrew Robathan to Jim Murphy:
I am now in a position to provide you with that information. I need to inform you that an error has been identified in the original answer. I stated that 94 complainants did not receive an assisting officer, of which 88 had formally confirmed that they did not require one. The correct answer is that 92 complainants did not receive an assisting officer, of which 88 had formally confirmed that they did not require one. I apologise for this.
Having identified the error, there were four rather than six cases for which information was required. Of these, only two were alleged complaints of bullying and/or harassment and in neither case was an assisting officer deliberately withheld from the complainant.
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In the first of these cases the unit had regrettably omitted to ask if the complainant wanted an assisting officer—the individual was in the process of returning to the UK before discharge from the service at the time of the complaint. In the second case the individual was offered opportunities for interviews to discuss the complaint, where an assisting officer would have been offered, but the complainant did not make contact. The individual was also advised by the Service Complaints Commissioner to approach the Army's Service Complaints Wing direct, which they failed to do. That individual was, however, supported by an assisting officer in relation to a criminal offence and provided additional support by the Army Welfare Service.
Armed Forces: Cadets
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people who participate in Combined Cadet Forces are in receipt of free school meals. [119063]
Mr Robathan: These data are not held.
Armed Forces: Career Development
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of entrants to the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy finish their career in that service on a pay scale at least (i) double, (ii) triple and (iii) quadruple that on which they entered. [119066]
Mr Robathan: The data are not held in the format requested.
Army
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people he expects to be in the (a) reactive and (b) adaptable force at any one time; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of reserves in each such force. [118094]
Peter Luff: Approximately 20,000 regular and 2,000 reserve personnel will be permanently allocated to the reaction force and approximately 12,500 regular and 8,000 reserve personnel will be permanently allocated to the adaptable force. The remaining personnel will be either supporting ‘Force Troops’ (which includes, for example, the artillery, engineers and intelligence units); or allocated to other front-line tasks (such as the permanent presence in Cyprus); Falklands, or allocated to non-front line tasks (such as training).
Under the Army 2020 concept, the integrated Army reserve will be ready and able to deploy routinely at sub-unit level and in some case as formed units on an enduring stabilisation operation as part of both reaction and adaptable forces.
Defence: Procurement
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the statement of 5 July 2012, Official Report, columns 1085-8, on Army 2020, what specific tasks contractors will undertake in theatre. [118075]
Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 13 July 2012, Official Report, column 410W.
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Reserve Forces
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the statement of 5 July 2012, Official Report, columns 1085-8, on Army 2020, whether he proposes that reservists will train with regular forces more often. [118091]
Peter Luff: As part of their fully integrated role under Army 2020, it is intended that from 2015 onwards, reservists will participate in the major regular exercises in larger numbers than they do currently. In addition, there will be increased sharing of instructors and resources, which will include regular participation in reserve training events, both routine and annual. The reserves will benefit from an extra £1.8 billion investment in training and equipment.
In the meantime, the Army has started overseas reserve training exercises at company level, with 26 exercises planned this year.
Veterans: Radiation Exposure
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2012, Official Report, column 415W, on veterans: radiation exposure, to which independent scientists the original source data considered for the three National Radiological Protection Board reports relating to the effects of radiation on veterans of the British Nuclear tests 1952-1962 have been made available for research in relation to determining the exposure of the veterans to radiation; and when such information was given to them. [118317]
Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Health.
Source data made available to the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) for the purposes of the long-term follow-up epidemiological research programme were used by scientists employed by the independent NRPB and collaborating scientists from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Data extracted from the source documents were collated with other information for the purposes of the long-term epidemiological follow-up study. That database was created by NRPB, in 1983, and continues to be maintained by the Health Protection Agency (the successor organisation to NRPB).
The Ministry of Defence may have further data on other independent scientists to which the original source data were referred.
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2012, Official Report, column 415W, on veterans: radiation exposure, from what source the data that were used in the preparation of the National Radiological Protection Board reports relating to the effects of radiation on veterans of the British Nuclear tests 1952-1962 originated. [118318]
Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Health.
To date, three analyses of the United Kingdom participants in the UK atmospheric nuclear weapon tests and experimental programmes (1952-1967) have been undertaken and published. The most recent analysis considered follow-up through to 1999.
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Three full analysis reports as well as peer-reviewed scientific papers have been published and are available. These include details of the scope of the study and the work that was undertaken to collate and assess information.
The 2004 summary paper(1) and the 1988 National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) report(2) provide the most useful access points.
The Health Protection Agency website also provides information relating to these studies in the form of Frequently Asked Questions(3) and includes a list of references to NRPB reports and papers.
Data used for the work reported in the NRPB reports have been collated in an epidemiological database. Data were collated—by the researchers—from multiple sources including the Ministry of Defence (and Atomic Weapons Establishment), national registries and individuals.
In addition to the three reported epidemiological analyses, a small extract of database information, including some that would have been extracted from the source data, was also used in the study of Cataract and Stable Chromosome Aberrations in Participants in the UK Nuclear Weapons Testing Programme(4).
Most source data were provided to NRPB during the period of the first analysis project, 1983-88. Small amounts of additional information were obtained from similar sources during the periods of subsequent analysis projects. Each analysis report provides information about the work undertaken.
(1) Epidemiological studies of UK test veterans: I General Description. Journal of Radiological Protection 24 199-217; Kendall G M, Muirhead C R, Darby S C, Doll R, Arnold L, O'Hagan J A. Abstract available at:
http://stacks.iop.org/0952-4746/24/199
(2) Mortality and cancer incidence in UK participants in UK atmospheric nuclear weapon tests and experimental programmes. Chilton, NRPB-R214 (London, HMSO). Darby S C, Kendall G M, Fell T P, O'Hagan J A, Muirhead C R, Ennis J R, Ball A M, Dennis J A and Doll R.
(3)www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/UnderstandingRadiation/UnderstandingRadiationTopics/RadiationEpidemiology/NuclearWeaponsTestParticipantsStudy/radnuclearweaponstestparticipantsstudyFAQ/
(4) Phelps-Brown N A, Natarajan A T, Darroudi F, Cox R, Little M P and Edwards A A. Cataract and Stable Chromosome Aberrations in Participants in the UK Nuclear Weapons Testing Programme. March 1997. NRPB Biomedical Effects Department Technical Memorandum 1(97).
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2012, Official Report, column 415W, on veterans: radiation exposure, what data were provided to the authors of the National Radiological Protection Board reports. [118319]
Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Health.
Data provided for the work reported in the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) reports have been collated in an epidemiological database. Data were collated from multiple sources by the researchers. Key data included:
radiation exposure data (from Ministry of Defence (MOD)/Atomic Weapons Establishment records);
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identity, employment and demographic data (mostly MOD records, information for civilians was provided through their employer organisation); and
mortality and cancer incidence data (follow-up data from national registries; provided through the national health service central registries).
Additional data included identity and test participation information provided independently by nuclear test veterans or their relatives and used (as detailed in the NRPB reports) to test the coverage of the data provided through the MOD as well as additional vital status information, used to ensure the completeness of follow-up and obtained through the Department for Work and Pensions (formerly the Department for Health and Social Security).
Health
Abortion
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many abortions were performed in pregnancies of 24 weeks or more in 2011; [118398]
(2) how many abortions on the grounds of rectifiable disabilities were performed after 24 weeks' gestation in 2011. [118399]
Anne Milton: There were 146 abortions performed in 2011 (the latest year for which data are available) with gestations of 24 weeks or more.
The Department does not collect information on whether or not a disability is rectifiable when a termination of pregnancy is carried out under Section l(l)(d) of the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended). The condition cited is identified in accordance with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes (ICD10). This classification does not separate out those conditions that are potentially rectifiable from those that are not. Two medical practioners must certify that they have reached an opinion formed in good faith “that there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped”.
Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs
Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the answer of 14 March 2012, Official Report, column 271W, on alcoholic drink and drugs, when he now expects the report, including a selective review of the relevant research literature, refined evaluation, proposals, detail on the engagement with pilot sites to date and any emerging findings from the drug and alcohol recovery payments by results pilots, to be published. [119036]
Anne Milton: A report on the initial scoping and feasibility phase of the evaluation of the Drug and Alcohol Recovery PbR pilots is expected to be published by the University of Manchester in the late autumn, following a process and independent scientific peer review.
Alcoholic Drinks: Labelling
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to assess the effectiveness of calorie information on cans and bottles of alcohol in improving public heath. [118344]
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Anne Milton: The Central Office of Information commissioned research on behalf of the Department on alcohol labelling in December 2010. The project included experimental work to show how better designed on-pack labelling and point-of-sale information can improve awareness and understanding of lower risk alcohol guidelines. The project included a labelling design that featured information on calories. Calorie information met a positive response as information that was mostly unfamiliar to purchasers of alcohol.
A review of international research commissioned by the Department in 2005 on the impact of unit and health information on alcohol labels suggested that there might be potential for a positive impact if this is supported by broader social marketing. None of the studies reviewed specifically considered calorie information on alcohol labels.
Antidepressants
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the answer of 25 April 2012, Official Report, column 906W, on mental health services, which antidepressants used in the UK (a) have and (b) have not been positively approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. [118290]
Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not issued technology appraisal guidance on any drug listed in section 4.3 of the British National Formulary, “Antidepressant drugs”.
However, guidance on the use of specific antidepressant drugs is included in a number of NICE's clinical guidelines, such as those on depression in children and young people (CG28) and depression in adults (CG90).
Breast Cancer
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the recent findings on patient experience from the National Cancer Intelligence Network data collection project on recurrent and metastatic breast cancer. [118227]
Paul Burstow: During 2011-12, we piloted the collection of metastatic and recurrent breast cancer data to identify what information could be collated from routine national health service data and cancer registries. In March 2012, the report ‘Recurrent and Metastatic Breast Cancer Data Collection Project Pilot’ was published. This set out the lessons learned and recommendations for routine collection of data, which is currently under way.
The pilot also collected data about access to supportive care from a clinical nurse specialist (CNS), palliative care professional or other key worker. A little over half of patients in the pilot were recorded as being offered such support. We know that this is much lower than the proportion of breast cancer patients who generally report having a CNS. As set out in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Breast Cancer Quality Standard, published in
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January 2012, women with breast cancer should be offered supportive care. NICE is developing Quality Standards for a number of cancers, which will act as markers of high-quality, cost-effective patient care in the NHS.
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made of the implementation of each of the individual quality statements that comprise the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence breast cancer quality standards by NHS organisations; [118433]
(2) how many and what proportion of NHS organisations responsible for delivering each of the quality statements have complied with the requirements; [118434]
(3) what steps he is taking to monitor the implementation of each of the quality statements which comprise the breast cancer quality standard; and by what means his Department is collecting data on each quality statement's implementation; [118435]
(4) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of local data collection by NHS organisations on implementation of each quality statement within the breast cancer quality standard; [118436]
(5) how many and what proportion of NHS organisations responsible for implementing quality statement 9 of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence breast cancer quality standard on personalised information and support have done so. [118437]
Paul Burstow: The Department is not collecting data on the number of national health service organisations that have implemented National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) quality standards. NICE quality standards are not a compliance tool. The Care Quality Commission will inspect against essential standards, but NICE quality standards will continue to define excellence. It will be for commissioners to decide whether, when and how to use them in meeting their obligations to improve outcomes for patients.
The Health and Social Care Act (2012) makes it clear that the NHS Commissioning Board, in discharging its duty to improve the quality of health services:
“must have regard to the quality standards prepared by NICE”.
The NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) will, therefore, draw upon NICE NHS quality standards to inform the development of the Commissioning Outcomes Framework (COF) and any commissioning guidance in clinical areas that the NHS CB produces. The Commissioning Outcomes Framework will drive up quality improvement by allowing clinical commissioning groups to benchmark their progress and by providing clear comparative information on quality and outcomes to patients and the public. The COF will allow the NHS CB to identify the contribution of clinical commissioning groups to achieving the priorities for health improvement in the NHS Outcomes Framework, while also being accountable to patients and local communities.
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Genito-urinary Medicine
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the forthcoming sexual health policy document will contain guidance on the commissioning of (a) locally enhanced services for clinical commissioning groups and (b) nationally enhanced services for the NHS Commissioning Board. [118890]
Anne Milton: The sexual health policy document will be a high-level document which sets out the Government's vision for improving sexual health for the whole population. We do not envisage that it will contain detailed commissioning guidance on individual service elements.
The sexual health services currently covered by Local Enhanced Service and National Enhanced Service arrangements will be commissioned by local authorities from 1 April 2013. Public Health England will support local authorities in commissioning effective, evidence-based public health services.
Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many European health insurance cards were issued to individuals living in each nation and region of the UK in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [118432]
Anne Milton: The number of European health insurance cards issued since they were introduced in September 2005 is shown in the following table. The Department does not hold data on the number of cards issued by region.
| England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | Total | |
Health Services: South West
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish any correspondence he has had with the (a) South West Strategic Health Authority and (b) hospital trusts in the south-west on the establishment of a consortium to consider regional pay. [118303]
Mr Simon Burns: There is no correspondence between the Secretary of State for Health and the South West Strategic Health Authority or hospital trusts in the south-west about the south-west regional pay consortium.
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Mental Health Services: Merseyside
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the effects of the Mersey Trust's introduction of mindfulness-based therapy CDs for patients in the Trust area. [118354]
Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) undertakes assessments of the evidence base for treatments. Both drug therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy are approved by NICE for the treatment of recurrent depression.
NHS: Discrimination
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2012, Official Report, column 662W, on NHS: discrimination, if he will issue guidance to NHS hospitals on their duties under the Equality Act 2010. [118397]
Mr Lansley: We are clear that there is no place for racial or political discrimination within the national health service. Fair and non-discriminatory treatment is a guiding principle of the NHS as set out in the NHS constitution. As is required under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, we expect all NHS organisations to have regard to the NHS constitution, including in relation to non-discrimination principles, in all of their actions, including training and professional development.
Information and guidance about duties under the Equality Act 2010 has already been made available to the NHS via the Equality Delivery System (EDS) in 2011 which is available at:
www.eastmidlands.nhs.uk/about-us/inclusion/eds/
The EDS was publicised through the NHS Operating Framework for England, and the Department's regular bulletins for senior NHS managers, in issue 207 of “The Week”
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Bulletins/theweek/DH_129143
www.dh.gov.uk/health/2011/11/the-month-issue-49
in addition to guidance published by the Government Equalities Office and the Equality and Human Rights Commission for all public authorities.
Obesity
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to introduce any new policies to help tackle obesity before 2015. [118790]
Anne Milton: In October 2011, the Government published ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England’, which sets out how obesity among children and adults will be tackled in the new public health and NHS systems, and the role of key partners.
The document sets out details of two new national ambitions for achieving a downward trend in the level of excess weight in children and adults by 2020, and sets out existing and proposed Government actions.
A copy of the ‘Call to action’ has already been placed in the Library.
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Palliative Care
Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he expects the pilot Health Grant scheme to play in relation to palliative care; and what contributions he expects the pilot to make to the aim of introducing a new funding system by 2015 that provides stability and security for the long term, and helps people stay at home or in a care home when they wish. [118297]
Paul Burstow: The “Health Grant” made available to the Thalidomide Trust has no bearing on the work we are doing on palliative care funding.
Following the report of the independent Palliative Care Funding review, we are working through eight Palliative Care Funding pilot sites to gather the data and information we need to develop a new per-patient funding system for palliative care for adults and children. The new funding system will cover care regardless of which organisation provides it; encourage more community-based care, so people can remain in their own homes; and be fair and transparent to all organisations involved in end of life care. The aim is to have a new system in place by 2015.
Skin Cancer
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with skin cancer in each of the last five years. [119370]
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 September 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have been diagnosed with skin cancer in each of the last five years. [119370]
The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of skin cancer (incidence) are for the year 2010. Please note that these numbers may not be the same as the number of people diagnosed with skin cancer, because one person may be diagnosed with more than one primary skin cancer.
The following table provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of melanoma skin cancer in England for each year from 2006 to 2010. Numbers of cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are not collected centrally.
The latest published figures on the incidence of cancer in England are available on the National Statistics website at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/cancer-statistics-registrations--england--series-mb1-/index.html
| Number of newly diagnosed cases of skin cancer, England: 2006-10(1,2) | |
| Registrations | |
| Melanoma skin cancer | |
| (1) Melanoma skin cancer is coded as C43 in the International Classification of Disease, Tenth revision (ICD-10). (2) Newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year. Source: Office for National Statistics | |
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Tattooing
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had a tattoo removal in each of the last five years; what the ages of these patients were; and what the total cost to the public purse was in each such year. [119322]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not available.
Thalidomide
Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Invest to Save recommendations in the Thalidomide Trust report “Securing Our Future”. [118296]
Paul Burstow: I met with the Thalidomide Trust and members of its National Advisory Council on 12 June 2012. I committed to making and sharing a decision on the way forward with the Trust in the autumn following a thorough evaluation of the ‘Securing Our Future’ report.
Tobacco: Packaging
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of changes proposed to the packaging of tobacco products on manufacturers of such products; [118395]
(2) with reference to Impact Assessment No 3080, on standardised packaging for tobacco products, whether his Department undertook research on the extent to which complexity through branding on cigarette packaging poses a barrier to counterfeiters; [118396]
(3) what recent discussions he has had on the potential for increase in counterfeit tobacco products as a result of changes proposed in his plain packaging consultation. [118405]
Anne Milton: The Government have an open mind about introducing standardised tobacco packaging. Through the consultation, “Consultation on Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products”, we want to understand whether there is evidence to demonstrate that the standardised packaging of tobacco products would have an additional public health benefit, over and above existing tobacco control initiatives. We are also seeking views on whether there might be legal or other implications if standardised packaging requirements were introduced.
The consultation-stage impact assessment (IA), “Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products”, which has been published alongside the consultation document, provides an initial assessment of the potential impacts of introducing standardised packaging.
Interested parties are invited to provide views on the IA with supporting evidence, including any impact that standardised packaging might have on the illicit or counterfeit tobacco market. The consultation also includes specific questions on the potential costs and benefits of standardised packaging for manufacturers; the potential impact on the supply of, or demand for, illicit tobacco or non-duty paid tobacco in the United Kingdom; and whether there could be an impact on cross-border shopping.
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Health Ministers have not had any specific meetings on tobacco packaging with any organisation or company since the consultation was published on 16 April. I met with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health to discuss tobacco control generally on 30 April 2012, and the consultation was mentioned briefly.
The consultation will be open from 16 April to 10 August 2012. Any person, business or organisation with an interest is encouraged to respond.
Any decisions to take further policy action on tobacco packaging will be taken only after full consideration is given to consultation responses, evidence and other relevant information.
Education
Child Trust Fund
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many additional week-long respite breaks for disabled children have been funded with savings from the closure of the Child Trust Fund in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) England and (d) Wales; [110093]
(2) how many additional week-long respite breaks for disabled children were funded out of savings from the abolition of the Child Trust Fund in 2011-12; [110094]
(3) what proportion of the savings from the closure of the Child Trust Fund has been used to increase the number of respite breaks for disabled children. [110095]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 11 June 2012]:
The Government do not collect information centrally on the number of short breaks provided for disabled children.
Following the abolition of the Child Trust Fund, annual savings averaging over £20 million were recycled to provide funding for short breaks for disabled children. In recognition of the costs associated with the continuing provision of short breaks for disabled children the Department now makes funding available through the Early Intervention Grant (EIG). The EIG is unhypothecated and unringfenced and it is for each LA to determine how to use its overall allocation to best meet its local needs and priorities. In order to maintain and protect the delivery of short breaks, last year I laid regulations which ensured that from April 2011 all local authorities have been under a duty to provide a range of short breaks services for disabled children and their families. Since September 2011 local authorities have been required to publish for parents in their area a ‘service statement’ explaining exactly what short breaks are available and how they can be accessed.
The provision of respite breaks in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales is a devolved matter. The Treasury has provided you with a separate response detailing the sums allocated to the Devolved Administrations through the Barnett Formula as a result of our expenditure in England, and it would be for the Devolved Administrations to determine how these funds were spent.
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Dyslexia
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how he plans to monitor the amount of dyslexia-SpLD training each trainee teacher receives as part of his initiative to improve workforce development including Initial Teacher Training; [118269]
(2) how his Department plans to monitor the range of dyslexia-SpLD awareness and expertise among school staff in different parts of the country; [118270]
(3) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that teachers have the knowledge and skills to be able to identify those children at risk of specific learning difficulties; [118271]
(4) what proportion of qualified teachers received dyslexia-SpLD awareness training as part of their in-school inset training continuing professional development in the latest period for which figures are available; [118272]
(5) what proportion of trainee teachers received dyslexia-SpLD awareness training in the latest period for which figures are available; [118273]
(6) how his plans to monitor the amount of dyslexia-SpLD training taken up by school support staff and trained teachers as part of the two-tiered national scholarship initiative over the next 12 months; [118274]
(7) what steps his Department plans to take to assess whether the additional training and support it has provided for teachers, special educational needs co-ordinators and teaching assistants, is meeting its objective of ensuring dyslexic pupils are identified earlier and receive quicker access to the support they need; [118275]
(8) how he plans to ensure the development of the local offer takes account of the needs of low-severity, high-incidence, dyslexic pupils; [118276]
(9) how his Department plans to monitor the amount of dyslexia-SpLD training each qualified teacher receives as part of his national initiative to improve workforce development. [118277]
Sarah Teather: The Government are committed to improving the quality of training teachers receive to enable them to better identify all areas of special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities and to overcome the barriers to learning that some children and young people face, including those with dyslexia. There are two sides to this—Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and training for existing staff.
It is essential that within ITT, trainees develop the skills and knowledge to teach children with a broad range of SEN and disabilities rather than to focus on a specific impairment. That is why we are increasing the number of ITT placements in special schools or specialist settings within a mainstream school, from 1,000 placements between 2009 and summer 2012 to up to 2,000 from September 2012. The placements enable trainees to address the professional standards for qualified teachers (QTS) in relation to SEN/D.
We have also recently published specialist online teacher training materials to support trainees in meeting the needs of pupils with dyslexia, speech; language and communication difficulties; behaviour; emotional and social difficulties and autism; as well as those with the most complex needs.
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We do not have figures on specific dyslexia-SpLD awareness training done by trainees. However, Ofsted routinely inspects ITT provision. As part of this process, it monitors and evaluates how well individual training providers train teachers to meet the needs of all pupils with SEN and disabilities, including those with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties. The quality of SEN provision within ITT has been identified as a priority as part of the new ITT inspection arrangements.
For existing teachers and support staff, it is for schools to identify the skills needed by their staff and to decide on a programme on inset training and other CPD to support that. We do not collect detailed information of how this is used. However, the Teaching Agency is collecting data on the numbers of qualified teachers and support staff undertaking scholarships in specific areas such as dyslexia-SpLD in 2011 and 2012. In inspecting schools Ofsted inspectors are required to consider the extent to which schools meet the needs of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs (SEN) across the full range of SEN.
In round 1 of the National Scholarship Scheme (2011/12), 73 qualified teachers are studying specific programmes in dyslexia-SpLD. In round 2 (2012/13), subject to confirmation, 78 teachers will be undertaking specific training in this area.
In this first round of scholarships for support staff (2012/13), 62 will be undertaking specific training in dyslexia-SpLD.
Government funds, from this and the previous 'Administration, have supported 3,200 teachers to take specialist dyslexia training courses approved by the British Dyslexia Association.
Furthermore, the Government have awarded grants to the Dyslexia-Specific Learning Difficulty Trust to raise awareness and support parents and schools, including an intervention for literacy website
www.interventionsforliteracy.org.uk
The Government set out our plans for taking forward our special educational needs and disability reforms, including the local offer, in May 2012 in “Support and Aspiration: A new approach to Special Educational Needs and Disability: Progress and Next Steps”. We envisage that local authorities will work with schools and other partners to agree what should be included within the local offer. This will cover special educational provision that is normally available in mainstream schools for children with special educational needs and those with dyslexia.
Lastly, in June 2012 the Government introduced a national phonics screening check for all children in Year 1. While this is not a diagnostic test for children, it will help identify pupils who are not making good progress in reading at an earlier age. Further investigation, and accurate identification, of their learning needs can then take place.
Taken together, this represents a significant investment for schools to draw on in raising the skills of their staff in this important area.
Pre-school Education
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish the assessment guidelines for the new foundation stage of education. [117498]
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Sarah Teather: The guidance to support the new early years foundation stage profile-assessment will be published this autumn. The first teacher assessments against the new profile are due to take place in the summer of 2013.
Pre-school Education: Bromsgrove
Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many two-year-olds will be eligible for 15 hours per week of free nursery care in (a) Bromsgrove constituency, (b) Worcestershire and (c) England in 2012; [115279]
(2) how many families in Bromsgrove constituency will receive free early education under the scheme for the poorest two-year-olds in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [116251]
Sarah Teather: The Government intend to take a phased approach to introducing the new entitlement to free early education for two-year-olds. The 20% most disadvantaged two-year-olds will be eligible from September 2013. From September 2014, the entitlement will be extended to around 40% of two-year-olds. Until the entitlement is introduced the decision to offer free places to two-year-olds rests with local authorities.
We have made no estimate of numbers of children likely to be eligible in each individual constituency. We estimate that around 1,300 two-year-olds in Worcestershire are likely to be eligible for the first phase entitlement in 2013. We are currently consulting on which additional children should be eligible for the second phase, from 2014. Should we confirm the proposals on which we are consulting, we estimate that a total of some 2,500 two-year-olds in Worcestershire would be likely to be eligible from 2014. For England, we estimate that the total number of two-year-olds who will be eligible in 2013 will be around 150,000, rising to around 300,000 two-year-olds from 2014.
Pre-school Education: Coventry
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children aged (a) three and (b) four-years-old in Coventry North East constituency are in free nursery places. [118329]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 3 September 2012]: As of January 2012, there were 1,576 three-year-olds and 1,684 four-year-olds attending maintained, private, voluntary, and independent providers based in Coventry North East constituency who were benefiting from some free early education.
The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 13/2012 “Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2012”, available at the following link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001074/index.shtml
Schools: Food
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent steps his Department has taken to make improvements to school food. [117847]
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Sarah Teather: Since Jamie Oliver's first campaign on school food in 2005, schools, caterers, cooks, parents, experts and many others have driven a marked improvement in the range and nutritional value of the food children eat at school. Standards have risen, but we believe there is still some way to go: quality varies across the country, and some schools struggle to serve good-tasting, nutritious food.
The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has therefore asked Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent, the co-founders of Leon restaurants, to lead independent work to produce an action plan for food in schools.
The school food plan will look at good practice across the UK and abroad, drawing heavily on input from sector bodies, campaign groups, local authorities, caterers, parents and schools. Mr Dimbleby and Mr Vincent will put together an action plan which builds on the successes of the past seven years, accelerates the improvements in school food and defines the role schools have to play in shaping eating habits, so that all children eating in English schools are offered good food and given an education that cultivates in them an understanding of food and nutrition. The review will report in 2013.
Special Educational Needs: Home Education
Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that children with special educational needs who are home educated receive appropriate support. [118295]
Sarah Teather: Parents who opt to educate their children at home are responsible for ensuring that they receive an education that is suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have. It is a matter for local authorities to decide what support they wish to offer to home educated children with special educational needs. Where they provide significant support, the local authority can claim funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant. For home educated children with statements of special educational needs, local authorities are under a duty to ensure that the provision the parents are making is suitable and meets the child's special educational needs. The local authority must review the statement at least annually. In 2010 the then Department for Children, Schools and Families issued guidance to local authorities on their duties and powers in relation to home educated children with special educational needs. That guidance highlighted local authorities' powers to make provision for these children to help parents ensure that home education is suitable for the child's needs. Home educating parents of children with special educational needs can obtain information and advice about local services and sources of support from their local parent partnership service. Contact details for this service in each area of the country can be obtained through the following website:
www.parentpartnership.org.uk
House of Commons Commission
Members: ICT
Luciana Berger:
To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps the
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House of Commons Commission has taken to evaluate the use of iPads by hon. Members on those Select Committees that have agreed to electronic delivery of documents; and whether the evaluation included cost-benefit comparisons with other available devices. [117998]
John Thurso: Evaluation has not yet started as the regular use of tablets for electronic distribution of Committee documentation has not yet begun. A future evaluation will focus on the business benefits that are achieved and will not cover the comparison of alternative devices. The tablet market is very dynamic and the House will keep developments under review.
If the hon. Member has concerns the Director of PICT will be happy to discuss them with her.
Luciana Berger: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, with reference to the Commission's decision to supply mobile tablet devices to hon. Members, whether Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology carried out an assessment of the devices which would deliver the best value for money. [117999]
John Thurso: The Commission's decision was taken in the context of advice from PICT that, at that time, the iPad was the only tablet for which the necessary level of security could be ensured. Competitive pricing for the devices purchased was achieved through negotiation with suppliers. The specification of the device selected was based on securing the functionality needed and on keeping costs to a minimum.
Luciana Berger: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what discussions the Commission had with Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology on the choice of mobile tablet devices for the recent trial of electronic delivery of documents to Select Committee members. [118000]
John Thurso: PICT supported the pilot conducted by the Administration Committee and advised the Commission when it considered the outcome.
Luciana Berger: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the further work that will be undertaken to ascertain the level of additional savings which could be realised by wider use of iPads for hon. Members will include an assessment of potential savings that might be made by using other similar tablet devices. [118001]
John Thurso: After an assessment of the market at the time of the pilot, it was concluded that iPads were the most appropriate product to use. There are general benefits from the use of tablets that are not exclusive to iPads and these will be reflected in the further work that is being undertaken.
There are, however, other benefits that are specific to that product, which is why it was selected. The tablet market is very dynamic and the House will keep developments under review.
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Palace of Westminster: Sewers
Mr Amess: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will take steps to ensure that pedestrian access to the Palace of Westminster is not periodically impeded by inadequate rainwater drainage on St. Margaret's Street; what record the Commission holds on the occasions when this has occurred during the last 12 months; what recent discussions he has had with Westminster city council on this issue; what response was received; what representations he has received since January 2012 from (a) hon. Members, (b) Members of the House of Lords and (c) members of the public; and if he will make a statement. [118339]
John Thurso: The rainwater drains in St Margaret's Street are the responsibility of Westminster city council (WCC). Over the last 12 months these drains have been reported to the Parliamentary Estates Directorate (PED) helpdesk once (by a member of House staff) as being blocked and causing an obstruction, and during this period PED staff also noted the blockage on three further occasions. On each occasion, PED made representations to WCC to attend to the blockage and carry out robust remedial works. WCC attended and cleared the blockage on each occasion. There was no build-up of rainwater in the area following the torrential downpour on 25 August, and PED has written to WCC to confirm that WCC has achieved a long-term solution. No representations from hon. Members, Members of the House of Lords or members of the public have been received on this matter.
If the hon. Gentleman has further concerns on this matter, the Parliamentary Director of Estates would be happy to discuss them with him.
Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many parliamentary questions for written answer were tabled on each of the 50 sitting days (a) before and (b) after the restriction on the number of e-tabled questions was introduced. [118212]
John Thurso: The restriction on the number of e-tabled questions was introduced at the rising of the House on Friday 21 October 2011.
During the 50 sitting days (excluding any intervening non-sitting days on which questions may also be tabled) (a) before and (b) after the restriction on the number of e-tabled questions was introduced, the total numbers of parliamentary questions tabled for written answer were:
(a) 15,526 (between 23 May 2011 and 21 October 2011 inclusive, excluding any non-sitting days in this date range). Average number of questions for written answer per sitting day = 310
(b) 14,718 (between 24 October 2011 and 31 January 2012 inclusive, excluding any non-sitting days in this date range). Average number of questions for written answer per sitting day = 294
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These figures show a reduction of 808 (5.2%) in questions tabled for written answer in the 50 sitting days after the restriction was put in place.
If questions tabled on intervening sitting days are included, the total numbers of parliamentary questions tabled for written answer were:
(a) 18,044 (between 23 May 2011 and 21 October 2011 inclusive, including any non-sitting days in this date range). Average number of questions for written answer per sitting day = 361
(b) 15,462 (between 24 October 2011 and 31 January 2012 inclusive, including any non-sitting days in this date range). Average number of questions for written answer per sitting day = 309
These figures show a reduction of 2,582 (14.3%) in questions tabled for written answer in the 50 sitting days after the restriction was put in place.
Source:
This information has been provided from the Parliamentary Information Management Services system (PIMS) as at 17 July 2012. These figures include ‘failed orals’ (these are parliamentary questions which appear on the Order Paper as oral questions but are not answered in the Chamber and are subsequently printed with a written answer in Hansard).
Deputy Prime Minister
Work Experience
Katy Clark: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many interns work in his press office. [117678]
The Deputy Prime Minister: For the purposes of corporate administration and financial management, my office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 544W.
Energy and Climate Change
Fuel Poverty: Glasgow
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households in fuel poverty in Glasgow North West constituency. [118763]
Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty is a devolved issue, and therefore fuel poverty statistics for Scotland are produced by the Scottish Government. These statistics do not break down fuel poverty by parliamentary constituency, so we are not able to provide figures on the number of households in fuel poverty in the Glasgow North West constituency.
The Scottish Government do, however, produce fuel poverty figures for local authorities in Scotland. These statistics show that for the period 2008-2010, 70,000 households in the Glasgow City local authority were in fuel poverty. This equated to 25% of all households in that area. These figures are taken from a combined three-year dataset.
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Green Deal Scheme
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2012, Official Report, columns 434-6, on energy efficiency, what requirements his guidance on the Green Deal will place on local authorities. [118641]
Gregory Barker: The guidance to local authorities under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) was published on 26 July. It requires all English local authorities with a responsibility for housing to prepare a report by 31 March 2013 setting out the energy conservation measures that the authority considers practicable, cost-effective and likely to result in significant improvement in the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in its area.
I have placed a copy of the HECA guidance in the Libraries of the House.
Natural Gas: Exploration
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects the 14th round of licences for the exploration of shale gas to be released for competition; and what the reasons are for the time taken to release the licences. [118067]
Charles Hendry: The Department aims to invite applications for a new round of onshore licenses as early as practicable. However, this will depend on a number of factors, including consideration of the responses to the report of a panel of experts on the seismic events in Lancashire last year and consideration of the recommendations of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society in their report published in June on hydraulic fracturing in shale gas extraction. I will make an announcement on further onshore licensing as early as possible.
Renewable Energy
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2012, Official Report, columns 443-4, on solar panels, when he plans to publish the renewables road map. [118638]
Gregory Barker: We plan to publish the next update of the renewables roadmap during the autumn.
Work and Pensions
Correspondence
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken by his Department was to reply to correspondence from hon. Members and Peers in the last 12 months; and for what proportion of letters the time taken to send a response was longer than (a) one month, (b) six weeks, (c) two months, (d) three months and (e) six months in that period. [118652]
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Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Harrow West (Mr Thomas), on 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 252W.
Work Programme
Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Work programme. [118915]
Chris Grayling: The focus of the Work programme is on supporting participants to achieve sustained employment. Participants are on the Work programme for two years and providers can claim a job outcome payment only after a participant has been in work for 13, or in most cases 26, weeks. Statistical information for job outcomes is expected to be available from Autumn 2012 and will be produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
The Department has commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies to undertake an independent evaluation of the Work programme. The evaluation starts in autumn 2012 and we expect to publish findings on programme delivery and participants' experiences in November 2012. A final evaluation report will be published in 2014-15.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people on the Work programme have been successful in gaining employment to date. [118928]
Chris Grayling: The Department pays Work programme providers for sustained job outcomes; that is, employment lasting at least 13, or in most cases, 26 weeks. We do not therefore have information on the total proportion of participants gaining employment as this would include shorter term placements. Official statistics on job outcomes are due to be published in autumn 2012.
Treasury
Tax Allowances: Married People
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) with reference to the Coalition Agreement, page 30, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to give effect to a transferable tax allowance for married couples; [118240]
(2) with reference to the Coalition Agreement, page 30, what estimate he has made of the time it will take for HM Revenue and Customs to make the requisite IT changes to give effect to a transferable tax allowance for married couples. [118226]
Mr Gauke: The Government's commitment to bringing forward a proposal to recognise marriage through the tax and benefit system remains firm. We want to show we value commitment and will consider a range of options, bringing forward proposals at the appropriate time. We have promised to do so by the end of this Parliament and we remain committed to that timescale.
The time required by HM Revenue and Customs to make the changes to its IT systems will depend upon the Government's final proposal.
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Taxation: Overpayments
Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters to HM Revenue and Customs on tax overpayments remain unanswered since April 2012; and if he will make a statement. [117634]
Mr Gauke: The information requested for all tax overpayment letters is available only at disproportionate cost.
However, it may be helpful to advise that HMRC has stated that at the end of August 2012, for PAYE and SA, post on hand was just under 200,000 items. This is in comparison to a high point of almost a million items in 2010. Whilst it is likely that some of these letters do involve tax overpayments, accurate figures could be established only by checking every letter HMRC holds.
Cabinet Office
Public Sector: Procurement
Mr Hanson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if he will take steps to ensure that public sector contractors pass on money owed to sub-contractors in full and in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement; [117732]
(2) whether the terms of the Fair Payment Charter make it possible to penalise main contractors who do not pay all their sub-contractors within 30 days of receipt of their payments; and if he will make a statement; [117735]
(3) what steps he is taking to ensure that public sector contractors pay their sub-contractors within 30 days; and if he will make a statement; [117840]
(4) what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the introduction of checks to ensure that sub-contractors are paid within 30 days of a public sector main contractor receiving payment; and if he will make a statement; [118292]
(5) if he will make it his policy that Departments take steps to ensure that complete payments are made within 30 days throughout the full supply chains of any public sector contract; and if he will make a statement. [118293]
Mr Maude: There is already a requirement in central Government contract terms for contractors to pay their sub-contractors within 30 days, and Departments are required to monitor prime contractors' performance against this commitment as part of the contract management process.
Additionally, we have pioneered the use of project bank accounts through which Government make the direct payments to firms down to tier 3 of our supply chains.
At a meeting in June, I stressed the importance of this policy to the chief executive officers of some of the most significant suppliers to Government and our Crown representative team is encouraging prime contractors to pay sub-contractors more quickly than the 30 days commitment on a voluntary basis.
Sub-contractors are encouraged to use the ‘Mystery Shopper' service to report problems, including delayed payment, and we regularly publish investigated cases on the Cabinet Office website.
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Senior Civil Servants: Women
Mrs Grant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of members of the senior civil service in each Government Department are women; and if he will make a statement. [117410]
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Mr Maude: As part of this Government's transparency programme, Departments publish information on their work force through the quarterly data summaries, which are available at:
http://www.data.gov.uk/