Staff
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many members of staff in his Department are currently employed in the office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Childcare; and what the annual cost is of such staff. [133963]
Elizabeth Truss [holding answer 17 December 2012]: There are currently five members of staff employed in the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's office for Education and Childcare at a total annual salary cost of £162,708.
Standards
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what arrangements he has made to ensure that each service listed in a local offer is of good quality. [134337]
Mr Timpson:
The Government published draft legislative provisions for special educational needs in September 2012, including proposals for local authorities in England
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to publish a local offer of services for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN), including those who are disabled. The local offer would set out what families can expect from local services across education, health and social care. Local authorities would be required to involve local children, young people and families in developing their local offer to take account of their needs and aspirations. Each service would be accountable for delivering what is set out in the local offer and if families are unhappy with what they receive or what is available they would be able to take this up with those services. The local offer would give details of how to complain about provision and about rights of appeal.
The draft special educational needs provisions are being scrutinised by the Education Select Committee. The Government will give careful consideration to the Committee's report when framing the legislation for introduction to Parliament.
Teachers: Training
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools have been designated as teaching schools. [135339]
Mr Laws: To date 217 teaching schools have been designated and an up to date list of the designated primary, secondary and special teaching schools is published on the National college website at the following address:
http://www.education.gov.uk/nationalcollege/docinfo?id=154985&filename=teaching-schools-designations.pdf
Teaching Methods
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the answer in the last session of Parliament, of 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 43W, on teaching methods, what representations his Department has received on the effectiveness of the Good Behaviour Game as a lifeskills programme; and if he will commission a review of the effectiveness of the programme within the English curriculum. [134972]
Elizabeth Truss: The Department has not received any representations in respect of the effectiveness of the Good Behaviour Game as a lifeskills programme. The Government have no plans to commission a review of the effectiveness of this programme.
Written Questions
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day his Department had not provided a substantive written answer by the day named in each of the last 12 months. [133552]
Elizabeth Truss [holding answer 13 December 2012]: The data requested are set out in the following table:
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| Performance against standard | |||||
| Due for answer | Answered | Met parliamentary deadline (set by MP) | Received a holding reply | Percentage receiving a holding reply | |
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the current Session. Statistics relating to performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session are available on the Parliament website as follows:
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/procedure/P35_Memorandum_Leader_of_the_House_Monitoring_PQs.pdf
Written Questions: Government Responses
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) when he plans to answer question 128313, on early intervention funding, tabled on 8 November 2012 for answer on 12 November 2012; [135063]
(2) when he plans to answer question 128314, on the teenage pregnancy strategy, tabled on 8 November 2012 for answer on 12 November 2012. [135064]
Elizabeth Truss: Responses were issued to my hon. Friend's questions as follows:
PQ 135063: will be answered shortly.
PQ 135064: 20 December 2012, Official Report, column 897W.
Young People: Databases
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish further guidance for local authorities on raising the participation age. [135772]
Mr Laws:
We intend to publish brief statutory guidance for local authorities with regard to their duties under the Raising the Participation Age (RPA) legislation (Part 1 of the Education Act 2008) early in 2013. Our intention is that this will reaffirm the policy and legislative position set out in our response to the consultation on RPA regulations published in July 2012(1). We expect all local authorities to already be engaged in planning for
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how they will deliver RPA locally, building on their existing duties in relation to post-16 participation in education or training.
(1) Available at
http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/youngpeople/participation/rpa/a00210946/consultation-response
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animals: Exports
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2012, Official Report, column 336W, on animals: exports, if he will publish a list of all control posts in the UK. [134705]
Mr Heath: The list of control posts in the UK is available on the European Union website. These details change frequently and there may be a slight time delay in updating the website.
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/transport/docs/council_regulation_1255_97.pdf
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live animals and carcasses were transported in each of the last three years and through which ports; and if he will make a statement. [134826]
Mr Heath: The figures set out in the following table have been taken from the EU Commission TRACES Data Warehouse for the number of animals exported to EU member states, which is where the vast majority of live animals are exported to. The figures include export of live animals through both ports and airports.
Figures for live animal exports outside the EU are not available. The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) only records the quantity of export health certificates, which cover consignments with various numbers of animals, per consignment. Therefore, the quantity of export health certificates issued does not correspond to the total number of animals exported.
Carcases are not exported whole, but only as meat cuts. Due to the free trade between member states, such exports are based on commercial documents which are not issued by the AHVLA and therefore no figures are available.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012(1) | |
| (1) Figures for 2012 are up to 13 December 2012. (2) Figures for horses do not include horses being transported to France or the Republic of Ireland, as under the tripartite agreement there is no requirement for an export health certificate to be issued. | |||
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Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider banning live animal exports from the UK due to the potential for harm to animals for export. [134966]
Mr Heath: This Government have made clear that they would prefer to see animals slaughtered as close as possible to their point of production and a trade in meat or germplasm rather than a trade in live animals. However, export of farm animals for slaughter is a lawful trade. If the legal requirements laid down in the EU welfare in transport legislation are observed there is a satisfactory level of protection of the animals being transported. The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency makes sure that its enforcement of that legislation is as rigorous and robust as possible.
Chemicals: EU Law
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what safeguards he plans to put in place to ensure that the European REACH Regulations do not prevent companies from continuing to use chromium trioxide in manufacturing operations where exposures are well controlled and near to background levels; [131770]
(2) what representations he has made to the REACH Committee of the European Commission on exemptions to allow continued use by UK companies of chromium trioxide and its derivatives where there is no viable alternative. [131771]
Mr Heath: Chromium trioxide is a substance with carcinogenic and mutagenic hazard properties. On 21 November, the REACH Committee voted to add chromium trioxide and its derivatives, including chromic acid, to Annex XIV of the EU Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). This means that after a sunset date, industry will need an authorisation to continue using them. In the case of chromium trioxide and its derivatives the sunset date will be 53 months after the Commission Regulation comes into force.
When a chemical is added to Annex XIV particular uses can be exempted from the general listing and this exempts those uses from needing to seek an authorisation. However, the grounds for an exemption from the authorisation procedure are tightly drawn and do not include the absence of viable alternatives as a reason for exemption. Instead the evidence on alternatives is intended to be tested at a later stage as part of the process of granting authorisations. The authorisation process does not assume that substances are to be banned; authorisations are granted for specific uses where industry can demonstrate that there are no suitable alternatives and that the socio-economic benefits of continued use outweigh the risk to human health or the environment. In an application for authorisation industry should provide clear evidence that exposures are well controlled as part of the case to demonstrate a low level of risk. At the same time the focus on alternatives also encourages industry to develop and adopt innovative and safer technologies.
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Dogs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the consequences for his Department's policies of the case of R (Sandhu) vs. Isleworth Crown Court. [134763]
Mr Heath: We are looking at the implications of the case of R (Sandhu) v. Isleworth Crown Court as part of our considerations of an announcement of a way forward on proposals to tackle irresponsible ownership of dogs.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans he has to consolidate legislation in respect of dog control; [134781]
(2) if he will bring forward legislative proposals in respect of attacks by dogs on animals protected by section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006; [134783]
(3) for what reason he will not introduce dog control notices to prevent dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership; [134785]
(4) if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make a dog attack on private property a criminal offence. [134787]
Mr Heath: We are finalising the analysis of the responses to the consultation on our package of proposals for tackling irresponsible dog ownership and will make an announcement on a way forward in the new year.
Farms: Floods
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will amend the criteria for flood defence spending to ensure that flooding of farmland qualifies for flood defence spending; and if he will make a statement. [134867]
Richard Benyon: Protecting farmland against flooding already qualifies for funding support through DEFRA flood defence grant in aid, as does the protection of other businesses and economic assets. DEFRA's policy statement on the appraisal of flood and erosion risk management underlines the need to value the damages that can occur to agricultural land as a result of flooding and this forms part of the case for flood defence schemes. The 59 DEFRA-funded capital projects which completed during 2011-12 provided an improved standard of flood protection to more than 74,000 hectares of farm land.
Food: Poverty
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution of (a) food banks and (b) other charities in tackling food poverty. [133943]
Mr Heath: There are no official figures for the number of charities providing food aid, including food banks, or the number of people using them. Therefore the Government have made no assessment of their contribution to assisting people in need. But the Government recognise that rising food prices mean, for many, a greater proportion of household income is being spent on food.
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That is why we are working nationally and internationally to promote open global markets and boost trade, which help keep food prices at levels that all households in the UK find affordable.
Gangmasters Licensing Authority
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual operating budget of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority was in each of the last five years; and what the annual change in that budget was in (a) real and (b) percentage terms. [134774]
Mr Heath: The information requested is provided in the following table.
| Total budget (£000) | Change in value of budget (£000) | Percentage change | |
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the annual operating budget of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority it received from the Department for Communities and Local Government in each of the last five years. [134775]
Mr Heath: The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Percentage of total funding received from DCLG | |
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the annual operating budget of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority was provided by his Department in each of the last five years; and from which other sources any other funding was received. [134776]
Mr Heath: The information is as follows:
| £000 | |||||
| Total funding | DEFRA funding | DCLG funding | DARD NI funding | Percentage DEFRA funding | |
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Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what proportion of its annual budget the Gangmasters Licensing Authority spent on enforcement officers in each of the last five years; and what proportion of its budget it plans to spend on such officers in each of the next three years; [134777]
(2) what proportion of the funds received from his Department the Gangmasters Licensing Authority spent on enforcement officers in each of the last five years; and what proportion of such funds it plans to spend on such officers in each of the next three years. [134778]
Mr Heath: The information is as follows:
| £000 | |||||
| Enforcement officer costs | Total funding | DEFRA funding | Percentage of total | Percentage of DEFRA | |
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the funds received from the Department for Communities and Local Government the Gangmasters Licensing Authority spent on enforcement officers in each of the last five years; and what proportion of such funds it plans to spend on such officers in each of the next three years. [134779]
Mr Heath: Funding was received from the Department for Communities and Local Government 2009-10 (£15,000) and 2010-11 (£547,000 ) and was discontinued thereafter. 100% of all funds received were spent on enforcement officers and their associated costs.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what enforcement action the Gangmasters Licensing Authority can take in respect of unlicensed gangmasters. [134780]
Mr Heath: Under section 12 of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 it is a criminal offence to operate as a gangmaster without a license. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority may prosecute an unlicensed gangmaster and a person found guilty is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or to a fine, or to both.
Ivory: South East Asia
Mark Pritchard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will discuss with the Convention on International Trade in
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Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna the rise in the number of Catholic religious icons made from ivory in the South East Asia region. [134577]
Richard Benyon: This Government made a coalition commitment to press for a ban on ivory sales and we remain focused on ensuring that the existing global ivory ban stays firmly in place. In addition to the general trade prohibition, strict trade controls exist in relation to international trade in ivory products, including religious icons, which allow limited trade, for example in worked antique ivory. The UK supports full compliance with these controls. Domestic production of, and trade in, ivory products is however a matter for the countries concerned and is governed by their own national legislation.
If there is evidence of illegal trade in ivory religious icons made in South East Asia, we would encourage the relevant parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to take the necessary action to tackle this.
Although not specifically focused on religious icons made from ivory, international trade in ivory will be discussed at the 16th Conference of Parties to CITES in March 2013. While we have not yet adopted a final position, we will support trade and enforcement controls which will reduce elephant poaching and illegal trafficking of ivory.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends to answer the letter to him dated 9 November 2012 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman) with regard to Ms Evelyn Wooley. [135765]
Mr Heath: I replied to the right hon. Gentleman's letter on 19 December 2012.
Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what powers the Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil will have; [134690]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of establishing the Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil. [134691]
Mr Hayes: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
The new Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil is being set up in DECC and will join up responsibilities across Government and provide a single point of contact for investors and ensure a streamlined regulatory process. The remit of the office has not yet been fully determined and no estimate has yet been made regarding the cost of establishing the office.
Poultry: Animal Welfare
Justin Tomlinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration he has given to the implementation of a
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production method labelling scheme for foods with egg as an ingredient to allow consumers to support efforts to improve hen welfare in countries outside the EU. [134841]
Mr Heath: The ability for consumers to make informed choices about the food products they buy is important to the Government. This has to be balanced against the realities of production cost and consumer support.
The Government support accurate voluntary labelling. The significant swing in recent years to free range egg and chicken production is a good example of how the voluntary approach can be successful. There is no legal requirement for broiler or laying hens to be reared as 'free range', yet producers recognise the added value to be gained from doing so and being able to label their products accordingly.
The Government will continue to work with animal welfare organisations, the food industry and consumer groups to ensure the right balance between demand for additional labelling, and additional costs to producers.
Schmallenberg Virus
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to make the Schmallenberg virus a notifiable disease; and if he will make a statement. [134941]
Mr Heath: In considering if a disease should be made notifiable, there needs to be a clear benefit to disease control in the placing of additional burden on farmers and Government. In terms of control measures, there is currently no vaccine available and preventing vector spread is very difficult and therefore not a realistic control measure. The onus would lie with the farmer to report suspicion of disease and then for Government to intervene. The impact of Schmallenberg virus has to date been shown to be low, with farms infected showing 2-5% of malformed lambs or calves affected and, as such, there is no rationale for intervening, although we are maintaining surveillance. This is a disease with few defined clinical signs in adult animals, making detection difficult. By the time clinical signs are seen in offspring, it is too late to control. It is also possible that notifying presence of disease on a farm may complicate trade, both with the UK, the EU and for third country partners.
We therefore consider that making Schmallenberg virus notifiable would be over-burdensome and not proportionate to the disease impact. The decision was taken in full consultation with industry and the European Commission.
Slaughterhouses: Closed Circuit Television
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to require all licensed slaughterhouses to install CCTV; and if he will make a statement. [134824]
Mr Heath:
We have recently consulted on the role CCTV can play in relation to monitoring welfare of animals at slaughter, as part of work to implement EU regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at killing. This included consideration of whether CCTV should be made mandatory. The consultation ran for
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six weeks and closed on 24 October 2012. A copy of the consultation can be found on the DEFRA website:
www.defra.gov.uk/consult
We are currently reviewing the responses received. The Government aim to publish their response to consultations within 12 weeks of the consultation closing. When finalised, the response will be published on the DEFRA website and will confirm whether the Government intend to change their current approach, which is not to require installation of CCTV in slaughterhouses.
Smoke and Chimney Gases
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that coal and wood-burning appliances do not emit any more smoke or grit, including condensable species, than permitted within a smoke exemption zone by reference to PD 6434; and if he will make a statement. [135375]
Richard Benyon: Local authorities are responsible for the designation and supervision of smoke control areas. Only coal and wood-burning appliances exempted under section 21 of the Clean Air Act 1993 can be used in a smoke control area. Local authorities provide the regulatory function, which includes monitoring of smoke emissions and ensuring that coal and wood-burning appliances installed in smoke control areas are exempted appliances. DEFRA currently manages the exemption process for appliances and fuels. The requirements for exemption, including reference to the BS PD 6434 test procedure, are provided on DEFRA's smoke control website.
Turtles: Cayman Islands
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he intends to have with representatives of the Government of the Cayman Islands on the welfare of sea turtles at the Cayman Turtle Farm; and if he will make a statement. [135093]
Richard Benyon: This Department currently has no plans to discuss the welfare of turtles at the Cayman Turtle Farm with the Cayman Islands Government. This is a matter for the Cayman Islands Government. I understand that an independent assessment of animal husbandry practices at the farm is underway and that a report will be issued shortly, which I welcome.
Waste and Resources Action Programme
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) declarations of interest and (b) declarations of hospitality have been for each of the board members and directors of the Waste and Resources Action Programme for the last three years; and if he will place a copy of such documents in the Library. [134506]
Richard Benyon:
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is a private sector company grant-funded by DEFRA and the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Although it is not a listed company and is not required to comply with the requirements of the Combined Code on Corporate
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Governance, WRAP adopts best practice and reports on corporate governance issues in its Annual Report and Accounts, which is available on its website. Throughout the last three financial years WRAP has complied, to the extent that is relevant, with the provisions of the Code of Best Practice set out in section 1 of the Combined Code. Board members and directors make declarations of interest and hospitality in line with this.
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his answer of 12 November 2012, Official Report, column 10W, on the Waste and Resources Action Programme, what the (a) date, (b) supplier, (c) merchant type and (d) amount is on each transaction on any corporate credit cards in the last four years. [134507]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not hold details of the operational activities of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). I understand that the chief executive of WRAP would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss any issues of concern to him and I would encourage him to take up that offer.
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his answer of 12 November 2012, Official Report, column 10W, on the Waste and Resources Action Programme, who attended the dinners held for directors of the Waste and Resources Action Programme; and if he will place a copy of the invoice for each dinner in the Library. [134510]
Richard Benyon: The dinners in Edinburgh and Cardiff were held for members of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) board to meet colleagues from the Scottish Government and Welsh Government respectively, to discuss the programmes that WRAP delivers in Scotland and Wales with the funding provided by each of those Governments. As waste is a devolved matter, the issue would be best raised with the relevant Ministers in the Scottish and Welsh Governments.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the threat from terrorism from Afghanistan after 2014; and if he will make a statement. [134517]
Mr Hague: The threat to global security from the al- Qaeda presence in Afghanistan has been significantly reduced, in large part the result of the brave work of UK, international security assistance force and Afghan armed forces. When the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission draws to a close in 2014, we are confident that the Afghan National Security Forces will be strong enough to stop Afghan territory from again being used as a safe haven for international terrorist groups.
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Buildings
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has any plans to share offices overseas with other Commonwealth countries. [135809]
Mr Swire: We are committed to strengthening our relationship with our Commonwealth partners and believe co-location of our embassies, where it is of mutual benefit, supports closer co-operation, as well as leading to efficiency savings.
There are already a number of locations overseas where we are co-located with Commonwealth partners. For example: in Kabul with New Zealand; in Vientiane with Australia; and in Rangoon and Bamako with Canada. We are actively pursuing further co-location opportunities with Australia, Canada and New Zealand where it is of mutual benefit.
China
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2012, House of Lords, Official Report, WA271, on China, whether the agenda for the next UK-China Human Rights Dialogue will include restrictions on Muslims in Xinjiang province during Ramadan 2012 and reports that civil servants were forced to eat during fasting periods and were prevented from attending mosques. [135719]
Mr Swire: I refer my hon. Friend to the responses my noble Friend, the right hon. Baroness Warsi, gave in the other place on 13 November and 4 December, Official Report, House of Lords, columns WA271 and WA128 respectively.
The UK-China Human Rights Dialogue usually takes place annually, and did so most recently in January 2012. The next Human Rights Dialogue is planned for spring 2013. We are not aware of reports of forced breaking of fast, but will raise this with the Chinese authorities.
We plan on raising the situation in Xinjiang, ethnic minority rights, freedom of religion, as well as the rights of detainees and a number of individual cases at the next Human Rights Dialogue. We will continue to raise these issues in future discussions with the Chinese Government, and to make clear our concerns with reference to their stated international commitments.
Our diplomats visit Xinjiang regularly to monitor our concern about the situation there. The most recent visit was in October 2012.
Colombia
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from groups representing indigenous people in Colombia on the activity of mining companies with connections to the UK. [135013]
Mr Swire:
In July, our Deputy Head of Mission met with indigenous communities potentially affected by an expansion of the majority British-owned Cerrejón mine
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and subsequently raised their concerns with the company. We had a productive dialogue with the company on this issue and it has since decided to postpone its expansion plans.
Our ambassador designate to Colombia spoke at a conference on mining in Colombia on 12 November organised by AB Colombia. Other participants included representatives of the Awá community, academics and business leaders. Officials from our geographical and human rights departments met with the indigenous speakers at a follow-up meeting to discuss these issues further. Officials at our embassy in Bogotá meet regularly with indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. We have raised their demands for protection of their rights with the Colombian Government, both bilaterally and in the EU-Colombia Human Rights Dialogue.
Falkland Islands
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the right to self-determination of the Falkland Islands and to indicate his support for the decision of the Falkland Islands Government to hold a referendum on its future constitutional arrangements and sovereignty. [135193]
Mr Swire: The UK Government have no doubt over either their sovereignty of the Falkland Islands or the right of the Falkland Islanders to determine their own future. In accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the British Government fully support their right to self-determination and unreservedly support the decision by the Falkland Islands Government to hold a referendum on whether or not they wish the Islands to retain their current political status as a UK Overseas Territory. We expect the international community to recognise the result of the referendum.
Immigration
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the additional cost of the delivery of those public services for which his Department is responsible arising from inward migration since 1997. [134301]
Mr Swire: The Department does not routinely produce estimates of this nature. To do so would require the Department to incur disproportionate cost.
Israel
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his counterpart in Israel on the building of a military academy on the Mount of Olives. [135006]
Alistair Burt: We are concerned about plans to build an Israeli military academy on the Mount of Olives.
Officials in the British embassy in Tel Aviv raised this issue with senior officials in Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with our French and German
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counterparts at the end of last year. We raised our concerns over the legality of building in East Jerusalem as well as the implications this could have on UK co-operation with the military academy.
We have also raised our concerns with the Israeli National Security Council and Ministry of Defence and the Jerusalem Municipality during the last three months.
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to Israel on the building of Israeli settlements near Bethlehem. [135007]
Alistair Burt: The UK position on settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law and undermine the foundations of a two-state solution and trust between the parties.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) outlined concern about recent Israeli settlement announcements, including those in the area between East Jerusalem and Bethlehem, during his meeting with Israeli Chief Negotiator, Yitzhak Molcho, on 20 December 2012.
On 18 December, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement condemning the decision by the Jerusalem District Planning Board to give approval for a plan to build 1,500 housing units in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ramat Shlomo. He urged Israel to reverse this decision and take no further steps aimed at expanding or entrenching settlement activity.
On 26 December, I also condemned the Jerusalem District Planning Board's recent approvals for over 3,150 units in Givaat Hamatos and 1,242 units in Mordot Gilo South. I made clear that these were profoundly provocative actions that run contrary to the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Our embassy in Tel Aviv continues to make our concerns on this issue clear to the Israeli authorities.
Mali
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support the Malian armed forces in restoring Malian territorial integrity. [135538]
Mark Simmonds: The UK supported the UN Security Council Resolution 2085, passed on 20 December 2012, which authorised the deployment of an African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) for an initial period of one year. AFISMA aims to contribute to the rebuilding of the capacity of the Malian military, and to support the Malian authorities in recovering the north of the country and in restoring political stability.
We are also working with the EU to consider how we might be able to offer support towards building the capacity of the Malian armed forces, which could, subject to parliamentary scrutiny, involve a contribution of a small number of UK military trainers (with no combat role).
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Pakistan
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the threat from terrorism from Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [134516]
Mr Hague: Groups operating from Pakistan continue to represent the greatest long-term strategic terrorism threat to the UK. Although al-Qaeda's core leadership has suffered significant loses in the Pakistan/Afghanistan border region, it continues to pose a credible threat to the UK and our interests overseas.
Somalia
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support the training of the Somali security forces. [135537]
Mark Simmonds: The Federal Government of Somalia have identified security as a key priority. We are keen to support this and, in September 2012, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) announced an additional £10 million to help the new Government of Somalia with their immediate needs, including security and justice. We are working with the Somali authorities and international partners to identify specific requirements where assistance is needed, including considering proposals for support to the Somali security forces. Some of this work is already underway—the European Union Training Mission, to which the UK has provided support, has to date trained approximately 3,000 Somali troops in Uganda. These troops are seen to have played a significant role in improving the security situation in Somalia.
Syria
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the forming of the Syrian National Coalition on the policy of the Russian and Chinese Governments in respect of the Syrian regime. [134518]
Mr Hague: We are encouraged to note that the coalition is receiving growing international recognition and gaining increased political credibility, particularly following the recent Friends of Syria meeting in Marrakesh. Russia and China claim to support the goal of a political transition. Achieving that goal requires a viable interlocutor on the opposition side. We therefore urge Russia and China, who currently do not recognise the coalition, to engage as fully with the coalition as they currently do with the regime in pursuit of the goal of transition to a democratic, inclusive, representative and peaceful Syria.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the circumstances under which the Government would recommend that the EU lift its arms embargo on Syria while President Assad remains in power. [134519]
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Mr Hague: The UK remains seriously concerned about the transfer of weapons to a regime that uses them to attack its own civilians. The EU Sanctions package, including the EU arms embargo, will come up for renewal again on 1 March 2013. We are working closely with other EU member states to ensure maximum flexibility in the provision of assistance to the opposition National Coalition aimed at greater support for the protection of civilians, while also ensuring a strict regime aimed at preventing transfer of weapons to the Syrian Government.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likelihood of the EU changing its policy with respect to enforcing an arms embargo in Syria in the next six months. [134520]
Mr Hague: The formation of the Syrian National Coalition offers an opportunity to rally political and practical international support behind the opposition, with the aim of creating a credible, viable alternative to the Assad regime. The UK is working closely with other EU member states to ensure maximum flexibility in the provision of assistance to the opposition National Coalition aimed at greater support for the protection of civilians, while also ensuring a strict regime aimed at preventing transfer of weapons to the Syrian Government.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Kurdish people in Syria on any potential peace settlement in that country. [135827]
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) met members of the Syrian opposition in London on 21 November and urged opposition representatives to unite around a common political platform that will enable the people of Syria to see a pathway to a clear alternative to dictatorship and repression. He also stressed the importance of respecting the rights of minorities, including Kurdish rights, so that all citizens are protected and have a stake in the future of the country.
The UK continues to urge both the National Coalition and Syrian Kurdish leaders to ensure substantive Kurdish participation in the National Coalition, consistent with the coalition's avowed inclusive and democratic aims. Jon Wilks, the UK Special Representative to the opposition, remains in close touch with those Syrian Kurdish opposition representatives committed to those aims. It is important that all Syrians work together with the common goal of transition to a Syria where the interests of all communities are protected.
Western Sahara
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 17 December 2012, Official Report, column 578W, on Western Sahara, if he will make representations to the Polisario Front so that any money received in respect of fishing opportunities is used for the benefit of the local population. [134825]
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Alistair Burt: As the de facto administering power of Western Sahara. Morocco is obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities in Western Sahara are conducted to the benefit of, and in the interests of, the people of Western Sahara. The UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Western Sahara, Ambassador Ross, to encourage Morocco and the Polisario Front to address issues regarding the use of the territory's natural resources.
Negotiations on a new Protocol to the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Commission and Morocco are ongoing.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he considers the non self-governing territory of Western Sahara to be a full constituent part of Morocco; and for what reasons his Department's website deems it as such. [135385]
Alistair Burt: The United Kingdom considers the status of Western Sahara to be undetermined. We consider Morocco to be the de facto administering power of Western Sahara, which remains on the UN's list of non-self-governing territories.
The UK fully supports the UN-led efforts to achieve a lasting and mutually-acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Health
Air Ambulance Services
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department holds data on the number of occasions on which air ambulances in England have been unable to fulfil requests to transport patients as a result of poor weather conditions or visibility in each of the last five years. [135017]
Anna Soubry: No. This information is not collected centrally.
Air Ambulance Services: Cumbria
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the suitability of air ambulance capacity in Cumbria and neighbouring areas; and whether his Department has made an assessment of future capacity requirements for air ambulance services in Cumbria and neighbouring areas. [135018]
Anna Soubry: No assessment of the current or future suitability of air ambulance capacity in Cumbria has been made.
Current and future capacity assessments are made locally.
Ambulance Services: East of England
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls received by the East of England Ambulance Service in each of the last three complete months were initially graded as being category A and were subsequently downgraded to a category of lesser priority. [134701]
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Anna Soubry: The Department does not collect data on such calls received by the East of England Ambulance Service.
My hon. Friend may wish to approach the East of England Ambulance Service, which might hold this information.
Ambulance Services: Preston
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many days ambulances were drafted into Preston because there were no ambulances available in that city during 2011; and how many ambulances were tasked from Preston to assist other areas in the UK in the same period. [134687]
Anna Soubry: The information requested is not held by the Department. The configuration of ambulance services in the north of England is a matter for the local national health service.
Colorectal Cancer
Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made on the introduction of flexible sigmoidoscopy into the NHS bowel cancer screening programme. [134888]
Anna Soubry: “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer”, published on 12 January 2011, set out a commitment to invest £60 million over four years to incorporate flexible sigmoidoscopy (bowel scope screening—BSS) into the NHS bowel cancer screening programme. Experts have estimated that the introduction of BSS will prevent around 3,000 cancers every year and save thousands of lives when fully rolled out.
The information technology system to support BSS is due to be delivered in March 2013, when we expect pilot sites to begin inviting men and women aged 55 for this test. The pilot sites are: Norwich; South of Tyne; St Mark's, London; Surrey; West Kent; and Wolverhampton. Up to 20 other sites are preparing to implement BSS as part of the first wave of roll-out from October 2013.
The plan remains to meet the strategy commitment of achieving 30% roll-out across England by March 2014 and 60% roll-out by March 2015. It is envisaged that full roll-out will be achieved in 2016.
Community Nurses: Harrow
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2012, on nursing levels: London, for what reason Harrow primary care trust employed no district nurses in September 2011 and September 2012; and if he will make a statement. [134879]
Dr Poulter:
The arrangements for employment of district nurses are a matter for local national health service organisations, as they are best placed to assess
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the health needs of their local community and must have the freedom to deploy staff in ways appropriate to local conditions.
We are advised that Harrow primary care trust no longer provides local NHS services and that the district nurses service in Harrow is now provided by the Integrated Care Organisation, run by Ealing Hospital NHS Trust. The hon. Gentleman may wish to contact the trust responsible for this information.
Defibrillators
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the availability of defibrillators in the UK. [134593]
Anna Soubry: The Department has made no such assessment.
From February 2007, responsibility for sustaining the legacy of the National Defibrillator Programme was devolved to national health service ambulance trusts.
Diabetes
Dan Jarvis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of spending on diabetes
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services in
(a)
Barnsley Central constituency,
(b)
South Yorkshire and
(c)
England in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [135376]
Anna Soubry: It is not possible to provide a breakdown of national health service expenditure on diabetes at constituency or county level as the information is not collected centrally.
The Department's programme budgeting data provide an estimate for expenditure on diabetes of £1.55 billion in 2010-11. This figure does not capture all the expenditure on diabetes.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adults were diagnosed with diabetes in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [135377]
Anna Soubry: The following tables show data taken from the Quality and Outcomes Framework, which details the number of patients registered per general practitioner (GP) practice with a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes on 31 March 2010, 2011 and 2012.
| Barnsley Primary Care Trust (PCT) | |||||
| Number of GP practices | List size | Estimated list size aged 17+ | Number of patients aged 17+ on diabetes register | Prevalence (percentage) | |
| South Yorkshire PCTs | |||||
| Number of GP practices | List size | Estimated list size aged 17+ | Number of patients aged 17+ on diabetes register | Prevalence (percentage) | |
| Note: The South Yorkshire data are aggregated figures from the following four PCTs: Barnsley PCT, Doncaster PCT, Rotherham PCT, Sheffield PCT. | |||||
| England | |||||
| Number of GP practices | List size | Estimated list size aged 17+ | Number of patients aged 17+ on diabetes register | Prevalence (percentage) | |
Drugs: Death
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who have died as a result of taking legal highs in (a) England and (b) Lancashire in each of the last three years. [134939]
Anna Soubry:
In respect of substances which have in recent years become subject to control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has collected information about deaths relating to gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its precursor gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), piperazines
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(benzylpiperazine— BZP and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine—TFMPP), cathinones such as mephedrone and desoxypipradrol.
The following table provides the number of deaths relating to these substances for England and Wales, and the North West region in each year from 2009 to 2011 (the latest year available). Figures have not been provided for Lancashire in line with the ONS guidance for protecting confidentiality within birth and death statistics.
| Table 1: Number of deaths related to drug poisoning where GHB/GBL, BZP/TFMPP, a cathinone or desoxypipradrol was mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, North West 2009-11(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) | |||
| Deaths (persons) | |||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
| (1) Based on boundaries as of August 2012. (2) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (3) Figures exclude deaths of non-residents. (4) Cause of death related to drug poisoning was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD 10). The ICD-10 codes for drug poisoning are: F11-F16, F18-F19—Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) X40-X44—Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X60-X64—Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X85—Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances Y10-Y14—Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent. (5) Figures presented here may not agree with figures presented for each substance separately as where more than one drug is mentioned on a death certificate the death will be counted in more than one category if the substances are presented separately. Source: Office for National Statistics | |||
Drugs: Rehabilitation
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to paragraph 100 of the Home Affairs Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2012-13, on “Drugs: Breaking the cycle”, HC 184, what plans he has to update relevant clinical guidance for prescribers to increase the emphasis on buprenorphine relative to methadone prescription; [134576]
(2) if he will take steps to ensure that prescribers, members of health and wellbeing boards and other local decision-makers have information on all opiate substitution therapies and are able to make informed decisions on their availability locally; [134592]
(3) if he will take steps to ensure that all forms of opiate substitution therapies are available to prescribers and can be selected on the basis of their clinical effectiveness, taking into consideration their safety profile for the (a) individual patient and (b) potential risk of their misuse and diversion. [134655]
Anna Soubry: The Government will respond in full to the Home Affairs Committee’s report, “Drugs: Breaking the cycle”, in due course.
Key existing advice on opiate substitution therapy is contained in the Department’s guidance, “Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management”, which has already been placed in the Library, and in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence appraisal of methadone and buprenorphine, “Methadone and buprenorphine for the management of opioid dependence”. A copy of the appraisal has been placed in the Library.
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Food: Hygiene
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of existing regulations on food preparation in preventing cross-contamination by staff who also handle money; [134840]
(2) if he will amend regulations on food preparation to ensure that food-handling and handling of cash are separated. [134893]
Anna Soubry: The European Union food hygiene regulations, which have applied directly in all EU member states since January 2006, require food business operators to have in place hygiene procedures appropriate to the nature and risks of the business to ensure food is handled safely. The regulations also require persons working in food handling areas to have a high degree of personal cleanliness.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) considers that further legislation regarding the handling of money by food handlers would not have a significant public health benefit and could place disproportionate burdens on small businesses. While in many retail establishments the handling of money is kept separate from the food handling area, it is widely understood that this is not always practical, especially for small businesses. The FSA's advice emphasises the need for good hygiene practices and the avoidance of cross-contamination.
The FSA keeps under review all issues regarding the potential contamination of food and is not aware of evidence of food-borne illness in the United Kingdom caused by the handling of money and subsequent cross-contamination to food. The FSA does not therefore currently consider that this is a priority issue for research.
General Practitioners
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to renew the framework governing the accreditation and re-accreditation of GPs with a special interest. [R] [134814]
Dr Poulter: General practitioners with a special interest continue to play an important part in delivering specialised services in community settings. The current framework for accreditation and re-accreditation is under review and decisions on arrangements from April 2013 will be announced in due course.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department gives to primary care trusts on managing appointments systems at GP surgeries. [135014]
Dr Poulter: It is for each general practitioner (GP) practice to decide how it manages its appointment systems.
In 2009, the Department supported the NHS Practice Management Network in publishing a guide for GP practices (‘Improving access, responding to patients’), which included practical advice on managing appointment systems.
A copy has already been placed in the Library.
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General Practitioners: Harrow
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints he received on waiting times to see a GP in the Harrow primary care trust area in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [134877]
Dr Poulter: A search of the Department's ministerial correspondence database has identified one item of correspondence received in 2010-11 complaining about waiting times to see a GP in the Harrow primary care trust area. No correspondence on this subject was received in 2011-12.
Health Foods
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with supermarkets on introducing discount pricing on healthier foods. [134874]
Anna Soubry: We have not had any recent discussions with supermarkets on introducing discount pricing on healthier foods. The Responsibility Deal Food Network programme for later this year includes work on a possible voluntary pledge on promoting healthier food.
The Responsibility Deal pledges to help reduce calorie consumption and to increase the intake of fruit and vegetables and includes scope for companies to promote healthier foods.
Health Services
Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the establishment of clinical senates; and if he will make a statement. [134887]
Anna Soubry: Good progress is being made with establishing the 12 geographical teams that will support both strategic clinical networks and clinical senates in the new health system. The teams include the role of Senate Manager, and appointment to these posts is currently under way.
The NHS Commissioning Board will be publishing a document describing the role, membership, working and accountability arrangements for clinical senates early in the new year.
Clinical senates covering the whole of England will be in place from 1 April 2013.
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what process Clinical Reference Groups for specialised services have used for developing recommendations on commissioning new medical technologies from April 2013; [134988]
(2) whether the recommendations of the Clinical Reference Groups providing clinical advice on specialised services will be assessed against the principles and recommendations of “Innovation Health and Wealth”. [135015]
Dr Poulter:
Innovation is a central component of the national health service. “Innovation Health and Wealth” (Department of Health 2011) outlined the NHS
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commitment to innovation, both in its support for research and in the rapid adoption and diffusion of the best, transformative, most innovative ideas, products, services and clinical practices. It recognised that specialised services commissioning was in a position to identify those technologies (with appropriate safety accreditation) with the potential to deliver high-impact change, and to rapidly test, trial and evaluate their value to the NHS. This would enable suitable patients to have early access to innovative technologies, which would also support the creation of a more robust evidence base.
In order to accelerate the introduction of new technologies to the NHS, a dedicated Specialised Services Commissioning Innovation Fund (SSCIF) is being established. This fund is in its final stages of development and evaluations supported by the SSCIF in 2013 will generate additional cost, quality and activity data needed to inform commissioning decisions. An advisory board has been established to oversee this process through horizon scanning for the best innovations and funding NHS trusts to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the new technologies. If it can be demonstrated that the technologies can deliver significant improvements in quality or value they can then be adopted and diffused at pace and scale across the NHS.
The Clinical Reference Groups will have a key role to play in innovation through horizon scanning, identifying and short-listing potential innovations within each service area, utilising a predefined prioritisation matrix. These will then be evaluated through a formal process and agreed by the advisory board. The commissioning process will be used to actively improve the uptake of innovations and best practices, and to foster cooperation between providers in regional health economies.
Maternity Services
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of births in England took place in freestanding midwife-led maternity units in the last year for which figures are available; and whether he has set any targets in respect of this proportion for future years; [135016]
(2) what assessment he has made of the safety of mothers and new-born children in freestanding midwife-led maternity units compared with births that take place in obstetrics units. [135123]
Dr Poulter: The ‘Birthplace’ research study, funded by the Department was published in November 2011 providing, for the first time, evidence about the expected outcomes for women and their babies at ‘low-risk’ of complications at the start of care in labour for births planned at home, in a midwifery-led unit or in a hospital unit with obstetric services. The evidence provided by this national cohort study supports the policy of offering healthy ‘low-risk’ women, who meet the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Intrapartum care guideline criteria for a ‘low-risk’ birth, a choice of birth setting. The study can be found at:
www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace
There are no targets in respect of the proportion of births in England taking place in freestanding midwifery-led maternity units.
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The information on the proportion of births in England taking place in freestanding midwifery-led maternity units is not collected centrally by the Department. However, data on the organisation of maternity care in 2007 were collected as part of the maternity care review conducted by the Healthcare Commission in 2007. This was a mandatory survey of all trusts providing maternity care in England. The results from this survey were published as part of the ‘Birthplace’ research study and data on the number of births in maternity units is presented in the following table.
| Number of births in maternity units (excluding births at home), year ending 31 March 2007 | ||||
| Freestanding midwifery unit | Alongside midwifery unit | Obstetric unit | Total births in maternity units | |
| Source: Mapping maternity care: the configuration of maternity care in England—Birthplace in England research programme. Final report part 3. | ||||
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of cost to the NHS of planned births that take place in (a) freestanding midwife-led maternity units compared with (b) obstetrics units. [135019]
Dr Poulter: The information requested is not available because the cost to national health service commissioners of maternity units and obstetrics units is not reported separately to the Department.
Mental Health Services
Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the data used to generate the map of primary care trust adult investment per weighted head for 2010-11 and 2011-12 in figure 22 of the National Survey of Investment in Mental Health; and what the reasons are for the difference between the figures in the two years. [135371]
Norman Lamb: The direct investment data (excluding capital charges, indirect costs and overheads) for 2010-11 and 2011-12 used to generate the map of primary care trust (PCT) investment, have been placed in the Library. These figures are reported by PCTs. No information is held centrally about the reasons for different spending decisions between the years at PCT level.
Mesothelioma
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which drugs NICE is assessing to determine their effectiveness in treating mesothelioma; when he expects NICE to report on such drugs; and if he will make a statement; [134974]
(2) if he will ask NICE to assess the effectiveness of applying chemotherapy through the groin to treat mesothelioma; and if he will make a statement. [134975]
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Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is not currently appraising the use of any drugs for the treatment of mesothelioma.
However, NICE issued guidance to the national health service in January 2008 on the use of pemetrexed for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, which recommended the drug as a treatment option subject to certain criteria.
There are no current plans to ask NICE to develop guidance on the application of chemotherapy through the groin to treat mesothelioma.
NHS: Finance
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that patient care is not affected by clinical commissioning groups reaching their budget limit. [134984]
Anna Soubry: By establishing clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), we are putting clinicians at the heart of decision making for their local community. CCGs will be empowered to design and deliver care based upon the needs and choices of their patients and to secure high quality and outcomes within the resources available. The NHS Commissioning Board will oversee and support CCGs to ensure that clinical and financial risks are managed appropriately.
NHS: Pensions
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether employees being transferred from the NHS to outside organisations under the TUPE regulations will retain their NHS pension. [135031]
Dr Poulter: Following consultation launched in 2011, in July this year the Chief Secretary to the Treasury confirmed proposals to implement a revised Fair Deal that would allow all public service staff who are transferred under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) to retain access to their current pension arrangements. This means that national health service staff transferring will be able to retain access to the NHS Pension scheme.
NHS: Working Hours
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the costs and additional staffing required to enable hospitals to take on non-emergency tests and treatments at weekends. [134962]
Anna Soubry: A national costing/staffing model has not been developed. This reflects the fact that where specific services are being redesigned in the national health service to provide care to patients on a Saturday or Sunday, this is being done in different ways, reflecting specific local circumstances and needs.
In ‘Everyone Counts : Planning for Patients 2013-14’, the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) has made an offer to move the NHS towards routine services being available seven days a week. The NHS CB will shortly be establishing a forum, to be chaired by the National Medical Director, to identify how the NHS might offer better access to routine services seven days a
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week. The forum will begin by focusing on improving diagnostics and urgent and emergency care. The planning guidance commits the forum to publishing a report setting out its findings, including the consequences of the non-availability of clinical services seven days a week, in the autumn of 2013.
The Healthcare Financial Management Association has committed to working with the NHS CB, commencing in January 2013, to undertake financial analysis so that the costs and benefits of different changes associated with the introduction of seven day working in the NHS can be properly evaluated.
North of England Cardiovascular Network
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the adequacy of the spending plans of the North of England Cardiovascular Network in 2013-14; what meetings he has had with the North of England Cardiovascular Network to discuss its future plans; and what steps he plans to take to ensure that changes in the budget of the North of England Cardiovascular Network for 2013-14 do not adversely affect training and education, private and public involvement, and information and service improvement. [134511]
Anna Soubry: The NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) has set out its plans to establish and support strategic clinical networks to improve health services for specific conditions or patient groups, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Strategic clinical networks will be established from 1 April 2013 and will build on the success of network activity, which, over the last 10 years, has led to significant improvements in the delivery of patient care. The NHS CB has allocated funding of £42 million for strategic clinical networks and clinical senates in 2013-14.
It is for local health communities and the NHS CB to determine the number and size of networks, based on patient flows and clinical relationships, and to deploy their resources appropriately.
Obesity: Surgery
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria each primary care trust uses to decide whether to provide bariatric surgery for obese patients. [134831]
Anna Soubry: Primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning health care services to meet the needs of their population including bariatric surgery. To support and guide them, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has produced clinical guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children which includes guidance on bariatric surgery.
Soft Drinks
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent research his Department has commissioned or undertaken on the health effects of high energy drinks; [134937]
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(2) what recent research his Department has commissioned or undertaken on the health effects of high energy drinks on young people. [134938]
Anna Soubry: The safety of high caffeine drinks, often termed “energy drinks”, was assessed by the European Scientific Committee on Food in 2003. Its opinion was that high caffeine drinks caused increased excitability, irritability, nervousness or anxiety in some people who drank them, particularly if those people were normally low consumers of caffeine.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) considers the effects of caffeine to be transitory and without permanent health effects and its advice is that children, or other people sensitive to caffeine, should only consume caffeine in moderation.
The independent expert Committee on Toxicity is currently considering the potential interaction between caffeine and alcohol and is expected to report early in 2013.
Given the evaluations already undertaken, FSA has not undertaken any recent research specifically on the health effects of high caffeine energy drinks. It is continuing to monitor the situation and look closely at any new evidence that becomes available.
Speech Therapy: Training
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the number of individuals training to become speech and language therapists in England. [134642]
Dr Poulter: The Department does not collect figures on the number of students qualifying in speech and language therapy. However, we do collect information on the number of training places commissioned each year.
Strategic health authorities are responsible for commissioning speech and language therapy training places. The actual number of training places commissioned in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 is shown in the following table.
| Speech and language therapy training commissions, 2009-10 to 2011-12 | |||
| Commissions | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| Source: Multi professional education and training quarterly monitoring returns. | |||
2012-13 commissions will not be available until May 2013.
Home Department
UK Visitors: Economic Growth
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to enable business and tourist visitors to contribute to UK economic growth. [135600]
Mrs May: The Government support economic growth by delivering an effective visa service which processed almost 2 million applications for visitor visas in 2011. We exceeded our commitment to process 90% within 15 working days.
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We have launched priority services—providing a five-day visa service, premium lounges for high-value customers and out of hours appointments at visa application centres.
Arrest Warrants: Hungary
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many European arrest warrants were issued between the UK and Hungary (a) in each year since 2005 and (b) in 2012 to date. [134522]
Mr Harper [holding answer 19 December 2012]: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for Scotland are the designated UK authorities responsible for processing European arrest warrants (EAWs). Information is held on Part 1 cases (persons wanted from the UK by another member state) and Part 3 cases (persons wanted by the UK from another member state). The table gives figures for the 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 financial years.
Due to the way data were recorded prior to 1 April 2009, it is not possible to provide data on the number of warrants issued to each European Union member state prior to this date.
It should be emphasised that not every Part 1 request issued to the UK turns out to have any connection to the UK. Some EU member states circulate EAWs to every other member state.
| EAW requests issued to and by the UK for the 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 financial years | ||
| Country/year | Number of Part 1 requests issued to the UK | Number of Part 3 requests issued by UK |
Asylum
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average processing time for detained fast-track applications is; and how many applications have exceeded the UK Border Agency target of three days in the latest period for which figures are available. [131056]
Mr Harper
[holding answer 5 December 2012]: In February 2012 the chief inspector published his report into the detained fast-track process. At the time of his report there was an indicative timescale of three days to decision. However, his recommendation was that the agency “Increases the accuracy of its published guidance by changing its timescales for interviews and decisions in line with the average time taken”. We accepted this recommendation and published policy now lays out indicative timescales for making decisions. For detained non-suspensive appeal cases, the indicative timescale
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from entry to the process in the appropriate Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) to decision service will be around 10-14 days. For detained fast-track cases, the respective indicative timescale will usually be quicker. The timescales are not rigid and must be varied when fairness or case developments require it.
We are unable to provide figures for processing times within the detained fast-track process as such statistics are not held in a format that is compatible with National Statistics protocols and data are not recorded in a format which would allow us to search easily for this information. However, local information shows that we are compliant with these timescales.
Crime Prevention
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Community Safety Fund budget was in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and what the planned budget is for 2013-14. [135696]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Community Safety Fund budget was:
| £ | |
There is no planned budget for 2013-14 because this fund will cease at the end of this financial year. Instead, in 2013-14 Police and Crime Commissioners will receive funding worth £90 million from a transitional and un-ring fenced fund (also to be called ‘Community Safety Fund').
Entry Clearances
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency, “Entry Clearance Decision-Making: A Global Review”, December 2010-June 2011, what steps are being taken to address findings in the report that applicants are being refused entry clearance for failing to provide information, which they could not have been aware they needed when submitting their application. [133592]
Mr Harper: The agency has taken action in response to the cases highlighted by the Independent Chief Inspector in the report “Entry Clearance Decision-Making: A Global Review”. It is not UK Border Agency policy to refuse applications solely for failure to provide specific documents, unless they are specified in the Immigration Rules.
To assist applicants, the agency has produced guidance detailing the types of documents/evidence that applicants may wish to submit in support of their visa applications. Specific guidance is available for the vast majority of visa application types, and has been translated into six languages: Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Russian, Thai and Turkish.
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Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what process was followed in taking the decision to remove the right of appeal for refused family visa applications; and what steps she has taken to improve decision-making on such applications. [134167]
Mr Harper: We consulted on the removal of the family visit visa appeal right between July and October 2011 as part of the Family Migration Consultation. Of the 3,400 responses to the question concerning these appeal rights, 39% agreed that beyond race discrimination and human rights grounds, the family visit visa appeal right should not be retained. 28% disagreed and 33% gave no opinion. The formulation of the policy was accompanied by an impact assessment and a policy equality statement (which addresses any equality issues) published in April 2012.
The UK Border Agency takes decision quality seriously and continuously seeks to improve it. A programme of work has been set up to improve decision quality across the visa operation, covering all application types, including family visitors. This includes training, performance monitoring and continuous feedback loops.
Visa decision-making is subject to rigorous internal and external oversight, including by the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, which, feed into the decision quality programme.
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the right of appeal has been removed for refused family visa applications; and what weight was given in this decision to the proportion of such appeals which are upheld in the appellant's favour. [134168]
Mr Harper: The current family visit visa appeal right no longer serves its intended purpose. Family visitor appeals make up over a third of all immigration appeals and are a disproportionate burden. A right of appeal will remain on human rights and race discrimination grounds.
Analysis by the UK Border Agency has shown that the main reason why family visit appeals are successful at appeal is that new evidence is provided, at the appeal. Rather than continue to have the appeals system make decisions on new information, applicants will be able to reapply and provide any further information to entry clearance officers.
Entry Clearances: Indian Subcontinent
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will place in the Library the advice given to the UK Border Agency on how to contact British posts in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Islamabad, Abu Dhabi, Dhaka and Colombo in out-of-hours emergency situations such as death or serious illness; [134093]
(2) what arrangements have been put in place at British posts in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Islamabad, Abu Dhabi, Dhaka and Colombo for out of hours contact relating to visa applications in emergency situations such as death or serious illness; and if she will make a statement; [134094]
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(3) what guidance has been given to VFS offices in the Indian sub-continent on dealing with visa applications in out-of-hours emergency situations. [134095]
Mr Harper [holding answer 17 December 2012]:Emergency situations can be dealt with through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Global Response Centre. The Global Response Centre is reached through the Foreign and Commonwealth 24-hour switchboard in the UK, tel. 020 7008 1500.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the applicants who applied for sponsor status between 1 July and 30 September 2012 have now had a decision made on their application by points-based system tier. [134117]
Mr Harper [holding answer 17 December 2012]: The proportion of the applicants who applied for tier 2 sponsor status between 1 July 2012 and 30 September 2012 who have now had a decision made on their application by points-based system tier is 89%.
The proportion of the applicants who applied for tier 4 sponsor status between 1 July 2012 and 30 September 2012 who have now had a decision made on their application by points-based system tier is 80%.
The proportion of the applicants who applied for tier 5 sponsor status between 1 July 2012 and 30 September 2012 who have now had a decision made on their application by points-based system tier is 92%.
The total proportion of the applicants who applied for sponsor status between 1 July 2012 and 30 September 2012 who have now had a decision made on their application by points-based system tier is 89%.
Entry Clearances: Pakistan
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how her Department balances the requirements of national security, legal process and fairness to the applicant when assessing visa requests by Pakistani nationals; and if she will make a statement. [133589]
Mr Harper: All applications are considered on their individual merits in line with the Immigration Rules. This includes applications from Pakistani nationals. The Immigration Rules are designed to ensure we have a fair and robust system that both welcomes genuine applicants and keeps out those who may seek to abuse the immigration system.
The UK Border Agency uses risk analysis when considering visa applications. That approach provides for additional scrutiny and checking of high-risk applications to ensure suitability against the Immigration Rules.