Crime Prevention: Young People
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the Positive Futures programme operating at HM Prison Leeds since November 2011; and if he will consider rolling out the programme nationwide. [140821]
Jeremy Wright: The Positive Futures programme is a partnership between the West Yorkshire Probation Trust, HMP Leeds, local charities and third sector organisations. It offers support to prisoners serving sentences of less than 12 months while they are in prison and then on release, with the aim of reducing reoffending. The programme has not yet been formally evaluated.
Whether the programme is extended to other prisons in future is likely to depend on a range of factors, including the outcome of any evaluation, and the arrangements that are put in place following the current Transforming Rehabilitation consultation.
Debt Collection
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many representations he has received on the rates charged by Sherforce as High Court-appointed bailiffs. [141598]
Mrs Grant: Ministers in the Department have answered 10 letters on the subject since 2007.
The fees chargeable by a High Court Enforcement Officer are contained in Schedule 3 of the High Court Enforcement Officers Regulations 2004. The Regulations provide for reasonable costs to be charged as the individual circumstances of the case dictate. Any such reasonable costs can be the subject of detailed assessment upon application to the High Court.
The response to the Transforming Bailiff Action consultation paper published on 25 January sets out the Government proposals which include introduction of a more transparent structure.
Directors
Jon Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what declarations of interest must be made by his Department's non-executive directors; with what
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frequency any such declarations are required to be made; and if he will make that information publicly available. [140081]
Jeremy Wright: It is the responsibility of the Department's non-executive board members to inform the Department's Permanent Secretary of any personal or business interest or new appointments which may, or may be perceived to, influence their judgement in performing their functions and obligations as a non-executive.
These interests include (without limitation), personal direct and indirect pecuniary interests, and any such interests of close family members and/or of people living in the same household as them or their close family members.
Non-executives must make these declarations on their appointment and in advance of accepting any other appointments outside of the Department.
A declaration of any interest by non-executive board members should also be made at board meetings if it relates specifically to a particular issue under consideration. These declarations are recorded in the minutes.
The Department records and manages conflicts and potential conflicts of interest in line with the Corporate Governance Code. All interests are recorded in a register that is updated annually. Copies of this register are available on request.
Driving Under Influence
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people have received (a) one and (b) more than one non-custodial sentence for drink driving in each year since 2000; [141082]
(2) how many people have been banned from driving (a) once and (b) more than once due to drink driving offences in each year since 2000; [141083]
(3) how many people have received (a) one fine and (b) more than one fine following drink driving offences in each year since 2000. [141084]
Jeremy Wright: The information is as follows:
Table 1 shows the number of offenders given one and more than one non-custodial sentences for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, in England and Wales.
| Table 1: Number of offenders given one and more than one non-custodial sentences for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, in England and Wales | ||
| Number of offences | ||
| As at June each year | One | More than one |
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| Source: Ministry of Justice | ||
The MOJ does not hold this information centrally in one data source. While disposal information is recorded on the Police National Computer database, the PNC does not hold the level of detail to enable us to provide information on the number of offenders who have been banned from driving due to a drink driving offence. Similarly where court statistics may indicate a ban based on the driving licence points/totting up system, it is not possible to gain criminal histories from this database and therefore the number of total bans for an individual from this source.
Table 2 shows the number of offenders given one fine or multiple fines for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, in England and Wales.
| Table 2: Number of offenders given one or multiple lines for a drink driving offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, in England and Wales | ||
| Number of offences | ||
| As at June each year | One | More than one |
| Source: Ministry of Justice | ||
The PNC came into existence in 2000 and information prior to this is not considered reliable so data before July 2001 are not available. The figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, which the PNC, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
The data provided for these responses are based on the primary offence at each separate sentencing occasion. At each sentencing occasion the main disposal outcome has been used (ie where several disposals have been given for the same offence, the more severe outcome has been used).
Drink driving offences presented in the tables include the following offences:
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Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 4(1) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment).
Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 5(1)(a) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit.
Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.
Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 4(2) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment).
Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 5(1)(b) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit.
Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a for a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.
Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 6(4) Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test.
Failing to allow specimen of blood to be subjected to laboratory test. Road Traffic Act 1998.
Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment)—drink. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)
Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment)—drugs. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(1).
Being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs, (impairment)—drink. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2)
Being in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs (impairment)—drugs. Road Traffic Act 1988 S.4(2).
Electronic Tagging
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of offenders who will be tagged under the new tagging contract to be awarded in spring 2013. [136481]
Jeremy Wright: During 2013-14, when the new contracts will be awarded for electronic monitoring, it is estimated that the average monthly caseload will be in the range of 23,000 to 25,000 and the number of new case starts through the year with an electronic monitoring element to be in the range of approximately 97,000 to 102,000. These estimates are based on current sentencing practices and electronic monitoring requirements and include the use of electronic monitoring as a condition of bail, community orders and home detention curfew on release from prison.
Overtime
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date. [141483]
Mrs Grant: The information is as follows:
(a) The average salary cost per member of staff within the Ministry of Justice (Ministry of Justice HQ, National Offender Management Service, HM Courts
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and Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian) for the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 is set out in the table.
The average salary costs include salary, allowances, employer pension and National Insurance contributions.
| Financial year | Average salary costs (£) |
The average salary cost for 2012-13 covers a nine month period only.
(b) The total cost of overtime in the Ministry of Justice has been reducing throughout 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 (to 30 September 2012). The amount paid out is set out in the following table:
| Financial year | Total cost of overtime (£) |
The Department's arm’s length bodies have both civil servants and public appointees. They do not all receive payment through the Department's payroll. Therefore I am not able to provide the average salary costs or total cost of overtime in the Ministry's arm’s length bodies.
Personal Injury
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) whether his Department plans to conduct a full evaluation of the cost of cases within the low value road traffic accident process for personal injury claims; [141541]
(2) what estimates his Department has made of the number of people who will no longer be able to receive independent legal advice following any reduction of the recoverable fixed fee in personal injury claims. [141542]
Mrs Grant: The Department recently conducted a consultation on the fixed recoverable costs available in relation to the extended Road Traffic Accident Personal Injury (RTA PI) scheme. This closed on 4 January: we received over 750 responses which are currently being analysed and the information gathered will be used to inform final decisions. An announcement will be made in due course.
In addition, prior to implementation of the extended RTA PI scheme, the Government will undertake an impact assessment of the potential effects on affected groups of introducing fixed recoverable costs in personal injury claims. This will be published on the Ministry of Justice website and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Prescriptions: Fraud
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) fined for claiming for a free prescription that they are not entitled to in each of the last five years. [140343]
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Jeremy Wright: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice does not contain information about the circumstances behind each case, beyond the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. It is not possible to identify from this centrally held information whether or not a conviction for:
“making, causing or allowing another to make a false statement or representation to secure the evasion, reduction or remission of charge”
was to secure a free prescription to which the defendant was not entitled.
Prison Sentences
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to review the cases of those on Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences. [141444]
Jeremy Wright: Those prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) will continue to serve their minimum period of imprisonment (tariff) before becoming eligible for release. The independent Parole Board will direct their release only where it is no longer necessary, on the grounds of public protection, for them to be detained in custody.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) continues to include IPP prisoners amongst priority groups to receive interventions, in order that their risk of harm be addressed and so provide them with opportunity to demonstrate to the Parole Board that their risk of harm is such that it may be effectively managed in the community. NOMS has recently issued an instruction on sentence planning to ensure that offender managers identify a variety of interventions to address risk in the sentence plan and do not place an over-reliance on formal accredited programmes. The instruction will have benefits specifically for IPP prisoners.
Prisoner Escapes
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2013, Official Report, column 218W, on prisoner escapes, how many such prisoners are still at large; what estimate he has made of the number of crimes they committed while they were at large; and how long it took to capture each abscondee. [140646]
Jeremy Wright: As of 10 January 2013, 19 of the 679 prisoners who absconded between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2012 remain unlawfully at large. The following table shows the breakdown of how long it took to recapture those who have been returned to custody.
| Table: Breakdown of timescale for recapture of those prisoners absconding between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2012 | ||
| Timeframe for recapture | Cumulative number of absconders recaptured | Cumulative percentage of absconders recaptured |
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In order to identify if a prisoner had committed any offence whilst unlawfully at large, it would be necessary to examine the incident report and prisoner files for all 679 absconded prisoner. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.
Absconds have been falling for nearly two decades. In 2011-12—the last full year when figures were available—there were 179 absconds compared to 956 in 1995-96.
Prisoners: Unemployment
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in prison in each year since 1997 (a) never worked and (b) grew up in households where no-one had ever worked. [140840]
Jeremy Wright: Annual data on the number of people in prison who (a) have never worked, or (b) grew up in households where no-one had ever worked are not routinely collected. This information could be obtained only by collating figures from individual prison establishments at a disproportionate cost.
A survey of prisoners sentenced to between one month and four years in 2005 and 2006 found that 13% of prisoners reported never having been employed prior to custody. This includes self-employment, and any temporary or part-time work. (Hopkins 2012, ‘The pre-custody employment, training and education status of newly sentenced prisoners’).
Prisons: Drugs
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of drug treatment programmes for offenders on supervision in reducing re-offending. [131598]
Jeremy Wright: The question has been answered in relation to the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement of community orders as this is the primary means for sentenced offenders who are dependent on or have a propensity to misuse drugs to address their drug problem as part of a community order or suspended sentence order.
There has not, to date, been a national evaluation carried out of the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement of the community order nor is any specific evaluation currently planned by the Department.
Compliance with community orders, including Drug Rehabilitation Requirements is monitored. Currently 56% of orders are successfully completed(1). Re-offending is also monitored, and the most recent figures show that in 2010, 64% of those with a supervision and Drug Rehabilitation Requirement re-offended within one year (compared to 69% in 2005).(2)
(1) Ministry of Justice (2012) ‘National Offender Management Service Annual Report 2011-12: Management Information Addendum’. London: Ministry of Justice. Available at:
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http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/prison-probation-performance-info
(2) Ministry of Justice (2012) ‘Proven Re-offending quarterly January to December 2010’. Available at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/reoffending/proven-re-offending
Please see table 20 of the Proven Re-offending tables.
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/reoffending/proven-reoffending-jan10-dec10-tables.xls
There is positive evidence that drug interventions such as therapeutic communities and psycho-social approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy are effective in reducing re-offending(3). Recent Government analysis concluded that drug treatment interventions offer value for money, resulting in savings to the criminal justice system and to health and social care services(4).
(3) Holloway, Bennet and Farrington (2005) ‘Effectiveness of drug treatment in reducing Drug-related Crime’, Home Office Online Report 26/05; See also: Roberts, A., Hayes, A., Carlisle, J and Shaw, J. (2007) ‘Review of Drug and Alcohol Treatments in Prison and Community Settings’, University of Manchester:
http://www.ohrn.nhs.uk/resource/Research/SMreview.pdf
Also: Ramsay, M (Ed) (2003), ‘Prisoners' drug use and treatment: seven research studies’, London, Home Office Research, Development Statistics Directorate. Home Office Research Study 267:
http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors267.pdf
Also: Pearson, FS., Lipton, DS., Cleland, CM. and Yee, D. (2002) The effects of behavioural/ cognitive behavioural programs on recidivism. ‘rime and Delinquency’ Vol 48, no.3, pp.476-496
(4) Davies, L, Jones, A., Vamvakas, G., Dubourg, R. and Donmall, M. (2009) ‘Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study’ (DTORS): ‘Cost-effectiveness Analysis’, Home Office.
http://www.dtors.org.uk/reports/DTORS_CostEffect_Implications.pdf.
Prisons: Food
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he is taking steps to improve prisoners' behaviour through nutrition. [141280]
Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has responsibility for providing instructions to all prisons on the provision of meals for prisoners. The most recent guidelines are contained in Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 44/2010, Catering Meals for Prisoners, effective from 1 October 2010. The PSI is supported by the Catering Operating Manual, which requires all prisons to prepare multi-choice menus that provide a varied, balanced and healthy diet that meets the nutritional needs of all prisoners. In particular, prisons are required to offer a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables and salads. Meals considered healthier are identified on all menus to assist prisoners in their choice.
NOMS has not funded any research into the relationship between nutrition and behaviour. However, it has been supportive towards the charity "Natural Justice" which has conducted research into the effects of nutritional supplements on the behaviour of young offenders. NOMS recognises the importance that a balanced diet through regular meals makes and the major contribution to the physical, mental and social well being of prisoners and the positive impacts this has on prison good order and discipline.
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Prisons: Sefton
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has made a preliminary assessment of viable prison sites in Sefton. [141223]
Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice is currently undertaking feasibility work which will include an examination of operating and funding arrangements and determining in more detail the most appropriate location, role and size of any prison.
No Preliminary assessments of any site have taken place to date.
Prisons: Sports
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to increase levels of sport and exercise in prisons. [141288]
Jeremy Wright: All prisons are required to provide physical education (PE) to prisoners. National Offender Management Service (NOMS) manages and monitors the policy relating to PE in all prisons through Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 58/2011 Physical Education for Prisoners, implemented in October 2011.
Under Prison Rules, prisoners aged over 21 years must be given the opportunity to participate in PE for at least one hour a week and those under the age of 21 to participate in PE for at least two hours a week. On top of this requirement, the NOMS specification requires that prisoners are given the opportunity to participate in PE for a minimum of two and a half hours in local and training prisons and four hours in high security prisons.
NOMS recognises the importance PE plays in a prison regime by providing purposeful activity and engagement with prisoners and the way in which PE makes a major contribution to the physical, mental and social well-being of prisoners and the positive impacts it has on prison good order and discipline.
Probation
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how the Probation Service in England and Wales performed against his Department's targets in 2011-12. [139783]
Jeremy Wright: Performance outturns for the probation service in 2011-12 were published in the ‘National Offender Management Service Annual Report 2011-12: Management Information Addendum’ on the Justice website in July 2012:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/prison-probation-performance-info
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure effective information sharing between police, other agencies and new providers in delivering risk management and public protection under his proposed reforms to the offender management model. [140819]
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Jeremy Wright: Close communication and effective information sharing to support public protection is paramount. The Transforming Rehabilitation reforms will build on existing risk management practice to ensure that information is shared appropriately and the public are protected. We will need communication systems that enable information to be shared and we will work to develop the most cost-effective approach for implementation.
The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) will remain in place to assess and manage the risk presented by known serious offenders.
Taxis
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on taxis in 2011-12. [137303]
Jeremy Wright: To provide information on departmental expenditure on taxis for civil servants would involve disproportionate cost.
The Department's policy on travel by taxi (or use of the Government car service) is that it is not an entitlement and, where possible, journeys should be made by public transport. Taxi fares may be reimbursed only where there is no other suitable form of public transport, or where heavy luggage has to be transported, or where the saving in officials' time is important. Where necessary, a standing arrangement may be made, say, for the conveyance of a large number of files from a court office to a separate court building.
Travel and Subsistence Payments
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many senior officials in his Department's arm's length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body. [141165]
Jeremy Wright: According to the information that is centrally available, there were no senior civil servants in the Ministry of Justice's arm's length bodies who, as at 31 December 2012, had their main place of employment as their home address.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many chairs in his Department's arm'slength bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's length body. [141179]
Jeremy Wright: There are 55 chairs; eight chair different national arm's length bodies and the remaining 47 chair regional public bodies.
Written Questions
Chris Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and
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(b)
have not received a substantive answer in this Session; [139313]
(2) how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by his Department (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session. [139314]
Mrs Grant: Statistics relating to performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session (25 May 2010 to 1 May 2012) 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
The Government are committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written PQ performance on a Sessional basis and will provide full information relating to the 2012-13 Session to the Committee at the end of the current Session.
The most recent available data from the current Session 9 May 2012 to 18 December 2012 broken down by named day and ordinary written questions can be found in the following table. These figures have been obtained from a central database.
| Named day written parliamentary questions | |
| Number | |
| Commons written parliamentary questions | |
| Number | |
Young Offenders: Greater London
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made in reducing reoffending in London by young people leaving custody; and if he will make a statement. [139467]
Jeremy Wright: The proven reoffending rates for London and for England and Wales for young people leaving custody in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are in the following table.
Reoffending rates for young people leaving custody remain too high and that is why we are reviewing youth custody to put education at its heart. We want young people to leave custody with the skills and qualifications they need to lead purposeful lives and turn their backs on crime. We are also working with the Youth Justice Board, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, and other local agencies on other initiatives to reduce youth reoffending in London, including targeting support in those London boroughs where reoffending is most significant.
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| Proportion of young offenders leaving custody in 2009-10 and 2010-11 who commit a proven re-offence(1) within 12 months from release | ||||
| Cohort | London | England and Wales | ||
| 12 months ending March: | Number of offenders in cohort(2) | Proportion of offenders who reoffend (%) | Number of offenders in cohort(2) | Proportion of offenders who reoffend (%) |
| (1) Proven reoffending is defined as any offence committed in a one-year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one-year follow-up or within a further six month waiting period. This is referred to as a proven re-offence. (2) The number of offenders does not represent all proven offenders. Offenders who were released from custody are matched to the police national computer database and a certain proportion of these offenders who cannot be matched are excluded from the offender cohort (i.e. the group of offenders for which reoffending is measured). | ||||
Education
16-19 Bursary Fund
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what bursary schemes have been introduced by his Department in place of the education maintenance allowance; [141325]
(2) what bursary schemes will replace education maintenance allowance in each (a) school, (b) college and (c) local education authority in England. [141347]
Mr Laws: Education maintenance allowance (EMA) was replaced by the 16-19 Bursary Fund in September 2011. Transitional arrangements meant that 80% of the 17 and 18-year-olds who had received EMA in 2010/11 in the first year of their courses continued to receive EMA in 2011/12. EMA transitional payments ended in September 2012.
The 16-19 Bursary Fund is worth £180 million a year and provides:
1. £1,200 bursaries to the most vulnerable students.
2. Discretionary bursaries to those young people who most need help with the costs of taking part in post 16 education or training.
Young people in care, care leavers, young people in receipt of income support, and disabled young people in receipt of both employment support allowance and disability living allowance receive the yearly £1,200 bursaries.
The majority of the fund however is allocated by the Education Funding Agency to school sixth forms, colleges, academy sixth forms, training providers and local authorities, to award on a discretionary basis to the most financially disadvantaged students—according to locally defined criteria.
Local authorities are also free to use part of their allocation to support young people who have been placed with independent providers, such as independent special schools, as long as the place is local authority funded.
Child Protection
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with Ofsted about (a) improving and (b) increasing its work on child protection (i) in schools and further education colleges for those of school age and (ii) those not being taught in mainstream schools; and if he will make a statement. [141558]
Mr Laws [holding answer 4 February 2013]:Officials and Ministers at the Department are in regular contact with Ofsted, including on issues of child protection. Child protection continues to be assessed in all relevant inspections in line with the guidelines set out in the frameworks for inspections. In the case of schools that refer pupils to alternative provision, inspectors will look at the care taken to ensure that these pupils are safe at all times.
Government Procurement Card
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card. [141496]
Mr Laws: Staff in the Department for Education have received a document entitled ‘Guidance for publishing spend over £25k’ from HM Treasury regarding publication of spend data over £25,000. Staff in the Department for Education's arm's length bodies have received a document entitled ‘Guidance for arms length bodies over £25k’ from HM Treasury regarding publication of spend data over £25,000.
Staff in the Department for Education have received guidance in a letter dated 2 August 2011 from John Collington, Chief Procurement Officer, Efficiency and Reform Group—Cabinet Office to Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office entitled ‘Government Procurement Card (GPC) Update’. The letter includes details of the timing of publication for spend over £500 with the Government Procurement Card for the Department for Education and its arm’s length bodies. Arm's length bodies were made aware of these requirements.
Pupils: English Language
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for how many pupils in schools in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire English is a second language. [141837]
Mr Laws: The information requested is shown in the following table.
The latest information on first language has been published as part of the ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2012' Statistical First Release at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001071/index.shtml
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| All schools(1): number and percentage of pupils by first language(2,3), January 2012 | |||||||
| No of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English | % of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English(4) | No of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English | % of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English(4) | Unclassified(5) | % unclassified(4) | Total(3) | |
| x = 1 or 2 pupils, or a percentage based on 1 or 2 pupils. (1) Includes maintained primary schools, primary academies including free schools, maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges, secondary academies including free schools, maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies and pupil referral units. Excludes general hospital schools. (2) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. In pupil referral units, also includes pupils who are registered with other providers and further education colleges. (3) Pupils of compulsory school age and above were classified by first language. (4) The number of pupils by their first language expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils of compulsory school age and above. (5) Information was not sought or refused, also includes pupils where classification of first language is pending. Note: England numbers and all totals have been rounded to the nearest 5. There may be discrepancies between totals and the sum of constituent parts. Source: School Census | |||||||
Schools: Inspections
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Ofsted inspectors were previously headteachers of a school; and how many such inspectors were headteachers of a school judged (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) satisfactory and (d) inadequate. [141404]
Mr Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw, dated 31 January 2013:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
An audit of HMI carried out by Ofsted in January 2012 shows that 96 of the 195 schools HMI had previously been headteachers. All HMI undertaking section 5 school inspections are required to have a teaching qualification, and to have been teachers. This includes those qualified to teach in the 14-19 age range.
While Ofsted has not historically recorded the most recent inspection judgement in the schools of new HMI that were formerly headteachers, candidates are required to demonstrate success and effectiveness in their teaching career as part of the recruitment and selection process.
A copy of this reply will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
Schools: Kent
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in (a) Dartford and (b) Kent have received (i) outstanding, (ii) good, (iii) satisfactory and (iv) inadequate ratings in their most recent Ofsted inspection. [141406]
Mr Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to my hon. Friend, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw, dated 31 January 2013:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
Since 2005, maintained school inspections have been carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 and more recently the Education Act 2011. Under section 5, Ofsted inspects maintained schools (nursery, primary, secondary and special schools and pupil referral units), state-funded independent schools such as academies and certain non-maintained special schools in England. The following table summarises the overall effectiveness judgment of schools' latest inspection between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2012 for the Dartford constituency and Kent local authority.
The underlying data for all schools' latest inspection are available on the Ofsted website at:
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/official-statistics-maintained-school-inspections-and-outcomes
They can be found within the ‘Maintained schools inspections and outcomes—Annual Report 2011-12’ zip file by opening the file ‘06 1112 Most Recent 31 Aug 2012 (Final)’.
A copy of this reply will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
| Overall effectiveness judgment for schools in Dartford constituency and Kent local authority at their latest inspection between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2012 | ||||||||||
| Overall effectiveness: how good is the school | ||||||||||
| Outstanding | Good | Satisfactory | Inadequate | |||||||
| Region | Total number of open schools | Total number of schools inspected | Number of schools | Percentage of schools | Number of schools | Percentage of schools | Number of schools | Percentage of schools | Number of schools | Percentage of schools |
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| Notes: 1. Percentages are rounded and may not add to 100. 2. Definitions of Schools are based on Edubase at 3 September 2012. 3. Data include the most recent judgments for predecessor schools of those academy converters that have not been inspected as an academy. | ||||||||||
Schools: Libraries
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to the statutory provision of libraries in schools. [141324]
Mr Laws: We do not consider it necessary to make school libraries statutory.
We believe that it should be for schools to decide whether to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils. Head teachers, however, recognise the role libraries can play in improving young people's literacy and ensure that suitable library facilities are accessible.
Schools: Sports
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will provide support for long-term sports funding in schools in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) the north-west. [141218]
Mr Timpson: We are currently exploring with other Government Departments a range of measures to improve the provision of sport in schools for the whole country, including the Pendle constituency and the north-west region. We expect to make an announcement shortly.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to increase the amount of sport played in schools. [141340]
Mr Timpson: The Government recognise the importance of PE and sport in education. PE therefore is, and will remain, a statutory subject at all four key stages in the national curriculum.
The Government are currently designing a strategy to maintain the momentum of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and will make an announcement shortly.
We are also supporting the cross-Government School Games movement and applaud the impact they are having on competitive sport in schools and encouraging more young people to participate in sport. In addition, the Department has supported competitive sport in schools through providing £65 million for a PE Teacher Release scheme. This funding pays for the release of a PE teacher from every secondary school for one day a week to be spent out of the classroom, encouraging take-up of competitive sport in primary schools, as well as their own school, including through participation in the School Games.
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to create a sporting habit for life among school children as part of the Government's youth sport strategy since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [141373]
Mr Timpson [holding answer 4 February 2013]: All schools in England are funded to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum for their pupils, including the provision of high quality physical education. We will shortly be consulting on a new national curriculum Programme of Study for PE, which places greater emphasis on competitive sport.
We are currently working with other Government Departments to explore a range of options to build on the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and help to create a sporting habit for life for young people. An announcement will be made shortly.
Schools: Standards
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of (a) non-academy schools, (b) converter academy schools before or after conversion, (c) sponsor-led academy schools and (d) all academies were rated on their last inspection by Ofsted as (i) outstanding, (ii) good, (iii) satisfactory or requires improvement and (iv) inadequate; and if he will publish the name of the school and the date of inspection in each case. [141002]
Mr Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw, dated 30 January 2013:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
Since 2005, maintained school inspections have been carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005, and more recently the Education Act 2011. Under section 5, Ofsted inspects maintained schools (nursery, primary, secondary and special schools and pupil referral units), state-funded independent schools such as academies and certain non-maintained special schools in England. The table summarises the overall effectiveness judgement of schools' latest inspection between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2012 for the categories requested.
The underlying data, including names of the schools and the dates of inspections, are published on the Ofsted website at:
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/official-statistics-maintained-school-inspections-and-outcomes
6 Feb 2013 : Column 333W
They can be found within the ‘Maintained schools inspections and outcomes—Annual Report 2011-12’ zip file by opening the file ‘06 1112 Most Recent 31 Aug 2012 (Final)’.
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A copy of this reply will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
| Overall effectiveness judgement for schools at their latest inspection between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2012 | ||||||||||
| Overall effectiveness: how good is the school | ||||||||||
| Outstanding | Good | Satisfactory | Inadequate | |||||||
| Type of school | Total number of open schools | Total number of schools inspected | No. of schools | % of schools | No. of schools | % of schools | No. of schools | % of schools | No. of schools | % of schools |
| Notes: 1. Percentages are rounded and may not add to 100. 2. Definitions of schools are based on Edubase at 3 September 2012. 3. Data include the most recent judgements for predecessor schools of those academy converters that have not been inspected as an academy. | ||||||||||
Teachers: Pay
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he took into consideration the report by the National Centre on Performance Incentives, Teacher Pay for Performance: Experimental Evidence from the Project on Incentives in Teaching, in evaluating the potential effects of performance-related pay for teachers; and if he will make a statement. [141521]
Mr Laws: We are aware of this study and a range of other studies and evidence that are available.
The changes proposed by the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) and, in particular, the proposed extension of performance related pay, will give schools greater flexibility to develop pay policies to recruit, reward and retain high quality teachers.
Currently, pay rises are almost automatic, regardless of merit. Virtually all full time classroom teachers on the main pay scale automatically progress to the next pay point each year. Automatic pay progression means that there can be little correlation between a teacher's pay and their performance. It is not fair that a highly effective but relatively new entrant, for example, should be paid substantially less than their long-serving but less effective peer. Automatic pay progression also limits a school's ability to manage its budget. The STRB's recommendations will allow schools greater freedom to decide how to use the funds they have available.
It is also important to recognise that this reform not only gives schools more flexibility when managing their budgets, but is also hugely beneficial for their pupils. Schools in the most challenging circumstances that often struggle to retain good teachers, will be able to deploy their pupil premium, worth £900 per pupil per year from April 2013, to attract and keep the best staff.
Evidence shows that high-performing teachers generate five to six more months of student learning each year than poor performing teachers. We believe that head teachers can be trusted to make a professional judgement, based on a range of evidence, as to which teachers in their school are highly performing. This could drastically improve the life chances of children attending schools in disadvantaged areas.
Teachers: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers who obtained their teaching qualification in Scotland are currently employed in schools in England. [141718]
Mr Laws: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Teachers: Training
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that the supply of newly qualified teachers is not affected by imbalances in the distribution of teacher training places at a sub-regional level, following the implementation of his new policies in the Initial Teacher Education sector. [140434]
Mr Laws: For the academic year 2013/14, Initial Teacher Training (ITT) provision is split between core places allocated to ITT providers and School Direct places allocated to schools, who work with a partner ITT provider to deliver teacher training. As School Direct is driven by schools' staffing needs, it should closely mirror local demand for places, and will increasingly do so as the programme expands in future. A guarantee of core ITT places for outstanding ITT providers is in place to maintain training supply. Trainees are not bound to teach where they train and there is reasonable mobility among newly qualified teachers.
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Therefore, allocations of ITT places for AY 2013/14 were not calculated on a sub-regional basis. However, the Teaching Agency does monitor the geographical distribution and take-up of places as part of its responsibility to ensure there are enough high quality teachers. If acute training supply problems occur, the Teaching Agency will adjust allocations as necessary.
Young People: Sports
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of his Department's role in the Government's youth sport strategy to create a sporting habit for life; and if he will make a statement. [141375]
Mr Timpson [holding answer 4 February 2013]: No assessment has been made. The main focus of the Youth Sport Strategy is to increase participation in sport by children and young people outside of school, and is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
We are currently working with other Government Departments to explore a range of options to build on the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and to help to create a sporting habit for life for young people. An announcement will be made shortly.
Deputy Prime Minister
Lobbying
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists. [141921]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Government are committed to introducing a statutory register of lobbyists: this is a coalition commitment. We are currently taking stock of the evidence provided through the consultation, Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists, and will publish revised proposals in due course.
Referendums: British Nationals Abroad
John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on enabling participation in referendums held in the UK by UK citizens living abroad. [140898]
Miss Chloe Smith: It is for the relevant Parliament to agree the franchise to be used in a referendum, and to set out how voters are able to exercise their vote.
For the 2011 referendum on changing the voting system for UK parliamentary elections registered overseas electors were able to vote in person (if they were visiting the UK) or via either a postal or proxy vote.
British citizens living overseas are eligible to register to vote in the UK, in the area where they most recently lived, up to 15 years after leaving the UK. The Government encourage all eligible citizens to register to vote.
Trident
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) which Permanent Secretaries have been consulted by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury as part of the Trident Alternatives Review; [141779]
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(2) which of the Service Chiefs the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has consulted as part of the Trident Alternatives Review; and on how many occasions each such individual gave evidence to the Review; [141780]
(3) what role the Cabinet Secretary and No. 10 officials have had in the Trident Alternatives Review. [141781]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 5 February 2013]: I have been asked to reply as the Minister responsible for the Trident Alternatives Review.
Senior officials are consulted as required.
Health
Alexandra Hospital Redditch
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances he will allow the transfer of the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. [141772]
Dr Poulter: The provision of local health services is a matter for the local national health service.
National health service commissioners in Worcestershire are currently working with the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to review the future provision of services, which will be subject to formal public consultation planned for this summer.
Cancer: Drugs
Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to reduce geographical variations in funds for prescribing cancer drugs funds; [141550]
(2) what plans he has to introduce standard national guidelines for cancer drug funds; [141551]
(3) what assessment he has made of the effects of value-based pricing on regional variations in the availability of drugs for cancer patients. [141552]
Norman Lamb: The Department published ‘Guidance to support operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2012-13’ on 23 April 2012. It is for strategic health authority (SHA) regional clinically-led panels to make decisions on the use of this funding. In line with the Government's response to our consultation on the Cancer Drugs Fund, SHA shares of the funding available for the Cancer Drugs Fund have been calculated using the national weighted capitation formula.
From April 2013, the NHS Commissioning Board will take on oversight of the Cancer Drugs Fund. Guidance to support the operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2013-14 will be a matter for the NHS Commissioning Board.
The Government are working towards introducing new pricing arrangements for branded medicines, including value-based pricing for new medicines, from January 2014. National health service organisations are legally required to fund treatments recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in its technology appraisal guidance. We have committed
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to maintaining the funding direction for drugs recommended by NICE and to replicating it for medicines with a value-based price.
Diabetes
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to promote greater public awareness of the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and their causes. [141285]
Anna Soubry: The Department is working with NHS Choices to ensure their website includes information on the different types of diabetes and the risks associated with developing diabetes. The Department currently has no plans to develop a specific national campaign to raise public awareness of diabetes or the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
The Department has welcomed the Diabetes UK 4Ts campaign, which aims to raise public awareness of the four most common symptoms of Type 1 diabetes (thirst, tiredness, being thinner, needing the toilet more than usual). Type 1 diabetes can effect anyone at any age and little can be done to prevent it.
There are a number of programmes raising awareness of the risk factors that are associated with developing Type 2 diabetes. These are being overweight or not doing enough exercise, and apply to every stage of life. In January 2012, the Government launched a new national ambition for a year on year increase in the number of adults doing 150 minutes of exercise per week and a similar reduction in those who are inactive. Adults physically active at recommended levels reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes by up to 50%.
The National Child Measurement programme is giving parents information they need to make informed decisions about their child's risk of becoming overweight or obese and the consequences.
Change4Life is promoting awareness of healthy living, and in doing so seeks to raise awareness of the risks associated with being overweight or obese, such as developing Type 2 diabetes.
The NHS Healthcheck programme offers people basic health checks and advice as they reach middle age. It has the potential to prevent over 4,000 people a year from developing Type 2 diabetes and lead to earlier detection and management of at least 20,000 cases of diabetes and kidney disease a year.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the UK have been diagnosed with Type (a) 1 and (b) 2 diabetes. [141339]
Anna Soubry: There are approximately 2.6 million people with diabetes in the United Kingdom (4% of the population). Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common types of diabetes, in addition to these there are numerous rarer forms. Type 2 diabetes accounts for around 90% of all cases, which equates to 2,234,000 people. The majority of the remainder have Type 1 diabetes.
In addition to those with known diabetes, it is estimated that there are 850,000 with undiagnosed diabetes in the UK.
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Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire who have been diagnosed with diabetes are receiving all nine basic monitoring tests. [141688]
Anna Soubry: The information requested is not collected centrally at constituency level.
The percentages of people registered with diabetes receiving the nine National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommended care processes in Lancashire, by primary care trust (PCT), in 2010-11 are shown in the following table.
| All Care Processes complete (percentage) | |
| Notes: 1. Participation in the NDA, which audits diabetes registrations in primary and secondary care, is not mandatory. The NDA does not have 100% coverage or participation. 2. The nine key care processes include five risk factors (weight (Body Mass Index), blood pressure, smoking, glucose levels (HbA1c), and serum cholesterol) and four tests for early complications (digital eye photography, laboratory urine microalbumin: creatinine ratio, serum creatinine and foot nerve and circulation examination). Source: Information Centre for Health and Social Care, The National Diabetes Audit, for Adults (NDA) | |
Diabetes: Lancashire
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the treatment of diabetes in (a) Pendle and (b) Lancashire in each year since 2010. [141207]
Anna Soubry: It is not possible to provide a break down of national health service expenditure on diabetes at constituency or county level as the information is not collected centrally.
Drugs: Death
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the annual report submitted to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, published on 31 October 2012, page 123, table 6.2 on drug-related deaths, how many deaths were related to each (a) benzodiazepine, (b) Z-drug and (c) anti-depressant; and for what reasons deaths related to those drugs were not recorded in the original report. [141677]
Anna Soubry: The United Kingdom Focal Point Report 2011 was submitted to the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drugs Addiction (EMCDDA) on 31 October 2012 and was prepared according to the requirements of the EMCDDA. Table 6.2 provides trend data of drug mentions on death certificates across the United Kingdom, 2002 to 2011. As the footnote to the table indicates, a revised data collection form was introduced in Scotland in 2008, which has resulted in more specific drugs being identified than in previous years.
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The report ‘Deaths Related to Drug Poisoning in England and Wales, 2011’ was published by the Office for National Statistics on 29 August 2012, in which table 6a shows the number of drug-related deaths where substances (including benzodiazepines, Z-drugs and anti-depressants) were mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, 1993-2011. A copy of the report is available in the Library.
Responsibility for the collection of data about mortality in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government, and in Northern Ireland, it is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
Food: Children
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what total calorie reduction was secured by industry agreements through the Responsibility Deal, in respect of (a) food, (b) drink products and (c) food and drink targeted specifically at children. [141753]
Anna Soubry: The Responsibility Deal calorie reduction pledge enables business to contribute to our challenge to the nation, issued as part of the “Call to action on obesity in England” in 2011, to reduce total calorie consumption by 5 billion calories a day.
In total, 31 companies have made commitments under the pledge and are taking steps such as product and menu reformulation, reviewing portion sizes, education and information initiatives, and actions to shift the marketing mix towards lower calorie options. It is not possible to measure the exact contribution of business's actions to changes in consumers' calorie consumption.
Details of the commitments made by companies are available at:
http://responsibilitydeal.dh.gov.uk/f4-calorie-reduction/
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has set targets for the number of food and drink manufacturers signing up to the Responsibility Deal. [141757]
Anna Soubry: At 5 February 2013, 122 companies had signed up to one or more of the Responsibility Deal's six food pledges and 127 companies had signed up to one or more of the Deal's eight alcohol pledges. This includes major producers, retailers and trade bodies for the food and drink industry and the alcohol industry.
We would like to see as many food and drink manufacturers as possible signed up all of the pledges across the Responsibility Deal that are relevant to their business and we continue to promote the deal widely.
Government Procurement Card
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [141460]
Dr Poulter: The mean average spend on Government Procurement Cards (GPC) per member of staff who hold a GPC in the Department in the years 2011 and 2012 is as follows.
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| £ | |
It should be noted that while the average spend per card holder has increased the total spend on GPC has reduced from £1,921,226.66 in 2011 to £1,592,209.81 in 2012.
The mean average spend on GPC in the Department's agency, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, in the years, 2011 and 2012 is as follows.
| £ | |
The mean average spend on GPC per member of staff for each of the Department's arm’s length bodies in the years 2011 and 2012 is as follows.
| ALB | 2011 | 2012 |
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card. [141500]
Dr Poulter: The guidance and. instructions to staff in the Department of Health, and its arm's length bodies, on the timing of the publication of data relating to expenditure transactions over £25,000, and transactions over £500 (using a Government Procurement Card), is in line with the HM Treasury guidance available on their website:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_transparency_index.htm
We advise that data should be published monthly.
HIV Infection
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that HIV treatments should be made available to patients immediately after approval by the European Medicines Agency. [141762]
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Anna Soubry: HIV specialist clinicians take decisions on the prescribing of HIV treatment, including drugs informed by clinical guidelines produced by the British HIV Association and local NHS HIV treatment and care commissioning policy.
Horsemeat
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2013, Official Report, column 261W, on beef: horsemeat, if he will issue guidance to regional authorities to test for horsemeat in meat products. [141569]
Anna Soubry: As part of its four point action plan, the Food Standards Agency is working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the devolved rural affairs departments and local authorities on a United Kingdom-wide study of food authenticity in processed meat available at retail and catering businesses. A sampling protocol will be issued to participating local authorities and sampling will commence the week beginning 4 February. The outcome of the survey will be published on completion.
Maternity Services
Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many stand-alone NHS midwife-led birthing centres there are; and what his policy is on the role and location of such units. [141684]
Dr Poulter: Data on the number of free-standing midwifery units are not regularly collected. However, the recent ‘Birthplace in England’ Research Programme of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit reported that in December 2010, the number of free-standing midwifery units in England was 59.
It is for the local national health service, working with their partners, to plan, develop and implement any proposals for the stand-alone NHS midwife-led birthing centres.
Front line NHS reconfigurations should be locally led and clinically driven. The underlying rationale for any reconfiguration should be that changes deliver a real improvement in quality and outcomes for patients. The guiding principles for NHS reconfigurations are the Secretary of State's four tests which are that schemes should have:
support from clinical commissioners;
clarity on the clinical evidence base;
robust patient and public engagement; and
support for patient choice.
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Organs: Donors
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of organ donation rates in countries with presumed consent legislation; and if he will make a statement; [141744]
(2) when his Department last undertook a review of the evidence relating to the effectiveness of presumed consent for organ donations which drew on (a) UK and (b) international research; and if he will make a statement. [141768]
Anna Soubry: In 2008 the Organ Donation Taskforce considered presumed consent in considerable detail looking at the clinical, communication, cultural, ethical, legal and practical aspects of opt-out legislation. As part of its evidence gathering for its second report, ‘The potential impact of an opt-out system for organ donation’, published in November 2008, the taskforce studied how an opt-out system would operate in practice in the United Kingdom as well as the practical issues that would need to be addressed. They found that, given the lack of awareness among the public about organ donation, resources would be better prioritised if they were directed towards raising public awareness and understanding about organ donation.
The taskforce also commissioned a systematic literature review from the University of York to assess the impact of opt-out legislation on organ donation rates in other countries. Eight studies comparing different countries were reviewed. It was found that direct comparison between countries was difficult because of the wide range of other factors that influence organ donation rates, for example, mortality from road traffic accidents, religion, education, and transplant infrastructure. It was found that most countries with successful opt-out transplant programmes attribute their success to the changes made to infrastructure, increased financial resources and extensive communications campaigns that take place at the same time as the change to the law, not solely the change to the law.
The taskforce recommended against the introduction of presumed consent in this country, concluding that while such a system might have the potential to deliver benefits, it would present significant difficulties.
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) males and (b) females received an organ transplant in each year since 2008 by (i) age and (ii) health authority. [141769]
Anna Soubry: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
| Table 1: Organ transplants by age at transplant, sex and year, United Kingdom, 2008-12 | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Total | |||||||
| Age | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female |
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| Source: NHS Blood and Transplant | ||||||||||||
| Table 2: Organ transplants by Strategic Health Authority (of recipient residence), sex and year, 2008-12 | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Total | |||||||
| Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| Source: NHS Blood and Transplant | ||||||||||||