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Individual Savings Accounts: Children
James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of rules prohibiting a child with a child trust fund from opening a junior ISA; and if he will make a statement. [145307]
Sajid Javid: The Government keeps this issue under review on an ongoing basis.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter dated 28 January 2013 from the hon. Member for Walsall North relating to a constituent, ref. 1/07344/2013. [145959]
Greg Clark: I have replied to the hon. Member.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Ian Mearns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place within his Department to deal with breaches of the code of conduct by special advisers. [145170]
Sajid Javid: Matters relating to special advisers are handled in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. Disciplinary matters are dealt with in accordance with the Department’s disciplinary procedures.
Personal Savings and Mortgages
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of (a) bank and building society savers and (b) mortgage holders in the UK; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of negative interest rates on the behaviour of savers. [146061]
Mr Gauke: The Government use a range of information sources to inform their understanding of savers, mortgage holders and the size of certain population groups. However, the Government do not collect or publish their own data on the number of mortgage holders or bank and building society savers in the UK..
Bank Rate is a macroeconomic policy tool of the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) designed to affect the economy as a whole, in order to meet the 2% inflation, target over the medium term. The Committee voted to maintain Bank Rate at 0.5% at its February 2013 meeting. The MPC takes into account many factors in its policy decisions, including the prospects for households, assessments of which can be found in the Bank of England's quarterly Inflation Reports and press conferences, and the MPC's monthly meeting minutes.
Tax Avoidance
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with (a) Northumbrian Water, (b) Yorkshire Water, (c) Anglian Water, (d) Thames Water, (e) South Staffs Water and (f) Sutton and East Surrey Water, regarding tax avoidance. [145253]
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Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has regular discussions with water utility companies in relation to their tax affairs, in line with its strategy for ensuring that all large businesses pay the tax they owe.
HMRC addresses risks across different customer groups, while tailoring its approach to identify and resource those risks for each customer group in order to achieve those outcomes.
HMRC's approach to the 2,000 largest businesses is to invest in direct engagement with them through customer relationship managers so that it has in-depth knowledge of their business model, business and tax issues, appetite for tax planning, and internal governance. HMRC's customer relationship managers are experienced tax professionals, trained to the highest levels of tax compliance, who lead teams of their most highly skilled specialists to man mark these complex and high-risk customers.
Tax Burden
Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much of the average tax-burden of a working family goes towards paying for (a) welfare payments excluding the basic state pension, (b) debt interest and (c) other matters. [145793]
Mr Gauke: The vast majority of taxes are not hypothecated to specific expenditure and therefore making a direct connection is not possible. However, an indicative calculation can be made based on the available National Statistics releases for tax and public spending.
The available statistics show that the average amount of income tax paid by taxpayers in the UK was £5,210(1) in 2011-12.
Using the latest available National Statistics for spending this provides the following breakdown of how income tax funds the requested categories:
| Expense area | Amount (£) | Percentage of total tax paid (%) |
(1) Taken from table 2.6 in HMRC's Income Tax Liabilities Statistics for 2010-11 to 2012-13:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax-statistics/liabilities.pdf
Trade: British Overseas Territories
Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Priority for Action to increase trade and investment between the UK and the Territories on page 36 of the Government's White Paper entitled The Overseas Territories Security, Success and Sustainability published in June 2012, what steps the Government is taking to encourage British businesses to pursue trade and investment opportunities in the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. [144895]
Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
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The Government recognise that there are trade and investment opportunities in the Overseas Territories (OTs) and is seeking ways to increase trade and investment activity between the UK and the OTs, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) at the heart of this work.
The FCO and UKTI organised a business-focused event with representatives of the OTs in December 2012; and subsequent discussions have taken place to agree practical action.
This will include a further business event later this year, publicising trade opportunities in the OTs on the UKTI website:
www.ukti.gov.uk
and UKTI staff working more closely with Overseas Territory Economic Development Officers to help them take greater advantage of the sorts of services UKTI is able to provide.
Similar discussions have been held with representatives of the Crown Dependencies.
VAT
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average cost to each household of the increase in VAT in each year since the increase in that tax rate. [145129]
Mr Gauke: No estimate has been made of the average cost to each household of the increase in VAT in 2011-12. Charts A3 and A4 of Annex A of the Budget 2010 document set out the impact of the rise in the standard VAT rate and the reversal of the increase to cider duty across the expenditure distribution, in absolute terms and as a proportion of income for 2012-13. The recently published Autumn Statement 2012 also contains an “Impact on households” annex which includes an estimate of all indirect tax measures announced by the Government in 2013-14.
International Development
Argentina
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 644W, on Argentina, whether the UK delegation registered a vote against recent proposals for projects in Argentina proposed at the Inter-American Development Bank; and if she will make a statement. [145350]
Justine Greening: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 12 February 2013, Official Report, column 685W, where I have outlined this new policy.
There have been no new loans to Argentina tabled at the Inter-American Development Bank since December 2012.
Developing Countries: Food
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with banks regarding food price speculation. [145256]
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Sajid Javid: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations, available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the effect of food price speculation on world hunger; and if she will make a statement. [145257]
Justine Greening: The coalition Government recognise the damaging impact high food prices can have on poor consumers in developing countries. Our position, confirmed by the 2011 G20 Study Group report on commodities, continues to be that market fundamentals, ie supply and demand, are the main factors driving international commodity prices. However, the Government continue to monitor relevant research with interest.
Developing Countries: Health Services
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department provides support to developing countries to increase the quantity of healthcare workers relative to the total population. [145179]
Lynne Featherstone: The Department for International Development (DFID) is strongly committed to strengthening health systems and to supporting health workers as part of this. Our commitment to help save the lives of at least 50,000 women during pregnancy and childbirth, and 250,000 newborn babies, needs skilled health workers in the right place at the right time.
DFID is supporting the health work force in 28 of the countries in which we work. This support includes training new health workers; building the skills of existing health workers; working with government to strengthen health workforce planning and information. In Ethiopia, for example, DFID support is helping scale up access to health care through increasing the numbers of community health workers across the country, especially in remote areas.
Developing Countries: Poverty
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to work with other governments and international bodies to aim to eliminate absolute poverty globally by 2025. [145118]
Justine Greening: Securing global agreement on a post-2015 development framework to eradicate extreme poverty is one of my Department's priorities. I am working with other governments and international partners to build consensus on putting poverty eradication at the heart of the new international development agenda. I took the opportunity to successfully argue for this at the European Union Informal Meeting of Development Ministers in Dublin last month.
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The Prime Minister is also using his position as co-chair the UN's High Level Panel on Post-2015 Development to secure a poverty-focused development framework. He has stressed that the framework will need set deadlines for action, and that we need to achieve poverty eradication “within our generation”.
Developing Countries: Religion
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to implement the commitment in its Faith Partnership Principles paper to build a systematic evidence base of the role that faith groups play in development. [145575]
Lynne Featherstone: The DFID “Faith Partnership Principles Paper” which aimed to strengthen and guide DFID's future relationship and collaboration with faith groups recommended that the Faith Working Group should establish a “Community of Learning” to document the effect of faith groups. A coalition of faith groups, academia and civil society organisations has established a “Joint Learning Initiative” to map the work and document the effectiveness of faith groups.
DFID has been supportive of this coalition. DFID officials met representatives of the Joint Learning Initiative on 26 February to agree the next stage of this work.
Developing Countries: Technology
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role the creation and dissemination of new technology plays in her Department's international development strategy; and if she will make a statement. [145117]
Lynne Featherstone: Technology has the potential to increase the impact and value for money of UK Aid; and to pull people out of poverty.
To support this vision, the UK Government have recently launched an initiative, Making All Voices Count—a new $45 million fund (in partnership with Omidyar Network, USAID and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency—UK Aid contribution is $10m), to support the use of web and mobile technology to amplify the voices of citizens, empower citizens to bring about change, and enable governments to open up and be more transparent and more accountable to their citizens. An initiative to scale-up the use of technologies which can be used to help those hit by humanitarian crises has also been launched.
Mali
Mr Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the role investment in infrastructure in Northern
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Mali can play in reducing unrest; what assistance her Department is providing to the Malian Government to provide such investment; and what steps she is taking to ensure that such funding is spent appropriately. [145114]
Lynne Featherstone: DFID recognises the importance of investment in infrastructure. This helps countries to develop, both through enabling growth and in the direct provision of services to vulnerable people, in support of wider peace building and state building processes. The UK is already providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance in Northern Mali, delivered through tried and trusted international humanitarian agencies. We do not give bilateral aid directly to the Government of Mali.
In addition to our humanitarian spend, we are supporting our multilateral partners including the United Nations and the European Union in their stabilisation plans for Mali. This may include, among other measures, the development and rehabilitation of infrastructure in the north of the country. DFID will seek to ensure that such measures are conflict sensitive, and fully take the root causes of the conflict into account. The UK also welcomes the gradual resumption of EU development aid, including through the development of a State-Building Contract, and looks forward to the further discussions at the EU donor conference on 16 May on how international aid can assist the wider peace-building and stabilisation process in Mali.
Rwanda
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria will be applied in deciding whether to resume aid payments to Rwanda following the Peace, Security and Co-operation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region signed in Addis Ababa on 24 February 2013. [145952]
Lynne Featherstone: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written ministerial statement issued by the Secretary of State for International Development on 1 March 2013, Official Report, columns 47-8WS.
Staff
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff her Department employed in each of the past five years; how many such staff were employed in London; how many such staff were employed in other regions of England; how many posts moved from London to these regions; and what steps she is taking to move her staff to regional offices. [145696]
Mr Duncan: Overall staffing figures for the Department for International Development (DFID) for the last five years, with the London component identified separately, are shown in the following table:
| Date | Total home civil servants (HCS) plus staff appointed in country overseas | London based HCS |
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All DFID staff employed in England are London based.
Syria
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent on each aid project it supports in Syria in each of the last three years. [145356]
Mr Duncan: The UK has so far provided a total of £139.5 million to support those affected by the crisis in Syria. £81.5 million of this was provided in the financial year 2012-13 and £58 million will be provided in the financial year 2013-14. The UK did not provide aid for Syria before 2012. This funding goes to a range of neutral and impartial humanitarian agencies including UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations. A breakdown of DFID's humanitarian funding for the crisis in Syria is available at:
www.dfid.gov.uk/Syria
Written Questions
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in her Department includes review by special advisers. [146088]
Mr Duncan: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Education
AS-levels
19. Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future of AS levels; and if he will make a statement. [145472]
Michael Gove: On 23 January, I wrote to Ofqual's Chief Regulator setting out my intention to reform A levels and to retain the AS. The AS will be redesigned as a high quality, stand-alone qualification that will be as intellectually demanding as an A-level, and cover half of the content.
School Exclusions
22. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to improve outcomes for children who have been permanently excluded from school. [145475]
Mr Laws: All pupils in alternative provision, including those excluded from school, should receive an education on par with their mainstream peers to enable them to access the same opportunities. The Government have already begun introducing a number of ambitious reforms, including implementing all 28 recommendations from the Taylor review, publishing new guidance, giving providers access to the benefits of Academy status, and freeing schools from the bureaucracy that often gets in the way of improving pupil outcomes.
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Autistic Children: Support
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the additional support needed by children on the autistic spectrum to enable them to participate in mainstream schooling. [145465]
Mr Timpson: Two thirds of children identified by schools and local authorities as being on the autistic spectrum have special educational needs (SEN) and around 60% of those with statements attend mainstream. Their statements will set out the extra support they need to be educated in the schools named on the statement.
Children on the autistic spectrum should have their needs assessed individually so that the support they need can be arranged for them in an appropriate setting, whether that is in a mainstream or special school. The Department funds the Autism Education Trust to provide training and develop training materials to help mainstream schools meet these children’s needs. The Department will be letting a contract to provide specialist support in autism provision from April. The Autism Education Trust has put in a bid which proposes to extend their existing training programme beyond 2013, and also to expand coverage more widely throughout England and to cover early years and further education.
Under the current SEN code of practice, pupils with SEN but without statements will be identified as being on either ‘School Action’ and ‘School Action Plus’. The Government proposes to replace these categories with a new single early years- and school-based SEN category. The aim will be to encourage schools first to adapt their core teaching to the range of needs their pupils have, including those on the autistic spectrum. However the code will also set out within this category the importance of identifying and meeting specific needs in order to support pupils to progress and the legislative duty on schools to use their best endeavours to secure special educational provision will remain.
GCSE Grade Inflation
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to tackle grade inflation in GCSEs. [145474]
Michael Gove: We are reforming GCSEs to make them linear, with all assessments taken at the end of the course, and with internal assessment kept to a minimum. The new exams will test extended writing, have fewer bite-sized, overly structured questions, and in maths and science will have a greater emphasis on quantitative problem-solving.
As the independent qualifications regulator, Ofqual will continue to make sure that standards are right and that reformed GCSEs are benchmarked against the best on offer in high-performing countries.
Alcoholic Drinks
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the level of alcohol-related absenteeism in his Department; whether his Department has an (a) internal alcohol policy and (b) occupational health strategy; and if he will publish such documents. [143963]
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Elizabeth Truss: The Department does not record centrally whether absences are specifically alcohol-related, and has not carried out any analysis of this type of absence.
The Department does not have a specific internal alcohol policy but does have an internal conduct policy which gives clear guidance on standards of behaviour expected from staff. This document is available to staff on the Department's internal intranet.
The Department's occupational health policy is published on its internal intranet. To support this the Department contracts the services of an independent occupational health provider to advise managers on how best to adopt a work focused approach to support employees experiencing health issues. Additionally the Department contracts with an employee assistance provider to provide staff with free 24 hour unlimited access for support, information and advice on a range of issues.
A copy of the documents has been placed in the House Libraries.
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Children in Care: Disability
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) looked-after children and (b) children in foster care in England are classified as having a disability; and if he will make a statement. [144941]
Mr Timpson: The Department does not collect information on the disability status of looked after children.
Information is collected on the reason why a child is looked after and in some cases a child may become looked after as a result of their disability. The following table shows the number of: (a) all children looked after at 31 March 2012; and, (b) the number of looked after children at 31 March 2012 in foster placements, by reason looked after. However, as there will be disabled children who are looked after for reasons other than their disability the figures do not show the total number of looked after children who are disabled.
| Children looked after at 31 March by category of need(1, 2). Year ending 31 March 2012. Coverage: England | ||
| Number | ||
| All children looked after at 31 March 2012(3) | Children looked after at 31 March 2012 placed in foster care(4) | |
| (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. (2) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements. (3) All children looked after at 31 March 2012. (4) Those children looked after at 31 March 2012 whose placement on 31 March is that of foster care. (5) The most applicable category of the eight “Need Codes” at the time the child started to be looked after rather than necessarily the entire reason they are looked after. Source: SSDA903 | ||
Children: Health
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to require Ofsted to assess the support services schools offer to children with health conditions. [145188]
Mr Laws: We do not intend to prescribe to Ofsted what it should and should not be assessing. We fully expect that all aspects of the services that schools provide to all the children, with or without health conditions, will be subject to appropriate scrutiny during an inspection.
Copyright
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Government plans to consult on recommendations of the Hargreaves Review into IP and Growth that the UK should (a) also promote at EU level an exception to support text and data analytics and (b) give a lead at EU level to develop a further copyright exception designed to build into the EU framework adaptability to new technologies; [145950]
Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Government's position on the Hargreaves proposals on text and data mining and technology neutrality is set out in its response to the Review at pages 7-8:
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ipresponse-full.pdf
This builds on the evidence gathered during the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth. There are no plans to consult further or publish additional estimates of impact.
The Impact Assessment for a UK-only text and data mining copyright exception for non-commercial use makes an indicative estimate of productivity gains of £124 million to £157 million per year.
Free School Meals
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to announce which recipients of universal credit will be entitled to free school meals; and for how long he plans to consult on his proposals. [144811]
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Mr Laws [holding answer 27 February 2013]: We are working very closely with other Departments, including the Cabinet Office and the Department for Work and Pensions, to specify free school meals criteria under universal credit, while ensuring that free lunches continue to be available to the families who need them most. These discussions, which include consideration of a phased implementation timetable, are in recognition of the significant number and complexity of passported benefits across Government, most of which have different eligibility criteria.
We will allow good time to enable schools, local authorities and children's charities to comment on our proposals before we introduce new eligibility criteria.
Primary Education: Rural Areas
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of primary school places in rural areas. [145463]
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Mr Laws: On 1 March, I announced £1.6 billion support for local authorities to provide additional pupil places. For the first time, funding has been allocated using data at a planning area level that enables us to better identify and target specific place pressures within local authorities. Local authorities will also be required to provide details of how they have used this money to meet needs locally. I also announced the new Targeted Basic Need programme, which will provide further funding to create new schools and additional pupil places.
Pupils: Per Capita Costs
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent on schools per pupil in each of the last 30 years. [145014]
Mr Laws: The available information on how much was spent on schools per pupil from 1992-93 to 2011-12 is contained within the following table.
| School based expenditure per pupil from 1992-93 to 2011-12 | ||||||||||
| 92-93 | 93-94 | 94-95 | 95-96 | 96-97 | 97-98 | 98-99 | 99-00 | 00-01 | 01-02 | |
| 02-03 | 03-04 | 04-05 | 05-06 | 06-07 | 07-08 | 08-09 | 09-10 | 10-11 | 11-12 | |
| n/a = Not applicable. Notes: 1. The data source for the information provided for 1992-99 was DCLG's RO1 form. 1999-00 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 to the Department for Education's section 52 (now latterly s251) out-turn tables. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the out-turn tables. 2. School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. 3. Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place during the mid to late 1990's and those LAs that did not exist either pre or post LGR is likely to mean a further change in the time series. 4. Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of section 52 for financial year 1999-00. 5. School based expenditure in nursery schools was not recorded in 2002-03. 6. Figures are in cash terms. | ||||||||||
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Schools: Immigration
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the potential effect of inward migration from Romania and Bulgaria on the number of primary school pupils from 2014. [144762]
Mr Laws [holding answer 27 February 2013]: No separate estimate has been made of the effect of immigration from Romania and Bulgaria on the number of primary school pupils in England. The Department's national pupil projections are based on population projections from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which take into account net migration from European Union accession countries including Romania and Bulgaria.
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education under what responsibility local authorities are placed to confirm that parents applying for school places for their children who are immigrants from (a) other EU member states and (b) other countries are present in the UK lawfully. [145082]
Mr Laws: Local authorities are responsible for co-ordinating the school admission arrangements for all state funded schools within their area. Parents are asked by local authorities to complete a common application form (CAF), which enables them to express a preference for a place at any state funded school. The CAF can seek personal details such as name, address and the name, address and date of birth of the child. Where a local authority has concerns about an individual's access to public benefits, including education, they may refer the matter to the UK Border Agency.
Special Educational Needs
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his Department's document, Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability—Progress and next steps, published in May 2012, what steps he is taking to ensure that services included in the local offer are delivered satisfactorily in a local area so that the First-tier Tribunal and others can be confident when making decisions regarding what should be included in a disabled child's education, health and social care plan. [144912]
Mr Timpson: The Children and Families Bill, introduced to Parliament in February 2013, includes proposals for local authorities in England to publish a local offer of services for children and young people with special educational needs, including those who are disabled. The local offer would enable families to see readily what they can expect from services across education, health and social care including eligibility criteria for accessing services where appropriate.
Local authorities would be required to involve local children, young people and families when developing and reviewing their local offer and the services that are available in their area. Local authorities would be required to publish comments from children, young people and their families on the content of the local offer alongside their response to these comments and would be required to keep their local offer under review and up to date. This would enable the local authority to ensure their
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local offer continued to meet the needs and aspirations of local children and young people with special educational needs and their parents.
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.
If a local authority did not meet its statutory obligations in respect of the local offer a complaint could be made to the Local Government Ombudsman and if necessary to the Secretary of State for Education.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the Sixth Report of the Education Committee, Pre-legislative scrutiny: special educational needs, HC 631, what plans he has to establish a national framework for local offers. [144913]
Mr Timpson: The Children and Families Bill, introduced to Parliament in February 2013, includes proposals for local authorities in England to publish a local offer of services for children and young people with special educational needs, including those who are disabled. The local offer would enable families to see readily what they can expect from mainstream services across education, health and social care; how to access more specialist support; how decisions are made including eligibility criteria for accessing services where appropriate; and how to complain or appeal.
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. A common framework for the local offer will be set out in regulations and the special educational needs Code of Practice. These detailed requirements will be informed by the learning and effective practice developed by the pathfinders.
Swimming
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn to swim. [145765]
Mr Timpson: The Government are committed to ensuring that swimming takes place in schools. Swimming is an important part of the national curriculum, which sets out that all pupils must be taught to swim at least 25 metres unaided, and be able to use recognised swimming strokes by the end of Key Stage 2 (age 11). It also requires that a child can demonstrate an understanding of water safety. The Secretary of State for Education has said that swimming will remain compulsory in the national curriculum following the current review.
Teachers: Training
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to his answer of 14 February 2013, Official Report, column 802W, on Teachers: Training, what proportion of Schools Direct trainees are employed by their schools or school partnerships at the end of their training period. [144982]
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Mr Laws [holding answer 27 February 2013]:There is no data on employment for School Direct trainees yet. The first cohort of trainees for the academic year (AY) 2012/13 will qualify in autumn 2013 and employment data will be available from summer 2014.
Teachers: Veterans
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many ex-service personnel have (a) enrolled on and (b) completed the Troops to Teachers programme to date. [144914]
Mr Laws: The Secretary of State for Education will be in a position to announce the new Troops to Teachers (TtT) programme within the next month. As the programme has not yet been launched, to date no ex-service personnel have enrolled on the Troops to Teachers programme.
The DfE has worked closely to develop a coherent programme, with the wider aim of attracting high quality service leavers into schools. This has focused so far on increasing applications to existing initial teacher training (ITT) routes.
Troops to Teachers feeds into the Military Skills and Ethos in Schools project, which aims to bring together the work that is dispersed throughout the Department in this area, including the work SkillForce is doing in the alternative provision sector.
Defence
Defence
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what targets his Department set for the delivery of the measures outlined in the 2010 strategic defence and security review. [145286]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 28 February 2013]:Strategic defence and security review (SDSR) implementation targets are set out in the Ministry of Defence business plan
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/27185/mod_plan_final_11_06_12_P1.pdf
Progress is reported monthly on the No. 10 website
http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/
and in the Prime Minister's annual report to Parliament on progress in implementing the national security strategy and strategic defence and security review. The second annual report was presented on 29 November 2012, Official Report, columns 26-28WS.
Defence Support Group
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget was of the Defence Support Group in each of the last five years; and whether the Defence Support Group has been a net (a) contributor to and (b) recipient of his Department's budget in that period. [145134]
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Mr Dunne: The Defence Support Group finances its operations and delivers an annual dividend to Ministry of Defence (MOD) through the charges it levies on customers for its services. The operating costs of the trading fund, from vesting in 2008, to date are shown in the following table.
| £ million | |
| (1) Forecast, un-audited, operating cost figure. | |
As the Defence Support Group's only substantial customer is the armed forces, and some 99% of its annual business turnover is derived from the MOD, the trading fund is a net recipient of the MOD budget.
We do not classify the annual dividends returned by the Defence Support Group to MOD as a contribution to the Defence budget as this is predominantly circular funding, returning to MOD.
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what analysis his Department has made of the effect that a sale of the Defence Support Group will have on the support that that body provides to the UK’s armed forces. [145791]
Mr Dunne: Sale of the Defence Support Group (DSG) will not change its priority of supporting the armed forces. From the preparatory work that we have undertaken to date, the Ministry of Defence expects that it can achieve a sale transaction that represents overall long-term value for money for the taxpayer and maintains the quality and timeliness of DSG’s ongoing support to the armed forces.
Depleted Uranium: Scotland
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many depleted uranium rounds are planned to be test fired in the Kirkcudbright Range in Dundrennan in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014; and when each such firing is scheduled to take place. [145504]
Mr Dunne: There are no plans for any test firing of depleted uranium rounds at the Kirkcudbright Range in Dundrennan.
HMS Astute
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tomahawk land attack missiles have been (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully test fired from HMS Astute to date. [145087]
Mr Dunne: To date, two Tomahawk land attack missiles have been successfully test fired from HMS Astute. No missiles have been fired unsuccessfully.
HMS Tireless
Paul Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the leak from the reactor on HMS Tireless was first discovered; for what reasons the submarine was
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moved through the Irish sea to Devonport from off the west coast of Scotland after discovery of the leak; whether the Government of the Republic of Ireland were informed of the problem with the submarine; what steps have been taken to rectify the problem at Devonport docks; and what estimate he has made of the cost of repairs. [145329]
Mr Dunne: A very small coolant leak, contained within the sealed reactor compartment onboard HMS Tireless, was discovered on 4 February 2013. This presents no safety risk to members of the public, the environment or the crew.
The submarine was in international or UK territorial waters throughout her journey to Devonport, where there is a specialist submarine maintenance facility. There was no requirement to engage with or to inform the Government of the Republic of Ireland.
Repair plans are being developed and it is too early to confirm the detail or cost.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent reports he has received on cracks in the engine blades of the Joint Strike Fighter. [145268]
Mr Dunne: The UK was informed of a crack found on AF-2's engine on 19 February 2013 through normal US/UK airworthiness channels. Beyond this initial report, the UK F35 Type Airworthiness Authority has been involved in daily reviews with US government officials to understand progress with the subsequent technical investigation.
Michael Dugher
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions Mr Michael Dugher was registered as a visitor to his Department's main building between 2006 and 2008. [134671]
Mr Dunne [holding answer 20 December 2012]:The access control records for the Ministry of Defence's Main Building show that Mr Michael Dugher was registered as a visitor on four occasions between 2006 and 2008.
The details we hold against these four visits are:
14 June 2006—a one day unescorted visitor pass sponsored by the Under-Secretary of State for Defence;
20 December 2006—an escorted conference pass sponsored by the Defence Equipment Support Organisation;
11 April 2007—a one day escorted visitor pass sponsored by the Defence Commercial Directorate;
3 July 2007—a one day escorted visitor pass sponsored by the Secretary of State for Defence.
Military Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which air assets are equipped with Link 16 communications equipment. [145092]
Mr Dunne: The following Ministry of Defence (MOD) air platforms have Link 16 communications equipment fitted:
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Typhoon
Tornado GR4 (currently being fitted)
Sentinel
Sentry
VC-10
TriStar
Hercules C-130K
Sea King Mk7.
The MOD also has plans to fit Link 16 on the following air platforms:
Hercules C-130J
Airseeker
ATLAS.
RFA Fort Austin
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of refitting RFA Fort Austin; and when that vessel will re-enter service. [145098]
Mr Dunne: The final cost of refitting Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Austin is in the process of being assessed but is expected to be around £40 million, RFA Fort Austin re-entered service in December 2012.
Security
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what dates security passes to his Department were removed or cancelled for (a) General Sir Charles Guthrie, (b) Admiral Sir Jonathon Band and (c) Admiral Sir Alan West; [134669]
(2) on what dates security passes to his Department were removed or cancelled for (a) General Sir Mike Jackson, (b) General Sir Richard Dannatt and (c) General Sir Michael Walker; [134670]
(3) on what dates Ministry of Defence security passes were removed from or cancelled for (a) Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh, (b) Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy and (c) Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire. [134672]
Mr Dunne [holding answer 20 December 2012]:The access control system for the Ministry of Defence Main Building holds data from 2004. No data is available for when General Sir Charles Guthrie's pass was removed or cancelled as he retired in 2001. Admiral Sir Jonathon Band's pass was cancelled on 4 June 2010. Admiral Sir Alan West's pass expired on 30 April 2006.
General Sir Mike Jackson's pass expired on 30 September 2007. General Sir Richard Dannatt's pass was cancelled on 28 August 2009. General Sir Michael Walker's pass was cancelled on 13 November 2007.
No data is available for when Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh's pass was removed or cancelled as he retired in 2002. Air Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torpy's pass remains active, sponsored by the Chief of the Air Staff, and will be regularly reviewed following the recent review into pass access. Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire's pass expired on 30 April 2008.
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Submarines
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further contracts under the Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme will be signed with tier one companies; when any such contracts will be signed; and what estimate he has made of the value of each contract. [145089]
Mr Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 13 February 2013, Official Report, column 44WS.
Contract negotiations with BAE Systems Maritime—Submarines and Babcock Marine are currently under way, with signatures due later this year. I am withholding further information, including those on the estimated values, as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Tankers
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of when the first Tide tanker will be in service. [145096]
Mr Dunne: On current plans the first Tide Class Tanker, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tidespring, will enter service in 2016.
Unmanned Aerial and Marine Vehicles
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential of (a) unmanned underwater vehicles and (b) unmanned aerial vehicles for maritime reconnaissance. [144947]
Mr Dunne: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the previous Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the hon. Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey) who, while giving evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) on maritime surveillance on 23 May 2012, stated that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to explore fully all options and alternatives for providing maritime surveillance which will include unmanned underwater and aerial vehicles.
Trials of unmanned systems and the Air ISTAR Optimisation Study (AIOS) will be part of that work and an update will be provided to the HCDC on the initial findings of the AIOS and other significant developments in maritime surveillance in the summer of 2013, with a further update in the summer of 2014 when the AIOS is complete.
The Royal Navy is developing a maritime unmanned aerial strategy to link into the wider Defence efforts in this area and lever efficiencies which will be completed in the summer of 2013.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Black Hornet unmanned aerial vehicle systems have been purchased; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of such purchases. [145088]
Mr Dunne: A total of 162 Black Hornet systems have been purchased for £20 million, including support costs.
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Unmanned Air Vehicles
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) type, (b) circular error probability and (c) blast radius is of each variant of the Hellfire precision guided missile employed by the UK Reaper remotely piloted air system; and if he will make a statement. [133761]
Mr Dunne [holding answer 17 December 2012]:I am withholding the information requested as its release would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Warships
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the current value of (a) HMS Illustrious, (b) HMS Ocean and (c) HMS Albion. [145093]
Mr Dunne: The current values are shown in the following table. The values quoted reflect the net book value (NBV) of the asset, which is calculated by adding the cost of any major upgrades to the original capital cost of the asset and deducting depreciation.
| Name | Net book value (£ million) |
The figures shown bear no relation to the replacement costs of the assets and capabilities.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the current value of (a) HMS Protector, (b) HMS Echo, (c) HMS Enterprise, (d) HMS Scott, (e) HMS Endurance and (f) HMS Gleaner. [145095]
Mr Dunne: The current values of the Royal Navy vessels are shown in the following table. The values quoted reflect the net book value (NBV) of the asset, which is calculated by adding the cost of any major upgrades to the original capital cost of the asset and deducting depreciation.
| Name | NBV (£ million) |
| (1 )HMS Protector is not owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is operated under a lease arrangement and is not therefore recorded as an asset on the MOD balance sheet. No NBV is available. (2) HMS Gleaner has a current NBV of some £80,000 but, for consistency with the approach taken to rounding the other figures, her NBV is shown as zero. Note: 1. The NBVs shown above are all rounded to the nearest £ million. | |
The figures shown in the table bear no relation to the replacement costs of the assets and capabilities.
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Health
Abortion
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any requirement is placed on doctors who have reached an opinion that the grounds for abortion under section 1(1)(a) or 1(1)(b) of the Abortion Act 1967 have been met to record on the abortion notification form or patient’s notes the basis on which they reached that conclusion. [145418]
Anna Soubry: The law states that, except in emergencies, two doctors must certify that in their opinion a request for an abortion meets at least one and the same grounds set out in the 1967 Abortion Act. They must be able to certify that they agree for the abortion to go ahead given the information that they have about the woman’s circumstances. There is no requirement under the Act or regulations to record the basis on which their opinions have been reached.
If there is evidence that a certifying doctor has not formed an opinion in good faith, then the doctor performing the termination is not protected by the Act and has potentially committed a criminal offence by terminating the pregnancy. The doctors involved may also be acting contrary to their professional duties.
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2013, House of Lords, Official Report, column WA135, on abortion, if he will obtain data compiled by Eurocat on misreporting of grounds for abortion. [145990]
Anna Soubry: Eurocat collects and publishes data on all congenital abnormalities suspected prenatally. Notifications of abortions for foetal abnormality submitted to the chief medical officer record the principal medical condition for the termination. The data are therefore not comparable and Eurocat issued a statement in February stating that its data had been interpreted incorrectly.
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2013, House of Lords, Official Report, column WA185, on abortion, upon what evidence the statement that in practice most abortion services have a policy that all women should be seen on their own at some stage to ensure there is no coercion or other issue affecting their decision is based; and what inspections are undertaken by his Department to ensure that such a policy is implemented. [145994]
Anna Soubry: The Government do not collect data on whether a woman is seen on her own prior to a termination of pregnancy but we know that the two main independent sector providers, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and Marie Stopes International, both have policies and protocols in place that state that a woman must always be seen on her own to establish that she is consenting to the termination of her own free will. In addition, this provides the opportunity to discuss any other relevant issues without a partner or family member present. Officials from the Department have visited a number of services that provide termination of pregnancy and the national health service hospitals which have been visited have similar policies in place.
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Abortion: Lancashire
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) NHS hospitals, (b) clinics and (c) surgeries in Lancashire provide abortions; and how many abortions were carried out at each such location in 2012. [145305]
Anna Soubry: Abortion data are published annually. Data for 2012 will be available in May 2013. Data for 2011 are set out in the following table; there were no abortions carried out in surgeries.
| Abortions performed in Lancashire, 2011 | |
| Number | |
Care Homes: Fees and Charges
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 839W, on care homes: fees and charges, whether his Department has received any reports of care trusts not fulfilling their obligations under the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care. [145167]
Norman Lamb: The NHS Continuing Healthcare (Responsibilities) Directions 2009 and the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care set out the roles and responsibilities for primary care trusts in respect of these care packages.
The Department receives correspondence from time to time with regards to implementation of the national framework locally. Strategic health authorities are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the national framework at a local level.
Care Quality Commission
Mark Hendrick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget was for the Care Quality Commission in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; how
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many inspections were carried out by the commission in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012; and what the corresponding figures will be for 2013. [145315]
Norman Lamb: The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) total grant in aid budget from the Department of Health for the financial year 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 is shown in the following table.
| £ | |||
| Revenue | Capital | Total | |
The CQC has provided the following information about the number of inspections it has carried out.
| Calendar year | Number of inspections |
| Note: Data taken at 27 February 2013. | |
The number of inspections anticipated for 2012-13 as at 27 February is 28,542. This number may change if, for example, locations are deregistered.
There are three types of inspections:
(i) Scheduled: unannounced inspections which focus on a minimum of five of the essential standards of quality and safety.
(ii) Responsive: unannounced inspections which are carried out where there are concerns about poor care.
(iii) Themed: inspections which focus on specific standards or types of care services.
Non compliance is followed up with either a follow-up inspection or a desk-based follow-up review.
The CQC is currently preparing its business plan in light of the recent strategy consultation which considers frequency of inspections to all regulated providers. The CQC will publish in April the inspection delivery plans but anticipates volumes of inspections in 2013-14 to be broadly in line with the 2012-13 business year.
Childbirth
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2013, House of Lords, Official Report, column WA183, on abortion, for what reasons he does not consider it to be in the public interest to disclose the countries of origin of mothers among whom birth ratios exhibit gender imbalances. [145989]
Anna Soubry: The Department is carrying out further analysis of data. We do not consider it is in the public interest to disclose details of the countries in question while this analysis is under way as it is not currently possible to conclude that these variations are the result of intervention rather than natural variation. This further analysis will be completed shortly and we will announce our findings.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to and what discussions officials of his Department have had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on issuing separate clinical guidelines for myalgic encephalomyelitis and for other fatiguing disorders set out in the World Health Organisation classification system. [145271]
Norman Lamb: We have had no such discussions.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy) in adults and children in August 2007. NICE periodically reviews its published guidance in order to take account of the latest available evidence.
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis have been prevented from being tissue donors since 2007; and for what reasons recipients of tissue donations from such patients are deemed to be at risk. [145272]
Anna Soubry: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 27 November 2012, Official Report, column 210W.
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what (a) advice and (b) evidential basis his Department defines myalgic encephalomyelitis as a psychological condition; [145273]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the findings of the PACE trial relating to the effectiveness of (a) cognitive behavioural therapy and (b) graded exercise therapy for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis. [145274]
Norman Lamb: The Department considers the condition chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis to be a neurological condition of unknown origin.
We have not carried out any specific assessment of the findings of the PACE trial.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) supports clinical decision-making in the national health service by developing guidance and recommendations on the effectiveness of treatments. NICE routinely reviews the need to update its guidance in order to take account of the latest available evidence. As an independent body, NICE is responsible for assessing which evidence should be considered as part of this process.
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions officials of his Department have had with the Medical Research Council on the possibility of conducting further research to evaluate the outcomes of studies which have reported evidence of the presence of retroviruses in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. [145276]
Norman Lamb: Officials have had no discussions.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 855W
The Medical Research Council (MRC) funds medical research in the field of medical science by awarding grants to research organisations.
Research organisations may submit unsolicited research proposals at any time in any field of research relevant to the MRC's remit. In addition, research organisations can submit proposals in response to calls for proposals and highlight notices, which focus on key strategic areas.
Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is currently a highlighted area and a high priority for the MRC, and the council has implemented a number of initiatives to stimulate high-quality research in this area. The MRC is independent in its choice of which research to support.
Chronic Illnesses
Mrs Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department (a) has conducted and (b) holds on the effect of long-term prescription medications for management of chronic pain impairment; and if he will make a statement. [145190]
Norman Lamb: Adequate pain relief is an important part of the treatment and support needed for people with chronic pain. Prescribers are well aware of the risks of side effects and addiction associated with long-term use of some analgesic medicines, and information is readily available from standard sources such as the British National Formulary, ‘Clinical Knowledge Summaries’, and the Summary of Product Characteristics, and patient information leaflets of individual medicines. The clinical guideline on the management of low back pain from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence draws particular attention to the risk of opioid dependence and other side effects. Systematic reviews produced by the Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group, including reviews of pharmacological therapies for the management of chronic pain, are available on the group's website at:
http://papas.cochrane.org
Coronavirus
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of potential risk of a coronavirus outbreak to the UK population. [145774]
Dr Poulter: Coronaviruses have been associated for many years with outbreaks and sporadic cases of the common cold during winter and early spring every year. These viruses cause mild upper respiratory tract symptoms and rarely require hospitalisation.
Over the last 10 years, other coronaviruses have emerged which may be associated with severe symptoms and death. The most recent of these was first detected in September 2012 and is commonly known as novel coronavirus (nCoV). The procedures for assessing the potential risk of outbreaks of this virus follow the pattern established to assess any potential outbreak of serious respiratory infection.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 856W
The assessment of risk of an nCoV outbreak to the United Kingdom population was last reviewed on 18 February 2013. This is based on ongoing review of the emerging evidence in the UK and worldwide by the Health Protection Agency.
The risk to UK residents of contracting this infection in the UK is very low.
The risk to UK residents travelling to the middle east is very low and does not warrant a change to current travel advice.
The risk of coronavirus infection to residents of, or recent visitors to, the middle east who are investigated in the UK with an unexplained severe acute respiratory illness also remains very low, but warrants investigation for coronavirus infection.
The risk of contacts of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection is still generally considered to be low but emerging evidence suggests there may be specific circumstances where transmission may be more likely.
Croydon University Hospital
Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Care Quality Commission and NHS London on the abnormally high mortality rate at Croydon University Hospital in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement. [145609]
Anna Soubry: This is a matter for Croydon Health Services NHS Trust. We are advised that NHS London investigated mortality rates at the trust during the specified period when concerns were first raised. We expect the trust to continue to work with the Care Quality Commission and, where appropriate, the NHS Commissioning Board to address concerns with regard to any aspect of its performance.
Diabetes: Children
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in the UK have diabetes; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of such children whose diabetes is inadequately managed. [145109]
Anna Soubry: Data on recommended care processes relating to infants, children and young people with diabetes in England and Wales were published by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) in the National Paediatric Diabetes Annual Report 2010-11.
The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) 2010-11 identified 23,516 infants, children and young people (to age 25) in England and Wales as registered with diabetes. The vast majority of infants, children and young people have type 1 diabetes, although there is considerable variability across regions in England.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that infants, children and young people should receive eight essential health care processes from the age of 12 (a smoking review is not recommended). Only 5.8% of eligible infants, children and young people included in the NPDA were recorded as having received
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all eight NICE recommended care processes in 2010-11. No assessment has been made of the accuracy of this figure.
For patients under 12 years of age, ‘all care processes’ is defined as HbA1c only, as the other care processes are not recommended in the NICE guidelines for this age group.
The NPDA report, which was published in September 2012, describes data collected by 178 paediatric diabetes units over a 12-month audit period of 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. These returns related to 16,444 (i.e. 70% of the 23,516) infants, children and young people under the age of 25 years registered with diabetes and with a valid age attached to their record.
The measurement of HbAIc gives an indication of whether diabetes is being managed adequately. Over 85% of the infants, children and young people diagnosed before 2011 had their HbA1c measured; but only 16.4% of males and 15.1% of females achieved the NICE recommended HbA1c target of less than 7.5%. This proportion has increased from 14.5% in 2009-10. Nearly one third of infants, children and young people had an unacceptable HbA1c of less than 9.5%.
To encourage rapid improvement in performance, the Department has introduced a best practice paediatric diabetes tariff that will become mandatory from April 2013. This is expected to reflect positively on the number of young patients who receive care as recommended by NICE.
Doctors: Qualifications
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received that the examining body responsible for marking the situational judgment tests taken by final year medical students, the UK Foundation Programme Office, has made a significant error in the marking process and has had to withdraw all job offers made to final year students. [146142]
Dr Poulter: The Department has been kept fully informed of this issue by the UK Foundation Programme Office including the commitment that job allocations will be confirmed and available to final year medical students by 8 March.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet representatives of the (a) UK Foundation Programme Office and (b) British Medical Association to discuss the error in the marking process of final year medical students' situational judgment examinations to discuss steps to ensure that a similar occurrence does not happen again and to minimise uncertainty over job region allocations. [146143]
Dr Poulter: The Department has been kept fully informed of this issue by the UK Foundation Programme Office. The UK Foundation Programme Office has also been in regular contact with representatives of the British Medical Association.
The error occurred in the scanning of the students’ answers to situational judgment tests. The Medical Schools Council that contracted for this service has published an apology. Following an invitation from the Department, senior representatives of the independent Academy of Medical Royal Colleges undertook an assurance review
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of the process to verify that correct answers are used in the job allocation process and concluded that the verification process appears comprehensive, transparent and fair. For future recruitment processes the error has been identified and can be rectified.
Job allocations will be confirmed and available to final year medical students on Friday 8 March.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many final year medical students passed their final examinations in the last year for which figures are available; and how many F1 job placements will be available at UK hospitals in summer 2013. [146144]
Dr Poulter: This information is not held by the Department. However, data from the UK Foundation Programme Office that manages recruitment to the programme show that 7,808 students have applied to the Foundation Programme from United Kingdom medical schools. The final number progressing to the Foundation Programme will depend on the number passing final examinations and the number withdrawing their applications. There are 7,727 placements available at UK hospitals in summer 2013.
However, irrespective of this, with the support of the devolved Administrations, we are committed to ensuring that all graduates of United Kingdom medical schools receive a place on a foundation training programme in 2013.
Drugs: Rehabilitation
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is of a complete treatment package incorporating methadone maintenance and other substitute medications by (a) GP-shared, care-based maintenance prescribing per person in treatment, (b) a psychiatry-led service per person in treatment and (c) Drug and Alcohol Action Team. [145569]
Anna Soubry: The Government's drug strategy published in 2010 emphasised the need to provide individuals with services which address the needs of the whole person. During a person's process of recovery, this end-to-end support is likely to consist of a number of different elements such as community, in-patient and residential treatment and rehabilitation, and aftercare. The cost of individuals' care pathways is not collected centrally.
Health
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to announce the financial allocation to each local authority for taking over public health responsibilities. [145331]
Dr Poulter: The financial allocation to each local authority for taking over public health responsibilities was announced on 10 January 2013. The announcement covers 2013-14 and 2014-15, giving local authorities much-needed continuity and certainty.
These have been published together with supporting documents on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/01/ph-grants-las/
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Health Services
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to encourage GPs to identify patients most at risk of emergency hospital admission and to provide such patients with pro-active preventive case management. [145123]
Dr Poulter: The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), part of the contract with general practitioners (GPs), currently contains indicators which incentivise GPs to carry out internal and peer reviews of emergency admissions, and engage with and follow three agreed care pathways in the management and treatment of patients to avoid emergency admissions.
The Government have proposed changes to the GP contract, and a stakeholder consultation has recently concluded. Under these proposals, and in addition to the QOF indicators, we would invite GPs to participate in a new directed enhanced service, which would further encourage GP practices to co-ordinate and manage the care of frail older people and other high-risk patients predicted to be at risk of unscheduled hospital admission.
A decision on the changes to the GP contract will be announced shortly.
Horsemeat
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities are participating in (a) phase 1, (b) phase 2 and (c) phase 3 of the Food Standards Agency's survey testing for equine DNA. [146065]
Dr Poulter: The local authorities taking part in phase 1 and phase 2 of the UK-wide enforcement survey of food authenticity of processed meat products for horse and pig DNA are listed as follows.
Armagh City and District Council
Ballymena District Council
Bracknell Forest Council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Cardiff Council
Cumbria County Council
Derbyshire County Council
Devon County Council
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
Edinburgh City Council
London Borough of Enfield
Essex County Council
Gloucestershire County Council
Gwynedd Council
Hampshire County Council
Hereford City Council
London Borough of Hounslow
Kent County Council
Lancashire County Council
Leicestershire County Council
Newcastle Upon Tyne City Council
Oxfordshire County Council
South Tyneside Council
London Borough of Southwark
Stirling Council
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Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
City of York Council
Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Phase 3 includes a different set of local authorities. Release of the names of these local authorities before sampling is complete may harm law enforcement interests which is the primary objective of the survey. Their names are therefore not being released until after sampling has been completed.
Horses: Slaughterhouses
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many UK abattoirs are licensed to kill horses; and how many of those are licensed to kill other livestock. [145362]
Anna Soubry: There are six UK abattoirs approved to kill horses as on 27 February 2013. Approval is currently suspended at one of these abattoirs. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mary Creagh) on 27 February 2013, Official Report, column 570W, for the details of these abattoirs and the other livestock they are approved to kill.
Hospitals: Dorset
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make representations to the Competition Commission inquiry into the proposed merger between the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Trust and the Poole Hospital Foundation Trust on the public policy implications set out in the report on that merger by Monitor; [146055]
(2) what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report by Monitor on the proposed merger between the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Trust and the Poole Hospital Foundation Trust. [146056]
Anna Soubry: Any NHS mergers must deliver benefits for patients. The Competition Commission's review is an independent process and it would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in an individual case. The Department will not therefore be making any assessment of the implications of the report for its policies, and will not be making any representations to the Competition Commission.
Macular Degeneration
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the use of vitamin and mineral supplements to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration. [145200]
Dr Poulter: The Department's National Institute for Health Research funds the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group. An update of the systematic review produced by this group on antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration was published in November 2012. The review is available in the online Cochrane Library at:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858. CD000254.pub3/abstract
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Mayor of London
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the devolution of additional powers to the Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement. [145243]
Anna Soubry: We have no plans to devolve any powers to the Mayor of London.
Meat: Imports
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisms are known to exist in imported bushmeat; and what the consequences may be in terms of infection in humans. [145542]
Dr Poulter: The advice of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is that the most important risks to public health from illegally imported bushmeat are those associated with well-known food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella, rather than exotic organisms. Food borne pathogens will be destroyed by thorough cooking.
A study commissioned by the FSA in 2005 considered the microbiological risks associated with the illegal import of bushmeat into the United Kingdom. The study concluded that the risk of food-borne illnesses from consumption of bushmeat appeared to be:
‘very low, and that the risk of food borne illnesses from cross-contamination was also minimal’.
This study was presented to the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food who agreed with its findings.
Mental Health Services
Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the existing protocols for the use of police officers to restrain mental health patients in NHS hospitals; and if he will make a statement; [145604]
(2) what assessment he has made of the use of Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group officers within NHS mental health hospitals; and if he will make a statement; [145605]
(3) what assessment the Care Quality Commission has made of the use of police officers to restrain mental health patients; and if he will make a statement. [145606]
Norman Lamb: No assessment has been made of the use of Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group officers within national health service mental health hospitals. No discussions have taken place or are currently planned between the Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), on the existing protocols for the use of police officers to restrain mental health patients in NHS hospitals.
Deployment of police in mental health in-patient settings is not a routine occurrence. A police presence may be required when dealing with an extremely disturbed patient to avoid injury to the patient, staff and other patients. Police would also be involved in responding to
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criminal behaviours on psychiatric wards or in the management of any serious or untoward incident on the premises. We would expect any intervention of this nature to be carried out according to protocols agreed between mental health services and local police services.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is currently conducting a thematic probe on the use of restrictive practices on mental health wards. The probe is being carried out by the CQC's Mental Health Act (MHA) Commissioners and includes questions on any occasion when police have been called to a ward and what they did—including involvement in restraint, as well as use of taser, tear gas, handcuffs and tape. The field work for the probe continues till the end of March and there will be a period of analysis. The current plan is to publish the results of part of the CQC's next MHA annual report.
Methadone
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of people who are prescribed methadone are on a reducing methadone script. [145572]
Anna Soubry: This information is not collected centrally. The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) collects information on the number of people receiving structured treatment for drug dependence in England, including substitute prescribing interventions. In accordance with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, to support someone's recovery from dependence, opioid substitutes may be prescribed for the purposes of stabilisation, maintenance or reducing opioid use. However, the NDTMS does not distinguish between methadone and other opioid substitutes or whether doses are rising, constant or reducing.