Ministerial Policy Advisers
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place within his Department to deal with breaches of the code of conduct by special advisers. [145171]
Dr Poulter: Matters relating to special advisers are handled in accordance with the ministerial code, the model contract and code of conduct for special advisers.
Mobile Phones: Health Hazards
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an assessment on the potential health effects on children of the use of mobile telephones from an early age. [145761]
Anna Soubry: The Department is advised on the health effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, including mobile telephones and their associated technology, by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). In April 2012 the HPA's independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation produced a comprehensive assessment of the evidence on the potential health effects of these fields including those to children. The report can be found at:
www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317133826368
4 Mar 2013 : Column 863W
National Treatment Agency
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of staff who previously worked for the National Treatment Agency (a) now work for and (b) are planned to move to Public Health England. [145571]
Anna Soubry: The Department does not hold records on the current employment status of staff who have left the National Treatment Agency (NTA).
The transfer of current NTA staff to Public Health England is being conducted in line with the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector 2000 (COSOP).
NHS: Innovation
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on implementing the actions set out in his Department's report, Innovation, Health and Wealth, published in December 2011. [145280]
Dr Poulter: The NHS chief executive published “Creating Change—IHW One Year On” in December 2012. It provides a full update on progress made with the Innovation, Health and Wealth programme. A copy has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/12/ihw-creating-change/
NHS: Public Consultation
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department took account of the financial interests of respondents when assessing the results of its consultation on Securing the Best Value for Patients. [145120]
Dr Poulter: The Department considered carefully the views and comments of all respondents to the consultation on Securing the Best Value for Patients. The Department did not ask for details of the financial interests of respondents.
NHS: Reorganisation
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether clinical commissioning groups that do not submit NHS services to open competition will be afforded protection from legal proceedings under competition law. [145121]
Dr Poulter: As my noble Friend, Earl Howe, made clear during the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill through Parliament, there is no requirement that commissioners must competitively tender all national health service services.
The Government's policy is for sector specific rules, enforced by a health regulator. The requirements of the section 75 regulations continue the approach put in place by the previous Administration and go no further than existing procurement law that already applies to primary care trusts, and that has been reflected in procurement guidance since 2008.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 864W
Nurses
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist stoma nurses posts there were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [145135]
Dr Poulter: The current number of stoma specialist nurses employed by the national health service is not collected centrally.
The Government have supported the development of a range of specialist roles within nursing. It is for local NHS organisations with their knowledge of the health care needs of their local population to invest in training for specialist skills and to deploy specialist nurses. In this context, the Government recognise that more should be done by some local health care organisations to prioritise preventative care and better support for patients in their own homes and communities. Specialist nurses can play an important role in this which can both save the NHS money and, more importantly, provide better care for patients.
We do hold information on the number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health-visiting staff employed by the NHS, which is available from the Health and Social Care Information Centre annual workforce census, however the speciality requested is not collected separately.
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on ensuring that (a) stoma and (b) continence patients can continue to access support and advice from specialist nurses; and if he will make a statement. [145136]
Dr Poulter: While the Government value the role of specialist nurses they has not made any assessment on their function with respect to the health outcomes for stoma and continence patients.
Nurses: Schools
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of school nurses in each of the last five years; and if will make a statement. [145501]
Dr Poulter: The annual workforce census published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre shows the number of school nurses with the post registration school nurse qualification employed by the national health service in England at 30 September each year, up to 2011. The next annual census will be published on 21 March 2013 and will provide the number of qualified school nurses employed in 2012. School nurses are employed by a variety of employers including the NHS, and state and independent schools.
Changes to the size and shape of the workforce are the responsibility of local employers and are not to be determined centrally. Local health care organisations, with their knowledge of the patients that they serve, are best placed to plan and deliver a workforce appropriate to the needs of their patients based on clinical need and sound evidence.
The number of qualified school nurses employed by the NHS in England from 2007 to 2011 is shown in the following table.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 865W
| NHS hospital and community. health services: school nurses, as at 30 September 2007-11 | |
| England as at 30 September each year | School nurse (Full-time equivalent) |
| Notes: 1. Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 2. The figures only include those school nurses directly employed by the NHS in England as we do not hold information on those school nurses directly employed by schools or local education authorities. Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census | |
Patient Choice Schemes
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to provide NHS patients with a choice of (a) method of care and treatment and (b) different providers of such care and treatment and to ensure patients are provided with the necessary information to make those choices effectively. [145122]
Anna Soubry: Choice for national health service funded care is underpinned through the NHS constitution. This sets out a patient’s right to make choices over health care and to have access to relevant information to support that choice:
“You have the right to make choices about your NHS care and to information to support these choices”.
“The NHS commits to offer you easily accessible, reliable and relevant information to enable you to participate fully in your own health care decisions and to support you in making choices”.
Choice of the method of care and treatment is a matter to be agreed through a shared decision-making process between the patient and their health care professional. More information than ever before is being made available to patients, for example through the NHS Choices website and the newly published choice frameworks which have been designed to spell out the choices available for patients.
For their first out-patient referral, patients have the right to choose any current provider of care in England which is appropriate. Additionally, providers of care and treatment are being extended through the Any Qualified Provider policy whereby patients can choose from a range of providers, all of whom meet NHS quality requirements, standard contract terms and conditions and price.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of appointments listed on the NHS Choose and Book website which are not actually available to book; and if he will make a statement. [145173]
4 Mar 2013 : Column 866W
Dr Poulter: Appointments that are declared available for booking by the service provider are displayed on the Choose and Book system. General information on availability for January 2013 is contained in the monthly appointment slot issues report, which is published on the Choose and Book website (see ‘ASI Provider Report’ tab):
www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk/staff/bau/reports/asijan2013.xls
The report includes information on the number of instances where patients were unable to book an available appointment because the appointment had been simultaneously booked by another patient, the appointment schedule had been changed but the Choose and Book system had not been updated, or where there was another technical problem making the system unavailable. In addition, the report shows instances where patients try to book appointments, but no appointment slots have been made available by the provider
In January 2013, there were 683,136 successful bookings made directly into hospital appointments systems by Choose and Book. There were also 3,911 instances where patients were unable to book visible appointments, due to issues as described above.
Personal Independence Payment
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether clinicians performing personal independence payment (PIP) assessments will be subcontracted to NHS trusts by Atos; and what assessment he has made of the effect of clinicians conducting PIP assessments on the ability of NHS trusts to perform their clinical functions. [145958]
Norman Lamb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 February 2013, Official Report, column 652W.
Phenylbutazone
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2013, Official Report, column 521W, on horses: slaughterhouses, when the two positive phenylbutazone test results from as yet untraced horses were reported to the Food Standards Agency. [145332]
Dr Poulter: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 February 2013, Official Report, column 466W, that provided information on the distribution of horsemeat from the two horses testing positive for phenylbutazone. These were for samples collected on 21 May 2012 and 10 October 2012.
The positive samples for these two horses were reported to the Food Standards Agency on 27 June 2012 and 13 November 2012 respectively.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance his Department provides for patients with complex prescriptions when they purchase sight-correction appliances. [145101]
Dr Poulter:
Help with the cost of optical appliances for patients with complex prescriptions is available through the NHS optical voucher scheme. Complex appliances
4 Mar 2013 : Column 867W
are defined as glasses at least one lens of which has power in any one meridian of plus or minus 10 or more dioptres or is a prism controlled bifocal lens.
There are a range of values for optical vouchers according to the strength and type of the prescription. Schedule 1 to the National Health Service Optical Charges and Payments Regulations 1997 sets out the vouchers and face values available for specific prescriptions. The current values are in SI 2012 No. 515, which is available at:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/515/contents/made
Private Patients: Foreign Nationals
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many non-EEA overseas private patients have been treated in England in each year since 2009-10; [145862]
(2) how many non-EEA overseas private patients have not paid all or part of their fees owed to NHS foundation trusts in each year since 2009-10. [145863]
Dr Poulter: The Department does not hold information about the treatment of non-EEA overseas private patients centrally. The Department expects that data about the treatment of privately-funded patients, including those from non-EEA states, would be held locally by individual health care providers.
We understand from the chairman of Monitor that it does not collect information about the collection of fees owing to NHS foundation trusts from non-EEA overseas private patients, as this is an operational matter for the individual trusts concerned.
Royal Lancaster Infirmary
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from hon. Members on the e-petition entitled Against the removal of Accident and Emergency, Maternity and Intensive Care Units at Royal Lancaster Infirmary; and what steps he has taken in response to those representations. [145417]
Anna Soubry: On 5 and 7 February 2013, my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (David Morris) spoke in the House about the e-petition about concerns regarding the future of the accident and emergency, maternity and intensive care units at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI). The remarks were made during parliamentary debates on health matters and were noted by Health Ministers.
No further representations on this matter have been received by Health Ministers.
The provision of local health services, including those provided at the RLI, is a matter for the local NHS. RLI is part of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, and we understand that the trust is working with local commissioners to review the future of its hospital services. This work is at an early stage and no options for change have been put forward.
We have set out strengthened criteria that NHS service changes must meet. They must demonstrate strengthened public and patient engagement; consider patient choice; have support from general practitioner commissioners; and be based on sound clinical evidence. Should proposals
4 Mar 2013 : Column 868W
be put forward for significant change to services at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, commissioners will need to be assured they meet these tests.
School Milk
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department was last assessed for compliance with the European School Milk Scheme. [145378]
Dr Poulter: Under the European School Milk Scheme, both the claimants of European Union Subsidy and the claims that they submit are assessed for compliance in line with the EU rules. The Department was last assessed for compliance in 2010.
Self-harm: North East
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of levels of self-harm in (a) Middlesbrough, (b) Redcar and Cleveland and (c) the North East; [145930]
(2) with reference to the Community Mental Health Profiles 2013 published by the North East Public Health Observatory, what steps he intends to take to reduce the incidence of self-harm. [145955]
Norman Lamb: Self-harm is a major risk factor for suicide, with around half of people dying by suicide having a previous history of self-harm. This is why we highlighted self-harm in the suicide prevention strategy for England published in September 2012. The suicide prevention strategy is backed by up to £1.5 million funding for suicide prevention research. We have invited research proposals looking at a number of areas, including how to reduce the risk of suicide in people with a history of self-harm.
In 2004 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a clinical guideline on self-harm. This covered the short-term physical and psychological management and secondary prevention of self-harm in primary and secondary care. It sets out the care people who harm themselves can expect to receive from health care professionals in hospital and out of hospital; the information they can expect to receive; what they can expect from treatment and what kinds of services best help people who harm themselves. Following on from this guideline, in November 2011, NICE issued a clinical practice guideline on the longer-term management of self-harm.
In the Community Mental Health Profiles 2013 published by the North East Public Health Observatory levels of self-harm in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland are much higher than the national average. For people who are admitted to accident and emergency with deliberate self-harm injuries, local mental health trust, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), provides liaison psychiatry services in all three acute hospitals in Teesside. TEWV staff work with colleagues at University Hospital of Hartlepool, University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton and James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough to assess patients with mental health problems, and help them to access the services they need.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 869W
Smoking
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the effectiveness of advertisements on encouraging people to stop smoking. [145794]
Anna Soubry: The effectiveness of the Department’s stop smoking marketing campaigns are evaluated using a range of techniques including response metrics (e.g. number of people who visit a website or order a support product), of tracking research and modelling to estimate the number of quit attempts made as a result of a campaign.
Topline results from the Department’s stop smoking campaigns are published on the Smokefree Resource Centre at:
www.smokefree.nhs.uk/resources/campaign
Social Services: Finance
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to apply changes in social care funding planned for 2017 retrospectively from 2012. [145328]
Norman Lamb: Subject to the passage of legislation we will introduce a system to protect people from excessive care costs in 2017—we have no plans to apply this retrospectively.
Those who are receiving eligible care from April 2017 will qualify for state protection by way of a cap and an extended means test protecting from excessive care costs. People with care needs before April 2017 will continue to be responsible for their care costs if they can afford them.
This is a significant funding commitment and must be balanced with other spending pressures. We believe 2017 is the right year to implement the cap—when it is both affordable and practical to do so.
Soft Drinks: Cinemas
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward legislative proposals to limit the size and availability of large soft drinks at cinemas. [145499]
Anna Soubry: Departmental officials will be meeting with cinema chains, soft drinks manufacturers and their respective trades associations to discuss what they can do to limit the size of large soft drinks at cinemas through the Public Health Responsibility Deal calorie reduction pledge. We have no current plans to legislate on the matter.
Streptococcus
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the planned tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guideline on the prevention of early-onset group B strep disease will include the recommendations of the guideline on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early-onset neonatal infection issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, published in August 2012; [145340]
4 Mar 2013 : Column 870W
(2) which stakeholders will be involved in the development and implementation of his Department's proposed tool for local use to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised guideline issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the prevention of early-onset group B strep disease; and what timetable has been set for the (a) development and (b) implementation of the tool; [145342]
(3) what timetable his Department has set for the inclusion of group B strep as a topic in education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and which stakeholders will be involved in the (a) development and (b) implementation of relevant education materials; [145343]
(4) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the recommendations in the guideline on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early-onset neonatal infection issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence are implemented wherever babies are born and then cared for; [145344]
(5) if he will set a target for the reduction of group B streptococcal infection in newborn babies. [145345]
Dr Poulter: No target has been set by the Department on group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines are based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and we expect national health service organisations to take them fully into account in their decision making, including on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early-onset neonatal infection.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published its updated guideline on prevention of early- onset neonatal GBS disease in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.
Following the publication of the revised guideline, the UK National Screening Committee suggested a formal audit of practice, to establish how well the new guidance is being implemented at a national level.
A proposal from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for an audit, through its partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has recently been submitted to the UK National Screening Committee. If the proposal is agreed, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists will appoint a clinical research fellow to undertake the project which will take one year.
The proposed audit will consist of a number of activities, including the development of "case vignettes", describing particular women asking clinicians to indicate whether they would screen for GBS and/or offer intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. These vignettes would provide specific information on current policies in response to the presence or absence of particular risk factors.
The Government do not specify the content of the training curricula for doctors or midwives and other clinicians. The content and standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council,
4 Mar 2013 : Column 871W
which is the competent authority for medical training in the United Kingdom. The Nursing and Midwifery Council set standards of education, training, conduct and performance so that nurses and midwives can deliver high quality health care.
Continuing professional development needs of doctors and midwives are determined by regulatory requirements and local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service.
Health Education England has been established to provide national leadership and oversight on strategic planning and development of the health care workforce. Health Education England will work closely with professional regulators and education institutions to ensure that curricula for the provision of education are of the highest quality, and training delivers health professionals who are fit for purpose and meet employer and patient needs. Health Education England will become fully operational in April 2013.
Telemedicine
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has held with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on the potential for smart-meter technology to assist with the provision of telecare and telehealth services. [145182]
Norman Lamb: We are not aware of any specific discussions that have taken place with officials at the Department for Energy and Climate Change about this matter.
Tobacco: Retail Trade
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the potential (a) effect on rates of smoking and (b) saving to the NHS of the introduction of standardised tobacco product packaging; [146070]
(2) what assessment he has made of his Department's consultation on standardised packing for tobacco products. [146071]
Anna Soubry: The Department published the “Consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products” in April 2012. A consultation-stage impact assessment was published alongside the consultation.
The Department received many thousands of responses to the consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products, including standard postcard campaigns and petitions from a range of interested parties. A summary report of consultation responses will be published in due course, which will set out the numbers and categories of responses received.
The Government have an open mind on this issue and any decisions to take further policy action on tobacco packaging will be taken only after full consideration is given to the consultation responses, evidence and other relevant information.
Transplant Surgery
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are on organ transplant waiting lists. [145639]
4 Mar 2013 : Column 872W
Anna Soubry: The information requested can be found in the following table.
| Number of people in the United Kingdom on organ donor waiting lists by organ as at 21 February 2013 | |
| Organ | Number of people on the transplant waiting list as of 21 February 2013 |
| Source: NHS Blood and Transplant | |
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organ transplant patients were transferred from Scotland to England for care in each of the last four years. [145650]
Dr Poulter: The information requested can be found in the following table:
| Scottish residents(1) receiving a solid organ transplant in England from 1 April 2008 to 26 February 2013, by transplant type and year | |||||
| Transplant type | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13(2) |
| (1) Area defined by the Office for National Statistics NHS Postcode Directory. (2) 2012-13 covers the period from the start of the 2012-13 financial year (1 April 2012) until 26 February 2013 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant | |||||
Working Hours
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effect of over-working on mental and physical health. [145137]
Norman Lamb: No assessments have been made or are currently planned of the effects of over-working on mental and physical health.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 873W
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices: Milton Keynes
Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships were started in (a) the Milton Keynes unitary authority area and (b) Milton Keynes South constituency in each of the last five years. [145628]
Matthew Hancock: Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by geography is published in supplementary tables to a quarterly statistical first release (SFR), last published on 31 January 2013, available at:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/69EFC69B-C189-46C4-93C4-6B161D744073/0/January2013_Apprenticeship_Starts.xls
4 Mar 2013 : Column 874W
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/fe_data_library/Apprenticeships/
Apprentices: South East
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships in each sector commenced in (a) Mid Sussex constituency and (b) the south-east in each of the last five years. [145645]
Matthew Hancock: Tables 1 and 2 show the number of apprenticeship starts by sector subject area in the Mid Sussex parliamentary constituency and the south-east region respectively. Data are shown for 2007/08 to 2011/12, the latest year for which full year data are available.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts in Mid Sussex parliamentary constituency by sector subject area, 2007/08 to 2011/12 | |||||
| Sector subject area | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 |
| Table 2: Apprenticeship programme starts in south-east region by sector subject area, 2007/08 to 2011/12 | |||||
| Sector subject area | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/1 2 |
| Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. ‘—’ indicates a value of less than five. 2. Geographic breakdowns are based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Figures are based on the geographic boundaries as of May 2010. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |||||
Business: Research
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer of 18 April 2012, Official Report, column 381W, on business: research, by what date the Technology Strategy Board plans to publish a list of Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) contracts awarded since April 2008 in a form similar to the US Small Business Administration's TECH-Net public database of SBRI contracts including the name and address of each award winner, the name of the awarding agency, the year of award, the phase, the amount of award and project title; and what deadlines he has set for this to take place. [145509]
4 Mar 2013 : Column 875W
Michael Fallon: The Technology Strategy Board currently provides details, including the status, of all SBRI competitions launched and case studies at a dedicated section of their website:
http://www.innovateuk.org/deliveringinnovation/smallbusinessresearchinitiative.ashx
In addition, the Technology Strategy Board has created a searchable database which has been available since mid-November 2012 at:
https://connect.innovateuk.org/publicdata/
This contains details of all SBRI contract recipients, where the Technology Strategy Board is the contracting authority. Where Departments manage their own competitions and are the contracting authority this information is not held by the Technology Strategy Board. The Technology Strategy Board is working with these public sector bodies to add information regarding their contracts where possible.
The TSB is compiling a list of all SBRI contract recipients, where the Technology Strategy Board can obtain information from other public sector bodies that are the contracting authority in their SBRI competitions. This list will be published shortly.
Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make it an offence for retailers to sell barbecue and camping equipment without a prominent warning on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. [146058]
Michael Fallon: There are no plans for new legislation. The European Commission has put in a request for the revision of EN 1860-1 and EN 1860-2, the two standards relating to barbecues and barbecue fuel packaging, to have safety warnings in prominent positions on the barbecues themselves as well as on the packaging of the fuels and in accompanying instructions. The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR) state that only safe products can be placed on to the market, and recognise certain technical standards as carrying a presumption of conformity with the general safety requirement, meaning that products that comply with them are deemed to be safe. Local authority trading standards services are able under the GPSR to remove products they feel do not meet the basic safety requirements, which can include the lack of appropriate safety warnings.
Companies: Milton Keynes
Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many new companies were registered in (a) the Milton Keynes unitary authority area and (b) Milton Keynes South constituency in each of the last five years. [145627]
Michael Fallon: Companies House estimates that the number of new companies registered in the Milton Keynes unitary authority area and Milton Keynes South constituency in each of the last five years are shown in the following tables.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 876W
| Milton Keynes unitary authority | |
| Number | |
| Milton Keynes South constituency | |
| Number | |
These figures are estimates because Companies House data are drawn from postcode areas; and these areas can cross county and constituency boundaries.
Copyright
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the legal costs that will be incurred by businesses and other organisations as a result of courts interpreting proposed changes to copyright law. [145954]
Jo Swinson: The changes proposed to copyright legislation will be drafted as clearly as possible, and the Intellectual Property Office will issue guidance notices which, while not binding on the courts, will assist users of the copyright system to understand the new provisions.
While legal disputes may occur following any legislative change, it is not possible to predict accurately the extent or cost of such actions, and accordingly, no such assessment has been made.
Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many current members of the Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group has been commissioned by the Intellectual Property Office to provide paid research in the last three years; [146059]
(2) how many current members of the Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group work in a private sector business whose principal purpose is the production of copyright works. [146060]
Jo Swinson: The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) established four research Expert Advisory Groups (EAGs), including a group focused on copyright, to provide commentary and peer review on all aspects of its research programme. Each EAG is made up of representatives from industry, academia and the user community who have expertise in developing and commenting on research methodologies and data. Members are voluntary and unpaid and were appointed on a personal basis.
The full membership for the Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group (CREAG) is:
Hasan Bakhshi—National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)
Adrian Brazier—Department for Culture, Media and Sport
4 Mar 2013 : Column 877W
Ian Christie—Birkbeck College London
Tony Clayton—Intellectual Property Office
Pippa Hall—Intellectual Property Office
David Humphries—Intellectual Property Office
Martin Kretschmer—CREATe (formerly Bournemouth University)
Nick Munn—Intellectual Property Office
Will Page—Spotify (formerly Performing Rights Society)
Tom Rivers—Broadcasters Representative
Christian Zimmerman—Design and Artists' Copyright Society
Charlotte Waelde—Exeter University
Saskia Walzel—Consumer Focus
Ben White—British Library.
Of these, Professor Martin Kretschmer, Director of the CREATe Research Centre, formerly Professor of Jurisprudence at Bournemouth University, was commissioned to produce independent research on private copying and fair compensation. The contract was let by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of a competitive procurement process. The IPO co-funded this work although the winning bidder was selected solely by the ESRC.
In addition, Professor Kretschmer has led Bournemouth University teams which have been commissioned to deliver research projects on copyright, and the regulation of orphan works and on parody and pastiche. Contracts for these research projects were let following a competitive tender evaluation process. Final reports will be published shortly, following peer review.
Employee Ownership
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2012, Official Report, column 729W, on employee ownership, what estimate he has made of the total costs to businesses of familiarising themselves with the amended Employment Rights Act 1996 regardless of whether they use the employee shareholder status or not. [146181]
Jo Swinson: The calculation of the total cost to business of familiarisation with the amended Employment Rights Act 1996, in relation to the employee shareholder employment status, has not yet been carried out.
It is our intention to publish an updated impact assessment to the employment status before coming into law, which includes this calculation.
Environment Protection
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the UK's market share of the global environmental goods and services sector in 2011-12. [146057]
Michael Fallon: We currently do not have data for 2011-12. In terms of global sales, the UK is ranked sixth for the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector as a whole, with estimated sales of around £122,222 million in 2010-11 representing 3.7% of the global sales total of £3.3 trillion.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 878W
EU External Trade: USA
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are working on the US-EU High Level Working Group on recommendations for negotiations between the EU and US for a comprehensive free trade agreement. [145371]
Michael Fallon: The likely scope of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership means a broad range of Government officials are working on this, including: the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Her Majesty's Treasury; the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and the Cabinet Office. At this stage 10 to 15 officials in BIS are engaged for part of their time on aspects of this trade dossier. We expect this figure to increase as negotiations move forward.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what benchmarks his Department has set for outcomes of the work of the US-EU High Level Working Group on negotiations between the EU and US for a comprehensive free trade agreement; and what workstreams on these matters have been established in his Department. [145372]
Michael Fallon: The UK supports work towards as ambitious a deal as possible that addresses market access; tariffs, regulatory issues and non-tariff barriers; and rules and standards. BIS officials continue to engage with UK businesses and trade associations to understand their specific issues when trading and investing across the Atlantic.
EU Grants and Loans: Greater London
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will support the Mayor of London's proposal for him to be granted the status of Managing Authority for EU grants allocated to London; and if he will make a statement. [146052]
Michael Fallon: The Government are considering the Mayor's proposal that the Greater London Authority (GLA) should become a Managing Authority for the next round of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF) programmes in 2014-20. I am keen to ensure that the structure of the next round of programmes supports their overarching objective of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Government Departments: Disclosure of Information
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many events have been held under the Open Data Immersion programme; on what dates and at which locations these took place; and how many prizes have been awarded under the programme. [145367]
Matthew Hancock:
The Open Data Immersion programme was formally launched on 22 February 2013 by the Open Data Institute (ODI). No events have
4 Mar 2013 : Column 879W
taken place yet. The first event will be held on 20 March 2013, and I am sure the right hon. Member would be very welcome to attend.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 880W
Further information on the 2013 Immersion programme is set out as follows and details of future themes will be posted on the ODI website in due course:
| Crime and Justice | Energy and the environment | Personal data | |
The crime and justice series events will be held in London and subsequent events will be hosted around the UK.
For each theme, seed funding will be awarded to successful ideas at the creation and innovation weekend, and a prize will be awarded at the end of the incubation, mentoring and review period.
Themes for future events will be determined by demand and through open data work being developed by the Data Strategy Board and ODI. Future themes are expected to include health; transport; and welfare.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects an independent impact evaluation of the Open Data Immersion programme to be carried out. [145368]
Matthew Hancock: The Open Data Immersion programme is a three-year programme running from 2013 to 2015. An independent impact evaluation of the programme is due to be undertaken in 2015.
The structure of the programme will include the evaluation of individual projects as small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups develop their ideas and compete for the pre-seed investment and prizes that are awarded as part of the scheme.
Graphene
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 835W, on graphene, what research or statistics on international comparisons of numbers of graphene patents his Department or its agencies have (a) undertaken, (b) commissioned and (c) purchased since November 2011. [146180]
Jo Swinson: The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) produced the reports referred to in the answer of 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 835W, in November 2011. Following the renewed interest in graphene, the IPO is updating the main report with more recent data and it will be published in March 2013. Following publication, a copy will be placed in the parliamentary Library for reference. The IPO has not commissioned nor purchased any further research since November 2011.
Higher Education: Admissions
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many schools have received 20 or more Oxbridge offers since 1 January 2013; [145601]
(2) how many Oxbridge offers have been made to pupils in (a) Brighton and Hove, (b) East Sussex, (c) West Sussex and (d) Newham since 1 January 2013. [145602]
Mr Willetts: The information is not held centrally. Data on applications and acceptances are collected by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) but they do not routinely publish figures at this level of detail. UCAS is an organisation independent of Government.
Holiday Leave
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what comparative assessment he has made of the average number of paid holidays by (a) law and (b) agreement in the UK and in other EU member states. [145128]
Jo Swinson: In the UK, most workers are statutorily entitled to 5.6 weeks (capped at 28 days) paid leave each year. This comprises:
four weeks (20 days for someone working a five-day week), which gives effect to the EU working time directive requirement;
an additional 1.6 weeks (eight days for someone working a five-day week), which represents the number of bank and public holidays in a year in England and Wales. (In Scotland there are nine days and in Northern Ireland there are 10 days).
Some workers may be entitled to a greater amount of leave under their contract.
Data on actual annual holidays are available through the EU Structural Earnings Survey, produced by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. These data are available online at:
www.epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/labour_market/earnings/database
Mayor of London
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the devolution of additional powers to the Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement. [145238]
Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has no plans to devolve additional powers to the Mayor of London.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 881W
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many individual awards from round two of the Regional Growth Fund have not yet received a final agreed offer; and what the monetary value of each of those awards is. [146177]
Michael Fallon: Round 2 of the Regional Growth Fund closed at the end of 2012. A small number of contracts which were either at an advanced stage of due diligence or had specific strategic value were moved on to the round 3 timetable which means that a final offer will have to be agreed by 19 April. Currently 11 awards from round 2, with a total conditional allocation of £51.2 million, are still to receive their final offer.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects the exceptional Regional Growth Fund to be operational. [146179]
Michael Fallon: I announced details of exceptional Regional Growth Fund (RGF) support in my written ministerial statement of 17 January 2013, Official Report, columns 41-2WS, and it has been available since that date.
Sand: Imports
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many tonnes of sand have been imported in each of the last five years. [146006]
Michael Fallon: UK imports of sand in tonnes are shown in the following table, based on the Harmonised system classification (HS). The total for “All natural sands” has also been separated into silica/quartz sands and other natural sands:
| UK sand imports, 2008-12 | |||
| Tonnes | |||
| All natural sands (HS 2505) | Silica sands and quartz sands, whether or not coloured (HS 250510) | Natural sands of all kinds, whether or not coloured (excl. silica sands, quartz sands, gold- and platinum-bearing sands, zircon, rutile and ilmenite sands, monazite sands, and tar or asphalt sands) (HS 250590) | |
| Source: BIS analysis of HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics on www.uktradeinfo.com as at 1 March 2013 | |||
Students: Loans
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many part-time students have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded loans for tuition fees in the 2012-13 academic year; [145099]
4 Mar 2013 : Column 882W
(2) how many part-time students have submitted an eligible application for loans for tuition fees in the 2012-13 academic year. [145100]
Mr Willetts: Figures are shown in the following table for the current academic year 2012/13 and are based on the status of part-time applications for tuition fee support in February 2013, five months into the academic year. The processing of applications continues after this time and so the figures are subject to change throughout the academic year.
| Number of part-time applicants(1, 2) for tuition fee support in the 2012 entry cohort in academic year 2012/13, English domiciled students studying in the UK and EU students studying in England as at 26 February 2013 | |
| Number | |
| (1) Excludes deleted applications. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 applicants. (3) Excludes those found to be ineligible. (4) Includes those found to be ineligible after being approved for payment. | |
Trade Promotion
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many British business centres he expects to be operational in India by 2017; and which other 19 locations will host overseas business networks. [145370]
Michael Fallon: UK Trade & Investment is consulting stakeholders on exactly how many centres will open in India, but we expect about six by 2017.
Besides India, the following overseas markets are part of our pilot programme to strengthen business networks: Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Russia, Romania, Poland, Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, China, Hong Kong and Brazil.
Written Questions
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers. [146076]
Jo Swinson: 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.
Copyright
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he will publish a revised impact assessment of the recommendations of the Hargreaves Review of 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. [145951]
4 Mar 2013 : Column 883W
Jo Swinson: The Government's position on the Hargreaves proposals on text and data mining and technology neutrality is set out in their 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.
Work and Pensions
Child Maintenance
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been written off in arrears by the Child Support Agency and Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in each of the last five years. [145358]
Steve Webb: The Child Support Agency has not yet written off any arrears. However, on 10 December 2012 we introduced legislation that will allow us to do so in certain limited circumstances, for example if the parent who owes child maintenance has died, or if the parent who is owed child maintenance does not want it collected. This was provided for through the Child Support Management of Payments and Arrears (Amendment) Regulations 2012.
Employment and Support Allowance
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average length of time between an employment and support allowance (ESA) claimant contacting his Department to claim that benefit and the claimant receiving an ESA 50 application form in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [145585]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 1 March 2013]: The information requested is not available.
Housing Benefit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much additional discretionary housing payment awarded in respect of the introduction of the under-occupancy penalty and benefit cap is as a proportion of the aggregate loss of benefit to households estimated to be due to those measures in each local authority in England. [145857]
Steve Webb: Total losses due to the under-occupancy charge and benefit cap are not available at a local authority level.
The additional funding towards discretionary housing payments for 2013-14 in respect of the under-occupancy measure in England accounts for about 6% of the aggregate loss of benefit to households estimated to be due to under-occupancy.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 884W
The additional £65 million which has been allocated to the discretionary housing payments scheme for the benefit cap equates to approximately one quarter of estimated losses nationally.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households negatively affected by (a) the under-occupancy penalty, (b) the benefit cap and (c) both measures in each local authority in England; and what the average reduction in benefit will be in each such case. [145858]
Steve Webb: The information requested at (a) the under-occupancy measure, is not available at a local authority level. Estimates at a national and regional level are available in the impact assessment at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.Pdf
The information requested at (b) the benefit cap, has been placed in the Library and is consistent with the impact assessment published on 16 July 2012. The table can be found at:
http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2012-1447/LocalAuthoritybreakdownaffectedbybenefitcap.doc
Please note that in the table household numbers are rounded to the nearest 100. Areas with fewer than 100 households affected are denoted by “..”, as additional disclosure control has been applied to these areas. For this reason, figures will not sum to the total number of households affected in the July 2012 impact assessment for the household benefit cap.
The figures in the table assume that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. The Department is identifying and writing to all the households who are likely to be affected by the cap and we are offering advice and support through Jobcentre Plus, including, where appropriate, early access to the Work programme before the cap is introduced in April 2013.
The information requested at (c) both measures, is not available. The number of claimants affected by both measures is likely to be small. The benefit cap is more likely to affect larger families while the under-occupancy charge is less likely to affect households with children than those without. Available data do not allow the derivation of a robust estimate of this for any geography.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding was allocated in discretionary housing payments to each local authority in England in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and how much of this funding was allocated in respect of each of the policy changes scheduled to take effect in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014. [145859]
Steve Webb: Local authorities in England received a total of £53.5 million towards discretionary housing payments for 2012-13 and will receive a total of £138.8 million in 2013-14.
Local authorities are notified of the overall amount of discretionary housing payment funding that they will receive, as the overall allocation is ring-fenced. This
4 Mar 2013 : Column 885W
is not broken down to indicative allocations for each aspect of policy, as authorities are encouraged to use maximum flexibility on a case by case basis.
A full breakdown of allocations by English local authority will be placed in the Library.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether people with terminal illnesses will be excluded from the under-occupancy penalty. [146045]
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether people with terminal illnesses will be exempt from the under-occupancy penalty from April 2013. [146150]
Steve Webb: People with terminal illnesses will not be exempt from the under-occupancy charge.
We have trebled funding for discretionary housing payments to £155 million for 2013-14. Local authorities will be free to provide discretionary housing payments in cases where they believe that this is warranted.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse would be of exempting members of the armed forces from the social sector under-occupancy penalty. [146046]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.
The Department is unable to make an estimate from survey data as the sample size for members of the armed forces affected by the social sector under-occupancy charge is small. As a result estimates would be subject to a high degree of sampling error.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether cancer patients who require a spare room for medical reasons will be excluded from the under-occupancy penalty. [146047]
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether cancer patients who require a spare room for medical reasons will be exempt from the under-occupancy penalty from April 2013. [146149]
Steve Webb: Cancer patients who require a spare room for medical reasons will not be exempt from the under-occupancy measure. However, where the claimant receives overnight care from a non-resident carer or team of carers, an additional bedroom will be allowed when determining the number of bedrooms they need.
We have trebled funding for discretionary housing payments to £155 million for 2013-14. Local authorities will be free to provide discretionary housing payments in cases where they believe that this is warranted.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse would be of exempting disabled people from the social sector under-occupancy penalty. [146048]
Steve Webb:
The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that the cost in 2013-14 of exempting claimants affected by the social sector under-occupancy measure where either the claimant or partner reports a Disability
4 Mar 2013 : Column 886W
Discrimination Act recognised disability would be around £300 million a year. Less than half of those affected who report a Disability Discrimination Act disability are also in receipt of disability living allowance.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse would be of exempting foster carers from the social sector under-occupancy penalty. [146049]
Steve Webb: The Department estimates that exempting foster carers from the social sector under-occupancy charge could cost up to £5 million a year.
Jobcentre Plus
Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what internal performance standards there are for benefit centres for (a) returning calls and (b) processing claims. [141978]
Mr Hoban: The information is as follows:
Benefit centres are currently moving across to a new telephony system. While this is occurring we are aiming to return calls to claimants within three hours of their initial contact with DWP.
Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)—Year to date to make 90% of first payments within 16 days;
Employment support allowance (ESA)—Year to date to make 85% of first payments within 16 days;
Income support (IS)—year to date to make 90% of first payments within in 13 days.
These measures are reviewed annually and we constantly try to improve on them.
Jobcentre Plus: Worthing
Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Worthing benefit centre has delivered against its internal performance standards in (a) returning calls and (b) processing claims in each of the last six months. [142048]
Mr Hoban: The information is as follows:
Currently Worthing benefit centre is delivering against the measure on two out of the three benefits.
Year to date, the site has met performance standards for two out of the three benefits it delivers.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for jobseeker’s allowance were withdrawn following notification of the death of the claimant where that claimant had previously claimed employment and support allowance in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date. [145860]
Mr Hoban: The information requested is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 887W
Occupational Pensions
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what recent discussions he has had with European Union officials on proposals for the Insurance and Occupational Pensions directive; [145712]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the Solvency II capital rules will not form a blueprint for the new Insurance and Occupational Pensions directive. [145713]
Sajid Javid: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
There are no proposals for an Insurance and Occupational Pensions directive. However, the European Commission (Commission) is currently considering revising the occupational pensions (IORP—Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision) directive. This review is still in progress and no proposals have yet been made. The Commission aims to present proposals for a revised directive by summer this year.
The Commission has shown interest in applying new capital requirements derived from the "Solvency II" insurance directive to occupational pensions. The Government do not see a case for this and believes such an approach could be damaging to pensions provision and economic growth. The Government have made their position very clear to the Commission.
The Government are working closely with other organisations and member states to make sure that our concerns are heard and that impacts are carefully studied.
As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such discussions.
Older People
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential for equity release to enable a greater number of older people to stay in their homes for longer. [145107]
Norman Lamb: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Health.
The Department of Health recognises that equity release products could help people pay for the costs of their social care, particularly those with limited wealth other than their home.
In 2010, the Dilnot Commission on social care funding identified the potential for this market to develop but did not conduct a detailed assessment of its size.
Remploy: Redundancy
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the statement of 7 March 2012, on employment support, when he plans to allocate £8 million to help ex-Remploy staff find work or access benefits; and if he will make a statement. [145250]
4 Mar 2013 : Column 888W
Esther McVey: We have already started to use the £8 million that we made available to fund the delivery of a People Help and Support Package across Great Britain. Through this package, support is available for individuals to access for up to 18 months following redundancy to help them make the transition from working at Remploy to mainstream employment.
Each disabled factory leaver is assigned the support of a DWP personal case worker, who organises individual and personalised support for up to 18 months following factory closure. Disabled former Remploy employees are eligible for support from a personal budget, which can provide additional support where other sources of funding are unavailable. The Community Support Fund (CSF) supports projects through which disability organisations work with individuals and their families to support the transition from sheltered to mainstream employment and to participate in social activities. There are two CSF projects in Scotland.
Around 100 disabled former Remploy workers in Scotland are choosing to work with our personal case workers to find another job, and 26 jobs have been found for disabled former employees since they were made redundant. Currently 23 people are in work, including nine who are participating in the Work Choice programme. A further 26 disabled former Remploy workers in Scotland are on Work Choice undertaking training and other activities aimed at moving them closer to employment.
Social Security Benefits
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a communications strategy has been put in place to inform all recipients of welfare benefits of their changed circumstances as a result of the welfare reforms due to be introduced in April 2013. [145815]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 1 March 2013]:Relevant targeted communications are planned as appropriate and a range of activity has already taken place.
Unemployment Benefits
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people aged 18-24 have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits for more than (a) six months, (b) one year, (c) two years and (d) three years in (i) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (ii) the north-west and (iii) England in the latest period for which figures are available; [145633]
(2) how many people have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits for more than (a) six months, (b) one year, (c) two years and (d) three years in (i) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (ii) the north-west and (iii) England in the latest period for which figures are available. [145634]
Mr Hoban: The information requested above has been placed in the Library.
Work Capability Assessment
Lisa Nandy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants who underwent a computerised assessment conducted by Atos and were
4 Mar 2013 : Column 889W
declared fit for work died within six months of their assessment
(a)
nationally and
(b)
in the Wigan borough council area. [142960]
Mr Hoban: Atos does not undertake computerised assessments.
Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claimants have appealed successfully against the original Atos determination of their capacity to work since 1 April 2012. [145267]
Mrs Grant: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 890W
The First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service, hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA)—decisions in which the work capability assessment (WCA) undertaken by Atos is a key factor, rather than appeals against WCA decisions themselves.
The following table shows the number and proportion of ESA appeals in which the WCA was a factor that were found (a) in favour of the appellant and (b) in favour of DWP from 1 April to 30 September 2012 (the latest date for which information is available).
| Number and proportion of ESA (WCA) appeals found in favour of the appellant | |||||
| Decisions in favour of the appellant | Decisions in favour of DWP | ||||
| Total ESA (WCA) cases cleared at hearing(1) | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| (1) These are cases that were disposed of at a hearing. The total number of cases cleared at hearing includes some cases that were withdrawn and on which no decision was made. These figures therefore are not the sum total of decisions in favour and decisions upheld. Note: The above data is taken from management information in line with published statistics and values are rounded to the nearest hundred. | |||||
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against a work capability assessment decision were withdrawn following the notification of death of the appellant in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date. [145586]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 1 March 2013]: The information requested is not available.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people waited (a) between 0 and 13 weeks and (b) more than 13 weeks to undergo a work capability assessment in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012 and (iii) 2013 to date. [145864]
Mr Hoban: The following table shows the number of employment and support allowance (ESA) claims where the time between the claim start and the work capability assessment (WCA) output was (a) between 0 and 13 weeks and (b) more than 13 weeks for initial WCAs completed (i) in 2011 and (ii) between January and August 2012 (the latest data available).
| Number of ESA claims where the time between claim start and WCA output was (a) between 0 and 13 weeks and (b) more than 13 weeks for initial work capability assessments completed (i) in 2011 and (ii) between January and August 2012(1) | |||
| WCA completion date | Completed within 13 weeks | Completed in more than 13 weeks | Total assessments completed |
| (1) Latest data available. Note: All volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Department for Work and Pensions benefit administration datasets. | |||
The figures exclude any time spent in the assessment phase after the WCA decision is made—as is the case for appeals. Claims that are closed before the WCA is completed, and those awaiting a WCA decision, are also excluded. The data relate to initial assessments for new ESA claims; incapacity benefit reassessment claims are not included.
For approximately 15% of all new claims, the duration cannot be determined due to data not being available, so these have been excluded from the above figures.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many mental function champions have been employed by Atos Healthcare for the purposes of the work capability assessment in (a) total and (b) each region in the UK in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 to date. [145865]
Mr Hoban: In 2010, there were no mental function champions (MFC) employed by Atos Healthcare.
On 3 May 2011 the first tranche of 14 MFCs were trained and in place to provide national coverage; this was completed on time. By 31 May 2011 the second tranche of training had been completed on time, and accumulatively there were 45 MFCs in place to provide national coverage.
The training of the final tranche of MFCs was completed by 31 July 2011. Since this date, 60 MFCs have been employed by Atos Healthcare. This is a national service and regional information is not available.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos Healthcare-approved health care professionals were withdrawn from carrying out functions under the medical services agreement for failing to satisfy the required quality standards in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [145866]
Mr Hoban:
Atos Healthcare's policy is always to actively manage the performance of a health care
4 Mar 2013 : Column 891W
professional who does not meet required quality standards; providing appropriate training and mentoring to allow for improvement.
Health care professionals cease to provide services for a variety of reasons which are categorised on Atos Healthcare's internal database; they record a category relating to “performance—quality” which shows the following revocations of health care professionals from undertaking DWP medical assessments:
In 2010: four revocations;
In 2011: two revocations;
In 2012: six revocations.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos-approved health care professionals have been deployed in benefit centres in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 to date; and at which sites such professionals were based. [145868]
Mr Hoban: Until December 2011, face-to-face advice was provided to decision makers on an ad hoc basis equating to 548 man days. This was provided in the following DWP benefit centres:
Nottingham/Leicester
Luton
Stratford
Sunderland
Preston
Clyde and Fife
Canterbury
Plymouth
Wrexham
Wolverhampton
Barnsley
There were no Atos Healthcare professionals deployed in Department for Work and Pensions benefit centres during 2012 and 2013 to date. From December 2011, Atos Healthcare has provided a contractually agreed telephone service to provide advice to decision makers who require clarification in relation to a specific case.
Telephone service is available every weekday 9 am to 5 pm.
Written Questions
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers. [146094]
Mr Hoban: 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,
Justice
Legal Profession
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) formal and (b) informal Government and professional rules and regulations are in place to control the number of entrants into the legal profession. [145512]
Mrs Grant: There are no formal or informal Government rules or regulations in place that control the number of entrants into the legal profession.
4 Mar 2013 : Column 892W
Approved legal regulators, which are independent of Government, set the entry requirements for their respective organisations. They publish the relevant rules and regulations on their websites.
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to stop people from being barred from the legal profession where false and malicious complaints are made about them to the police; and if he will make a statement. [145800]
Mrs Grant: The Government are not responsible for deciding who is admitted or barred from entering the legal profession.
The approved regulators, who are independent of Government, are responsible for the admission and removal of members from the legal profession.
Motor Vehicles: Spare Parts
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been prosecuted for (a) producing and (b) importing counterfeit motor vehicle parts in each of the last five years. [142978]
Jeremy Wright: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the court proceedings database does not include the circumstances behind each case beyond the description provided in the statute. It is not possible to separately identify from this centrally held information which prosecutions brought before the courts were for production and importing of counterfeit motor vehicle parts.