Curriculum
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will introduce a quality assurance mark for national curriculum learning resources. [146908]
Elizabeth Truss [holding answer 11 March 2013]: There are no plans at present to introduce a quality assurance mark for national curriculum resources. Head teachers are best placed to know how the new national curriculum will be implemented in their schools, and it is for these professionals to identify and access the learning resources that they think will be needed for them and their pupils.
Throughout the process of the national curriculum review we have been working with a range of stakeholders—including publishers, educational suppliers, teaching schools and subject associations—to ensure that high-quality support is available to schools when the new curriculum is introduced.
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect of the time taken to publish final programmes of study and full assessment criteria on the timely publication of high-quality learning resources. [146950]
Elizabeth Truss [holding answer 11 March 2013]: Throughout the process of the national curriculum review we have maintained close contact with a range of stakeholders—including publishers, educational suppliers, teaching schools and subject associations—to ensure that high-quality support and learning resources are available to schools when the new curriculum is introduced. Therefore, both publishers and suppliers are ready to supply new textbooks and educational resources to schools in time for the introduction of the new curriculum in September 2014. Many of these companies are already talking to schools about their products and how these can be used to support the introduction of the new curriculum.
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First Aid: Education
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment Ofsted has made of the prevalence of teaching of life-saving skills in schools; and if he will make a statement. [145300]
Mr Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to the hon. Gentleman, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Sir Michael Wilshaw, dated 27 February 2013:
Your recent Parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
Since 2005, maintained school inspections have been carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005, and more recently the Education Act 2011. The teaching of life-saving skills is not a feature of section 5 inspections, so Ofsted has not conducted an assessment of the prevalence of this in schools. Inspectors do, however, make a separate judgement about the behaviour and safety of pupils in the school as part of each inspection.
A copy of this reply has been sent to David Laws MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
Freedom of Information
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2013, Official Report, column 396W, on Freedom of Information Act 2000, whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have been consulted as a qualified person under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on responses to Freedom of Information requests submitted by the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) made since May 2010. [146841]
Elizabeth Truss [holding answer 11 March 2013]: Yes, as is required by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
GCE A-level
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate his Department has made of the proportion of students taking (a) biology, (b) chemistry and (c) physics at A-level. [145535]
Elizabeth Truss: The percentage of A-level students who entered biology in 2011/12 was 19.7%. The equivalent figure for chemistry was 15.7% and for physics was 11.0%. These percentages relate to candidates in all schools and FE sector colleges who were entered for A- levels in summer 2012.
GCSE
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate his Department has made of the proportion of schools which offer split sciences at GCSE level. [145548]
Elizabeth Truss:
The Department does not hold information on the subjects offered by schools but does have data on the subjects that pupils were entered for. Data underlying the School Performance Tables show that 85% of mainstream schools had entries in biology,
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chemistry and physics GCSEs or regulated IGCSEs by pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in 2011/12. Only mainstream schools (including independent schools) published in the 2012 Secondary School Performance Tables having more than five pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 are included in this answer.
Health Education: Sex
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will develop sex and relationship education in primary schools to teach that violence towards women is unacceptable including how to manage anger in appropriate ways to combat domestic violence in later life; [147334]
(2) what assessment he has made of the research from Edinburgh Napier University into attitudes among children regarding violence towards women; and if he will use this research to develop improved sex and relationship education for primary school children to combat violence towards women. [147333]
Elizabeth Truss [holding answer 11 March 2013]: Although primary schools are not required to teach sex education, they must have regard to the Secretary of State's Sex and Relationship Education Guidance when doing so. The guidance addresses issues such as those raised by the Edinburgh Napier University research by ensuring that young people develop positive values and a moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgments and behaviour. In addition, pupils should learn how to avoid being exploited and not to exploit others.
Internet
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason information regarding Ministers' meetings with external organisations on the data.gov.uk website is not available for the last two quarters of 2012; and when such information will be made available. [145744]
Elizabeth Truss: I can confirm that details of the Department's Ministers' meetings with external organisations for the quarter of July-September 2012 are all now signposted, and can be found at
www.data.gov.uk
Detail of Ministers' meetings with external organisations for the period of October-December 2012 is now being collated across all Government Departments, and will be published as soon as possible.
Schools: Vending Machines
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to limit the number of junk food vending machines in schools. [145500]
Elizabeth Truss: I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given on 2 July 2012, Official Report, column 492W. The decision as to whether or not to use vending machines rests with individual schools. Vending machines can be used to sell healthy food, and can be useful to schools during busy lunch periods, and for events which take place after the end of the school day.
The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), announced on 4 July 2012 that he had asked Henry
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Dimbleby and John Vincent, the co-founders of Leon restaurants, to lead independent work to examine school food across the country. They have since been developing a school food plan looking at good practice across the UK and abroad, drawing heavily on input from sector bodies, existing campaign groups, local authorities, caterers, parents and schools. Mr Dimbleby and Mr Vincent are putting together an action plan which will build on the successes of the past seven years, accelerate the improvements in school food, and define the role schools have to play in shaping eating habits. This is so that all children eating in English schools are offered good food and given an education that cultivates in them an understanding of food and nutrition. The review will report in 2013.
Special Educational Needs
Sir Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children with special educational needs have adequate choice in further education; [146014]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure choice in post-18 education for students with special educational needs. [146019]
Mr Timpson: The Children and Families Bill, published on 4 February, will help improve the range of choice for young people with special educational needs in further education and for their parents.
The Bill aims to give young people with special educational needs the right to ask to attend a particular further education, sixth form or independent specialist college and for that institution to admit them, unless it is unsuitable for the young person, does not represent good value for money or would impact negatively on the education of others. Our reforms will also ensure that colleges are more closely involved in arranging local provision for young people with special educational needs through the local offer and co-operation duties. The Bill intends to enable personal budgets to be offered to young people who want to take them up, giving young people with an education, health and care plan and their parents much greater choice and control over how their support is delivered.
Sir Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether the status of an education, health and care plan will change when a child reaches the age of 16; [146016]
(2) whether under the provisions of the Children and Families Bill the proposed review of support for young people with special educational needs at risk of becoming NEET will only happen at the point at which they finish compulsory education; [146023]
(3) whether under the provisions of the Children and Families Bill a young person aged 19 to 25 who is not in education would be able to request an assessment for an education, health and care plan at any point before their 25th birthday. [146024]
Mr Timpson:
The status of an education, health and care (EHC) plan does not change when a child reaches the age of 16 and will continue to be reviewed as a minimum every 12 months. Local authorities will work with young people to ensure EHC plans anticipate and
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plan for key transition points so that young people do not reach the end of any phase of their education without being clear where they are going next and what support they will receive.
Regulations made under the Children and Families Bill will ensure that local authorities maintain an EHC plan of any young person that is not in education, employment or training (NEET) while of compulsory participation age. They will also ensure that local authorities, review the EHC plan of a 19 to 25-year-old at the point they become NEET, and maintain support where re-engaging that young person in education or training is the best possible option for them.
Any young person without an EHC plan can request an assessment for one at any point before their 25th birthday. Where the young person is aged over 18 the local authority must take their age into account when determining whether an EHC plan is appropriate.
Sir Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how his Department plans to monitor quality assurance for outcomes of vulnerable children as more power is devolved to schools. [146021]
Mr Timpson: The accountability system should be challenging, fair and transparent. It should reward schools that set high expectations for the attainment and progress of all their pupils, including those with SEN, provide high-value qualifications, and teach a broad and a balanced curriculum. It should identify clearly schools that under-perform.
To deliver this we are currently consulting on new arrangements for secondary accountability. The proposals aim to tackle some of the perverse incentives in the current system, which can prompt schools to focus on some pupils to the detriment of others. The consultation also asks for views about the approach for pupils whose attainment might not, as now, be picked up by national assessments and exams. In particular, we shall consider refreshing the p-scales and examine how we can make more use of the progress data that schools themselves collect.
Proposals for the reform of primary assessment and accountability will also be issued shortly.
In addition, there is already a considerable focus on the performance of vulnerable pupils with SEN in accountability arrangements, and this will continue. In particular Ofsted's inspection framework has been revised to provide a renewed focus on SEN since September 2012. It ensures that, in evaluating the achievement of pupils in a school, inspectors consider how well disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs have achieved since joining the school. The changes also ensure that inspectors give a similar consideration to those eligible for the pupil premium. Together this means that outcomes for vulnerable children and young people with SEN are central to the inspection process.
We shall also continue to collect and make available information about performance by specific groups, including those with SEN. Schools themselves have to publish a range of information for parents, including on how they are using the pupil premium, and Ofsted has reported on how this might be improved.
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Sir Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether under the provisions of the Children and Families Bill a young person aged 16 to 25 with special educational needs on an apprenticeship would be able to request an education, health and care assessment; [146025]
(2) how he intends that education, health and care plans should operate for young people on apprenticeships. [146026]
Mr Timpson: Any young person without an education, health and care (EHC) plan can request an assessment for one at any point before their 25th birthday, including while on an apprenticeship. Where the young person is aged over 18 the local authority must take their age into account when determining whether an EHC plan is appropriate.
An education, health and care plan for a young person undertaking an apprenticeship will identify the long and short-term outcomes they are seeking and the special educational, health and social care provision required to help them achieve those outcomes. The local authority will work closely with the young person, their learning provider and other interested parties to agree the content of their plan.
Further guidance about EHC plans will be included in Regulations and the 0-25 Code of Practice.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Capture and Storage
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent progress he has made on the carbon capture and storage pilot projects. [147687]
Mr Hayes: I know the hon. Gentleman has a particular interest in carbon capture and storage, with one of the shortlisted bidders (Captain Clean Energy) located in Grangemouth.
The Government are absolutely committed to carbon capture and storage. Our £1 billion commercialisation programme aims to support practical experience of commercial scale CCS and drive forward this important industry. The competition is progressing well and we will be making further announcements this spring.
Electricity
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that energy service companies delivering permanent and verifiable savings of electricity use can participate in capacity mechanisms on a fair and equivalent basis to generation. [147659]
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Gregory Barker: One option in the “Electricity Demand Reduction” consultation on options to encourage permanent reductions in electricity use was to include electricity demand reduction in the capacity market; the capacity market powers in part 2 of the Energy Bill already allow for this by allowing "reducing demand for electricity" to be treated as a form of capacity. Following the close of the “Electricity Demand Reduction” consultation on 31 January, the responses are being analysed and a decision on the way forward will be taken shortly.
Energy: Prices
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of increases in (a) domestic and (b) business energy bills arising from the use of renewable energy sources for each of the last five years. [146463]
Mr Hayes: The renewables obligation (RO) and small-scale feed-in tariff scheme (FITs) place the obligation of supporting investment in renewable electricity generation on energy suppliers. It is assumed that energy suppliers will pass the cost of these obligations on to their various energy customers (ie households and businesses) through their electricity bills.
Ofgem publishes annual reports for both the RO and FITs which include actual cost data. The last year for which data are available is 2011-12. The estimated average amount added directly to domestic and non-domestic electricity bills is shown in Table 1.
Household estimates are based on annual costs of the RO and FITs from annual reports published by Ofgem(1) multiplied by the share of total UK electricity sales accounted for by households(2) divided by the number of UK households(3). The actual cost of the RO and FITs on each household's energy bill in a given year may differ depending on how energy suppliers pass on the costs of the policy to their customers.
Non-domestic estimates are based on an illustrative energy user with final electricity consumption of 11,000 MWh per year.
RO banding levels may be reviewed every four years to ensure that support levels are set as cost-effectively as possible and deliver good value for money to consumers. The review for the period 2013-17 concluded last year and new bands will take effect from 1 April subject to state aid approval.
To help ensure that policies achieve their objectives cost-effectively and affordably the Government introduced a framework to control levy-funded spending by DECC at Budget 2011. This framework, which includes the RO and FITs, forms part of the Government's public spending framework which the Treasury has responsibility for.
| Table 1: Estimated annual impact of the renewables obligation and feed-in tariff on domestic and non-domestic electricity bills | ||||||||||
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | ||||||
| Real 2011-12 prices | £ | % | £ | % | £ | % | £ | % | £ | % |
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| (1) Calculated according to the DECC-HMT definition of RO support costs, ie RO support cost for year = obligation level for year (in ROCs) x RO buyout price for year. (2) Energy Trends table 5.5, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/series/electricity-statistics (3) CLG projections. (4 )Final electricity consumption of 11,000 MWh. Note: Numbers rounded. | ||||||||||
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to help families with the cost of living and the price of energy; and if he will make a statement. [147681]
Mr Davey: I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Esher and Walton (Mr Raab), today.
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to reduce consumers' energy bills. [147685]
Mr Davey: I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Esher and Walton (Mr Raab), today.
Peat Bogs
Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many wind power installations (a) installed, (b) approved and (c) awaiting planning permission are sited on peatlands. [146895]
Gregory Barker: The Department does not hold this information.
Solar Power
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the total (a) number and (b) installed capacity of small solar schemes below the permitted development threshold in the UK. [148088]
Gregory Barker: There is no specific threshold for permitted development of solar in the UK. Permitted development is based on criteria, which can be found (for England) at:
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/solarpanels/
(criteria may vary for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
As such, DECC does not hold information on the total number and installed capacity of permitted development solar schemes. However, it does hold information on the overall number and installed capacity of solar schemes, as well as the number and installed capacity of solar schemes that have been through the planning process (permitted developments are not required to go through the planning process).
As at the end of September 2012, there was 1,582 MW of operational installed capacity of solar schemes in the UK, covering around 361,000 installations(1). Of this, 194 MW of installed capacity, across 143 schemes, had been through the planning process.
(1) Number of solar photovoltaic installations accredited on the GB Feed in Tariff scheme—which covers the majority of schemes in the UK—as at the end of January 2013.
Sources:
1. Total UK solar photovoltaic installed capacity: Energy Trends December 2012, table ET6.1:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/series/renewables-statistics
2. Number of solar photovoltaic installations: monthly central Feed-in Tariff statistics:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/monthly-central-feed-in-tariff-register-statistics
3. Number and installed capacity of non-permitted solar photovoltaic schemes:
Renewable Energy Planning Database:
https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
Wind Power
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the amount of time (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind turbines were not operational in each of the last five years. [146460]
Mr Hayes: The Department for Energy and Climate Change does not collect data on the amount of time onshore or offshore wind turbines are operational, but a 2011 report by the Centre for Sustainable Energy found that wind farms generate electricity around 80% to 85% of the time. Wind power is converted to electricity efficiently, with none of the thermal waste inherent in fossil fuel plants(1). Wind power is a source of energy that does not produce carbon dioxide.
It should also be noted that generators are only paid for the electricity they actually generate.
(1) ‘Common concerns about windpower’ (2011), Centre for Sustainable Energy:
http://www.cse.org.uk/downloads/file/common_concerns_ about_wind_power.pdf
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many wind farms have been built (a) onshore and (b) offshore in the last three months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [147516]
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Mr Hayes: Based on the Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD), which tracks renewable developments through the planning system(1), the number of wind farms that have become fully operational over the past three months is:
(a) Onshore:
November 2012: seven
December 2012: one
January 2013: one.
(b) Offshore: Nil
(1 )https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
Defence
Armed Forces
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the average annual cost, excluding deployment in operations of (a) Reaction Force Brigade and (b) Adaptable Force Brigade. [147864]
Mr Robathan: The future cost of a Reaction Force Brigade and an Adaptable Force Brigade will depend on the size, role and manpower mix of the units within each Brigade. Costs will be made up of a number of different elements including personnel, training, infrastructure, and equipment. Cost assessments will continue to develop as these Brigades are established over the next few years.
Buildings
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to sell his Department's headquarters in Whitehall and move to cheaper premises in outer London. [147363]
Mr Francois: As part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) rebasing programme, all potential options to make cost savings have been investigated, including looking at the MOD buildings in Whitehall. The MOD intends to vacate the Old War Office during financial year 2014-15 and the Government are currently examining options to re-use the building.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the most recent valuation is of his Department's headquarters in Whitehall. [147364]
Mr Francois: The market value of Ministry of Defence (MOD) property is normally only assessed when it comes up for disposal. No such assessment has been made of MOD Main Building as it continues to be a core site.
As part of the MOD's quinquennial Asset Valuation programme, in November 2008 the net replacement cost of Main Building and the land it stands on was valued at £209.4 million and £63 million respectively. The land value was reassessed in January 2012 at £61.3 million.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maintenance costs were for his Department's headquarters in Whitehall in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [147365]
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Mr Francois: Fully serviced office accommodation in Ministry of Defence Main Building and the Old War Office is provided under a 30-year private finance initiative (PFI) contract signed in 2000 by the previous Administration. The contract payments reflect the costs for both sites, a service element and the repayment of the bank debt under the terms of the PFI credit agreements. Given this, the maintenance costs for Main Building cannot be separately identified.
However, the total cost of the contract for each of the periods requested is shown in the following table.
| Financial year | £ million |
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of heating his Department's headquarters in Whitehall in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [147366]
Mr Francois: Ministry of Defence (MOD) Main Building is supplied with high-temperature hot water from the Whitehall District Heating System (WDHS) and is used to provide heating and domestic hot water throughout the building.
Due to the metering arrangements and nature of the agreement with the WDHS supplier, only the combined cost of heating and domestic hot water can be provided for the periods requested and are shown in the following table:
| Financial year | £ million |
Under the Government's transparency agenda, the MOD publishes real-time energy data for Main Building at
http://www.ecodriver.uk.com/MOD/
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of lighting his Department's headquarters in Whitehall in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [147367]
Mr Francois: The cost of lighting the Ministry of Defence Main Building cannot be provided as it is not metered separately from other electrical equipment. However, the total cost of electricity in the periods requested is shown in the following table:
| Financial year | £ million |
Cybercrime
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to increase cyber-defence capabilities. [148070]
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Mr Robathan: As we set out in the strategic defence and security review, we attach a high priority to the cyber-defence of our systems.
We are taking steps to ensure our cyber defences can match the developing threat. As part of this we are investing in the Global Operations and Security Centre (GOSCC) at Corsham, which acts as our 24/7 defensive monitoring and management facility for cyber. The House of Commons Defence Committee recently recognised the GOSCC as a centre of excellence for good practice across Government. We are also working with our key industry partners to improve the cyber security of our supply chains.
Under the Defence Cyber Security Programme we are raising the cyber awareness of Ministry of Defence civilian and armed forces personnel, as well as improving the ways in which we train and manage our key cyber professionals.
I cannot comment further on the detail of the measures we take to protect our systems since to do so would risk compromising national security.
Future Large Aircraft
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has varied the original specifications required by his Department for purchase of the A400M aircraft. [147574]
Mr Dunne: The original requirement for the A400M aircraft, which was set at the time of the original programme approval in May 2000, has not changed.
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been conducted by his Department into the need for air-to-air refuelling capability by the A400M aircraft. [147575]
Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has recently refreshed its study into Defence's requirements for air-to-air refuelling capability. This concluded that Voyager will meet all requirements; therefore, there is no need for an air-to-air refuelling capability by the A400M Atlas.
Germany
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what land has been procured for (a) UK military forces and (b) UK civilian components in Germany at a cost to the German Government; and at what cost. [148107]
Mr Robathan: Approximately two-thirds of the estate occupied by the British forces in Germany is owned by the Federal Republic of Germany, and made available to the British forces free of charge under the Supplementary Agreement to the NATO Status of Forces Agreement.
The Ministry of Defence is not in a position to say how much this has cost the German Government. However, all of this estate will be returned to the German authorities on release by the British forces, and once any outstanding claims have been settled, the German Government will be able to utilise or dispose of this estate as they see fit.
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Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what determination of damage or loss has been made by (a) UK and (b) German authorities in respect of the condition of property in UK military bases in Germany; [148108]
(2) what assessment has been made of any hazardous substance contamination of land in Germany by UK forces; and what estimate his Department has made of the cost of remedying any such contaminations; [148112]
(3) what restorative or balancing measures his Department has undertaken to avoid any environmental burden arising from the presence by UK military bases in Germany. [148113]
Mr Robathan: The requirement for resolution of any environmental issues relating to the estate vacated by the British Forces in Germany (BFG) is detailed in the Supplementary Agreement to the NATO Status of Forces Agreement and the Ministry of Defence is committed to adhering to this in consultation with the German authorities.
Negotiations are well under way with the German authorities for a final settlement of all financial claims arising from the release of accommodation. Previous settlements were conducted on either an annual or, more latterly, an ad hoc basis and have hitherto always amounted in a net payment to the UK.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation, in conjunction with the Regulator and German authorities, conducts regular assessments of hazardous substance contamination on the BFG estate, and carries out such work as is necessary to remediate pollution on a day-to-day basis. Land quality assessments and risk assessments are available and shared with the German authorities when stations are closed.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 5 March 2013, Official Report, columns 845-48, on Army Basing Plan, whether the £1.8 billion announced in the statement is intended to cover payments to German authorities regarding the withdrawal of sending states' forces from Germany, as provided for in the NATO Status of Forces Agreement Supplementary Agreement of 1959. [148114]
Mr Robathan: There is no intention to use any of the £1.8 billion to make any payment to the German authorities.
Information Officers
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work in his Department's press office. [147530]
Mr Francois [holding answer 12 March 2013]: As at 12 March 2013, the total number of press officer posts in the central Ministry of Defence press office is 23. This total is made up of the Head of News, 18 posts for press officers specialising in every aspect of Defence, a military officer for each of the armed forces and a press officer on deployment to Afghanistan. As the authorised channel of communication with the news media, the press office responds to inquiries from the national media and provides presentational advice to Ministers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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Patrol Craft
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision on whether to build new offshore patrol vessels; and if he will make a statement. [147755]
Mr Dunne: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 617W.
Porton Down: Animal Experiments
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of the Under-Secretary of State for Defence the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne) of 12 February 2013, Official Report, column 634W, on Porton Down: animal experiments, how his Department disposes of the bodies of animals that die in the experiments that take place at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Porton Down facility. [147585]
Mr Dunne: Deceased animals are sterilised as necessary and incinerated on site in compliance with nationally-recognised requirements under Health and Safety legislation.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of the Under-Secretary of State for Defence the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne) of 12 February 2013, Official Report, column 634W, on Porton Down: animal experiments, if he will provide details of the purposes of the experiments in which the animals were used at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Porton Down facility. [147586]
Mr Dunne: The animals that are utilised at DSTL Porton Down are involved in individual research studies that form part of the overall Ministry of Defence research programme to provide new and improved medical countermeasures to UK armed forces, to enhance the combat casualty care provision to service personnel and to help save lives.
Health
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what interventions on alcohol misuse linked to sexual health risks were piloted by his Department following the public health White Paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”. [147769]
Anna Soubry: The Department provided funding for three local areas to pilot three different approaches to interventions on alcohol misuse linked to sexual health risks. We are currently following up the pilots, and, working with Public Health England, we will then consider the findings and next steps.
Antibiotics
Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to reduce the over-prescription of antibiotics; [147866]
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(2) what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and (b) other regulatory bodies on promoting the synthesis of new antibiotics; [147867]
(3) with reference to the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report, what steps his Department is taking to tackle antimicrobial resistance; [147868]
(4) when he intends to publish the UK Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy. [147870]
Anna Soubry: As set out in the Chief Medical Officer's report, we aim to take a cross-sectoral approach to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance and spread of infection. This will include good practice, prescribing decisions and encourage innovative approaches to new therapies.
To support the need for new drugs, we are working collaboratively nationally and internationally to stimulate drug development in good time. For example, on an international basis we are exploring how to use the forthcoming World Health Organization Assembly and other routes, such as the G8 to promote international activity to stimulate, the antibiotic pipeline. Nationally, regulatory bodies, such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will be involved in these discussions.
We aim to publish the antimicrobial resistance plan in early summer.
A copy of the Chief Medical Officer's report has been placed in the Library and can be accessed at:
https://www.wp.dh.gov.uk/publications/files/2013/03/CMO-Annual-Report-Volume-2-20111.pdf
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the Government play a leading role in encouraging pharmaceutical companies to develop new (a) antibiotics and (b) other drugs; and if he will develop a long-term strategy to ensure that research and development of antibiotics is sustained at a level sufficient to predict and respond to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. [148057]
Dr Poulter: The Government are taking a leading role and showing leadership in encouraging the development of new antibiotics and showing leadership through support for the strengthening of international partnerships and coalitions, such as the Innovative Medicines Initiative—a joint undertaking between the European Union and the European pharmaceutical industry. It is clear that progress on new development of antibiotics and other therapies will only happen if underpinned by collaboration at the international level.
Doctors
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to PQ 146775, how many doctors other than those graduating from United Kingdom medical schools were taken on by the NHS in 2012; and how many doctors from abroad were allocated to foundation programmes commencing in August 2012. [147790]
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Dr Poulter: An annual census of medical staff is undertaken which shows the current number of doctors employed in the national health service and where they qualified—whether within the United Kingdom/within the remainder of the European economic area (EEA), outside the EEA or in an unknown country of qualification. However, the census does not show when they joined the work force.
There were 7,089 Foundation Programme places for FP 2012. 222 graduates from non-UK medical schools were allocated a place. Of the 6,867 who graduated from UK medical schools a proportion will be students from overseas but the Department does not hold this figure. All UK medical graduates received a place on a Foundation Programme in 2012.
Donors: Young People
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage schools and colleges with students over the age of 16 to promote blood, organ and bone marrow donation. [147616]
Anna Soubry:
NHS Blood and Transplant has developed a free teaching resource pack called ‘Give and Let Live’,
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available for schools to order. It contains a teachers' booklet which includes case studies and background information about the need for more donors and aims to enable young people to see how they can make a difference to people's lives, by raising awareness about donation and demonstrating the benefits of blood, organ and bone marrow donation. The pack also includes an interactive website that features games, quizzes, fact sheets and short films. The pack is aimed at students of 14 and over but can be adapted specifically for students aged 16 to 18.
General Practitioners
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs per head of population there were in (a) 1983 and (b) the latest date for which information is available. [147627]
Dr Poulter: The number of general practitioners (GPs) per 100,000 population working in the national health service in England in 1983 and 2011 is shown in the following table.
The information is collected by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
| General practitioners: Headcount per head of population in England: 1983 and 2011 | ||
| Headcount | ||
| 1983 | 2011(2) | |
| (1) GP figures in 1983 include all GPs excluding trainees/registrars. 2011 figures include all GPs excluding retainers and registrars. GP registrars were first recorded in 1999 and have been omitted for comparability purposes. Data as at 1 October 1983 and 30 September 2011 (2) Headcount Methodology: The new headcount methodology from 2010 onwards means these data are not fully comparable with previous years, due to improvements that make this a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the Census publication: https://catalogue.ic.nhs.uk/publications/workforce/numbers/nhs-staf-2001-2011-gene-prac/nhs-staf-2001-2011-gene-prac-work-rep.pdf 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. Sources: 1. The Health and Social Care Information Centre care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics. 2. Office for National Statistics, Mid-1983 Population Estimates, revised in light of the results of the 2001 Census. 3. Office for National Statistics, 2011 Final Population Estimates (2011 census based). | ||
Genito-urinary Medicine
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the public health White Paper, “Healthy Lives Healthy People”, when he plans to publish the results of an evidence review for sexual health. [147770]
Anna Soubry: The Department carried out a review of the evidence for the effectiveness of various sexual health interventions in 2010. We are currently considering how the review could be updated and published to help to support local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and the NHS Commissioning Board fulfil the responsibilities for commissioning sexual health services which they will assume on 1 April 2013.
Health and Social Care Act 2012
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to NHS Commissioners on (a) assessing and (b) defining patients interests for the purpose of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. [147378]
Anna Soubry: From April 2013, clinical commissioning groups, (CCGs) will assume statutory responsibility for commissioning the majority of health care services. The NHS Act 2006, as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2012, places strong duties on CCGs to ensure the involvement of public and patients in the commissioning of services. It will be for the NHS Commissioning Board to support CCGs and hold them to account, including, for example, by providing supportive commissioning resources, tools or guidance. The board's website contains specific resources for CCGs on public and patient engagement which are available at:
www.commissioningboard.nhs.uk/resources/resources-for-ccgs
Health Services: Foreign Nationals
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to restrict access to routine health care and access to diagnosis from (a) citizens of the EU, (b) legitimate migrants on short-term visas and (c) people from outside the EU who are in the UK on visas permitting a stay of six months or more. [147859]
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Anna Soubry: It is already the case that overseas visitors to the United Kingdom are not entitled to access free national health service hospital treatment unless an exemption from charge applies under Regulations.
The Department has concluded a review of charging overseas visitors for NHS care with a view to making the current rules simpler, fairer and easier to implement. An announcement on next steps will be made in due course.
We will continue to provide immediately necessary treatment, which might include assessments and investigations to make a diagnosis, to chargeable visitors even if payment has not been secured in advance. Charges will be pursued afterwards in such circumstances.
Healthwatch England
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what transitional arrangements are in place between the end of local involvement networks and the establishment of Healthwatch; and if he will make a statement; [147373]
(2) which areas an individual Healthwatch will cover; [147375]
(3) which body will have responsibility for patient representation in rural areas; and how any such body will be staffed and resourced. [147376]
Norman Lamb: Local Healthwatch organisations will be set up in each top-tier local authority area from 1 April to help to ensure patients, service users, their families and carers as well as the wider community have the opportunity to have their say, make their views known about local services and to have their interests represented with commissioners and providers of services. Staffing and resources are matters for local decision.
No single organisation is responsible for patient representation in rural areas. Rather, a number of organisations have roles and responsibilities to ensure that patients and the public can have a say in how their local services are run; Healthwatch is one of these alongside, for example, local authorities and clinical commissioning groups.
In terms of transition, we are confident that at least 95% of local authorities will have a local Healthwatch
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in place on 1 April. In the small number of areas where the Local Government Association has identified concerns, it has been working to provide additional support, helping each of the local authorities to commission services and develop contingency plans to make sure that people who use health and social care services will continue to be represented beyond April.
During the course of 2012-13 the Department has worked with voluntary sector organisations, local government, local involvement networks (LINks), the Care Quality Commission and Healthwatch England to raise awareness of the importance of capturing the LINks' legacy and making good practice available to local Healthwatch organisations going forward.
Horsemeat
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will name the Polish meat plant identified by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland as the source of the horsemeat found in UK burgers; and which company owns it. [147514]
Anna Soubry: The Food Standards Agency has advised that it is aware of a number of Polish companies being named in the media and of interest to Food Safety Authority of Ireland investigations but it would be inappropriate to comment as there is an ongoing investigation in the United Kingdom as well as other member states.
Hospitals: North West
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many admissions to hospital with an alcohol-related diagnosis via accident and emergency departments there were in (a) Tameside, (b) Stockport and (c) the North West in each of the last three years by trust area. [147716]
Anna Soubry: Numbers of alcohol-related admissions via accident and emergency (A&E) departments in Tameside primary care trust (PCT), Stockport PCT and North West PCTs for the years 2009-10 to 2011-12 are shown in the following table:
| Alcohol-related A&E admissions by North West PCT | ||||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | Total | |
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| Notes: 1. The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses, determining the proportion of a wide range of diseases and injuries that can be partly attributed to alcohol as well as those that are, by definition, wholly attributable to alcohol. The application of the NWPHO methodology has recently been updated and is now available directly from HES. As such, information about episodes estimated to be alcohol related may be slightly different from previously published data. 2. Alcohol attributable fractions are not applicable to children under 16. Therefore figures for this age group relate only to wholly-attributable admissions, where the attributable fraction is one. 3. These figures are not a count of people and do not represent an actual number of admissions that were attributable to alcohol. Alcohol attributable fractions (AAF) are based on the proportion of a given diagnosis or injury that is estimated to be attributed to alcohol. Some diagnoses or injuries will, by definition, be wholly attributable to alcohol and have an AAF of one, others however will only be partly attributable to alcohol and have an AAF greater than zero but less than one. Diagnoses or injuries that are not attributable at all to alcohol will have an AAF of zero. These figures are derived by summing all AAFs for the relevant admissions and should therefore only be interpreted as an estimate of the number of admissions that can be attributed to alcohol. 4. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07), and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | ||||
Infectious Diseases
Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the threat of infectious diseases. [147869]
Anna Soubry: The establishment of Public Health England will be a key development in our plan to mitigate the threat of infectious disease. Public Health England will deliver specialist public health services to national and local government, the national health service and the public, working in partnership, to protect the public and minimise the health impacts from infectious diseases.
Comprehensive national immunisation programmes are in place to tackle vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, which are kept under review by the independent expert Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
Equally importantly, work is under way on a cross-Government basis to mitigate the threat of antimicrobial resistance. This will include good practice, prescribing decisions and encourage innovative approaches to new therapies.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to tackle disability due to musculoskeletal conditions. [147527]
Norman Lamb: The mandate sets out the Government's ambitions for the health service for the next two years. It includes an objective for the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) to make measurable progress towards making the national health service among the best in Europe at supporting people with ongoing health problems to live healthily and independently, with much better control over the care they receive. It is for the board to decide how they will carry this out; the Government will hold them to account, and the board will in turn hold clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to account, for the outcomes they achieve.
CCGs will therefore have the primary responsibility for determining what steps are needed to minimise the disability resulting from musculoskeletal conditions. Early diagnosis will play a crucial part especially for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. To support local commissioners, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published clinical guidelines and other guidance on a number of musculoskeletal conditions, and NICE Quality Standards for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions are in preparation. In addition the NHS CB have recently announced the appointment of a national clinical director for musculoskeletal conditions who will consider what other steps could be taken at national level to support high quality local commissioning.
NHS
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) Government Ministers, (b) NHS staff, (c) civil servants and (d) others were part of the NHS Next Stages Review team. [147902]
Anna Soubry: The national health service next stage review was commissioned by the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown), the then Prime Minister, and reported in 2008. The report was based on the contributions of a wide variety of organisations and individuals, primarily under the auspices of the strategic health authorities, who themselves published their own strategic vision documents, upon which the final report drew considerably. The national review team was led by Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department, with contributions from many other Ministers. The purpose of the review had been to seek contributions from people and organisations with direct, local experience of the NHS. The review was therefore a year-long process that involved thousands of clinicians, NHS staff, patients, stakeholders and members of the public. The review was widely acknowledged at the time (for example, in the introduction to the report) as having been a joint enterprise across the Department, the NHS and other interested groups (such as the medical Royal colleges) as well as representatives of patient groups.
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Many of the senior civil servants in the Department, and those in leadership roles in strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS provider organisations during the period of the review would have been involved, to varying degrees. It is not possible therefore to provide a definitive list of participants.
Papers relating the review are available on the national archives website at:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/healthcare/highqualitycareforall/index.htm
NHS: Redundancy
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff have been made redundant and subsequently re-employed by NHS organisations on a (a) permanent basis and (b) fixed-term contract basis since May 2010. [147768]
Dr Poulter: The number of NHS staff made redundant in the NHS since 1 May 2010 and subsequently re-employed by NHS organisations on a (a) permanent basis is estimated to be 1,300 and (b) fixed-term contract basis is estimated to be 900.
These estimates are based on staff recorded on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) Data Warehouse as having a reason for leaving as either voluntary or compulsory redundancy between 1 May 2010 and 30 September 2012, and who have a subsequent record on the ESR Data Warehouse up to 30 November 2012.
In April 2010 there were 42,515 full-time equivalent (FTE) managers. Between April 2010 and November 2012 this figure has reduced by 6,905 to 35,610 FTE.
The ESR Data Warehouse is a monthly snapshot of the live ESR system. This is the HR and payroll system that covers all NHS employees other than those working in General Practice, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and some NHS staff who have transferred to local authorities and social enterprises.
NHS: Telephone Services
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the success of the introduction of the Harmoni NHS 111 telephone service; and if he will make a statement. [147897]
Anna Soubry: No assessment has been made of the performance of the NHS 111 service.
NHS 111 is locally commissioned and Harmoni is one of a number of providers delivering the service, which will be available to the whole of England by June 2013.
Older People
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2013, Official Report, column 887W, on older people, whether he has assessed the size of the market for equity release products that could be used to help people fund the costs of their social care; and if he will make a statement. [147476]
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Norman Lamb: The Department has not quantified the potential size of the market for equity release products that could be used to help people fund the costs of their care. However, we are currently working with the financial services industry, local authorities and the care sector on implementation of the Dilnot Commission proposals including the role for financial services. We will consult on this issue in the summer.
Public Health England
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff previously employed by the National Treatment Agency now work for Public Health England. [147478]
Anna Soubry: The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse estimates there will be 171 members of staff who will transfer to Public Health England on 1 April 2013 in line with the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector 2000.
Respiratory System: Diseases
Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was invested in each of the last three years by (a) his Department, (b) the Medical Research Council and (c) the National Institute for Health Research on research into (i) lung cancer, (ii) adult asthma, (iii) pneumonia, (iv) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (v) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, (vi) mesothelioma and (vii) childhood wheezing and childhood respiratory infection. [147635]
Dr Poulter: Expenditure by the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards on research on these specific topics is shown in the following table.
| £ million | |||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
Total spend by the NIHR on research on these topics is higher than the figures shown because expenditure by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) on these topics cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
In addition, the Department's Policy Research Programme funded research relating to asthma through an award to the Social Medicine and Health Services Research Unit at Imperial College London that ended in 2011. The total value of the unit award was £2.9 million.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Figures for MRC expenditure on these specific topics are not available.