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Abortions: totals, rates and percentages, by age groups under 19 and Strategic Health Authority 2011 | |||||||||
Total abortions | Percentages of total | ||||||||
Under 13 | 13 to 15 | 16 to 18 | Total all | Under 13 | 13 to 15 | 16 to 18 | All ages | ||
Cancer
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent to which clinical commissioning groups have taken on the role of ensuring that GPs and GPs with a special interest who diagnose, manage and excise low-risk basal cell carcinomas in the community are fully accredited to do so, as recommended by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence's 2010 guidance on the management of low-risk basal cell carcinomas in the community. [R] [156987]
Dr Poulter: It is for NHS England and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to ensure those who they contract with are suitably qualified to carry out the services for which they are engaged. The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has regular accountability and assurance meetings with NHS England.
The current framework for the accreditation and re-accreditation of general practitioners with a special interest remains under review following the transition to the arrangements for NHS services in England. Within NHS England this work is being led by Dr Mike Bewick, one of NHS England's two Deputy National Medical Directors. Decisions on future arrangements will be confirmed in due course.
Cancer: Scotland
Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of people resident in Scotland who travelled to England to receive drugs for cancer treatment free of charge which are not available in Scotland. [156803]
Anna Soubry: The Department holds no information on the number of people resident in Scotland who travelled to England to receive drugs for cancer treatment, free of charge, that were not available in Scotland.
Local commissioners should satisfy themselves that the patients they fund treatment for are eligible to receive that treatment.
Conditions of Employment
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in his Department are employed on zero hours contracts. [156843]
Dr Poulter: The Department does not have any officials employed on zero hours contracts.
David Nicholson
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much in (a) salary and (b) other benefits David Nicholson has received since becoming chief executive of the NHS in 2006. [157336]
Dr Poulter: Sir David Nicholson's remuneration and other benefits have been published annually in the Department's resource accounts.
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) pension, (b) one-off payments and (c) other benefits David Nicholson will receive when he steps down as chief executive of NHS England next year. [157337]
Dr Poulter: Sir David Nicholson will not receive any benefits when he steps down as chief executive of NHS England next year. Sir David’s pension and related pension benefits will be subject to the relevant scheme rules at the time he opts to access his pension.
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) salary and (b) other benefits David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, will receive up to his proposed retirement in March 2014. [157338]
Dr Poulter: Sir David Nicholson’s current remuneration is published in the Departmental Resource Accounts.
The Permanent Secretaries Remuneration Committee (PSRC) makes decisions about uplifts to Permanent Secretaries’ base pay and non-consolidated performance related payment arrangements. The PSRC have not published their recommendations for this year as yet
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and the Department is not able to confirm whether there will be any changes to Sir David’s remuneration before he steps down as chief executive of NHS England.
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether David Nicholson, Chief Executive of the NHS, will have any responsibility for choosing his successor as chief executive of NHS England. [157339]
Dr Poulter: The Health and Social Care Act 2012 provides for the chief executive of NHS England to be appointed by the non-executive board members, subject to the consent of the Secretary of State.
Dementia
Jessica Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that (a) newly diagnosed dementia patients and (b) those who would benefit from an early diagnosis of dementia receive the support and care that they need. [156245]
Norman Lamb: In March last year, the Prime Minister launched his Challenge on Dementia to tackle one of the most important issues we face as the population ages. The Challenge is an ambitious programme of work designed to make a real difference to the lives of people with dementia and their families and carers.
The Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia sets out renewed ambition to go further and faster, building on progress made through the National Dementia Strategy, to secure greater improvements in dementia care and research so that people with dementia, their carers and families get the services and support they need from a trained and aware workforce.
Dementia has been prioritised by both the Department through the NHS Mandate and by NHS England through their planning guidance. NHS England has announced the ambition to increase diagnosis rates to two-thirds by 2015.
From April 2013, as part of the NHS Health Check programme, people aged 65 to 74 will be given information at the time of the risk assessment to raise their awareness of dementia and the availability of memory services. This will help to ensure that people with dementia are diagnosed at an earlier stage.
As part of the Prime Minister's Challenge, we have developed the Dementia Care and Support Compact. The purpose of the Care and Support Compact with major care providers is to improve care and support for people with dementia living at home and in care homes.
The Compact focuses on quality of life for people with dementia and the delivery of relationship-based care and support, for example working with commissioners of care for people with dementia to ensure that they commission quality services appropriately. Currently 148 signatories, representing almost 3,000 care services, have signed up to the Compact and we want to see this number increase to demonstrate the commitment the sector has to improving care for people with dementia.
Dermatology
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason dermatology has not yet been allocated a national clinical director. [156986]
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Norman Lamb: NHS England has advised that there are no plans to introduce a National Clinical Director (NCD) for dermatology. However, we are informed that NHS England is continuing to have discussions with the British Association of Dermatology about the best ways to improve outcomes for patients with skin conditions.
NHS England is accountable for improving outcomes for patients across all five domains on the NHS Outcomes Framework. The Mandate for NHS England sets out the improvements in health and health care outcomes that the national health service is expected to deliver. It is for NHS England to decide how they achieve the objectives set out in the Mandate.
Aspects of treatment of people with skin conditions could be considered under any of the five domains. This new approach from the national health service focuses on people as individuals rather than on the conditions from which they may be suffering, and on the patient pathway rather than the organisations which treat them.
Many of the NCDs have cross-cutting roles rather than roles that are related to individual medical conditions.
Down's Syndrome
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual cost to the NHS is of first blood tests, ultra sound scans, amniocenteses, midwife time explaining tests, counselling and abortion costs for the diagnosis of and screening for Down's syndrome. [157133]
Dr Poulter: The National Health Service Foetal Anomaly Screening Programme (FASP) includes screening for Down's syndrome.
NHS FASP does not routinely collect data relating to the number and associated costs of Down's syndrome screening in England on an annual basis. However, an exercise to assess these costs was undertaken in 2010-11 using three sets of birth estimates from 2009. The costs were estimated to range from £29 million to £31.1 million. Using the base case estimate of 671,000 births, this identified that total costs to the NHS including first blood tests, ultrasound scans, amniocenteses, midwife time explaining the tests, counselling and termination of pregnancy, where this was the woman's choice following diagnosis, was approximately £29.9 million.
These figures also include the costs where women, following diagnosis, choose to continue pregnancy to birth. This totals £1.37 million. Therefore the total screening pathway cost if this is removed would be £28.5 million.
The estimated cost breakdown information across the range of three birth estimates of 650,000, 671,000 and 700,000 births is contained in the decision planning tool for the Down's syndrome current strategy for England on three birth estimates for 2009 as shown in the following table.
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The figures in this basic model have been taken from the Decision Planning Tool (NHS FASP/PenTAG & KTP) model for Down's Screening current strategy, which was run for England on three birth estimates for 2009.
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Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government spend annually on research into Down's syndrome. [157140]
Dr Poulter: In 2012-13, the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) spent £1.2 million on research relating to Down's syndrome through research programmes and research training awards. Total spend by the NIHR on research relating to Down's syndrome is higher than this because expenditure by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) on this topic cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. It is an independent research funding body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. In 2012-13 the MRC spent £564,000 on research into Down's syndrome.
Drugs: Rehabilitation
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues on the professional qualifications required to run a drug rehabilitation centre; and if he will make a statement. [156221]
Anna Soubry: All residential rehabilitation centres need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and managers of CQC-registered services also need to be registered with the CQC. This registration process for all managers is to ensure that people who use services are safeguarded.
There is no specific qualification required to run a residential rehabilitation centre, but individual managers must demonstrate to the CQC that they comply with the relevant regulations and are fit to be a registered manager.
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received on the practice of London local authorities outsourcing drug addicts to private rehabilitation programmes in local authorities outside London without informing the local authority where the programme is based; and if he will make a statement. [156222]
Anna Soubry: Removing someone from their community, and the associated triggers for drug use, can help them in their recovery. London local authorities, as with local authorities across the country, often commission placements from residential rehabilitation units outside their area. By commissioning placements from a range of different providers there is choice for those assessed as needing residential rehabilitation.
There is no specific requirement for the local authority commissioning an out-of-area placement to notify the local authority where the programme is based. A patient's care plan should include what would happen if they were to drop out of the treatment programme, which may include notifying the local authority.
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent steps he has taken to help local authorities better work with drug rehabilitation centres; [156246]
(2) what powers are available for local authorities to monitor the standards of drug rehabilitation centres; and if he will make a statement. [156223]
Anna Soubry:
On 1 April, the Government transferred responsibility for commissioning specialist treatment for dependence on drugs and alcohol to local authorities who are supported in this role by Public Health England. Local authorities can use the tendering and contracting processes to establish how they will monitor the quality of services which they are commissioning. In addition, service providers are subject to the usual local authority
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requirements applicable to their particular sphere of activity, which could include trading standards and environmental health.
Fast Food
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 26 February 2013, Official Report, column 171, on fast food and asthma, if his Department will take forward the findings of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood on fast food with the relevant Public Health Responsibility Deal partners. [157415]
Anna Soubry: We note with interest the report by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood on fast food. We have no plans to discuss this report with the relevant Public Health Responsibility Deal partners. The purpose of the Public Health Responsibility Deal is to develop action by business to help address major behavioural risk factors such as poor diet.
Fidaxomicin
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to circulate the new Health Protection Agency guidance on fidaxomicin amongst clinical professionals; [156482]
(2) what steps he is taking to publicise the new Health Protection Agency guidance on clostridium difficile and the antibiotic fidaxomicin. [156483]
Anna Soubry: Public Health England (the Health Protection Agency has been incorporated into Public Health England) published the document ‘Updated Guidance on the Management and Treatment of Clostridium difficile Infection’, which includes information on fidaxomicin, on the Health Protection Agency legacy website earlier this month. The guidance is being disseminated via Public Health England Centres across England. The centres have been asked to share the new publication with their national health service colleagues.
In line with recent evidence, the guidance recommends that fidaxomicin should be considered for patients with severe Clostridium difficile infection who are considered at high risk for recurrence.
General Practitioners
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of appointments with GPs were made online in (a) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England in (i) 2010, (ii) 2012 and (iii) 2013. [156538]
Dr Poulter: NHS England have advised that information is not currently collected about the number of patients that are using the online facilities.
However, the latest version of the NHS publication “the quarter” (page 43) has details of national data setting out the numbers of practices that have the functionality for patients to be able to book and cancel appointments electronically. This is available at:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment__data/file/175648/The_Quarter_3_Q3_2012-13.pdf
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The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and NHS England are currently working on extra details to build on these data which will be available in due course.
NHS England have advised that in quarter 3 of 2012-13:
73% of practices in the old North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) area;
48% of practices in the old Yorkshire and The Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area; and
37% of practices in England
have functionality for patients to be able to book and cancel appointments.
The Health and Social Care Information Centre has provided a further breakdown of the information covering online appointment functionality enabled by patient and general practitioner practice:
Q2 2012-13 | |||
North Yorkshire and York PCT | Yorkshire and the Humber SHA | England | |
Q3 2012-13 | |||
North Yorkshire and York PCT | Yorkshire and The Humber SHA | England | |
Q4 2012-13 | |||
North Yorkshire and York PCT | Yorkshire and The Humber SHA | England | |
Notes: 1. Numbers and percentages of patients shown are those registered at practices which have enabled the functionality for these services—not the numbers of patients who have requested or been given access to these services. 2. North Yorkshire and York PCT includes the Harrogate and Knaresborough parliamentary constituency. |
This information is available at the HSCIC website:
https://indicators.ic.nhs.uk/webview/
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Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 7 January 2013, Official Report, column 102W, on general practitioners, what progress has been made on renewal of the framework governing the accreditation and re-accreditation of GPs with a special interest; and who is now responsible for the accreditation and re-accreditation of GPs with a special interest in dermatology. [R] [157094]
Dr Poulter: NHS England has advised that the current framework for the accreditation and re-accreditation of general practitioners with a special interest remains under review following the transition to the arrangements for NHS services in England. Within NHS England this work is being led by Dr Mike Bewick, one of NHS England's two Deputy National Medical Directors. Decisions on future arrangements will be confirmed in due course.
Genito-urinary Medicine
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what warnings the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has issued in respect of transvaginal mesh implants; [157560]
(2) how many women have reported concerns over transvaginal mesh implants to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (a) in total and (b) from Scotland; [157564]
(3) how many clinicians have reported concerns over transvaginal mesh implants to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (a) in total and (b) from Scotland; [157565]
(4) whether the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has commissioned any studies on transvaginal mesh implants. [157566]
Dr Poulter: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not issued any warnings in respect of transvaginal mesh implants.
From 1 January 2005 to 31 March 2013 the MHRA received adverse incident reports from the following numbers of women related to transvaginal mesh implants:
(a) 95 in total in the United Kingdom
(b) seven women reported from Scotland
From 1 January 2005 to 31 March 2013 the MHRA received adverse incident reports from the following numbers of ‘professional users’ related to transvaginal mesh implants:
(a) 37 in total in the UK, of which 26 were clinicians according to their stated position/occupation (this includes doctors and nurses)
(b) two in Scotland, of which one was a clinician according to their stated position/occupation
In February 2012, the MHRA commissioned an independent review from York University Health Economics Consortium of the published literature in the last 10 years on the most frequently reported adverse events associated with vaginal tape/sling/mesh implants used for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. The review was published on the MHRA website on 22 November 2012.
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Heart Diseases
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to inform people how they can increase their chance of surviving a heart attack. [156828]
Anna Soubry: Information is given on the NHS Choices website advising that people who think they or someone else is having a heart attack should immediately call 999. The website also sets out advice on giving aspirin to people having a heart attack.
In some cases, heart attacks develop complications which may lead to cardiac arrest. As set out in the Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy, more lives could be saved if the public were better informed about what to do if they witness a cardiac arrest. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation can double survival rates yet is only attempted in 20% to 30% of cases. To address this, NHS England will work with the Resuscitation Council, the British Heart foundation and others to consider ways of increasing the numbers of people trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Heart Diseases: Children
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the final report of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel examining the report of the Safe and Sustainable Review into Children's Heart Surgery. [156700]
Anna Soubry: The Independent Reconfiguration Panel submitted its report on the safe and sustainable review of children's congenital heart services to the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), on 30 April 2013.
The Secretary of State is considering the report and will make his decision known in due course.
Heart Diseases: Rossendale
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS was of treating patients with coronary heart disease in Rossendale and Darwen constituency in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [156784]
Anna Soubry: The information requested is not centrally available. The cost to the national health service of the treatment of coronary heart disease in primary and secondary care is not reported to the Department.
Herbal Medicine
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he plans to bring forward proposals to bring practitioners of herbal medicine within the regime of statutory control; and if he will make a statement; [157379]
(2) whether he plans to compensate small businesses that are specialist manufacturers of herbal remedies for any damage done to their businesses by practitioners of herbal medicine not being within the regime of statutory control; [157380]
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(3) what recent representations he has received from hon. Members on proposals to bring practitioners of herbal medicine within the regime of statutory control. [157381]
Dr Poulter: The legislation around this policy is complex and has required consideration of a number of difficult issues. We appreciate that the delay in going out to consult on this matter is causing concern, however, it is important that any new legislation is proportionate and fit for purpose. There are no grounds for compensating small businesses.
The Department has received a number of representations from hon. Members, peers and interested parties in the field and it will make an announcement on this policy shortly.
Horsemeat
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure his Department has incurred in respect of (a) equine DNA and (b) phenylbutazone testing in (i) phase 1, (ii) phase 2 and (iii) phase 3 of the EU co-ordinated testing regime. [156756]
Anna Soubry: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) set up a United Kingdom-wide sampling programme of beef products in early 2013, initially in two phases. Products were tested for both horse and pig DNA and, where horse DNA was found, further analysis was carried out for phenylbutazone. Recommendation 2013/99/EU established an European Union wide co-ordinated control plan, in which member states were asked to test certain foods marketed and/or labelled as containing beef for the presence of horse DNA. These sampling requests were incorporated into the UK survey as a third phase.
The FSA has met the following combined costs of analytical testing for horse DNA and phenylbutazone residues in the various phases:
(i) Phase 1: £102, 600
(ii) Phase 2: £ 66, 800
(iii) Phase 3: £74,300
(Costs for phases 1 and 2 include testing for pig DNA).
The European Union is providing partial reimbursements to member states to cover the costs of the horse DNA tests carried out under Recommendation 2013/99/EU, up to €300 per test. The FSA is in the process of submitting an application for this contribution towards the 150 UK samples taken in phase 3.
Hospitals: Admissions
Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his contribution of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 352, what the source is of his quoted figures on hospital admissions between 2001 and 2009. [156915]
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Anna Soubry: Department of Health Monthly Monitoring Return and Monthly Activity Return data show that emergency admissions increased by 36% between 2001 and 2010. The information is shown in the following table:
Calendar year | Non-elective general and acute first finished consultant episodes |
Source: Department of Health Monthly Monitoring Return (period 2001-02 to 2006-07 and Monthly Activity Return (period 2007-08 to 2011-12) |
Hospitals: Food
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of food procured by hospitals came from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available. [156809]
Anna Soubry: Information on the origin of food procured by all hospitals is not held centrally by the Department.
However, we can confirm that in 2012 64.5% of food supplied to the national health service under national procurement arrangements managed by NHS Supply Chain, was from United Kingdom food producers.
This percentage is based on those food commodities which are practical to produce in the UK. Food supplied under NHS Supply Chain purchasing arrangements accounts for an estimated 50% of food purchased by the NHS in England.
Hospitals: Waiting Lists
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average wait between referral and admission to hospital was in (a) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England in 2012. [156503]
Anna Soubry: The available information is shown in the following table. Information is not available for the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency, so information is shown for the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT).
Referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times, average (median) time waited (in weeks) for patients that started admitted treatment during the month (admitted adjusted RTT pathways) | ||||||||||||
Weeks | ||||||||||||
2012 | ||||||||||||
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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Source: NHS England Referral to Treatment Waiting times monthly return: www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/rtt-waiting times/ |
Human Trafficking
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the typical (a) mental and (b) physical health of (i) men and (ii) women who have been trafficked. [156953]
Anna Soubry: The Department recognises that the impact of human trafficking on victims is significant for both mental health and physical health. We also recognise that our current understanding in this area is limited. Therefore, the Department has commissioned a 33-month study of trafficking and health issues, under its Policy Research Programme. The project is entitled: "Optimising identification, referral and care of trafficked people within the NHS". It started in July 2012 and is due to finish by March 2015. The overarching aim of this research is to provide evidence to inform the NHS response to human trafficking, specifically in the identification and referral of trafficked people, and in the provision of safe and appropriate care to meet their health needs.
ICT
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from his Department in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [156428]
Dr Poulter: The following table gives details of the departmental losses and thefts for the financial year 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13.
1 April to 31 March each year | |||
Departmental losses and thefts | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
NHS Connecting for Health (NHS CfH) was part of the Department’s informatics directorate until its move to the Health and Social Care Information Centre on 1 April 2013. While part of the Department, there were a number of fundamental differences between the Department and NHS CfH including suppliers of equipment used. It is therefore deemed appropriate to display the figures for NHS CfH losses and thefts separately to the rest of the Department.
1 April to 31 March each year | |||
CfH informatics directorate losses and thefts | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
In Vitro Fertilisation
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on clinical commissioning groups that do not offer funding to couples seeking IVF treatment on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [156929]
Anna Soubry: The Department of Health has an expectation that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) should make progress to implement the recommendations of the National Institute for Health Care Excellence Fertility Guidelines, including the offer of three cycles of IVF for eligible couples.
In February 2013, NHS England (NHS Commissioning Board at the time) published a 'commissioning fertility services factsheet' to support CCGs in taking on these responsibilities from April 2013.
Medicine: Research
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on accreditation of training within the clinical research industry. [156284]
Dr Poulter: The Department does not accredit any part of the clinical research industry, including training. Neither the Clinical Trials Directive (2001/20/EC) nor the Good Clinical Practice Directive (2005/28/EC) requires the accreditation of training within the clinical research industry.
The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have no specific policy on accreditation of training for clinical research. It allows those involved in clinical research to determine what training is appropriate to meet the European Union directives and how this is provided.
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Midwives
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives were employed by the NHS in the most recent five years for which figures are available; what steps he is taking to increase the numbers of midwives; and if he will make a statement. [157514]
Dr Poulter: The following table shows the number of midwives employed in the national health service for the last five years:
Qualified midwives (full time equivalent) | |
Source. NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care Annual Census. Data as at 30 September each year. |
There are over 1,377 (6.8%) more midwives in the NHS than in May 2010, and there are a record 5,000 in training.
We are committed to ensuring the number of midwives matches the birth rate. Most women already have a choice and we are working closely with the Royal College of Midwives to ensure that personalised, one-to-one maternity care is available for every woman across the country. Health Education England (HEE) was established to ensure that the work force has the right skills, behaviour and training, and is available in the right numbers, to support the delivery of excellent health care and drive health improvement.
HEE will support health care providers and clinicians to take greater responsibility for planning and commissioning education and training through development of Local Education and Training Boards which will be committees of HEE.
Mortality Rates
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to make progress towards meeting the World Health Organisation target of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2025 agreed in May 2012. [156728]
Anna Soubry:
In March 2013, the Department published “Living Well for Longer: A call to action to reduce avoidable premature mortality”, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library. This outlines our ambition to cut avoidable deaths from the five major causes—cancer, heart, stroke, respiratory and liver disease—and to make life expectancy in England among the best in Europe. The call to action will be followed by an action plan in the autumn that details system-wide commitments, building on the Department's published strategies and national ambitions on specific diseases and associated risk factors. In April 2013, responsibility for supporting population level health transferred to local government as part of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 reforms. The Public Health Outcomes Framework
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will track improvements in improving and protecting the nation's health and includes a number of mortality indicators including one on “Mortality from causes considered preventable”.
NHS: Translation Services
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 13 February 2013, Official Report, column 736W, on NHS: translation services, if he will institute a system to record centrally the cost of interpreters and translators in hospitals in England. [156161]
Norman Lamb: There is no plan to put in place a system to record centrally the cost of interpreters and translators in hospitals. Public authorities have a legal duty to provide information and services for their local populations, including those who do not speak English.
Obesity: Children
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of childhood obesity was in each local authority area in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [156880]
Anna Soubry: Information on the prevalence of obese children by local authority in England is available from the National Child Measurement Programme in tables 3A and 3B in the excel file accompanying “National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2011/12 school year”. In table 3A the geography is based on the postcode of the school and in table 3B it is based on the postcode of the child. This information is only available for children in Reception year (aged four and five) and year 6 (aged 10 to 11).
The information contained in these tables has already been placed in the Library.
Information for other parts of the United Kingdom is a matter for the devolved Administrations.
Palliative Care
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the review into the Liverpool care pathway will be published. [156301]
Norman Lamb: The independent review panel, chaired by Baroness Neuberger, is planning to publish its report into the Liverpool care pathway in July.
Pregnancy: Sodium Valproate
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure doctors are aware of the risks of sodium valproate for pregnant women; and what steps he is taking to ensure National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines are followed in this respect; [156715]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the number of children affected by sodium valproate after their mother was prescribed the drug during pregnancy. [156729]
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Dr Poulter: Information relating to the number of children affected by sodium valproate after their mother was prescribed the drug during pregnancy is not held centrally.
In line with the Summary of Products Characteristics issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), warnings about the potential for sodium valproate to cause possible birth defects in women of childbearing age are contained in the product information available to health care professionals.
The product information for all medicines containing sodium valproate includes detailed advice in relation to its use during pregnancy. It is currently advised that women of childbearing potential should not be started on sodium valproate unless clearly necessary, such as in situations where other treatments are ineffective or not tolerated.
As new data have emerged, the product information supplied to all doctors and the Patient Information Leaflets available with the medicine have been revised in accordance with legal and regulatory guidance. This is to reflect the known side effects including new information with regards to the safety of use during pregnancy.
New prescribing advice is brought to the attention of prescribers in the monthly MHRA bulletin Drug Safety Update. The MHRA has issued three articles on the risks associated with the use of sodium valproate during pregnancy in Drug Safety Update and its predecessor, Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance and will continue to do so as new information emerges.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on the use of sodium valproate during pregnancy in which general practitioners (GPs) are advised to discuss with their patients the risk of antiepileptic drugs causing malformations and possible neurodevelopmental impairments in an unborn child, as well as the risk of continued use of sodium valproate to the unborn child, being aware that higher doses of sodium valproate are associated with greater risk.
More generally, the responsibility for prescribing rests with the doctor or prescriber who has clinical responsibility for that aspect of a patient's care, the Department expects GPs to adhere to the NICE guidelines as a matter of good practice.
Prescription Drugs
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions of individual (a) benzodiazepine drugs and (b) anti-depressants were dispensed in the community in 2012. [157512]
Dr Poulter: The number of prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England in 2012, for both benzodiazepine drugs and antidepressants are shown in the tables.
Table 1: Benzodiazepine prescription items classified as hypnotics and anxiolytics in British National Formulary (BNF) Section 4.1 | |
BNF chemical name | Prescription items (000s) |
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Table 2: Benzodiazepine prescription items classified as antiepileptic drugs in BNF section 4.8 | |
BNF chemical name | Prescriptions items (000s) |
Table 3: Benzodiazepine prescription items classified as anaesthesia drugs in BNF section 15.1.4 | |
BNF chemical name | Prescription items (000s) |
Table 4: Prescription items classified as antidepressant drugs in BNF section 4,3 | |
BNF Chemical Name | Number of Items (000s) |
(1) Figures may not sum due to rounding. Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system data provided by the Health and Social Care Information Centre |
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that drugs returned to pharmacies are recycled where possible; and if he will make a statement. [157516]
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Norman Lamb: The Government do not promote the reuse of medicines returned by patients in this country, as it is not possible to guarantee the quality of a returned medicine by physical inspection alone.
This is in line with the World Health Organisation's guidelines, which recommend that no drugs should be reused that have been issued to patients and then returned to a pharmacy.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the net savings to his Department in the event that free prescriptions were to be withdrawn from those pensioners currently eligible to pay income tax at the (a) higher rate of 40 per cent and (b) additional rate of 45 per cent. [156271]
Norman Lamb: Estimates for the net revenue raised in the case that free prescriptions were to be withdrawn from those aged 65 and over currently eligible to pay income tax at 40% and 45% are shown in the following table:
Estimated revenue raised, England, 2013-14 | ||
Estimated revenue raised (£ million)(1) | ||
Scenario 1: Estimated revenue including behavioural elements(2) | Scenario 2: Estimated theoretical maximum revenue(2) | |
(1) These data are estimates of the number of items claimed by those aged 65+ in 2013-14, based on current prescription levels. (2) Scenario 1 assumes that three quarters of the population aged 65 and over would use pre-payment certificates to claim prescriptions should exemption be withdrawn. This is a more likely scenario because people in this age group generally claim multiple prescriptions and would therefore benefit from use of pre-payment certificates. The estimated theoretical maximum revenue (Scenario 2) is based, on the assumption that all those aged 65 and over would pay for prescription charges at the point of dispensing, paying £7.85 per prescription item. Note that those on lower incomes are likely to claim more prescriptions than those on higher incomes, so these estimates are likely to be over-estimates, as these calculations assume that each group will claim prescriptions at the same rate. In addition, people in this age group are more likely to have long term medical conditions and may be eligible for medical exemption certificates (MEDEX) if free prescriptions were withdrawn. (3) To simplify these calculations, the estimates above have been applied to all those in England aged over 65 years. However, the female state pension age is being increased gradually from April 2010 to be equalised with the male state pension age by November 2018. Source: Estimates of numbers of higher rate and additional rate taxpayers are based upon the 2010-11 Survey of Personal Incomes using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budgetary Responsibility's March 2013 economic and fiscal outlook. Estimates of prescription items are taken from Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community, Statistics for England published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. |
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason patients with minor bipolar conditions do not get free prescriptions. [156535]
Norman Lamb: Patients resident in England with minor bipolar conditions are not entitled to medical exemption from national health service prescription charges due to the condition not being included within the list of conditions which qualify for exemption.
In 2009, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore carried out a review to consider how free prescriptions might be extended to all those with long-term conditions. This review made a number of proposals, and was published in May 2010 by the Government.
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We announced in the spending review, published in October 2010, that we would not extend free prescriptions to all those with long-term conditions. Prescription charges in England raise in the region of £450 million each year. This is valuable income, which helps the NHS to maintain vital services for patients.
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many medical conditions have been added to the exempt list for the purposes of prescription charges in the last 10 years; [156910]
(2) if his Department will add (a) asthma, (b) heart disease, (c) arthritis, (d) HIV, (e) Crohn's disease, (f) ulcerative colitis, (g) Parkinson's disease and (h) cystic fibrosis and auto-immune disease to the exempt list of medical conditions for the purposes of prescription charges; [156912]
(3) what his policy is on reviewing the exempt list of medical conditions for the purposes of prescription charges. [157005]
Norman Lamb: Within the last 10 years, cancer has been the only addition to the list of medical conditions which qualify patients resident in England for exemption from national health service prescription charges. This change took place on 1 April 2009.
In 2009, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore carried out a review, at the request of the last Government, to consider how free prescriptions might be extended to all those with long-term conditions. This review made a number of proposals, and was published by this Government in May 2010.
In the light of the challenging financial context, the Government announced in the spending review, published in October 2010, that we would not extend free prescriptions to all those with a long-term condition, and we do not intend to add any medical conditions to the list of medical exemptions. Prescription charges in England raise valuable income, in the region of £450 million each year, which helps the NHS to maintain vital services for patients.
The Government continue to look at options for creating a fairer system of prescription charges and exemptions in England, which takes into account the overall NHS financial context and the introduction of universal credit.
Skin Cancer
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has to update its 2010 guidance on the management of low-risk basal cell carcinomas in the community to take account of the abolition of primary care trusts. [156688]
Norman Lamb: We understand from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that it has no current plans to update its guidance on the management of low-risk basal cell carcinoma in the community in response to the abolition of primary care trusts (PCTs). The responsibilities of PCTs are deemed by NICE to have been taken on by successor organisations and the recommendations within the guidance remain valid.
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Social Services
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to the portability of social services assessments taken in Wales under the proposed Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill in the event of people moving to England. [156220]
Norman Lamb: The Care Bill (clause 38 and schedule 1) makes provision for a person ordinarily resident in England, who has care and support needs and requires residential accommodation to meet those needs, to be provided with that accommodation in the area of another devolved Administration, including Wales, and for such placements to be made in England for people who are ordinarily resident elsewhere in the United Kingdom. It also makes similar reciprocal arrangements for cross-border placements not involving England i.e. Wales-Scotland, Scotland-Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland-Wales.
There are no plans to provide for continuity of care, including portability of assessments, when an adult moves between devolved Administrations. Social care is a devolved matter for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the announced cap on social care costs under the Dilnot proposals will be applied to people moving to Wales from England who are already receiving care packages. [156286]
Norman Lamb: To qualify for the protection provided by the cap, a person must be ordinarily resident in a local authority in England. In most cases, a person is ordinarily resident in the place where they live.
The Care Bill will make provision for cross border residential care placements so people can be placed in care homes in other parts of the United Kingdom. This will mean that if a local authority in England places someone in residential care in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, that person will remain the responsibility of the English local authority. They will not acquire ordinary residence in their new location and will continue to benefit from the protection provided by the cap.
If people receiving domiciliary care move from England to Wales (or from Wales to England), or people in a care home move without being placed by their local authority they will usually become ordinarily resident in Wales. The appropriate contribution they should make to the cost of their care will be determined by the regulations in Wales.
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the draft Care and Support Bill, what discussions he is having with the Welsh Government to ensure continuity of care for people who relocate across the border. [156303]
Norman Lamb: The Welsh Government has been fully engaged at both ministerial and official level during the drafting of the Care Bill.
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There are no plans to provide for continuity of care, including portability of assessments, when an adult moves between devolved administrations. Social care is a devolved matter for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Tobacco: Packaging
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the potential savings to the NHS of introducing plain cigarette packaging. [157420]
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 Government have not yet made a decision on this policy. This is an important decision and one that will only be taken after full consideration of the consultation responses, evidence and other relevant information. This includes consideration of the impact on national health service costs.
UK Membership of EU
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's top priorities are for changing the UK's relationship with the EU. [157265]
Anna Soubry: As the Prime Minister's speech on Europe in January this year made clear, the European Union needs to change both to deliver prosperity and to retain the support of its peoples. The Government are committed to help shape the future of a more competitive, flexible and democratically accountable EU, with the United Kingdom playing a leading role at the heart of the Single Market and also EU action on energy, climate change, development, foreign policy and other global challenges. In a further speech in March, the Prime Minister outlined his priorities for migrants and welfare reform, including a commitment to improve reciprocal charging for national health service care provided to citizens of European economic area countries.
The Government are currently carrying out the Balance of Competence Review which is an evidence-based and objective analysis of what EU membership means for the UK and our national interest. The health report will be published this summer. The report will not produce recommendations but will look at the impact of the EU in the area of health.
Universal Credit
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the qualifying conditions for each passported benefit for which he is responsible will change under universal credit. [157425]
Dr Poulter:
For Help with Health Costs we have put arrangements in place for the passporting of universal credit recipients during the pathfinder phase, which started on 29 April 2013. All those in receipt of universal credit during the pathfinder phase will be entitled to Help with Health Costs, which includes free prescriptions (in England). As the target group for the Pathfinder phase excludes those with responsibility for children,
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and pregnant women, there is likely to be little impact on Healthy Start during this phase. However, we have put processes in place to ensure that the scheme can provide discretionary support to universal credit recipients who may become pregnant or responsible for young children.
We are currently working across government to agree approaches for the passporting of benefits following the full roll-out of universal credit which work smoothly while ensuring that these benefits are available to the families that need them most.
Scotland
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the legislation his Department has sponsored which has devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament and powers within such legislation since 1998. [156230]
David Mundell: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Scotland Office.
The Scotland Office is responsible for maintaining and strengthening the devolution settlement; together with lead policy Departments we have delivered a programme of Scotland Act orders that have provided additional powers to the Scottish Parliament, as well as delivering the Scotland Act 2012, which enhanced the devolution settlement and provided the largest transfer of financial responsibility since 1999.
Further devolution to the Scottish Parliament is principally achieved by way of amendments to schedules 4 and 5 of the Act. Since 1998 the following changes to those schedules have been made. These are presented in summary form.
Amendments to schedule 4 of the Scotland Act 1998
Power to modify the Scotland Act 1998 regarding financial assistance for opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament.
Powers to modify certain provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 requiring any sum to be payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
Power to provide that proceedings brought in a court or tribunal against a member of the Scottish Government under the Scotland Act 1998 on human rights grounds have to be brought before the end of a limitation period (since repealed by Scotland Act 2012).
Amendments to schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998
The making of payments to any political party for the purpose of assisting members of the Parliament to perform their parliamentary duties.
A power to allow the Scottish Parliament to conduct a referendum on the independence of Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom, subject to certain conditions.
Financial and economic matters
Powers to set a rate of income tax to be paid by Scottish taxpayers, and taxes in relation to land transactions and landfill.
The interception of any communication made to or by a person detained at a place of detention.
The regulation of air weapons.
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Powers in relation to business associations which are social landlords, including in relation to winding up proceedings and procedures giving protection from creditors.
Powers to provide financial assistance for the provision of services (other than postal services and services relating to money or postal orders) to be provided from public post offices.
Powers to impose requirements on Scottish public authorities about the preparation and submission of strategies relating to the provision of rail services.
Powers to transfer functions of passenger transport executives or passenger transport authorities relating to rail services, and the allocation of such functions among relevant authorities.
The promotion and construction of railways which start, end and remain in Scotland.
Power to impose requirements on Scottish public authorities about the preparation and submission of strategies relating to the provision of air services.
Powers to provide occasional financial or other assistance to or in respect of individuals for the purposes of meeting an immediate short-term need, arising out of exceptional services, to avoid risk to the individual’s well-being, or enabling qualifying individuals to establish or maintain a settled home.
Fire safety on construction sites and on certain premises, including those concerned in the manufacture or storage of chemicals, explosives or flammable materials.
Amendment to part 1 of the Scotland Act 1998
Power to make provision as to the conduct of elections for membership of the Scottish Parliament, and the questioning of such an election and the consequences of irregularities. Made by the Scotland Act 2012 and yet to be brought into force.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Alexander Litvinenko
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely future action of the Russian state towards (a) the UK and (b) opponents of the Russian Government, following the application of a public interest immunity certificate to the inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko. [156994]
Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made an application for public interest immunity in line with the Government's duty to protect national security. The coroner has now made his decision on the public interest immunity claim, and it would not be appropriate to comment further while the Government consider his ruling.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the then forthcoming inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko was discussed during (a) his meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister in London in March 2013 and (b) the Prime Minister's meeting with President Putin in May 2013. [156995]
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Mr Lidington: During his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in March, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised a number of individual cases of concern, including the deaths of Alexander Litvinenko and of Sergei Magnitsky. The inquest into the death of Litvinenko was not discussed between the Prime Minister and President Putin.
Bahrain
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Bahraini counterpart on the imprisonment of children in that country. [156781]
Alistair Burt: Our embassy in Manama has previously raised the imprisonment of young offenders with the Ministry of the Interior, and just last month our ambassador discussed the handling of young offenders with HRH the Crown Prince.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the case of Nabil Rajab in Bahrain; whether he has sought further information from the Government of Bahrain about this matter; and what assessment he has made of Mr Rajab's safety. [156847]
Alistair Burt: Following allegations that Mr Rajab had gone “missing” while in custody, our embassy in Manama spoke to the Ministry of the Interior and also to Mr Rajab's lawyer, Mohammad Al Jishi.
The Ministry of the Interior stated that Mr Rajab was being housed with other inmates in Jaw prison and was not being kept in solitary confinement.
Mr Al Jishi confirmed he understands this to be true, and that Mr Rajab was in good health.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to (a) monitor the development of houses built by the Prince's Foundation for Building Community and (b) make representations to the Bahraini Government to ensure that individuals are not barred from residing in them on the basis of ethnicity. [156944]
Alistair Burt: The Prince's Foundation for Building Community will be working with the Bahraini Ministry of Housing to help educate local officials through the delivery of an exemplar project; aiming to address the country's housing shortfall, while meeting the needs of the diverse local population.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes an interest in this project, but it is not our place to monitor it or seek assurances. This is a matter for the Prince's Foundation and the Bahraini Government.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department provided the Prince's Foundation for Building Community in obtaining a contract to build houses in Bahrain. [156949]
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Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not provided assistance to the Prince's Foundation with this specific project. We welcome their support of the initiative to help design a major new residential area around the needs of all the communities who will live there.
This project aims to help all the communities in Bahrain, and demonstrates the kind of support which Bahrain needs from its friends to help with reconciliation at grass-roots levels.
Capital Punishment
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to argue the case against the use of the death penalty. [156707]
Mr Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 April 2013, Official Report, column 444W.
Conditions of Employment
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people in his Department are employed on zero hours contracts. [157129]
Alistair Burt: As mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott) on 25 January 2013, Official Report, column 321W, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not employ the term “zero hour contract” with its employed staff. However, we have interpreted the question to mean staff who are employed for specific work and are only paid/reimbursed for the work they undertake. The FCO has five members of staff on this type of contract. This is still the case today.
Ethiopia
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his Ethiopian counterpart about the treatment of the Amhara people of that country; and if he will make a statement. [156533]
Mark Simmonds: We regularly raise human rights concerns with all levels of the Ethiopian Government. In April officials at the British embassy in Addis Ababa raised with Ethiopian State Ministers the issue of displacement of ethnic Amharas from the Benishangul-Gumuz region. We obtained assurances that this had been a mistake, that the Amharas had returned home, and that the Government officials involved in the displacement had been removed from their posts and that an investigation was under way. In January our ambassador raised concerns about the implementation of the commune programme (sometimes referred to as “villagisation”) in Ethiopia's developing regional states, which includes Benishangal-Gumuz, with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs. We continue to monitor this programme and follow-up allegations of abuses of human rights in the regions.
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European Union Approvals Bill (Draft)
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will publish the draft European Union Approvals Bill. [156866]
Mr Lidington: Under the European Union (EU) Act 2011 certain EU decisions require parliamentary approval by an Act of Parliament before the UK can vote in favour of or otherwise support them. Government Departments responsible for such measures bring forward legislation to seek the approval of Parliament when parliamentary time allows.
G8
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) airport operators and (b) airline carriers on the holding of the G8 Summit in County Fermanagh in June 2013. [156603]
Mark Simmonds: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials had meetings with airport operators at George Best City airport and Belfast International airport in November 2012. Since then, officials have been engaged in continuing discussions with Belfast International airport to ensure a smooth arrivals and departures process for visiting delegations. FCO officials have not had direct discussions with airline carriers.
ICT
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from his Department in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [156427]
Mr Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 December 2012, Official Report, column 341W.
Since 12 December 2012, there has been a further loss of two BlackBerrys, bringing the total loss of 37 BlackBerrys for 2011-12. Eleven of these were in the UK and the other 26 were lost at one of our posts overseas. There were no further losses of computers, including laptops.
For figures in 2013 (January to May), five computers, including laptops, were recorded as losses. One of these was in the UK and the other four were lost at one of our posts overseas. In the same period, 12 BlackBerrys were recorded as losses. Five of these were in the UK and seven were at one of our posts overseas.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes its responsibilities for protecting information assets seriously and complies with mandatory requirements of the Security Policy Framework, which includes the implementation of security incident management procedures to ensure losses are dealt with appropriately.
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Interpal
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the US Treasury about Interpal's status as a special designated global terrorist, following the dismissal by the US District Court in New York of a case against the National Westminster Bank. [157563]
Alistair Burt: We have not had any recent discussions with the US Treasury about Interpal's status as a special designated global terrorist organisation. We have previously provided the US Government with details of the UK Charity Commission's inquiries into the affairs of Interpal which found no evidence of terrorist financing. This continues to be a matter for Interpal to take up directly with the US Government.
Italy
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Italian Ministry of Education on the terms of employment of non-Italian staff at Italian universities. [156889]
Mr Lidington: We regard the issue of discrimination over jobs and pay against UK and foreign national lecturers in Italian universities as completely unacceptable. Our embassy in Rome has been pressing the Italian Administration to resolve this issue, including through facilitating dialogue between the Ministry and the Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy (ALLSI). I have not had the opportunity to discuss this with the Italian Ministry of Education but the British ambassador to Italy held discussions earlier this month with the recently appointed Minister for Education, Maria Chiara Carrozza, during which he raised the importance of finding a solution to this issue. The UK Government lobbied the previous Italian Government hard on this and intend to continue lobbying the new Government until a satisfactory solution is found.
Middle East
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sanctions have been taken by (a) the Government and (b) international partners against the (i) Israeli Government and (ii) Palestinian parties in response to non-compliance with the Oslo Accords and the road map. [157592]
Alistair Burt: The UK does not believe that imposing sanctions on Israel/Palestine would be a constructive step. We urge both the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, including at the highest levels, to comply with their obligations under the road map and take positive steps towards peace. It is a matter of much regret to the UK that 20 years after the signing of the Oslo accords, the parties have not reached an agreement on final status issues. Israel's phased withdrawals have stalled and what were envisaged as interim arrangements have become the status quo. Nonetheless, we continue to believe negotiations are the only route out of this impasse.
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Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the sanctions available to the Government and international partners in response to failures by (a) Israel and (b) the Palestinians to meet their obligations under the Oslo Accords and the road map. [157598]
Alistair Burt: The UK does not believe that imposing sanctions on Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories would be a constructive step. We are working with both sides in support of US Secretary of State Mr John Kerry's efforts on a renewed US-led initiative on the middle east peace process, in particular looking at the incentives, or disincentives, that might encourage the two sides to take positive steps towards peace. While these efforts are ongoing we are firmly focused on what incentives we, along with our EU partners, can offer.
Occupied Territories
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on (a) how many Palestinian master plans are pending agreement with the Israeli authorities in Areas (i) A, (ii) B and (iii) C of the Occupied Palestinian Territories and (b) what the average time taken for approval is of such plans; and what assessment he has made, based on the current rate of approvals, of when the whole of Area A, B and C will be covered by master plans. [156849]
Alistair Burt: In order to support development of Palestinian communities in Area C, the UK, together with others in the international community, has funded the development and submission of ‘master plans’ for a number of Palestinian communities in Area C. There are currently 32 such master plans progressing through the Israeli planning system, and in December 2012 five of these were considered to have met the required technical standard by the Israeli Civil Administration.
Master plans vary in size, depending on the community, but it is estimated that approximately 150 master plans would be needed to cover Area C. These plans do not address agricultural or grazing land. We have not made an assessment of when the whole of Area C will be covered by master plans or how long the approval process takes. Since Areas A and B are under Palestinian administrative control, Israeli-agreed master plans are not required.
We continue to urge Israel to meet its obligations regarding the living conditions of the Palestinian population in Area C, including by accelerated approval of Palestinian master plans and simplifying administrative procedures to obtain building permits. Together with our EU partners, we have called upon Israel to work together with the Palestinian Authority to allow more access and control of the Palestinian Authority over Area C.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which master plans have been approved for the Occupied Palestinian Territory by the Israeli Government authorities in the last year; and whether such plans cover Area (a) A, (b) B and (c) C. [156985]
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Alistair Burt: We are not aware of any master plans for Palestinian communities in Area C being granted final approval by the Israeli authorities in 2012.
Through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Conflict Pool Programme, the UK has funded an International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC) project supporting building planning for Palestinian communities in Area C. In December 2012 five IPCC master plans were approved by the Israeli Civil Administration for Palestinian communities in Area C, with the capacity to accommodate 14,400 inhabitants, although these are now pending a period for public objection.
The Palestinian Authority exercises administrative control over areas A and B, so the Israeli authorities do not approve master plans for these areas.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many new housing units have been (a) announced and (b) approved in settlements in East Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian State since the Foreign Affairs Council in May 2012; how many new housing units have been built; how many Palestinian homes and other buildings have been demolished; how many olive trees have been destroyed or vandalised and how many Palestinians have been forcibly transferred out of Area C. [157442]
Alistair Burt: According to data from Peace Now, from May 2012 1,713 settlement housing units have progressed in the planning progress. Tenders were issued for 453 settlement units in the west bank and 1,514 settlement units in East Jerusalem.
According to UN statistics, in 2012 there were 65 buildings demolished by the Israeli Authorities in East Jerusalem and 71 evictions/displacements. During the same period 589 Palestinian structures were demolished in Area C in 2012 and 871 people displaced. Between January and May 2013, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 40 structures were demolished in East Jerusalem and 206 in Area C, leaving 136 people homeless in East Jerusalem and 1,107 displaced or otherwise affected in Area C.
We regularly make clear, publicly and privately, to Israel our serious concerns about many aspects of the Israeli occupation, including the demolition of Palestinian homes. Along with our EU partners we have called on Israel to halt the forced transfer of population and demolition of Palestinian housing and infrastructure in Area C of the west bank. We have also repeatedly condemned the building of Israeli settlements in the west bank and East Jerusalem.
According to UN OCHA reports for 2011, approximately 9,500 trees were damaged and 8,600 trees were reported burned, uprooted, or otherwise vandalized in 2012. We are concerned by the repeated attacks on Palestinian olive trees by extremist settlers.
We note the particular sensitivities around olive trees, given their status as a national symbol and the sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers. We have called on the relevant Israeli authorities to take all necessary steps to prevent the attacks against Palestinian farmers and bring those responsible to justice. Our embassy in Tel Aviv has raised our concerns about
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violence and intimidation by extremist settlers with, among others, the Israeli Attorney General, Defence Minister and Prime Minister's office.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of lawful and unlawful refusals of Palestinian requests for building permits and master plans in the west bank; and if he will make a statement. [157448]
Alistair Burt: According to published statistics by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, 91 of 1,624 Palestinian applications for building permits for Area C were approved between 2000 and 2007 and four of 444 were approved in 2010.
We continue to call on Israel to work together with the Palestinian Authority (PA) to allow more access and control of the PA over Area C.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the building rate in Israeli settlements in east Jerusalem and the west bank in each of the last five years. [157593]
Alistair Burt: We do not have exact data available for the building rate in Israeli settlements in each of the past five years.
However, figures from Peace Now show that in east Jerusalem over 8,730 housing units have been advanced and approved at different stages since 2009. Peace Now data also show 6,171 settlement construction starts in the west bank between January 2009 and June 2012.
Our position on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is clear: they are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and make a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, harder to achieve.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Palestinians in east Jerusalem have (a) been evicted by the Israeli Government, (b) had their homes and buildings demolished and (c) had their residency status changed by the Israeli Government since 14 May 2012. [157594]
Alistair Burt: According to UN statistics, in 2012 there were 65 buildings demolished in east Jerusalem and 71 evictions/displacements. Since the start of 2013, UN statistics indicate that there have been 41 demolitions in east Jerusalem, with 341 people displaced or otherwise affected.
According to data supplied by the Israeli interior ministry, in 2012 Israel revoked the residency of 116 east Jerusalem Palestinians, including 64 women and 29 minors. Over the same period, Israel ‘reinstated' the residency status of 32 east Jerusalem Palestinians.
We regularly make clear, publicly and privately, to Israel our serious concerns about the demolition of Palestinian homes and infrastructure and forced transfer of population in Area C and east Jerusalem. Such acts are contrary to international humanitarian law as well as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and being harmful to the peace process.
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In addition, we continue to support Palestinians facing demolition or eviction in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through support to the Norwegian Refugee Council legal aid programme, which helps individuals to challenge these decisions in the Israeli legal system.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of Palestinian homes that are at risk of demolition in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in (a) east Jerusalem, (b) Areas A and B and (c) Area C. [157596]
Alistair Burt: We have not received any reports on the specific number of Palestinian homes at risk of demolition in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including east Jerusalem and Areas A, B and C.
However less than 1% of Area C has been planned for Palestinian development by the Israeli Civil Administration. Israeli planning permission is required to build any structures 20cm above or below ground in Area C. Palestinian structures built in Area C without permission are liable to be subject to demolition orders by the Israeli authorities. According to Israeli Government statistics, four of 444 Palestinian applications for building permits were approved in 2010.
In addition, since the start of 2013, 247 demolitions have been carried out in east Jerusalem and Area C.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Israeli outposts erected since March 2001 have been dismantled; and how many new outposts have been built. [157597]
Alistair Burt: Since March 2001, only one outpost with permanent infrastructure has been completely demolished, that of Migron. Many temporary structures and less established outposts have been demolished but we do not have information about these. In 2005, in the context of Israeli disengagement from Gaza, 25 settlements were demolished—21 in Gaza and four in the west bank.
Since 2001, 54 outposts have been built. According to Peace Now figures there are currently about 120 settlements and 90 outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.