English Wines
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to support English wine production. [159196]
Mr Heath: During the 2008 EU Wine Reform the UK successfully negotiated a derogation to allow the scope of UK wine production to increase without the threat of our vine plantings being capped by the controls that exist in the main EU wine producing countries.
This outcome was warmly welcomed by the English wine industry. The reform also allowed the UK to establish a national programme to assist the development of the domestic wine industry. After consulting with the industry, funding is now being provided through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) on training to further increase skills and knowledge in this rapidly developing sector. We are also working closely with the UK wine industry to exploit promotion and marketing opportunities offered by the EU scheme for Protected Designations.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will visit the Wroxeter Vineyard in Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency to gain information which will assist him in assessing what steps need to be taken to reduce the regulatory burden in that sector. [159199]
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Mr Heath: The Government have an ongoing commitment to reduce the regulatory burdens faced by UK business and the public. The Red Tape Challenge was launched as a means to capture ideas on where the regulatory burden could be reduced, to highlight which regulations are working and which ones are not working and to assess where things could be simplified. I would urge the proprietor of Wroxeter Vineyard to submit suggestions to the 'Challenge', which can be done online at:
www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
I would also be interested to see any ideas directly in writing.
I sincerely hope that at some point in the future I am able to visit Wroxeter Vineyard to see and hear more about our acclaimed and increasingly successful UK wine production sector.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Business: Loans
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are currently working on the business bank; in which office these staff are based; in which directorate or directorates they are employed; how many such staff were previously employed in his Department before the business bank work stream was initiated; and how many of those were employed in the same directorate with his Department before the business bank work stream was initiated. [159029]
Michael Fallon: There are currently 33.4 full-time equivalent staff working on the business bank initiative from the Department's London and Sheffield offices. These staff are predominantly employed in the Department's Enterprise Directorate and Shareholder Executive directorates. Of these staff, 27 full-time equivalents were previously working in the Department in a range of areas including SME Access to Finance. 3.5 of these full-time equivalents were previously in the Shareholder Executive.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his announcement on 10 April 2013 of additional funding for lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, how many expressions of interest have been received from lenders to date. [159031]
Michael Fallon: As at 3 June we had received 50 expressions of interest from a wide variety of lenders. The Investment Programme continues to remain open to new proposals.
Capita
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department currently spends on contracts with Capita; and how much was spent in each year since 2008. [158457]
Jo Swinson: Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish information on the contracts they award at:
www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
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In addition, Departments publish details of spend at:
http://data.gov.uk
The following expenditure with Capita is recorded for the Department (including UK Trade and Investment Admin).
| Financial year | £ |
This data excludes NDPBs as this information is not held centrally.
The majority of the expenditure for 2008/09 relates to the contract for the Coal Health scheme. This area of work fell under the Department's remit prior to the formation of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
The majority of expenditure since 2012/13 has been made under framework agreements. These agreements cover both generic training and development, and the recruitment of specialist contractors and interims within the Department.
Charity Research Support Fund
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to support the Charity Research Support Fund. [159267]
Mr Willetts: The Government recognise the significant contribution made by charitable funders of research. The charity support element of Quality Related research funding, provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, recognises the public benefit arising from research funded by charities.
The Government are committed to reducing the deficit and rebalancing the economy to achieve sustainable growth—for which the UK's excellent research base will be a vital national asset. I cannot anticipate the outcome of the spending review which will determine levels of future funding and subsequent detailed allocations.
Credit: Advertising
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ban the advertising of payday loans on television. [158690]
Jo Swinson: The Government are very concerned at aggressive, misleading advertising which lures consumers into a payday loan when it is not suitable for them. It is not right to see payday advertising outside job centres, as the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) found, nor is it right for adverts to emphasise speed and ease of access at the expense of giving customers balanced information about the cost of lending. This is why Government and regulators announced in March this year a strong action plan with both immediate and longer-term measures.
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In the short-term, the OFT are taking stringent action on non-compliant payday lenders as a top enforcement priority. Then, from April next year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will take on responsibility for regulating consumer credit. Its strong new powers will enable it to restrict the form and content of advertising and will provide further consumer protections. This Department is in the process of commissioning research into payday lending advertising to help inform the FCA's thinking on how to apply their rules in this area.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) also have a role in tackling payday lending advertising. If they deem a particular advert to be potentially misleading or socially irresponsible, they can ban it. Indeed, only recently they banned a payday loan advert by PDB UK Ltd, trading as Cash Lady, on these grounds. Their ruling can be accessed at:
www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2013/5/PDB-UK-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_219095.aspx
The ASA have recently issued a consumer information statement on their website setting out their role and urging consumers to contact them if they see a problematic advert. For further details please see:
www.asa.org.uk/News-resources/Media-Centre/2013/Payday-loan-ads.aspx
Credit: Licensing
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average waiting time for a consumer credit licence to be issued from the date of application to the date of issue is in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK. [159228]
Jo Swinson: For Scotland, the annual figures for 2010 to 2012 show a range between a mean average of 21 days in 2012 to a mean average of 26 in 2011.
For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the annual figures for 2010 to 2012 show a range between a mean average of 23 days in 2012 to a mean average of 27 in 2011.
| Total number of applications | Mean average processing time (working days) | |||||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
Employment Tribunals Service
Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 85W, on unfair dismissal, if he has conducted an evaluation of the effect of the decision to allow employment tribunal judges to sit alone. [159274]
Jo Swinson: I refer the hon. Member to my previous response of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 85W. The Department is working with Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) to collect data to evaluate the impact of a number of employment tribunal policy measures such as employment tribunal judges to sit alone in unfair dismissal cases.
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Factories: Foreign Workers
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the role that British businesses can play in ensuring the welfare of workers in factories abroad. [159245]
Jo Swinson: Responsible supply chain management is an important issue, which good businesses should understand and take seriously as part of their corporate responsibility activities. From October 2013, listed companies will be required to report on community, employee and human rights issues including through their supply chains.
Later this year, we will publish a framework for action on corporate responsibility, which will consider, among other things, supply chain management.
Overseas Companies
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what statistics are (a) collected, (b) commissioned and (c) subscribed to by UK Trade and Investment on (i) the number of UK firms operating in each country overseas, (ii) the size of their operations, (iii) the degree of their market penetration and (iv) the performance of UK firms against competitors. [159030]
Michael Fallon: UK Trade and Investment relies primarily on statistics collected by a range of other national and international organisations. Details of these sources are set out here by topic. In addition, UKTI commissions an annual survey of around 900 UK firms who export which collects detailed data on international business strategies, modes of engagement in international business, and the size of their international sales relative to their total sales. Full reports on these surveys are available at the following link:
http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/aboutukti/ourperformance/research/barrierstointernationalisation.html
Other sources of statistics used by UKTI:
(i) The number of firms operating in each country overseas:
These data are available for the UK for goods exports only, from the following:
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/RTS/Pages/default.aspx
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/international_trade_by_enterprise_characteristics
(ii) The size of their overseas operations
UKTI has recently commissioned academic researchers from LSE to undertake analysis of data on this topic from the ONS International Trade in Services Survey and on HMRC data on goods exports. Results for the goods exports analysis are expected in July, and on the analysis of services data later this year.
Some data on the value of firms' overseas sales are also collected annually for a sample of firms through the UKTI ‘Internationalisation Strategies, Barriers, and Awareness’ survey, cited above. This survey does not collect data on size of operations within any individual overseas country.
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(iii) the degree of market penetration and (iv) their performance vis-à-vis competitors
UKTI draws on statistics from a range of international sources for analysis of these issues, as follows. UKTI receives a regular report on UK trade performance globally and in 29 key markets, which is prepared by BIS statisticians using these international sources. The ways in which these statistical sources are used to investigate these issues in further depth are illustrated in a recent BIS Economics Paper on UK trade performance across markets and sectors, available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-trade-performance-across-markets-and-sectors
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/
Various ONS trade and FDI publications
http://www.ons.gov.uk
http://comtrade.un.org/
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/servicetrade/default.aspx
http://www.trademap.org/tm_light/SelectionMenu.aspx
http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/newxtweb/mainxtnet.do
http://unctadstat.unctad.org/TableViewer/tableView.aspx
World Trade Organization (WTO)
http://stat.wto.org/StatisticalProgram/WSDBStatProgramHome.aspx?Lanquage=E
Overseas Companies: Developing Countries
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve the transparency of UK companies operating in developing countries. [158734]
Jo Swinson: We have successfully pressed for strong rules within the accounting directive to ensure that oil, gas, mining and forestry companies report the payments they make to governments in all of the countries where they operate. These rules will apply to all large and listed companies across the EU. This is designed to shine a light on where this money is actually going, allowing citizens to hold their governments to account over how it is spent and ensure the sale of their natural resources benefits the many, not the few.
Last month, the UK Government signed up to the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI); a global standard ensuring transparency in this sector. It is important that we get our own house in order if we are to influence other countries. As the UK's EITI Champion, I am responsible for driving implementation in the UK, working with industry and civil society to ensure we provide information that stimulates public debate. The first public event designed to shape the UK's EITI will be held on 9 July 2013 at the BIS Conference Centre.
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Overseas Trade: BRIC Countries
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the importance of improving bilateral trading relationships with the BRIC countries. [158740]
Michael Fallon: The 2011 Trade & Investment for Growth White Paper set out the reasons why it is in the UK national interest to ensure Britain can take advantage of opportunities for future prosperity through bilateral trade and investment with Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Following on from this, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, deployed a range of criteria in its 2011 corporate strategy to assess which emerging and high growth markets to focus on. These included:
market size and potential for growth; the Government's assessment of their strategic political and economic importance; an assessment of the security situation; strength of scientific, technical and research base; performance of UK businesses relative to competitors; market match with UK capability; and the presence of active local partners keen to strengthen trading links with the UK.
These criteria enabled UKTI to identify twenty markets (including Brazil, Russia, India and China) where efforts to improve bilateral trade will particularly benefit UK growth. The Government is also among the main advocates for the EU's work to liberalise trade with these economies, through the EU's ambitious programme of bilateral trade negotiations and through work at the World Trade Organisation.
Between 2009 and 2012 UK goods exports to Brazil increased by 49%, to Russia by 133%, to India by 59% and to China by 96%, demonstrating the importance of bilateral trade with these markets.
Overseas Trade: Central America
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs about the potential for improving the UK's bilateral trading relationship with countries in Central America. [158739]
Michael Fallon: In conjunction with other ministerial colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the National Security Council regularly reviews the UK's bilateral trading relationships on a global basis.
The Government are also among the principal advocates for the EU's work to liberalise trade, be that through the EU's ambitious programme of bilateral trade negotiations or through work at the World Trade Organisation, with a view to overcoming tariff and non-tariff barriers that UK companies face when trying to export manufactured goods. Six of the seven Central American countries have signed an Association Agreement with the European Union; the agreement includes a large trade chapter.
It is also the Government's commitment to give new energy to the relationship the UK has with Latin America. Our objective is to reinvigorate relationships and place ourselves as partner of choice in the region. We have
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strengthened our diplomatic presence on the ground and significantly increased the number of ministerial visits. Under what has now become known as the Canning Agenda, we have established a network of prosperity officers in the region which enables us to remove some of the barriers to trade and develop commercial opportunities for UK business in the region.
Our engagement activity in Central America is resulting in enhanced and deepened bilateral relationships. Last November a new British embassy opened in El Salvador. We have also established a stronger relationship with Panama. Our assistance in the recent establishment of the British International School in Panama will promote the English language and British educational expertise in support of Panama's education reforms. The UK trade mission to Nicaragua in February 2013 was the first in many years and is a concrete example of how UK businesses are re-engaging with the region.
Refrigeration
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps to support the natural refrigerant sector in the UK the Government (a) have taken in the last three years and (b) are planning to take. [158905]
Michael Fallon: The chemicals industry, including natural refrigerants producers, is extremely important to the UK economy and its transition to a low carbon economy.
Government is supporting this sector in a number of ways:
in April 2011 we extended the Capital Allowances Short Life Asset Regime for plant and machinery from four years to eight years;
for the period April 2012 to 31 March 2017 we have introduced 100% Enhanced Capital Allowances for certain plant and machinery expenditure; and
in January 2013 we increased the Annual Investment Allowance from £25,000 to £250,000 for two years.
To drive technological innovation and future economic growth we have established a network of seven High Value Catapult centres, as well as the first High Value Manufacturing Catapult, with a £140 million commitment over a six-year period through to 2017.
We have also invested in a £61.5 million portfolio of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centres. Working with Catapults and in conjunction with industry, EPSRCs will enable business to access advanced technologies. To reinforce this, four EPSRC £1 million, commercially-focused, manufacturing fellowships have been established; a third call of which has also been issued.
Teachers: Training
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to extending the chemistry initial teacher training scholarship scheme to primary school initial teacher training. [158555]
Mr Laws: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Education.
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The purpose of the scholarship scheme is to provide support to subjects where there are difficulties recruiting sufficient high-quality candidates to initial teacher training (ITT). Through our bursary scheme, we currently recruit sufficient high-quality candidates to primary ITT. Therefore, we have no current plans to extend the chemistry ITT scholarship scheme to primary ITT.
Textiles: Apprentices
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships have been created in the textiles industry in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012. [159120]
Matthew Hancock: The following table shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts in the 'Fashion and Textiles' Framework in: Barnsley Central constituency, Yorkshire and the Humber and England. Final data are shown for the 2009/10 to 2011/12 academic years. We publish apprenticeship starts at region, local education authority and parliamentary constituency levels of geography, therefore data for South Yorkshire are not presented.
| Apprenticeship Programme Starts in the 'Fashion and Textiles' Framework by Geography, 2009/10 to 2011/12 | |||
| Geography | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. "*" indicates a base value of less than 5. 2. Geographic breakdowns are based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Figures are based on the geographic boundaries as of May 2010. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |||
Trade Promotion
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage nations outside the EU to purchase UK-manufactured goods. [158745]
Michael Fallon: UK Trade & Investment's (UKTI) corporate strategy, Britain Open for Business, sets out how we will encourage nations outside the EU to purchase UK goods by offering British companies expert advice and practical support through a range of programmes that help them succeed internationally. This includes focusing our customers' attention on 20 high growth and emerging markets of particular potential, and prioritising our efforts on sectors offering greatest opportunity for the UK.
In support of these efforts, the autumn statement in December 2012 announced a £70 million increase in UKTI's annual budget to help deliver services to more exporters and help refocus UKTI activities on the highest value opportunities and emerging markets.
The Government are also among the main advocates for the EU's work to liberalise trade, be that through the EU's ambitious programme of bilateral trade negotiations or through work at the World Trade
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Organisation, with a view to overcoming tariff and non-tariff barriers that UK companies face when trying to export manufactured goods. The UK has pushed hard for the launch of trade negotiations with our major non-EU trading partners such as the USA and Japan and for negotiations with high-growth emerging markets such as those in the ASEAN bloc. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is prioritising trade liberalisation in his role as current chair of the G8.
In addition, the Government's GREAT campaign showcases the very best of what Britain has to offer. The Government is focused on driving the campaign forward in key markets (China, India, US and Brazil), and targeting a number of new emerging markets outside the EU where GREAT can help the UK gain a competitive advantage for the future.
Health
NHS Services: England and Wales
17. Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that residents in England registered with GP practices in Wales have access to NHS services in England. [158882]
Anna Soubry: I recently met with my hon. Friend the Member for Forest of Dean (Mr Harper) and the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss the issue of English patients registered with Welsh GP practices accessing English NHS services. I have asked NHS England to look into this issue and to work with the Welsh Assembly Government to reach a satisfactory solution for English patients.
Accident and Emergency Departments
19. Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the performance of hospital accident and emergency departments. [158884]
Anna Soubry: Performance in hospital accident and emergency departments continues to improve.
Latest figures for the week ending 2 June 2013 show 96.8% of patients were seen within four hours. This is the sixth consecutive week the standard has been achieved.
This is the highest performing week since September 2012.
Tobacco Packaging
20. Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the introduction of standardised tobacco packaging; and if he will make a statement. [158885]
21. Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the introduction of standardised tobacco packaging; and if he will make a statement. [158887]
Anna Soubry:
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
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of the consultation responses, evidence and other relevant information. A report of the consultation will be published in due course.
Obesity
22. Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure co-ordinated work to tackle obesity levels in the UK. [158888]
Anna Soubry: ‘A Call to Action on Obesity in England’, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, sets out our strategy and the role of key partners in the new public health system. We are working closely with other partners, including business. We have set out two new national ambitions for achieving a downward trend in the level of excess weight by 2020.
Ambulance Services: East of England
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to require the East of England Ambulance Service to improve service levels. [159024]
Anna Soubry: On 1 April 2013, the NHS Trust Development Authority (NHS TDA) took responsibility for the performance management of national health service trusts, the assurance of quality, governance and risk in NHS trusts and the delivery and management of the foundation trust pipeline. The NHS TDA works with all NHS trusts, including the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, to help them to deliver sustainable, high quality services to the patients they serve.
As a result of concerns about service delivery, the NHS TDA commissioned a review by Dr Anthony Marsh to look into the governance arrangements at the trust. This review has been completed and the report will be published shortly.
An interim trust Chair, Dr Geoff Harris, has been appointed and will work closely with the trust chief executive and the executive team to support the delivery of the trust's turnaround plan and performance improvements.
Cancer
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures his Department and NHS England will use to improve cancer patient experience across all of the domains of the NHS Outcomes Framework; [159211]
(2) what plans he has to ensure that providers of NHS funded cancer services and commissioners of those services are held to account for improving cancer patient experience. [159212]
Anna Soubry:
The Mandate to NHS England requires it to deliver continued improvements in relation to patients' experience of care, including cancer care. This improvement area corresponds to Domain 4 of the NHS Outcomes Framework (NHS OF) ‘Ensuring that people have a positive experience of care’, and NHS England will need to demonstrate progress in improving patients' experience against the specific outcome indicators in the domain. Although there are no disease specific
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indicators in this domain, those that are included cover a range of national health service care settings which will be relevant to the experiences of cancer patients across all the domains of the NHS OF.
‘Ensuring that people have a positive experience of care’ is also Domain 4 of the Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set (CCG OIS). The CCG OIS indicators in this domain, many of which are shared with the NHS OF, will both hold CCGs to account for—and provide information for the public on—improvements in patient experience achieved through commissioning services from providers.
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Capita
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department currently spends on contracts with Capita; and how much was spent in each year since 2008. [158467]
Dr Poulter: Information on the Department's spend with Capita for all financial years from 2008-09 to 2012-13 is shown in the following table.
| £ | ||||||
| Spend (Excluding VAT) | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | Grand total |
In July 2008, the Department implemented a new business management system (BMS) which collects enhanced detail on the categorisation, purpose and value of orders. This has now given the Department the scope to be more specific about the nature of each categorisation. However, information on the period of engagement prior to this is not held on BMS.
Emergency Services
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on steps to enable local fire and rescue services to take over responsibilities for emergency ambulance response red 1 and red 2. [159023]
Anna Soubry: The Department has been in discussions with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Home Office about promoting greater collaboration between emergency services, where appropriate.
Closer co-operation between the emergency services is clearly desirable and should be encouraged and incentivised, within the bounds of what is reasonably practicable and affordable. However, any more wide-ranging measures designed to bring the ambulance services and other emergency services together, operationally and/or legally, would have to have a clear evidence base in terms of clear benefits, not only in monetary terms, but also in terms of clinical outcomes for patients.
General Practitioners
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount was paid to GPs for fulfilling the Record 2 indicator of the Quality Outcomes Framework on legibility of records under the terms of the 2004 GP contract in each year in which that indicator was in force. [159276]
Dr Poulter: The Record 2 indicator was included in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) in 2004-05 and 2005-06. The Health and Social Care Information Centre has advised that data available cover general practices in England, although Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland also have a QOF.
| Number of participating practices in QOF | Record 2 QOF points achieved | Amount paid to GP practice per achievement point gained (£) | Total cost (£) | |
| Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, Statement of Financial Entitlements 2005 and 2006 | ||||
The Records 2 indicator was worth 1 point. In 2004-05 practices were paid £75 per point achieved, and this was increased to £124.60 in 2005-06. Over the two years the indicator was in use, a total of £1,658,705 was paid for the achievement of the Records 2 indicator.
Participation by practices in QOF is voluntary; however participation rates are high.
Health Education: Young People
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives he has given to health and well-being boards to encourage them to invest in drug and alcohol prevention work aimed at young people. [158528]
Norman Lamb:
Local authority commissioners are working through health and well-being boards to develop a comprehensive analysis of health and social care needs in each local area in joint strategic needs assessments, and to translate these into action through joint health and well-being strategies and their own commissioning plans, including for public health. This will provide an
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opportunity for needs around drug prevention to be identified and addressed as appropriate through action by the local authority and other partners.
One of the most effective approaches for preventing young people from using drugs is to improve their general life skills and resilience. The Department's Youth Social Marketing Strategy will set out how we intend to help young people build these skills and be able to make sensible choices on a wide range of risky behaviours, including drug use. The Public Health Grant allocated to local authorities during 2013-14 includes funding for the Healthy Child Programme for five to 19-year-olds.
The Public Health Outcomes Framework (2012) is designed to help us keep track of how well we are doing in improving and protecting the nation's health based on a number of indicators. A copy of the framework has already been placed in the Library. Work is now taking place to develop a Health Premium Incentive Scheme, based on these indicators, which will reward local authorities for progress in improving the health of their local populations and reducing health inequalities. Details on the high-level design of the incentive scheme were included in ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Update on Public Health Funding’ (2012). A copy has already been placed in the Library.
Health Services
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has given to clinical commissioning groups and health and well-being boards on co-ordinating health commissioning for people with (a) alcohol addiction, (b) drugs addiction and (c) dual-diagnosis mental health and addiction problems. [158529]
Norman Lamb: For the treatment system to be effective it needs to be locally led and locally owned, with local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, working with health and wellbeing boards, to identify the health and social care needs of local areas and developing a strategy for addressing these needs. The role for central Government is carrying out research to develop and publish an evidence base as to ‘what works’ and in promoting the sharing of best practice.
In March 2013, the Department published statutory guidance to support health and wellbeing boards undertake Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies. This focuses on the methodology for producing comprehensive and high quality assessments and strategies, and emphasises the importance of these being locally-owned processes for developing evidence based priorities for commissioning. This is in addition to previous guidance issued by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence which dealt with specific subjects, such as maternity services for women with alcohol and/or drug addiction.
Public Health England provides local authority commissioners and health and wellbeing boards with an annual Joint Strategic Needs Assessment support pack to help them identify local priorities on alcohol and drug .prevention, treatment and recovery. The pack includes bespoke prevalence figures and National Drug Treatment Monitoring System data as well as key principles that they might consider when developing plans for an integrated recovery systems.
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Hospices
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Department's announcement of 10 April 2013, when the hospices allocated funding under the capital grants programme will formally receive funds. [158760]
Norman Lamb: In the last week NHS England, with the assistance of Help the Hospices, have been able to confirm all 179 grants to all organisations who were previously notified of their award in March. Funds are being made available as required in line with the conditions of the grant and the needs of each schemes and each recipient is now aware of how to access these funds.
The investment of £60 million in the hospice movement is a sign of our commitment to supporting hospices with their crucial work and will benefit patients throughout the country.
Legal Costs
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the 20 highest amounts paid for external legal advice by his Department were in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; to whom such payments were paid; and for what reasons the legal advice was sought. [158620]
Dr Poulter: Expenditure on legal advice for the core Department taken from the central procurement system for the three financial years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, along with to whom expenditure was made and the reasons for the legal advice is set out in the following tables.
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Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on external legal advice from Queen's Counsel (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012. [158642]
Dr Poulter: The Department does not have available expenditure figures relating to external legal advice obtained from Queen's Counsels between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and since 4 September 2012.
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on external legal advice (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012. [158660]
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Dr Poulter: The Department's spend on legal advice between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and separately since 4 September 2012 is contained in the following table.
| £ | |
|
Department of Health external legal advice spend between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 | |
|
Department of Health external legal advice spend since 4 September 2012 |
These figures relate to the obtaining of legal advice only and therefore exclude fees paid for external legal representation in litigation. The figures above exclude advice by colleagues from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the highest day rate paid for external legal advice by his Department since 7 May 2010 was. [158677]
Dr Poulter: The Department does not have central records of individual day rates for external legal advice.
Multiple Sclerosis
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Risk-Sharing Scheme (RSS) that makes disease-modifying treatments available to those with multiple sclerosis; what steps he is taking to ensure there is a review of the RSS pending publication of 10-year data; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the provision of treatment of multiple sclerosis meet its associated care, support costs and ensures that new treatments for multiple sclerosis are made available to patients. [158689]
Norman Lamb: The Multiple Sclerosis Risk Sharing Scheme monitors the actual benefits achieved by the four Risk Sharing Scheme medicines over a 10-year period. Benefits are compared every two years and the data for years four and six are currently being analysed prior to publication. The 10-year data collection is due to be complete in 2015.
Under the NHS Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Group (Responsibilities and Standing rules) Regulations 2012, national health service commissioners are also required to fund the four multiple sclerosis treatments covered by the Multiple Sclerosis Risk Sharing Scheme for patients meeting the published clinical criteria.
NHS commissioners are also legally required to fund treatments recommended in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisal guidance, including recommended treatments for multiple sclerosis.
We understand that NHS England is working closely with stakeholders including patient groups and the pharmaceutical industry, through its specialised clinical reference group, to ensure that new treatments are assessed and where clinically appropriate adopted by the NHS in a timely manner, ensuring equitable access for multiple sclerosis sufferers in England.
Associated care and support costs for multiple sclerosis patients are the responsibility of clinical commissioning groups.
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Muscular Dystrophy: West Midlands
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to address the lack of a specialist neuromuscular care adviser and a specialist neuromuscular consultant in the West Midlands since the agreement of funding for those posts in March 2010. [158606]
Norman Lamb: On 1 April 2013 NHS England became responsible for commissioning specialised services, improving standards and national consistency. This is intended to guarantee equitable access to services across the country. This includes diagnostic services for adults and children with rare neuromuscular disorders.
NHS England commissions some elements of neurological services through specialist services commissioning arrangements, which includes specialised neuromuscular services.
NHS: Pensions
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on (a) clinical and (b) non-clinical pensions in the NHS since 2005. [158534]
Dr Poulter: Most staff working in the national health service are entitled to contribute to the NHS Pension Scheme (NHSPS). NHS employers are required to pay employer contributions (currently 14% of pensionable pay) for staff contributing to the scheme.
It is not possible to provide segregated employer contribution data for the time period specified. However, estimates based on data extracted from the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) since April 2008 are shown in the following table.
| Billion | ||
| Financial year | Clinical | Non-clinical |
| Source: Electronic Staff Record (ESR) Data Warehouse. | ||
The ESR is the integrated payroll and human resources system for most NHS organisations, which has been in place since April 2008. Validated data on employer pension contributions split by clinical and non-clinical staff is not available. However, it can be estimated for Hospital and Community Health Services Staff using information from ESR Data Warehouse. Estimates for 2012-13 are not yet available.
For the purposes of these estimates, non-clinical staff are defined as managers, administrative and clerical staff, and maintenance and works staff. Clinical staff includes doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, scientific technical and therapy staff, ambulance staff and their support staff.
Information provided by the ESR Data Warehouse is a monthly snap shot of the live ESR system. Organisations which do not use ESR include two trusts, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In addition this data does not include employer contributions from
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general practitioners and practice staff working in general practices, general dental practitioners, or social enterprises and local authorities that employ staff with access to the NHSPS.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people claimed free prescriptions in each of the last five years; and what the average per person cost was in each such year; [159268]
(2) what amount his Department spent on free prescriptions in each of the last five years. [159285]
Norman Lamb: Information is not collected centrally on the number of people claiming free prescriptions.
Calculating the costs to the Department of free prescriptions would depend on how individuals might respond if free prescriptions were no longer available, especially if individuals made greater use of the pre-payment certificates. Estimates for the cost to the Department of provision of free prescriptions for the latest available years (2007 to 2011) are shown in the following table:
| Estimated cost (£ million) | |||
| Number of free prescription items(millions) | Scenario 1(1) estimated cost including greater use of pre-payment certificates | Scenario 2(2) estimated theoretical maximum cost if no change in use of pre-payment certificates | |
| (1 )Scenario 1 assumes that three quarters of the population aged 60 and over would use pre-payment certificates to pay for prescriptions should exemption be withdrawn. (2) The estimated theoretical maximum revenue (Scenario 2) is based on the assumption that all those who receive free prescriptions would pay for prescription charges at the point of dispensing, paying the full price for each prescription item. Source: Numbers of prescription items are taken from prescriptions dispensed in the Community, Statistics for England published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. | |||
Social Services
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has undertaken of the effects on disabled and older people of increasing the Fair Access to Care Services Criteria in an area; [159206]
(2) if he will take steps to ensure that services provided by the NHS in Bradford are not affected by any change in the Fair Access to Care Services Criteria made by Bradford Council; [159207]
(3) what research his Department has undertaken into the effect on the NHS of local authority decisions to increase their Fair Access to Care Services Criteria. [159208]
Norman Lamb:
In the last spending round the Government prioritised funding for social care, and the settlement allowed local authorities to maintain the current levels of eligibility for care and support. However, under the current legal framework, local authorities are
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free to set their eligibility threshold for adult social care services. Local authorities base their own threshold in response to local needs and circumstances.
Bradford council are currently out to consultation on changing their Fair Access to Care Services criteria levels.
The consultation about Fair Access to Care Services runs until 4 August 2013 and has been discussed at the Bradford Central and Bradford District Clinical Commissioning Group's senior management team meeting. It will form part of their Clinical Board discussions in the next two months. They will be contributing to this consultation.
There was widespread support during the consultation on the draft Care and Support Bill to introduce national eligibility criteria (formerly known as Fair Access to Care Services). People have told us that the process for determining who is eligible for care and support is confusing and unfair. There will be a single eligibility decision for all types of on-going care and support; This will create a clear and transparent process for all users and carers.
The Care Bill includes a provision to set the national minimum threshold in regulations. When setting the national minimum threshold we will have to take account of a number of factors. The threshold will be determined as part of the spending round, which will be announced on 26 June.
Local authorities will be free to set their eligibility threshold at a more generous level but will not be able to tighten them beyond the national minimum threshold. The national minimum threshold will be in place from April 2015, subject to the passage of legislation.
The Department has not undertaken any research into the effect on the national health service of local authority decisions to increase their Fair Access to Care Services Criteria.
Deputy Prime Minister
Electoral Register
Chris Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his most recent estimate is of the number of unregistered voters. [158538]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Government do not hold this information. However, the Cabinet Office has funded research by the Electoral Commission into the completeness and accuracy of the electoral registers in Great Britain. The Commission has also undertaken research on continuous electoral registration in Northern Ireland.
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Reports based on this research are available on the Electoral Commission's website:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter-registration/individual-electoral-registration/research-on-voter-registration
General Elections: Voting Behaviour
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what proportion of (a) registered voters and (b) people who were entitled to vote voted in each general election in the last 30 years. [159057]
Miss Chloe Smith: The number of registered parliamentary electors who voted in UK general elections in the last 30 years is set out in the following table:
| General election turnouts since 1983 | ||
| Turnout (million) | Proportion (percentage) | |
The Office for National Statistics has advised that no data are collected on the number of people who are eligible to vote but who choose not to register.
Transport
Accountancy
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the names, job titles, area of work, term of appointment and civil service equivalent grade are of personnel currently seconded to his Department from the big four accountancy firms. [159050]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not have any personnel currently seconded to the Department from the big four accountancy firms.
Capita
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department currently spends on contracts with Capita; and how much was spent in each year since 2008. [158473]
Norman Baker: The level of expenditure by the Department for Transport on contracts with Capita since 2008 is shown in the table below.
| £ | |||||||
| Agency | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 | 2013/14* | Total |
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| * Spend as of 5 June 2013. | |||||||
Driving: Licensing
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with the Post Office to discuss the implementation of new digital technology to process driving licence applications in post offices. [158749]
Stephen Hammond: Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the Gov.uk website via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-transparency-data#meetings
East Coast Railway Line
Mr Darling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the franchise for the East Coast Main Line will be put out to tender; and when he expects the contract to be awarded. [159067]
Mr Simon Burns: When the Secretary of State for Transport announced the new schedule for rail refranchising on 26 March 2013 he also published the Prior Information Notice (PIN) detailing the key dates of the new East Coast Main Line programme:
| Franchise | Publish OJEU | Issue ITT | Contract award | Franchise start |
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission new survey data for use in calculating the benefits of High Speed 2 to business travellers. [158608]
Mr Simon Burns: The HS2 appraisal is consistent with the Department's standard transport appraisal guidance (WebTAG) used across all departmental transport schemes. WebTAG is kept under continuous review and is updated annually to ensure that the appraisal of the Department's spending is based on the best available evidence and analysis.
When necessary the Department will commission new survey data to inform appraisal and where appropriate this will be applied to HS2.
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when HS2 Ltd will (a) complete and (b) publish an independent audit of passenger demand forecasts and analysis. [158610]
Mr Simon Burns: The analysis of HS2 conducted to inform the next update to the Business Case will be conducted in line with the recommendations outlined in the MacPherson report ‘Review of Quality Assurance of Government models’ which contains recommendations on independent audit.
HS2 Ltd aims to publish key documents which describe the assurance process applied to this analytical work later this year.
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to review his Department's benefit to cost ratio for High Speed 2 to take into account the assumptions on the relationship between passenger numbers and GDP growth that were published in August 2012. [158611]
Mr Simon Burns: The HS2 appraisal is consistent with the Department's standard transport appraisal guidance (WebTAG) used across all departmental transport schemes. WebTAG is kept under continuous review and is updated annually to ensure that the appraisal of the Department's spending is based on the best available evidence and analysis.
The Economic Case for HS2 will be updated to support the Phase 2 consultation and the passage of the Hybrid Bill. This update will use the latest evidence available and will be consistent with WebTAG guidance.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has undertaken an evaluation of the proposal to restore the Stonebridge Railway and link it with the High Speed 2 interchange at Stonebridge; and what assessment he has made of the effect that this proposal would have on connectivity between the High Speed 2 interchange and (a) Coventry, (b) Nuneaton, (c) Tamworth and (d) the wider region. [159277]
Mr McLoughlin: The proposal for the restoration of the Stonebridge Railway and a link to HS2 would be a regional rail scheme rather than an integral part of HS2. It is, therefore, for the relevant local transport authorities to consider and determine if they wish to prioritise it.
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the Hybrid Bill process for High Speed 2 is compliant with (a) the public participation requirements of the Aarhus Convention and (b) the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. [R] [159346]
Mr McLoughlin: The Government intends to lay a motion in the House proposing that Standing Orders are amended to address these requirements. In particular they would incorporate a period of consultation on the Environmental Statement between introduction and second reading for projects promoted via a hybrid Bill. This follows the precedent set by the Crossrail Act and will ensure that the decisions made at Second and Third Reading on HS2 are informed by the public's views on its environmental effects.
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It will be for the House to decide whether these changes should be made but the Government's intention is that the motion should be laid later this month.
Legal Costs
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the 20 highest amounts paid for external legal advice by his Department were in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; to whom such payments were paid; and for what reasons the legal advice was sought; [158626]
(2) how much his Department spent on external legal advice from Queen's Counsel (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012; [158650]
(3) how much his Department spent on external legal advice (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012. [158668]
Norman Baker: The Department can only provide complete information regarding its spend on external legal advice, including advice from Queen's Counsel, for the periods in question at disproportionate cost.
However, some information is available from its central finance systems and those of its executive agencies, where that information has been held in an appropriate format and where it may be possible to disaggregate legal advice costs from other costs. Where this information is readily available it will be summarised into a table to be deposited in the Library of the House.
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the highest day rate paid for external legal advice by his Department since 7 May 2010 was. [158685]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not procure or contract external legal services on a day rate basis. Charges may be set on a by case basis or are chargeable per minute. However, central records show that the highest equivalent day rate paid by this Department for external legal advice since May 2010, based on an eight hour day was 5,400.
Light Dues
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to review the level of light dues in the remainder of this Parliament. [158524]
Stephen Hammond: Light dues levels are reviewed annually, in conjunction with the Lights Advisory Committee, who represent the views of the shipping industry.
Motor Vehicles: Testing
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road (a) accidents, (b) fatalities and (c) serious injuries have involved vehicles exempt from MOT requirements in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [159105]
Stephen Hammond: The five years of figures available are as follows:
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| Total accidents | Number of people killed | Number of people seriously injured | |
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on removing the MOT exemption for mobile cranes which use public roads. [159106]
Stephen Hammond: In the last 12 months I have received representations from three MPs, an MSP, a private individual and two trade bodies. I have advised them that I am waiting for the outcome of the negotiations on European Roadworthiness Regulations currently being finalised before considering amending our domestic legislation.
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 in ensuring that vehicles exempted from MOT testing requirements meet road safety standards. [159176]
Stephen Hammond: There has been no recent assessment of the The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Road safety standards are covered by other legislation.
Piers
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds his Department makes available to upgrade local authority managed seafront piers. [158452]
Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport does not provide grants to local authorities for the maintenance of piers. Local authority managed piers may be eligible for support under the Coastal Communities Fund, jointly managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Big Lottery Fund, where they meet the key criteria on job creation and growth.
Railways: Medway
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of passengers on trains to London from (a) Gillingham station and (b) Rainham station in each of the last five years. [158773]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not hold this information. Southeastern is responsible for running these services and may be able to provide further information.
Railways: Windermere
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to electrify the Windermere branch line; and if he will make a statement. [158771]
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Mr Simon Burns: Network Rail and Train Operators are currently developing a business case for proposed electrification between Windermere and Oxhenholme. I expect the study to conclude later in the year.
Rescue Services: Aberdeen
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the reasons are for the time taken to upgrade Aberdeen's coastguard co-ordination centre; [159086]
(2) when he expects Aberdeen's coastguard co-ordination centre to be upgraded. [159087]
Stephen Hammond: As was outlined in my predecessor's announcement to the House on 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 161, the transition to the new structure will happen progressively up to March 2015.
The current plan is that, following the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) becoming operational, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Aberdeen will migrate into the new national network and become a Coastguard Operations Centre (CGOC) during financial year 2014/15.
The implementation of the programme is driven by operational requirements and therefore migration and closure dates are subject to ongoing review.
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish all (a) reports and (b) correspondence received by (i) his Department and (ii) the Marine and Coastguard Agency regarding safety issues relating to long-term staff shortages at Aberdeen coastguard co-ordination station. [159088]
Stephen Hammond: Neither the Department for Transport nor the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) have received reports or correspondence relating to safety issues or long term staff shortages at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Aberdeen which have caused the MCA any concern. The Agency actively keeps its operational capability at all Coastguard Centres under careful review and takes action to manage safety risks through, for example, collaborative working and technical pairing across centres.
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) for what reasons Aberdeen's coastguard co-ordination centre was not fully staffed for the year ended March 2013; [159089]
(2) what measures are in place to ensure that Aberdeen's coastguard maintains a full complement of staff at all times. [159090]
Stephen Hammond: The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Aberdeen was not fully staffed for the year ended March 2013 due to retirements, resignations and ill health. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is currently engaged in recruitment activity to fill the existing vacancies.
Where MRCCs are experiencing reduced staffing levels the MCA is utilising existing “pairing” arrangements and other support measures as necessary to maintain operational integrity. Regarding Aberdeen specifically, during periods of reduced manning the pairing arrangements enable support to be through a fixed link from the MRCC in Shetland and via dial up links from the MRCCs in Belfast, Stornoway, Humber or Liverpool.
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Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of staff morale at Aberdeen coastguard co-ordination centre. [159091]
Stephen Hammond: During any major change initiative like the Future Coastguard Programme it is recognised that all affected staff will experience differing individual emotions which will inevitably have an impact on collective morale. It is the responsibility of both senior and local managers to support staff through the period of change and this is being undertaken at all maritime rescue co-ordination centres including Aberdeen. For example the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has signed a pre-redundancy agreement with the trade unions which outlines the steps that will be taken to avoid compulsory redundancies.
Roads: Yorkshire and the Humber
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many road closures there have been in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years; [159269]
(2) for what period of time roads in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber have been closed in each of the last five years. [159271]
Norman Baker: This information is not held centrally as individual traffic authorities are responsible for road closures within their areas.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
British Indian Ocean Territory
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his (a) US and (b) Mauritian counterpart on the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Islands). [158341]
Mark Simmonds: I have had no recent discussions on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) with my US counterparts. Foreign and Commonwealth Office and State Department officials have regular discussions about all bilateral matters, including BIOT. The most recent US-UK BIOT Pol-Mil annual talks were held in London in October 2012. BIOT is often raised in our bilateral discussions with Mauritius.
Henderson Island
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the rat infestation on Henderson Island. [158346]
Mark Simmonds: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 April 2013. Official Report, column 635W.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has been closely monitoring the situation on Henderson Island following the unsuccessful 2011 eradication attempt. A further research trip, funded by the Darwin Initiative, is planned for July and August. The near-removal of rats from the island has allowed many of Henderson's birds to significantly increase their populations and the RSPB are in discussion with the Territory on next steps for Pitcairn and Henderson. The UK Government will
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continue working with the Territory and partner organisations to protect the environment and biodiversity of these internationally important islands.
India
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to raise the case of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar with his counterparts in the Indian Government and to press for his death sentence to be commuted to a life sentence. [158829]
Mr Swire: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 34W.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Indian Government regarding concerns raised by Amnesty International, Reprieve UK, Human Rights Watch and other organisations regarding the treatment of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar. [158830]
Mr Swire: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 34W.
The UK will continue to monitor this case closely, as we will in all cases where the death penalty has been given as a sentence. I note that there are concerns about the treatment of Mr Bhullar during his imprisonment. We will continue to call on the Indian Government to expedite the ratification of the United Nations convention against torture and its optional protocol, and adopt robust domestic legislation to that effect. The British Government made a specific recommendation on that issue during India's universal periodic review in May last year.
Kenya
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the total £19.9 million Mau Mau settlement will go to law firms representing Kenyans. [159197]
Mark Simmonds: A £6 million proportion of the total settlement was paid to Leigh Day in respect of their legal costs.
Montserrat
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the potential threat from the Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat. [158345]
Mark Simmonds: The Soufriere Hills volcano remains one of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the world. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) monitors it round the clock and its scientists produce weekly activity reports. These are available on the MVO website:
www.mvo.ms
In addition, further analysis and advice is provided by the Montserrat Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) which reviews scientific data with the MVO to aid future forecasting on possible activity. The SAC reports
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annually to the Governor and its reports are also available on the MVO website. The volcano remains active but has been in a state of pause since the last major eruption in February 2010. In November 2011 the hazard level was reduced, allowing daytime access to certain parts of the former exclusion zone. Hazard levels and access remain under constant review. All of these measures have substantially reduced the risk to Montserrat's population.
Palestinians
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding access for tourists to the west bank. [158831]
Alistair Burt: We have not received any representations regarding access for tourists to the west bank. However the Government continues to assess that Israeli restrictions on movement and access in the west bank and Gaza are the single biggest obstacle to trade and economic development.
We continue to lobby the Israeli Government to ease restrictions on movement and access.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with his counterpart in the Israeli Government the importance of allowing tourism to Palestinian-controlled areas as a valuable source for economic growth in the area. [158832]
Alistair Burt: We remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement between the west bank and East Jerusalem, and elsewhere in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Through our embassy in Tel Aviv, we have lobbied the appropriate authorities on the issue of movement and access. We continue to work closely with the Quartet and EU partners, and to call on Israel to ease restrictions on access. However, the Government continues to assess that Israeli restrictions on movement and access in Palestinian-controlled areas are the single biggest obstacle to trade and economic development.
Rockall
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the sovereignty of Rockall Island. [159272]
Mr Lidington: Sovereignty over Rockall lies with the United Kingdom. It was annexed in 1955 and no other state disputes our sovereignty.
South Sudan
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the presence of anti-personnel mines in Jonglei State, South Sudan, in breach of the Mine Ban Treaty; and what representations he has made to the government of South Sudan on that matter. [158753]
Mark Simmonds:
We have received unconfirmed reports of the use of anti-personnel mines in Jonglei State, and are liaising with the UN and others. Access in parts of
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Jonglei State remains difficult and hazardous but the UN Mission in South Sudan continues to monitor activity wherever possible. The British Government stress the importance for all countries party to the Mine Ban Treaty to fulfil their obligations under the treaty, and if evidence confirming the use of mines is received, we will make strong representations to the Government of South Sudan.
Sudan
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Sudanese counterpart during his recent visit to London; and what representations he has made to the Sudanese government on the humanitarian situation in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. [158116]
Mark Simmonds: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I met the Sudanese Minister for Foreign Affairs in London on 7 May. At this meeting, the Secretary of State welcomed the recent progress in relations with South Sudan, and the start of talks between Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North and the Government of Sudan but also pressed for more progress in those talks, and the urgent need for humanitarian access to those in need in all conflict areas. We raise these points with the Government of Sudan at every available opportunity, including through officials at our embassy in Khartoum.
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Baroness Amos following her visit to Sudan. [158783]
Mark Simmonds: During her visit, Baroness Amos met officials from the Department for International Development to present her initial findings from the visit. It is welcome that she was able to visit refugee camps in Darfur, and that she pressed the Government of Sudan to allow unhindered access for humanitarian agencies across Sudan but in particular in conflict affected areas including Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur. Officials from the embassy in Khartoum also met the Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Khartoum afterwards for a de-briefing on the visit. Baroness Amos plans to brief the UN Security Council on her visit on 20 June.
International Development
Bangladesh
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the Health and Safety Executive about improving health and safety for workers in Bangladesh. [159118]
Mr Duncan: DFID has been exploring, through the Investment Facility for Utilising UK Specialist Expertise (IFUSE), suitable sources of expertise to provide help in improving health and safety in Bangladesh. The Health and Safety Executive is one of the organisations included in this discussion.
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Business: Forced Labour
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to eradicate slavery in business supply chains. [158729]
Justine Greening: DFID is taking steps to help businesses tackle slavery in supply chains that involve developing countries, through:
(a) initiatives focused on the trafficking of women and girls and child labour, including a regional programme in South Asia;
(b) by supporting tripartite and global mechanisms, such as the Ethical Trading Initiative, UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and UN Global Compact; and
(c) by helping to address the underlying factors that put people at risk of becoming victims of forced labour.
The Government will shortly be launching an action plan which will help UK companies understand and manage human rights risks such as trafficking and forced labour.
Capita
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department currently spends on contracts with Capita; and how much was spent in each year since 2008. [158469]
Justine Greening: The following table gives details of DFID spend on contracts with Capita since 2008. Current year spend is £2,632.
| Spend (£) | |