Trade Competitiveness
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the UK's business competitiveness. [161439]
Sajid Javid: Under this Government, Britain has moved into the top 10 of the most competitive places in the world for business according to the World Economic Forum.
Corporation tax is now the lowest of any major western economy; government is investing more in transport infrastructure in this Parliament than in the last, red tape has been cut by nearly £850 million in the last two years; and exports to China, India and Brazil are up by almost two thirds since 2009.
Communities and Local Government
Billing
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the savings it could achieve by paying its suppliers early in return for rebates. [161052]
Brandon Lewis:
My Department pays 80% of its suppliers within five days or less as part of its commitment to pay suppliers promptly and therefore there is little
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scope to secure further prompt payment savings. We ensure value for money for our prompt payment commitment by disclosing our payment policy and inviting tenders on this basis.
Community Land Trusts
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many community land trusts there are in England. [161199]
Mr Prisk: We do not hold a central register of community land trusts. However, the Community Land Trust Network has reported that there are now over 150 community land trusts in England, ranging from fledgling organisations that are just starting out, to organisations that have developed homes or other assets.
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of community land trusts with regard to the creation of new affordable and intermediate market housing. [161200]
Mr Prisk: This Government fully supports the work of community land trusts, and other organisations that support and empower their local communities. Community land trusts have played an important role in helping communities bring forward the type of development that they wanted to see.
The Homes and Communities Agency has set aside a portion of the Affordable Homes Programme to fund community-led development. It has published guidance to help community-led groups to access this funding.
The Government's £30 million Custom Build Fund offers short-term project finance by way of loan funding to group custom build schemes, including community groups and community land trusts. The aim of the fund is to help unlock custom build schemes which are experiencing difficulties in accessing conventional development finance.
We also provide funding through the Community Right to Build for community groups such as community land trusts to bring forward developments in their area—whether affordable housing, market homes or local shops or community facilities. We will shortly be releasing details of how we are expanding this fund to allow it to be used for groups using the traditional planning application route. £14 million is available over the next two years to support groups outside London. In London, separate arrangements apply, overseen by the Mayor.
Many community land trusts are using the mechanisms we are putting in place to help facilitate delivery of the benefits that they want to achieve for their communities. These will be of benefit to urban as well as rural community land trusts.
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on designating exception sites as community land trusts. [161201]
Mr Prisk:
Rural exception sites aim to address the needs of the local community by accommodating households who are either current residents or have an
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existing family or employment connection. The National Planning Policy Framework allows for a small number of market homes on an exception site at the local authority's discretion—for example, where this is deemed essential to enable the delivery of affordable homes without grant funding.
Local authorities are best placed to decide what kind of development is suitable in communities. However, this Government believes that authorities should plan positively to meet local requirements for affordable and market housing. This could include designating a site being developed by the local community.
For example, East Cambridgeshire district council—in their current local plan review—have developed a new planning policy to facilitate community-led development. The new policy will permit community-based organisations, including Community Land Trusts, to bring forward a mixed tenure development proposal on an exception site provided it meets key planning criteria. The Local Plan will be submitted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate in August 2013.
Housing: Energy
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to use funds from the Energy Company Obligation to address energy inefficient housing. [161636]
Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
The Department engages closely with local authorities and their representative organisation, the Local Government Association (LGA), and published new guidance under the Home Energy Conservation Act last July. This requires all English LAs to report to the Secretary of State by 31 March 2013 on measures they propose to improve the energy efficiency of all the residential accommodation across their area. Such measures would include plans to deliver ECO and the Green Deal. To date, nearly three quarters of LAs have published plans.
Termination of Employment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions (a) a compromise agreement, (b) a confidentiality clause and (c) judicial mediation was used when an employee of (i) his Department and (ii) the public bodies for which he is responsible left their employment in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [160901]
Brandon Lewis: The information requested is not centrally held. However, the Department now has a central record of all employment tribunal related compromise agreements. There have been no agreements in the current financial year.
However, I refer the hon. Member to the National Audit Office's recent report, including the steps that Ministers have taken within our Department and in local government to increase accountability and transparency (‘Confidentiality clauses and special severance payments’, HC 130, 21. June 2013, para 2.4 and para 4.6).
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Tesco: Margate
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received on the decision to allow Tesco to build a superstore in Margate. [161282]
Nick Boles: The decision letter, a copy of which is on my Department's website, lists the representations and material considerations that were taken into account.
Women and Equalities
Disciplinary Proceedings
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many staff were suspended from the Government Equalities Office on full pay in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and what costs were incurred as a result of such suspensions. [160415]
Maria Miller: The number of DCMS staff suspended and costs incurred are as follows:
(a) FY 2010-11: two suspensions at a total cost of £31,314 (gross);
(b) FY 2011-12: two suspensions at a total cost of £11,525 (gross);
(c) FY 2012-13: one suspension at a total cost of £5,268 (gross).
The figures provided equate to the individuals' salaries and total costs to the Department during their suspensions.
The figures at a, b and c reflect that no staff were suspended from the Government Equalities Office on full pay in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bangladesh
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Bangladesh government regarding the disappearance of former MP, Mr Ilias Ali and other political disappearances. [160642]
Alistair Burt: We have consistently called upon the Bangladesh Government to conduct an impartial, credible, and transparent investigation into the disappearance of Mr Ilias Ali, and into alleged disappearances of other political figures. Our High Commissioner in Dhaka raised these issues directly with the Bangladesh Government on 25 April. The Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, raised the issue of disappearances with the Bangladesh Prime Minister during her visit to Bangladesh in February.
The British Government takes human rights very seriously and follows progress closely, raising concerns where there are credible allegations. We welcome the Government's assurances that they are committed to protecting human rights and recognize the positive progress that has been made across a range of social development indicators. But allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearance, such as that of Ilias Ali and his driver almost a year ago, are deeply concerning.
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At Bangladesh's 2nd Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council on 29 April, the UK recommended that the Government of Bangladesh thoroughly and impartially investigate and, if credible evidence emerges, prosecute all allegations of human rights violations.
Conditions of Employment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff were retained on zero-hour contracts by (a) his Department and (b) the executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [160769]
Alistair Burt: As mentioned in my replies to the hon. Member for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott), on 25 January 2013, Official Report, column 321W, and the hon. Member for Airdrie and Shotts (Pamela Nash), on 3 June 2013, Official Report, column 856W, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) do 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 currently have five members of staff on this type of contract. This number has reduced in the last two years. However, to confirm actual figures for previous years would incur disproportionate cost.
Egypt
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the sentencing by the Cairo Criminal Court of 43 NGO employees as a result of their purported conviction for illegal working in Egypt; and what plans he has to make representations to the government of Egypt about freedom of association and freedom of worship, including Christian worship. [160838]
Alistair Burt: On 4 June the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised his concerns about the verdict with a senior figure in the Egyptian presidency, and I issued a statement expressing our concern. We assess that the verdict signals an overly restrictive approach to how NGO employees are able to carry out their work. Civil society has a vital role to play in Egypt's transition. We continue to call on the authorities to create an environment which allows a vibrant civil society to flourish.
We continue to raise with the Egyptian authorities the importance of freedom of association as a vital part of a democratic society. Foreign Office Ministers have been clear throughout events in Egypt since the revolution that freedom of religious belief, and people's ability to worship in peace, must be protected. I discussed our concerns about the protection of minorities, including Christians and women with senior members of the Egypt Government when I visited Egypt in January and with the Egyptian Foreign Minister by telephone on 18 February. I issued a statement on 8 April to strongly condemn the violent clashes that occurred outside St
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Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Cairo on 7 April, leaving at least one person dead and many others injured. We continue to raise these human rights issues frequently with the Egyptian authorities.
Occupied Territories
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the £7 million allocated by the European Commission for the Occupied Palestinian Territory will be spent on infrastructure in Area C. [160646]
Alistair Burt: The £7 million euros allocated by the European Commission is aimed at supporting the Palestinian presence and promoting social and economic development in Area C, which is of crucial importance for the economic viability of Palestine through a variety of means, including development of basic infrastructure. No breakdown of specific allocations is publically available.
Saudi Arabia
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will condemn publicly the conviction and 10-month prison sentence awarded to Fawzia Al Ayuni and Wajiha Al Huaider in Saudi Arabia. [160713]
Alistair Burt: I am concerned at the harsh sentences given out by the judge, in view of the progress Saudi Arabia is making to reform women’s rights in other areas. I understand the two women were convicted of the offence of takhbib under Sharia Law—or incitement of a wife to defy the authority of her husband—and that they are banned from leaving the kingdom for two years, I understand that there is a right to appeal.
Turkey
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) his Turkish counterpart, (b) his EU counterparts and (c) representatives of international organisations about the political demonstrations in Turkey. [160755]
Mr Lidington: We are concerned by the disturbing events in Turkey in recent days and are monitoring events closely. Freedom of expression and assembly are important rights in any democracy and we support all efforts to address the protesters concerns through dialogue.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed the protests with Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister on 11 June as part of a broader discussion and encouraged a peaceful resolution. I made the same points to the Turkish EU Affairs Minister, Egemen Bagis on 13 June.
The protests featured in discussions between the Prime Minister and his EU counterparts in the margins of the G8 summit. I discussed the protests with EU partners at the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 June. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials hosted a human rights roundtable discussion on Turkey, in London on 19 June, which included representatives from international non-government organisations.
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Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of pressure by the Turkish government on media outlets following the recent political demonstrations in that country; and what discussions he has had with (a) his Turkish counterpart, (b) his EU counterparts and (c) representatives of international organisations about media freedom and press censorship in Turkey in the light of any such reports. [160756]
Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and I have discussed the protests with our Turkish counterparts and encouraged a peaceful resolution. We are aware of reports of arrests in connection with social media use. Freedom of assembly, association and expression are important rights and it remains important that all commitments enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights are respected. We hope the issues raised by the protestors are resolved through an inclusive process of constructive engagement and dialogue.
I discussed the protests with EU partners at the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 June. The protests featured in discussions between the Prime Minister and his EU counterparts in the margins of the G8 summit. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also held discussions on the protests and press freedom with representatives of international human rights organisations.
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current state of media freedom in Turkey and the position of the Turkish government on media freedom and peaceful protests; and whether he plans to make representations about media freedom in Turkey. [160757]
Mr Lidington: We and our EU partners continue to take a close interest in press and other freedoms in Turkey and our concerns are reflected in the EU's Annual Progress Reports on Turkey. The UK plays an integral part in delivering the EU human rights strategy in Turkey and, together with our EU partners, we will continue to urge Turkey to make further progress on the full range of human rights issues, including press freedom. We welcome the Turkish Government's recent adoption of judicial reform packages that are aimed at reducing blockages in the judicial system and reforming anti-terror laws. The introduction of a Human Rights Ombudsman in November 2012 will also help to improve the outlook for fundamental freedoms in Turkey.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed the protests with Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister on 11 June as part of a broader discussion and encouraged a peaceful resolution. I made the same points to the Turkish EU Affairs Minister, Egemen Bagis on 13 June. We remain committed to supporting Turkey's EU accession process which we believe is an effective way to continue encouraging Turkey's important reform agenda.
Emma Reynolds:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment
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he has made of the ability of consular services of his Department to support British nationals in Turkey affected by the recent political disturbances. [160758]
Mr Lidington: Consular services in Turkey are provided through the British embassy in Ankara and Consulates in Istanbul, Izmir, Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye and Antalya. Consular staff have provided assistance to a number of British nationals affected by the recent political disturbances in Turkey and stand ready to provide further assistance where necessary.
Our consular response has been reviewed daily since the start of the disturbances to ensure adequate support is being provided to British nationals. No additional consular resources have been required as of today.
Consular services, including those in Turkey, are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to provide a consistent high level of consular assistance. Consular services in Turkey were last reviewed in March 2012.
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency plans he has made to support British nationals in Turkey following the start of the recent political disturbances; and what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on the safety of British nationals. [160759]
Mr Lidington: The British Government regularly updates its travel advice in response to evolving developments surrounding the demonstrations. Our travel advice to British citizens is based on regular assessments of the political situation in Turkey.
So far we have received one report of a British national being caught up in the demonstrations, he was arrested on 15 June and the British Consulate in Istanbul is providing consular assistance. Our Consular network in Istanbul and across Turkey is continuing to monitor the situation closely.
We maintain a wide range of contingency planning for a range of eventualities across our entire global network. We do not discuss these plans publicly.
I made the same points to the Turkish EU Affairs Minister. Egemen Bagis on 13 June. We will continue to follow events closely.
Health
Ambulance Services
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) under what circumstances he would intervene to remove the board of an ambulance trust; [161190]
(2) what mechanisms exist for intervention in an ambulance trust that demonstrates serious failings over a sustained period. [161191]
Anna Soubry: If an ambulance trust is an NHS trust, where there is evidence of clinical or financial failure and it is deemed to be the only solution remaining to remedy the situation, then the Secretary of State would consider the powers available to remove an NHS trust board in consultation with the NHS Trust Development Authority.
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Ambulance trusts are held to account for delivery of their services through the NHS Trust Development Authority's operating model, “Delivering High Quality Care for Patients: The Accountability Framework for NHS Trust Boards”. This gives details of the on-going oversight mechanisms for all NHS trusts, including ambulance service providers, and an escalation route where intervention may be required.
Ambulance trusts that are foundation trusts are independent of Department of Health control, and the Secretary of State has no power to remove the board. Monitor is the independent healthcare regulator with responsibility for oversight of foundation trusts with a core duty to protect and promote the interests of patients. Monitor does have the power to remove members of the board should certain provider licence conditions be breached.
Monitor's approach to regulation of foundation trusts is set out in its Compliance Framework.
Ambulance Services: Northamptonshire
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet a delegation from Corby and East Northamptonshire to discuss ambulance services in that region. [161192]
Anna Soubry: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my noble Friend Earl Howe, has responsibility for ambulance services and would be happy to meet the hon. Member to discuss ambulance services in the Corby and East Northamptonshire area.
Billing
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the savings it could achieve by paying its suppliers early in return for rebates. [161055]
Anna Soubry: The Department of Health complies with the Government's prompt payment policy, set by Cabinet Office, that 80% of undisputed invoices are to be paid within five days of receipt at the Department's nominated address.
An assessment of potential savings from supplier rebates has not been undertaken by the Department at this time.
Cancer
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the clinical directors for cancer strategic clinical networks have been appointed; [161674]
(2) whether he proposes that improvements on cancer patient experience made by providers and commissioners will be rewarded financially. [161675]
Anna Soubry: Clinical directors for cancer strategic clinical networks are appointed by the Area Team Medical Directors of NHS England. The appointments process is on-going with some, but not all, appointments being made.
NHS England is required through the mandate to deliver improvements in patient experience for everyone using NHS services in England, including cancer patients. There are already financial rewards in place for
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commissioners and providers who deliver improvement in patient experience. NHS England is currently reviewing which financial rewards should be in place for next year, based on evidence of what works, in order to improve quality across all five domains of the NHS Outcomes Framework, including patient experience.
Cataracts
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cataract operations were performed in NHS hospitals in 2012-13. [161657]
Anna Soubry: This information is not yet available. The latest information available is for the five years leading up to 2011-12, and is shown in the following table.
| Count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a cataracts procedure, for NHS providers, 2007-08 to 2011-12: Activity in English NHS Hospitals | |
| FCEs | |
| Notes: 1. Finished Consultant Episode (FCE) A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end, Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. Cataracts procedure This involves a combination of diagnosis (ICD10) and procedure (OPCS) codes ICD10 codes in a primary or secondary position: The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. H25 Senile cataract H26 Other cataract Q120 Congenital cataract or in a secondary position only: H280 Diabetic cataract H281 Cataract in other endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases H282 Cataract in other diseases classified elsewhere OPCS codes in a primary or secondary position: The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and four prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. For example, patients under going a ‘cataract operation’ would tend to have at least two procedures—removal of the faulty lens and the fitting of a new one—counted in a single episode. C71. Extracapsular extraction of lens C72. Intracapsular extraction of lens C73. Incision of capsule of lens C74. Other extraction of lens C75. Prosthesis of lens C77. Other operations on lens 3. NHS/Non-NHS provider This is determined by the provider code of the organisation—those beginning with 8 or N are independent providers whereas others are NHS providers. 4. Assessing growth through time (In-patients) HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre | |
Chiropody
Andy Sawford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the importance of podiatry to people's overall health; what guidance
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his Department has issued to local commissioners on podiatry services; what amount was spent in 2012-13 on podiatry services in each English constituency; and what the expected level of spending on podiatry services is for each English constituency in 2014-15. [161196]
Dr Poulter: There has been no assessment made by the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), on the importance of podiatry to people's overall health, and the Department has issued no guidance on the commissioning of podiatry services. It is the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups to commission services to meet the needs of their community including the provision of podiatry services. The Department does not centrally collect the data on the amount that was spent on podiatry in the past or within each constituency, or what the expected level of spending on podiatry services will be in the future. The spend and priority of allocation of podiatry services is for local determination.
Clinical Commissioning Groups
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2013, Official Report, column 556W on NHS: finance, if he will (a) produce and place in the Library a document setting out the 2013-14 financial allocation to each clinical commissioning group (CCG) on a per capita basis and (b) request that the advisory panel on NHS funding calculate how much funding per capita would have been provided to each CCG in North Yorkshire and York if the division of the baseline sum for each CCG had been split according to the NHS funding formula used to determine the split of resources between primary care trusts. [161119]
Anna Soubry: Allocations to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are the responsibility of NHS England.
A copy of the document setting out the 2013-14 financial allocation to each CCG on a per capita basis has already been placed in the Library.
We have been informed that, it is not possible to say how much each CCG would have received per capita if the primary care trust (PCT) weighted capitation formula had been used to set targets with any accuracy. This is because the formula operated at PCT level and PCTs and CCGs in North Yorkshire and York have different populations and boundaries, and also have different commissioning responsibilities. In addition, it is not possible to say what pace of change policy would have been implemented (if any) under a hypothetical set of target allocations.
Electronic Cigarettes
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health hazard or otherwise of secondary smoke inhalation from people using electronic cigarettes; and if he will make a statement. [160957]
Norman Lamb:
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has completed a period of scientific research into the safety and quality of nicotine containing
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products, including electronic cigarettes. One aspect of this research was to monitor the scientific literature and research for information relating to passive inhalation of electronic cigarette vapour.
The limited number of studies conducted to date indicate that the risk of passive exposure to electronic cigarette vapour was very small relative to tobacco cigarettes and that there is no apparent risk to health. Further research was, however, recommended to evaluate the impact of e-cigarettes on indoor air quality and to estimate any possible effects of passive inhalation of e-cigarette vapour.
Summaries of these studies can be accessed in the Commission on Human Medicines Working Group on Nicotine Containing Products (NCPs) paper on the quality, safety and efficacy of unlicensed NCPs at:
www.mhra.gov.uk/NCPs
Health
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of local authorities in promoting better public health through services addressing the wider determinants of health such as leisure provision, housing, reducing anti-social behaviour and environmental improvements. [161130]
Norman Lamb: The Government believes that local government is best placed to influence many of the wider factors that affect health and wellbeing. That is why upper tier local authorities have been given a statutory duty to take appropriate steps to improve the health of their populations.
Health and wellbeing boards were established on a statutory basis in every upper-tier authority in England on 1 April 2013. Health and wellbeing boards bring together national health service, public health and social care, as well as elected representatives and representatives of local Healthwatch, and they will consider how to improve the health and wellbeing of the local populations, and reduce health inequalities. They are responsible for developing a joint understanding of local health and care needs through joint strategic needs assessments (JSNAs); and a shared set of priorities and a strategy to address these in Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies (JHWSs). JSNAs and JHWSs will form the basis of NHS and local authorities’ own commissioning plans, across health, social care, public health and children’s services. They will also provide opportunities for integrated service planning across the health and care system and for working with local partners to address the wider determinants of health, such as housing, education and leisure provision.
We recognise that addressing the social determinants of health across the life course is crucial to improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities. This approach underpins our Public Health White Paper (Healthy Lives, Healthy People), which draws on the findings of the strategic review of health inequalities in England—the Marmot review.
Public Health England will support local authorities as necessary in having the right evidence and information to inform local action. Information about progress for each local area will be available through the Public Health Outcome Framework indicators.
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Health Services: Essex
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) managers and (b) administrative staff were employed in each NHS trust in Essex in each year
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since 2009; and what proportion of the total staff of each trust each figure represents. [161305]
Dr Poulter: The information requested is provided in the following tables:
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Heart Diseases
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to improve treatment of heart disease in patients to the level of the best-performing countries; [161117]
(2) what proportion of patients diagnosed with heart disease died within one year of diagnosis in each of the last five years; [161132]
(3) what initiatives his Department has introduced since 2010 aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. [161133]
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Anna Soubry: Reducing mortality and improving outcomes for people with heart disease and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a key priority for this Government. CVD is specifically covered in both the Public Health and NHS Outcome Frameworks. NHS England works to improve the quality of NHS services and is held to account through the Mandate.
Information on the proportion of patients diagnosed with heart disease who died within one year of diagnosis is not available in the format requested.
The main initiative introduced since 2010 is the Government's CVD Outcomes Strategy, published in March 2013. The strategy acknowledges that the United Kingdom does not perform well compared with a range of similar countries in terms of mortality and disability from CVD.
The strategy challenges the national health service to bring outcomes for patients with heart disease and other CVDs up to the level of the best of the rest of the world and sets out key actions for commissioners and providers to improve outcomes in stroke and other CVDs:
to manage CVD as a single family of diseases;
to improve prevention and risk management, including through the NHS Health Check Programme;
to improve and enhance case finding in primary care;
to better identify very high risk families and individuals;
to improve management and secondary prevention in the community;
to improve acute care;
to improve care for patients living with CVD;
to improve end of life care for CVD; and
to improve intelligence, monitoring and research.
Hospitals
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account his Department takes of demographic forecasts in the funding formula for local hospitals. [161194]
Anna Soubry: We have been advised by NHS England that the income a hospital earns is linked directly to the volume of activity and services that it delivers to its community. Local commissioners within clinical commissioning groups and NHS England (for specialised services) will decide what services to commission from a hospital and this will be based on assessment of the needs of the area, a primary, factor of which will be the age demographic and health deprivation of an area. This is a matter for the commissioners and is not a matter for the Department.
Hospitals: Capital Investment
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is currently available to hospitals for capital projects. [161189]
Anna Soubry:
Individual national health service trusts and NHS foundation trusts are responsible for developing and taking forward their own capital investment proposals. Where planned investment exceeds their available cash resources, NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts can apply to the Department for capital investment loans. They can also apply for an alternative type of funding,
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“Public Dividend Capital”, where their borrowing powers have been exhausted and urgent capital investment is required to support their financial recovery plan.
Human Trafficking
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what awareness raising campaigns on human trafficking his Department has undertaken with health professionals. [161140]
Anna Soubry: The Department commissioned Platform 51 to engage a range of stakeholders in developing resources to raise awareness of human trafficking among health professionals. In April 2013, the Department launched the health and trafficking e-learning resource and leaflet. These materials are designed to support health professionals to identify victims of trafficking and respond to their needs. The resources can be accessed at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/identifying-and-supporting-victims-of-human-trafficking-guidance-for-health-staff
Medical Records: Databases
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether patients who opted out of the Summary Care Record will be required to opt out again from the General Practice Extraction Service. [161658]
Dr Poulter: In terms of people's concerns about data being shared securely with the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), patients wishing to object to their Personal Confidential Data (PCD) flowing to HSCIC need to make their wishes clear to the general practitioner practice. Opting out of Summary Care Record does not automatically opt you put of PCD sharing.
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to undertake a public information campaign prior to the commencement of the General Practice Extraction Service. [161659]
Dr Poulter: The British Medical Association (BMA), NHS England and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) have jointly produced materials including an information leaflets and posters and FAQs which general practitioner (GP) practices should make available to their patients. GP practices are advised to make information available on their website and in regular patient communications, such as e-bulletins and patient newsletters. Awareness raising activity with patients will take place in the practice approximately eight weeks prior to GP General Extraction Service taking place.
NHS England's published planning guidance to the NHS for 2013-14 (‘Everyone Counts’ December 2012) setting the commitment for a core set of clinical data to be collected from GP practices form 2013-14. NHS England has published the technical specification for GP practices alongside BMA guidance for GPs. A jointly signed statement from the BMA, RCGP and NHS England accompanied the guidance which can be found at:
www.england.nhs.uk/2013/05/29/nhs-england-annou-tech-guide/
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Medical Treatments
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS budget was spent on (a) cancer treatments and (b) heart disease treatments in each of the last five years. [161118]
Anna Soubry: Estimates of national health service expenditure are available from programme budgeting data(1). Within the programme budgeting framework, "Cancer and tumours" is treated as a main programme budgeting category, coronary heart disease is treated as a subcategory(2) of "Problems of Circulation".
Programme budgeting data provides an analysis of primary care trust (PCT) expenditure by specific healthcare
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conditions. In order to improve the quality of the programme budgeting data, the calculation methodology is continually refined, as are the underlying data sources which support programme budgeting. Therefore, it is important to note that, programme budgeting data cannot be used to analyse changes in investment in specific service areas between years.
Table 1 shows estimated expenditure on "Cancer and Tumours" and "Problems of Circulation", which includes coronary heart disease as a subcategory(2). Table 2 shows the expenditure on each condition as a proportion of the total NHS expenditure, as reported through the programme budgeting collection(1).
| Table 1: Expenditure | |||||
| £ billion | |||||
| Programme budgeting category | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| Table 2: Proportion of total NHS expenditure | |||||
| Percentage | |||||
| Programme budgeting category | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| (1 )Expenditure data are calculated from PCT programme budgeting returns. Programme budgeting returns are based on a subset of PCT accounts data and represent a subset of overall NHS expenditure data. (2) As detailed above, ‘Coronary heart disease’ is treated as a sub-category within the main category 'Problems of circulation'. The allocation of expenditure to programme budgeting subcategories is not always straightforward, and subcategory level data should therefore be used with caution. Notes: 1.There have been continual refinements to the programme budgeting calculation methodology since the first collection in 2003-04. For years 2003-04 to 2009-10 programme budgeting data was calculated using provider costs as a basis. Significant changes were introduced in 2010-11 with programme budgeting data now being calculated using the price paid for specific activities and services purchased from healthcare providers. PCTs follow standard guidance, procedures and mappings when calculating programme budgeting data. 2. Calculating programme budgeting data is complex and not all healthcare activity or services can be classified directly to a programme budgeting category. When it is not possible to reasonably estimate a programme budgeting category, expenditure is classified as 'Other'. 3. Expenditure on General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services cannot be reasonably estimated at disease specific level, and is separately identified as a subcategory of 'Other' expenditure. | |||||
Mental Health Services
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to local clinical commissioning groups on the importance of commissioning good mental health services. [161195]
Norman Lamb: No such guidance has been issued to the national health service by the Department. However, the implementation framework for the mental health strategy makes clear our expectation that improving the commissioning of mental health services should form a vital element of clinical commissioning groups’ (CCG) and NHS England’s work to improve outcomes for people with mental health problems.
The application process for CCG authorisation requires organisations to demonstrate that they have sufficient planned capacity and capability to commission improved outcomes in mental health.
Mesothelioma
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding (a) his Department and (b) the National Institute for Health Research have allocated to research into mesothelioma in each of the last 20 years. [161146]
Anna Soubry: Prior to the establishment of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in April 2006, the main part of the Department's total health research expenditure was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations.
The NHS organisations reported on their use of these allocations in annual research and development reports. These reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on national priority areas, including cancer. They do not provide details of research into particular cancer sites.
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From April 2006 to March 2009, transitional research funding was allocated to these organisations at reducing levels. At the same time, an increasing amount of NHS research funding was awarded competitively through new NIHR programmes and schemes.
Expenditure by the NIHR through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards on mesothelioma research is shown in the following table.
| £ million | |
Total spend by the NIHR on mesothelioma research is higher than this because expenditure by the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) on this topic cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
NHS: Pay
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff earned less than the living wage in each of the last five years. [161700]
Dr Poulter: The latest living wage rates, announced in November 2012, are £8.55 per hour in London and £7.45 per hour in the rest of the country. This equates to annual full-time equivalent earnings of £16,718 in London and £14,567 elsewhere.
Comparing these figures to the 2013-14 payscales, introduced in April 2013, for national health service hospital and community health services (HCHS) staff suggests only those staff on Agenda for Change pay point 1 and not in receipt of high cost area supplement payments would have earnings below the living wage thresholds.
The Department estimates there are around 17,500 out of 1.2 million NHS HCHS staff in this situation. This is based on unvalidated data from the Electronic Staff Record Data Warehouse.
This is only the second time that a single hourly living wage rates for those outside London have been available for comparison with NHS HCHS payscales. The previous rate, announced in May 2011, was £7.20 per hour for staff outside London. The equivalent figure for London was £8.30 per hour. This equates to annual full-time equivalent earnings of £16,299 in London and £14,079 elsewhere.
If these thresholds are compared to the 2012-13 payscales, no NHS HCHS staff were paid less than the living wage.
If these thresholds are compared to the 2011-12 payscales, only those staff on Agenda for Change pay point 1 and not in receipt of high cost area supplement payments would have earnings below the living wage thresholds.
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The Department estimates there were around 15,000 HCHS staff in this situation in 2011-12. This is based on unvalidated data from the Electronic Staff Record Data Warehouse.
All NHS specific data refers to HCHS staff only. There may be some general practice or dental practice staff not employed directly by the NHS, below these thresholds.
NHS: Private Finance Initiative
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts for private finance initiative schemes in the NHS were signed prior to May 1997; and what the total capital value of such contracts was. [160936]
Anna Soubry: No hospital private finance initiative contracts were signed prior to May 1997.
NHS: Standards
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to deliver the NHS Mandate objective of making rapid progress in the measuring of and acting upon the patient experience. [161460]
Dr Poulter: A major route by which we are achieving this objective is through the implementation of the Friends and Family Test (FFT). This improves services by making them more patient-centred and ensuring that they can respond quickly to feedback. It also means that commissioners and the public can hold services to account.
The FFT was implemented in acute inpatients and accident and emergency services on 1 April 2013. It is being rolled out to maternity services by October 2013 and all other services as soon as possible.
The test gives all patients the opportunity to give feedback about the care they received. Providers of services can use FFT results very quickly afterwards in order to learn what is working well, or improve what could be working better.
The first set of national results from the FFT will be published towards the end of July and monthly thereafter. Providers and commissioners will be able to use the FFT as an early warning system for possible dips in performance, compare results between providers and use results in commissioning.
The FFT builds on existing feedback mechanisms such as the National Patient Survey Programme run by the Care Quality Commission and the GP Patient Survey, and local "real-time" feedback methods.
NHS England is building patient and public voice into its policy and programme development so that patient experience is at the heart of how the organisation works. It recruited over 300 patient and public voice representatives to the national Clinical Reference Groups for specialised services so that real experience of current NHS services is informing and shaping service improvement.
Furthermore, NHS England is leading work to gather and use patient feedback in a range of ways and support providers and commissioners to make use of this feedback to drive improvements. They are working with the voluntary sector and patient groups to develop best practice in
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listening and reflecting the experience of patients and the public to better commission local services, as well as using assurance workshops that invite patients and carers to review how their experience and comments have been acted upon. Toolkits such as the 15 Steps Challenge, where staff and commissioners walk in the footsteps of patients, increases understanding of the experience from the patient perspective.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual cost to the public purse is of the Friends and Family Test. [161673]
Dr Poulter: Listening and acting on patient feedback from patients is a fundamental part of improving the care that the national health service provides. A key benefit of the Friends and Family Test is that it enables providers to see feedback in real-time and act on it to improve services. Furthermore, patients can compare providers and commissioners and the public can hold services to account.
The impact assessment published by the Department in November 2012 estimated that the average annual costs for implementation of the Friends and Family Test in acute inpatients and accident and emergency, the first services in which it was implemented, would be approximately £5 million. However, actual implementation costs will vary from provider to provider and cost data is not being collected centrally.
A copy of the impact assessment has been placed in the Library and is available at:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/128461/DH-5169-Friends-and-Family-Test.pdf.pdf
Offences Against Children
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) all frontline health professionals are given training on the warning signs of child sexual exploitation and (b) representatives from both primary and secondary care within any local multi-agency combat child sexual exploitation. [161690]
Dr Poulter: Training strategies are now the primary responsibility of the newly-established Health Education England working with its 13 local education and training boards to develop plans to meet local needs. The relevant professional bodies and regulators are responsible for training and curricula.
Any specific recommendations on training for health professionals on child sexual exploitation (CSE) will emerge from the report, due at the end of this year, of the Department's working group on child sexual exploitation. The group was set to identify what more could be done to improve the health response to CSE as one of the key actions under the cross-Government action plan on CSE. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges also has work underway which will complement that of the Health Working Group on CSE.
The Department has also publicised the ‘warning signs’ CSE checklist contained in the Office of the Children's Commissioner report amongst health professionals (“I thought I was the only one. The only one in the world”—Office of the Children's Commissioner's Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups interim report November 2012).
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In relation to representation from primary and secondary care on work to combat CSE, “Working Together to Safeguard Children: A Guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children,” published in March 2013, includes statutory guidance on individual services to safeguard children and a framework for local safeguarding children board (LSCB) arrangements. NHS England, clinical commissioning groups, NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts are members of LSCBs. Further supplementary guidance “Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation” asks LSCBs to consider the local partnerships that would most effectively support implementation of this supplementary guidance.
Palliative Care
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department will commence the review to assess the feasibility of introducing a national choice offer for people who wish to die at home. [161457]
Norman Lamb: We remain committed to supporting people's preferences to be cared for and to die at home, and to carry out a review during 2013 to assess the feasibility of introducing such an offer for people. Departmental officials are currently determining how best to undertake the review.
Pharmacy
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to enhance the role of pharmacists as providers of health care services; [161197]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of changes to local commissioning arrangements on funding and support for pharmacists to develop their role in giving consultations and prescribing to patients. [161198]
Norman Lamb: NHS England has responsibility for commissioning all national health service primary care services, including pharmaceutical services. Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are free to commission further services from community pharmacies over and above those commissioned by NHS England, and local authorities are able to commission public health services from pharmacies.
NHS England is currently developing a strategy for all of the services it is responsible for directly commissioning. This includes primary care services— which incorporates pharmaceutical services. It is anticipated that this strategy will be available by the end of 2013.
Through the strategy, NHS England will be seeking to ensure that it delivers best patient outcomes, quality and best value. As part of the development of the strategy, the role of community pharmacy will be considered so that its potential as a provider of health care services is maximised—given its unique ‘reach’ to patients in England. The strategy will also consider how funding is deployed across pathways of care that might be commissioned by NHS England, CCGs, who are best placed to understand the needs of patients in each local area, and local authorities with their responsibility for public health.
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It is too early in the new commissioning system to make any assessment of the effect of these changes on the development of community pharmacy's role.
Public Expenditure
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the equality impact of his Department's spending reductions since 2010; whether this assessment has been used to inform his planning ahead of the 2013 Comprehensive Spending Review and with what result; what plans he has to publish the equality impact assessments undertaken by his Department as a result of the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement. [161180]
Anna Soubry: The Department considers equality issues in exercising its functions, including in setting priorities within its budget, in order to comply with equality legislation and to ensure it understands how its activities will affect specific groups in society. Between 2010-11 and 2014-15 health funding will have risen by £12.7 billion.
Specifically, for the 2012 pre-spending round, and spending round 2013 HM Treasury commissioned Departments to provide equalities assessments of their main areas of existing expenditure.
The Department provided HM Treasury with an equalities assessment of its main areas of expenditure, as well as some additional areas of spending that have particular equalities impacts, both before and during the spending round process.
The Department's overall spending round submission was informed by its own equality assessments and by the spending round equalities assessment commissioned by HM Treasury.
The assessment of equalities feeds in to both spending round decisions and future decisions by the Department. The outcome of the spending round will be published on 26 June 2013.
This Government has been clear that producing formal equality impact assessment documents are not required in order to ensure compliance with the legal responsibility to consider equality impacts.
Termination of Employment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions (a) a compromise agreement, (b) a confidentiality clause and (c) judicial mediation was used when an employee of (i) his Department and (ii) the public bodies for which he is responsible left their employment in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [160908]
Anna Soubry: No officials leaving the Department's employment have been subject to a compromise agreement, confidentiality clause or judicial mediation during 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively.
The Department's Executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and special health authorities have provided the following information on compromise agreements, confidentiality clauses and judicial mediation set out in the following tables:
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| Table 1: Total number of occasions where a compromise agreement was used when an employee left the arm's length bodies (ALBs) employment | |
| Total | |
| Table 2: Total number of occasions where a confidentiality clause was used when an employee left the ALB's employment | |
| Total | |
| Table 3: Total number of occasions where judicial mediation was used when an employee left the ALB's employment | |
| Total | |
Compromise agreements and confidentiality clauses should not prevent staff from speaking out on patient safety issues.
Tobacco: EU Law
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what position the UK will take at the EU Health and Consumer Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 21 June 2012 in relation to the EU Tobacco Products Directive; [161186]
(2) on what occasions Ministers or officials of his Department have met Members of the European Parliament to discuss the EU Tobacco Products Directive; and who was present at each such meeting; [161187]
(3) what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in other departments on his Department's position on the EU Tobacco Products Directive. [161188]
Anna Soubry: The United Kingdom lent its support to the proposed Tobacco Products Directive at the European Union Health and Consumer Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on 21 June 2013 subject to an amendment to Article 24 being made.
No departmental Minister has met Members of the European Parliament to discuss the Tobacco Products Directive.
An official from the Department of Health met Ms Linda McAvan MEP, rapporteur for the ENVI Committee, to discuss the Tobacco Products Directive in February 2013, together with an official from the UK Permanent Representation to the EU.
Officials from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency also met Ms McAvan on 18 March 2013. In addition, they met Ms Rebecca Taylor MEP on 22 April 2013. On both occasions, the meetings were held at the request of the MEP with purpose of briefing them on the work of the Commission on Human Medicines expert group on the regulation of nicotine containing products.
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An official from the MHRA also attended an European Parliament ENVI workshop on e-cigarettes on 7 May 2013, of which there is a public record available at:
www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/envi/events.html?id=workshops#menuzone
Departmental Ministers have corresponded with Members of the Cabinet's European Affairs Committee regarding the proposed directive.
Energy and Climate Change
Arctic
Mr Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 20W, on the Arctic, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of the statistical model used by Meier et al. relative to a driftless autoregressive integrated model. [161269]
Gregory Barker: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 20W, and note that we have not made any such assessment nor do we plan to commission any.
Electricity: Prices
Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department has taken to ensure that households which consume small amounts of electricity are not adversely affected by Ofgem's decision that all electricity tariffs must include a standing charge. [161676]
Michael Fallon: Ofgem's proposals require suppliers to structure tariffs as a standing charge and unit rate, but they do not specify at what level the standing charge should be set.
This gives suppliers the freedom to offer tariffs with a low standing charge or even set the standing charge at zero should they wish to offer a tariff targeted at low consuming households.
Ofgem will require suppliers to calculate the standing charge as a daily charge in pounds and pence. Consumers will therefore be able to compare tariffs more easily and see which tariffs offer the best value in relation to their consumption.
Energy
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to ensure that energy suppliers have an incentive to meet their obligations to consumers under the (a) Energy Company Obligation scheme and (b) Green Deal scheme. [160938]
Gregory Barker: Consumers are protected under the ECO legislation, which for example requires that ECO measures, where appropriate, must be installed to the PAS 2030 standard. Ofgem as administrator of the scheme will ensure these standards are met. All accredited Green Deal businesses must comply with the Green Deal Code of Practice which determines how they work in the interests of consumers. If an organisation is found to be in breach of this code they will be investigated and their accreditation may be revoked.
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Energy Companies Obligation
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to ensure that energy suppliers release Energy Company Obligation grants for hard-to-treat walls promptly and effectively. [160979]
Gregory Barker: The energy company obligation (ECO) places a legal requirement on obligated suppliers to deliver carbon and fuel bill savings, which can be achieved through delivering a range of energy efficiency measures. It is a commercial decision for obligated suppliers on how they choose to fulfil their obligations, subject to the rules of the scheme.
Energy: Conservation
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what measures he has taken to ensure that whole-house fuel saving measures are being funded by energy suppliers under the (a) Energy Company Obligation and (b) Green Deal. [160988]
Gregory Barker: The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) places a legal requirement on obligated suppliers to deliver carbon and fuel bill savings, which can be achieved through delivering a range of energy efficiency measures. It is a commercial decision for obligated suppliers on how they choose to fulfil their obligations, subject to the rules of the scheme.
Green Deal assessments are designed to encourage a whole-house approach by recommending all suitable measures for the property and presenting them as a single, cohesive package of improvements.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how low income households are being encouraged to receive energy efficiency assistance under the Energy Companies Obligation. [161566]
Gregory Barker: The ECO places a legal obligation on energy supply companies to deliver a minimum amount of support to low income households and those living in low income areas, through the Affordable Warmth and Carbon Saving Communities obligations. Together these will assist around 230,000 households each year. Obligated energy suppliers can choose how to market these schemes to encourage take-up among low income households.
In order to assist with this, Government has set-up an independent telephone advice service. Customers who call the Energy, Saving Advice Service (ESAS) and appear eligible for ECO Affordable Warmth assistance will have their eligibility checked with the Department for Work and Pensions and are then referred to a participating energy supplier for a minimum package of assistance.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of money used by energy suppliers under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and Community Energy Saving Programme programmes solely for identifying Super Priority Group customers. [161602]
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Gregory Barker: The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Saving programme (CESP) were legal obligations on the larger energy companies.
Energy companies were not required to report costs information, and we do not hold information about delivery costs. However, the final evaluation of both schemes will be published later in 2013 and we intend that this will include an assessment of overall delivery costs.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what calculations he has made of the potential value of matching household incomes and energy performance certificates data to target households who would benefit from the installation of energy efficiency measures. [161604]
Gregory Barker: We have made no assessment of the technical feasibility of matching income and EPC data nor of the potential value of such matching.
The Government is committed to producing a new fuel poverty strategy. We expect this work to include consideration of how best to target fuel poverty support at those who need it most.