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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 5 July 2013
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people (a) started and (b) completed apprenticeships in (i) York central constituency, (ii) York local education authority, (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iv) England in each year since 1995-96. [163908]
Matthew Hancock: Information on the number of apprenticeship starts and achievements by geography and age are published in Supplementary Tables to a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR).
Final data are available back to 2003-04, the earliest year for which geographical data are available:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/fe_data_library/Apprenticeships/
http://thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_archive/march2010supplementarydata.htm
Business: Interest Rate Swap Transactions
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the number of businesses offered redress as part of their redress scheme for businesses mis-sold interest rate hedging products; and if he will make a statement. [163537]
Michael Fallon: The Government want the Financial Conduct Authority's review process to be concluded as quickly and as fairly as possible, and the Department continues to engage with the Financial Conduct Authority on this issue, including at ministerial level.
Copyright
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union, in the case VG Wort v Kyocera on 27 June 2013, on his proposal for an exception to copyright for private copying that allows for appropriate compensation to be paid at the point of sale. [163399]
Jo Swinson: The Government are currently inviting comment on our draft regulations for changes to copyright exceptions. Written comments on the draft regulations for Private Copying, Parody, Quotation, and Public Administration should be submitted by 17 July either in writing to the IPO or emailed to
Copyrightconsultation@ipo.gov.uk
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Written comments on the draft regulations for Data Analysis for Non-Commercial Research, Education, and Research, Libraries and Archives should be submitted by 2 August.
Part of this technical review process will involve ensuring compliance with all relevant legal obligations, including ECJ case law. The Government have been following closely the case of Wort and are examining the judgment. It would welcome any views on this specific issue from those who plan to participate in the technical review.
EU Internal Trade
Mike Thornton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in each NUTS 1 region which are dependent on trade with the European Union. [163616]
Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not made an estimate of the number of jobs in each NUTS 1 region dependent on trade with the European Union.
Mike Thornton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in (a) total and (b) each NUTS 1 region conducted trade in (i) services and (ii) goods with other EU countries in the last 12 months. [163617]
Michael Fallon: Data on the number of businesses in the UK conducting trade in services with other EU countries are not available.
Data on the number of businesses in the UK (and in each NUTS 1 region) conducting trade in goods with other EU countries are available from the HMRC Regional Trade Statistics. Data for each year and quarter (up to Q1 2013) are published at:
www.uktradeinfo.com
Foreign Investment in UK
Mike Thornton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which have been created or safeguarded by foreign direct investment from other EU countries in (a) total and (b) each NUTS 1 region in each year since 2003. [163615]
Michael Fallon: The following table shows figures recorded by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) of total jobs created and safeguarded by foreign direct investment originating in the European Union since 2003. The figures are further broken down by the 12 NUTS 1 regions.
| UKTI recorded jobs new and safeguarded by FDI from EU countries 2003/04 to 2011/12 | |||
| Region | Number of new jobs | Number of safeguarded jobs | |
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Industrial Training Boards
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the triennial review of the Industry Training Boards for Construction, Engineering Construction and Film Industry Training Boards is expected to be completed. [163708]
Matthew Hancock: The triennial review of the Industry Training Boards is expected to be completed by the end of March 2014.
Innovation: Urban Areas
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what processes are in place to scrutinise the (a) efficacy, (b) accuracy and (c) value for money of bids for the Future Cities Project under the auspices of the Technology Strategy Board; and if he will make a statement. [163475]
Mr Willetts: The Future Cities demonstrator funding competition, managed by the Technology Strategy Board, aims to deliver a demonstration of the benefits that could be delivered by integration of city systems at scale and in use. Glasgow was announced as the winning city in January 2013.
The Technology Strategy Board managed the competition application and assessment process involving independent external assessors. It did this in terms of:
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(a) efficacy and (c) value for money—the feasibility study stage of the competition provided all 29 successful bid cities with the opportunity to develop their demonstrator project proposals. The independent assessment process that followed ranked all the proposals and the final step of shortlisting and presentation to an independent panel ensured that the best proposal in terms of vision, scope, impact and value for money was selected.
(b) accuracy—confidence in the feasibility of the proposals was provided by the detailed developed submissions and their independent assessment by external experts. The cost breakdown for the proposed projects was evaluated internally by the Technology Strategy Board in terms of eligible costs under the rules of the competition, and tested for reasonableness, based on evidence from the large number of projects that the Technology Strategy Board has successfully funded. Since third party contracts would be subject to public procurement rules, it was not possible for applicants to specify which third parties would be undertaking specific project activities in detail. The Technology Strategy Board relies on the public procurement process and the independent auditing of the local authority accounts to ensure that the appropriate processes were followed and value for money secured.
Royal Mail
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the profit margins were of the Royal Mail in each of the last 10 years. [163685]
Michael Fallon: The table sets out the profit margins for Royal Mail Group (including GLS (General Logistics Systems) but excluding POL).
Royal Mail's preliminary results for 2012/13 published on 23 May indicated that the profit margin for the UK mails (excluding GLS which operates in Europe) was 3.9%—up from 0.5% the previous year. In the 12 years since 2002, Royal Mail's core UK letters and parcels business suffered losses in five of those years.
| Margin (percentage) | |
| Notes: 1. For 2005-07, Op profit calculated as Op profit before exceptional items minus Op Exceptional Items. 2. For 2003 and 2004, “profit from operations” used. Sources: 1. 2003-07 annual accounts 2. 2009-12 annual report 3. 2013 preliminary results | |
Cabinet Office
Unemployment: Young People
Mr Winnick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of 18 to 24 year olds have been unemployed for two years or more. [163711]
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Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of 18 to 24 year olds have been unemployed for two years or more. 163711.
Estimates of unemployment are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). For the period February to April 2013 it was estimated that there were 95,000 people aged 18-24 inclusive who have been unemployed for two years or more. This is 1.6 per cent of the population in this age group. Estimates are seasonally adjusted.
Estimates of unemployment by age and duration are published monthly in Table UNEMP01 of the Labour Market Statistical Bulletin, found via the following link:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/june-2013/table-unem01.xls
Communities and Local Government
Housing: Disability
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to issue best practice guidance on the use of the disabled facilities grants to local authorities. [161879]
Mr Prisk: The Department for Communities and Local Government has no plans to publish best practice guidance on the use of the disabled facilities grant to local authorities, as it was always intended the sector would publish the guidance and not this Department. Officials in my Department are working with the Homes Adaptations Consortium on the drafting of the guidance.
The Department for Communities and Local Government funds Foundations to be the National Body for Home Improvement Agencies. As part of its role, Foundations provides training, advice and support to home improvement agencies, which are responsible for delivering around half of the adaptations funded by grant.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what steps he is taking to provide housing to ensure that people with spinal cord injuries are not unsuitably discharged from hospital into a nursing home; [161884]
(2) what steps he is taking to provide housing for people with spinal cord injuries who are living in nursing homes because they are unable to find suitable housing. [161934]
Mr Prisk: The Government are working to actively promote specialised housing and the adaption of existing housing to help disabled, older and vulnerable people to live independently in their own homes. My Department provides Disabled Facilities Grant funding to local housing authorities in England for the provision of adaptations to the homes of disabled people.
The Government secured £725 million for the grant in the 2010 spending review for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15. In 2011-12 the annual allocation for the grant rose to £180 million, an increase of £11 million compared
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to the 2010-11 budget of £169 million. The allocation for the grant will increase further to £185 million by the end of the spending review (2014-15).
Over the last two years, the Government have invested an additional £60 million bringing the total grant in 2011-12 to £200 million and in 2012-13 to £220 million.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is working in partnership with the Department of Health regarding the future provision of specialised housing specifically for older and disabled people. The Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund is making up to £300 million available over five years to stimulate the market for specialised housing. The Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Act 2003 gives entailments to six weeks of intermediate care, which can include reablement, as well as aids and minor adaptations up to the value of £1,000. Both of these strands help individuals, including those with spinal injuries, to return to their own home.
MITIE Group
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spends on contracts with MITIE; and how much was spent on contracts with MITIE in each year since 2008. [162459]
Brandon Lewis: The Department no longer contracts with MITIE. The last contract with MITIE ended on 31 March 2012.
The amounts spent with MITIE since 2008 are set out in the table:
| Financial year | Amount (£) |
The spend figure in 2012-13 relates to payments of fixed costs and final settlement for pass through costs for March 2012 which were paid in April of the following financial year in line with current payment plan and policy.
In 2010 under the new coalition Government, an Estates rationalisation project was incepted to reduce property related costs. These were achieved through the reduction of services (notably the lease expiry of Riverwalk House) and renegotiation at a contract extension point.
Planning Permission
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the number of local authorities who have determined 30 per cent or fewer of major planning applications within 13 weeks in the last three years. [162166]
Nick Boles: A table showing the performance of local authorities in deciding major applications within 13 weeks, in each of the past three years, has been placed in the Library of the House.
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The Government's response to the consultation on tackling poor performance in the planning system, including our proposals for implementing Section 1 of the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013, was published on 4 June alongside the criteria proposed for designating authorities on the basis of under-performance against statutory deadlines.
The final release of data on processing speeds, before any initial designations are made, will be in September this year (showing performance up to the end of June 2013).
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many article 4 directions were put in place by local authorities in 2012; [162352]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to a local authority of putting in place an article 4 direction; [162353]
(3) whether his Department offers assistance to local authorities who wish to put in place an article 4 direction. [162354]
Nick Boles: The Department's records indicate that 99 article 4 directions were put in place by local authorities during 2012. The Department has issued guidance to local authorities on how to put in place an article 4 direction, including a one-page template for draft directions. Following discussion with the Local Government Association, this guidance is being updated as part of the Government's review of planning guidance. Article 4 directions vary significantly in scope, and can apply for example to a single property or a wider area. It is for local authorities to ensure that costs associated with putting a direction in place, if they decide to do so, are proportionate in the context of local circumstances.
Urban Areas
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussion the Future High Streets Commission has had about the introduction of a two year flexible use class. [162442]
Mr Prisk: The Portas Review noted that the use class system imposed unnecessary restrictions on business, and made it too difficult for buildings to have different uses and to change uses. The Government's response to the Portas Review in March 2012 noted that the Government were undertaking a wider review of how change of use is handled in the planning system, with a view to reducing the burden of regulation.
The Future High Streets Forum was set up in March 2013. It is considering a wide range of issues, including planning, that impact on the high street. The proposal for a temporary two-year flexible use was set out in the July 2012 consultation New opportunities for sustainable development and growth through the reuse of existing buildings. The summary of responses was published in May 2013, and the amended rules came into force on 30 May 2013. As announced in the Budget, we are considering what further steps can be taken to support vibrant town centres and help get empty and redundant buildings back into productive use.
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Defence
Firing Ranges: Shoeburyness
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the viability of developing housing on his Department's land in Shoeburyness; [163532]
(2) what proposals his Department has received to develop housing on its land in Shoeburyness. [163533]
Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence has not made any assessments or received any proposals on the viability of developing housing on land at Shoeburyness.
Iran
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2013, Official Report, column 400W, on Iran, what the assessed and agreed potential liability is to International Military Services of funds owed to Iran. [163684]
Mr Robathan: The matter is the subject of ongoing commercial negotiations between International Military Services (IMS), a private limited company, and the Iranian authorities.
Procurement
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2013, Official Report, column 401W, on procurement, what the total sum saved through his Department's re-negotiation of contracts is since May 2010. [163709]
Dr Murrison: I can confirm that significant savings made through contract re-negotiations from May 2010 positively contributed to balancing the Ministry of Defence budget during Planning Round 12. I am withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Vending Machines
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vending machines in his Department's premises contain snack foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value. [163525]
Dr Murrison: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Deputy Prime Minister
Domestic Visits
Mr Dodds: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many visits he has made to (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland in an official capacity in each year since 2010. [163747]
The Deputy Prime Minister: Since 2010, I have made four visits to Scotland, three visits to Wales and two visits to Northern Ireland in an official capacity.
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Education
Vending Machines
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many vending machines in his Department's premises contain snack foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value. [163527]
Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education has 11 vending machines located across five premises. These offer a range of snack foods, including healthy snacks such as multigrain cereal bars and yoghurts.
The Department's catering supplier is also required to provide nutritionally balanced meals and snacks that promote healthier eating using fresh and seasonal produce, with low fat, salt and sugar content.
Youth Services
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what meetings (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had to discuss the youth-proofing of policy in the last 12 months; [163195]
(2) how many times his Department's Youth Action Group has met since publication of the Government's Positive for Youth initiative in December 2011; [163233]
(3) how many times he attended a Youth Action Group meeting since publication of the Government's Positive for Youth initiative in December 2011; [163234]
(4) what organisations he has met to discuss youth services policy since publication of the Government's Positive for Youth initiative in December 2011; and what the date and duration was of each such meeting; [163235]
(5) what organisations officials in his Department have met to discuss youth services policy since the publication of the Government's Positive for Youth initiative in December 2011; and what the date and duration was of each such meeting. [163236]
Mr Timpson: The Youth Voice programme, which is delivered by the British Youth Council with grant funding from the Department for Education, includes provision for the National Scrutiny Group and the Youth Select Committee. These groups scrutinise the work of all Government Departments and both have looked at the Department for Education's work on Curriculum and Qualifications. In February 2012, the National Scrutiny Group discussed youth policy with the Secretary of State for Education and on 2 July they discussed the Prime Minister's decision to transfer youth policy to the Cabinet Office with me and the Minister for Civil Society, my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (Mr Hurd). The Cabinet Office is assuming responsibility for the Youth Voice programme and grant as part of the Machinery of Government change announced on 3 July.
The minutes of the Youth Action Group are published on the internet at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/youngpeople/a00192405/youth-action-group
These show that the group met on 7 June 2011, 25 October 2011, 12 January 2012, 27 June 2012, 30 October 2012, 20 March 2013 and that I co-chaired the most recent meetings with Martina Milburn of the Prince's Trust.
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Ministers from other Departments also attended. The group is meeting on 9 July 2013 when the Minister for Civil Society will assume my role as co-chair.
In addition, Ministers and officials have had numerous other meetings with organisations representing the youth sector since we published Positive for Youth. Compiling a list of the date and duration of these meetings and discussions would be possible only at disproportionate cost.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many myplace youth centres have been completed. [163196]
Mr Timpson: As of June 2013, 59 out of the 63 Myplace projects funded were completed. A total of £235 million of capital grant from the Department for Education and former Department for Children Schools and Families was allocated to the myplace projects.
In respect of the incomplete projects, Bexley and Calderdale are already partially open and will be completed imminently. Tower Hamlets and Suffolk are due to complete later in the year.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his Department plans to publish its audit of progress on cross-governmental policies for young people aged 13 to 19, as outlined in the Government's report, Positive for Youth. [163238]
Mr Timpson: The Prime Minister announced on 3 July 2013 that the Cabinet Office is assuming lead responsibility for Youth Services. Alongside this announcement, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education published jointly a report on the progress of Positive for Youth(1).
(1)https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210383/Positive-for-Youth-progress-update.pdf
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what guidance he has provided to local authorities on the delivery of youth services; [163344]
(2) what steps he is taking to promote (a) local accountability and (b) collaboration in the delivery of youth services; [163198]
(3) how he monitors progress on the provision of youth services nationally; [163256]
(4) how many interventions his Department made to address problems in youth service delivery since publication of the Government's Positive for Youth initiative in December 2011, by geographical location; [163237]
(5) what minimum expectations of delivery he has issued to local authorities on the delivery of youth services; [163577]
(6) what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding of and level of spend for youth services. [163578]
Mr Timpson: The Department for Education published, on 12 August 2012, revised statutory guidance to local authorities on their duty to secure, as far as is reasonably practicable, youth services and to involve young people in local decision making and scrutiny.
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We provide funding for youth services through the Business Rates Retention Scheme. As our statutory guidance makes clear, local authorities are best placed to decide what services will meet local needs and priorities and how to meet these needs within available resources.
We expect local authorities to work with other agencies and organisations to deliver youth services, and encourage local people to challenge decision makers so that services continually improve. We have supported the British Youth Council's (BYC) work to produce specific guidance for young people on holding their local authority to account. We also fund the BYC's Youth Voice Programme which supports young people's involvement in local and national accountability. The progress report on Positive for Youth, which we published jointly with the Cabinet Office on 3 July, encourages all sectors at both national and local level to collaborate effectively for young people's benefit, and includes examples of good practice.
We collect annual data on local authorities' planned and actual expenditure on youth services. To date we have received no formal complaints that local authorities are not delivering their responsibilities and we have not needed to use the statutory interventions.
Energy and Climate Change
Electricity
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of maximum electricity demand as a percentage of capacity in the UK. [163250]
Michael Fallon: In winter 2011-12 (the latest year for which data are available), maximum electricity demand was 69.8% of UK capacity(1). Data for 2012-13 will be published on 25 July 2013.
(1) Capacity for wind, small hydro and solar PV are de-rated for intermittency.
Source:
Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2012, table 5.10, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what reductions (a) have occurred over the last five years and (b) are anticipated in the next 10 years in the total electricity generating capacity of the United Kingdom; and to what extent these will be offset by new generating capacity in each period. [163515]
Gregory Barker: The reductions, and additions, in total generating capacity in the United Kingdom over the last four years is shown in the following table.
Data for 2012 will be available on 25 July 2013. A split between additions and reductions for 2007 is not currently available. However, in 2012, three large coal/oil- fired stations (totalling 5.2 GW) closed under the large combustion plant directive, while two CCGT stations (totalling 3.5 GW) opened.
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| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Note: Wind/small hydro/PV capacity under this measure is de-rated; reductions are not available for non-major power producers (they are netted off the additional capacity). | ||||
Net capacity increase figures can be found in table DUKES 5.7:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes
DECC's last published estimates for new capacity and retirements were in autumn 2012 as part of the annual updated energy projections. The data can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2012-energy-and-emissions-projections
Annex I suggests the following for the total cumulative new build over the next 10 years starting from 2013:
| Cumulative additions (GW) | |
Although reductions of capacity are not explicitly set out, they can be inferred from 2014 onwards using data from annex I and annex J.
| Cumulative reductions (GW) | |
These will be updated later this year to reflect the latest developments in policy as well as the wider economy.
Energy Companies Obligation
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many companies who secured a contract through eco-brokerage have defaulted on their contractual obligations since July 2012. [163395]
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Gregory Barker: When trading on brokerage, participants enter contracts, the contents of which are confidential. The Government Procurement Service (GPS) runs the brokerage platform. When damages become payable for default on contractual obligations, the parties can request information from GPS to enable them to calculate the amount of damages payable.
Since brokerage started in January 2013, GPS has received requests for such information in relation to one company.
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many cashback vouchers have been (a) issued and (b) paid in each (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority area by 16 June 2013. [163397]
Gregory Barker: 5,118 cashback vouchers had been issued by 16 June. 968 cashback vouchers (with a total value of £263,452) had been paid, following the installation of measures, to individual households up to 16 June. The Department will provide geographical breakdowns of cashbacks paid in future quarterly Green Deal and ECO statistic reports.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) Green Deal assessments and (b) Green Deal plans were completed in each (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority area by 16 June 2013. [163398]
Gregory Barker: The number of Green Deal assessments by local authority, up to 31 March 2013, is available in Table 1 of the first Green Deal and ECO quarterly Official Statistics release:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/208912/GD_Statistics_-_Ql_2013.xlsx
I will place in the Libraries of the House a table showing the number of Green Deal assessments by parliamentary constituency up to 31 March 2013. Assessments by local authority and by parliamentary constituency, up to 30 June 2013, will be included in the next quarterly release published on 19 September.
The Department will provide geographic breakdowns of Green Deal Plans in future quarterly Official Statistics releases.
Power Stations
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will list those (a) oil-fired and (b) coal-fired power stations which (i) have been closed during the last five years and (ii) are due to be closed during the next 10 years, together with the reasons for closure in each case. [163514]
Gregory Barker: The following coal-fired and oil-fired power stations have closed over the period commencing in May 2008 to date:
Didcot A (coal)
Kingsnorth (coal)
Cockenzie (coal)
Grain (oil)
Fawley (oil).
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The following coal-fired and oil-fired power stations will cease operation by no later than 31 December 2015:
Ferrybridge C (coal) (two of four units to close)
Ironbridge (coal/biomass)
Tilbury B (coal/biomass)
Littlebrook (oil).
It is a commercial decision for the plants' operators when to close. The power stations listed above chose to opt out of the large combustion plant directive (2001/80/EC), which placed limits on their operation, including a back-stop closures date of 31 December 2015. However, this may not be the sole reason for closure.
The industrial emissions directive (2010/75/EU) places further restrictions on the emissions of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen from coal plants. It is not possible, though, to confirm which coal-fired power stations other than those listed above are due to be closed during the next 10 years as such decisions are a commercial matter for individual operators.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) if he will make it his policy to mothball sufficient power stations (a) already and (b) scheduled to be taken out of service to ensure a strategic reserve generating capacity to (i) prevent power cuts and (ii) meet emergency demands in times of conflict or other crises; [163516]
(2) whether he has identified any power stations, either closed or scheduled for closure, which could be mothballed economically; and if he will make a statement. [163517]
Michael Fallon: Decisions on whether to mothball power stations are taken by individual plant owners, not Government.
Government considered as part of our Electricity Market Reform Programme a number of options to ensure future security of electricity supply, including a Strategic Reserve. A Capacity Market, rather than a Strategic Reserve, was chosen as the preferred means as it offers the surest way to ensure security of supply against a range of scenarios. In June 2013 Government confirmed that the first capacity auction would be held in late 2014 for delivery in 2018-19, subject to state aid approval.
In addition, Ofgem and National Grid have undertaken a consultation on the need for and design of new balancing services to ensure security of supply in the period before the Capacity Market is in operation. This could include National Grid contracting generation plant that would otherwise be retired as uneconomic, which is likely to include plant that is currently mothballed.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether (a) EU and (b) other restrictions on emissions by power stations can be set aside in circumstances of national emergency; and if he will make a statement. [163518]
Gregory Barker:
Regulation of emissions from existing power stations currently derives from EU directives on large combustion plants (2001/80/EC) and integrated pollution prevention and control (2008/1/EC). The former allows limited derogation from its requirements if there is an overriding need to maintain energy supplies, but only in the event of (i) malfunction or breakdown of
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abatement equipment, or (ii) for power stations normally fuelled by gas, sudden interruption in the supply of gas. Neither directive, nor the national legislation through which they are transposed, makes other provision for circumstances of national emergency.
Renewable Energy
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much generation capacity from non-renewable energy sources was installed in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012. [163231]
Michael Fallon: Major Power Producers (generators with a portfolio of above 90 MW of capacity) (MPPs) represent around 95% of the UK's non-renewable electricity generation capacity. In 2011, no capacity was installed from non-renewable electricity sources by MPPs. In 2012, 3.5 GW (Pembroke and West Burton CCGT power stations) was installed.
Sources:
1. Table DUKES 5.11 (capacity as at the end of May 2012):
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes
2. EDF Energy website:
http://www.edfenergy.com/about-us/energy-generation/thermal-power-generation/west-burton-combined-cycle-gas-turbine.shtml#
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much generation capacity from renewable energy sources was installed in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012. [163232]
Michael Fallon: DECC produces statistics on cumulative renewable electricity capacity installed. This is net of reductions, closures and conversions, as well as new capacity. During 2011, 3.0 GW of capacity was installed (including 0.8 GW from the conversion of Tilbury power station from coal to biomass). During 2012, 3.3 GW of capacity was installed.
Source:
Energy Trends table ET 6.1, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/series/renewables-statistics
Solar Power: China
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration his Department made of the potential effect on sales of solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers in the UK of the decision to oppose European Union anti-dumping prohibitions against solar PV imports from China. [163189]
Gregory Barker: The Department is working closely with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, which leads on all Trade Defence issues, on this matter.
As with all trade defence cases, the Government based our position on an economic evaluation of the European Commission's proposals. Our consideration included assessment of the impact of these proposals on the solar PV supply chain. The Government also took account of information and views received from interested parties, including UK manufacturers, installers, developers, importers and users of solar PV products.
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Vending Machines
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many vending machines in his Department's premises contain snack foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value. [163526]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has one vending machine that meets the criteria of the question.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Buildings
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department owns Rectory Farm adjacent to Wisley Airfield, Surrey; and if he will make a statement. [163523]
Richard Benyon: The Department owns the freehold interest in 49.7 hectares of land contiguous with Wisley airfield. Part of this landholding is known as Old Rectory Farm, Ockham. The Department has ownership of the farm but not the farmhouse.
Fisheries
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the inclusion of goals on sustainable ocean fishery practices in any successor to the millennium development goals. [163159]
Richard Benyon: At the request of the UN Secretary-General, the Prime Minister, together with the Presidents of Indonesia and Liberia, co-chaired the UN High-Level Panel on the post-2015 development framework. The panel submitted its report to the Secretary-General at the end of May. It proposed inter alia a Sustainable Development Goal on food security and nutrition, which includes a target to adopt sustainable ocean fishery practices and rebuild designated fish stocks to sustainable levels.
Floods: Dorset
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much will be spent on improving sea defences in Dorset as a result of the 2013 spending review. [163020]
Richard Benyon: The impact of the 2013 spending review on future spending on sea defences in Dorset has not yet been determined.
Prioritisation of funding is carried out against a consistent set of criteria applied to all risk management authorities as appropriate. This ensures a fair distribution of funding based on agreed priorities, principles and needs. Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs) are kept informed during the development of the allocation and agree their final allocations during the January round of meetings.
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Floods: Insurance
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the provision of affordable flood insurance. [163121]
Richard Benyon: On 27 June 2013 the Government announced a headline agreement with industry to guarantee affordable flood insurance for people in high-risk areas. The Association of British Insurers has assured Ministers that implementing Flood Re will have minimal impacts on customers' bills. We will be seeking the necessary powers in the Water Bill.
Tackling flood risk will help keep insurance terms affordable in the long-term. We announced record levels of capital investment of more than £2.3 billion between 2015-16 to 2020-21.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) in the UK are used in the retail sector; which UK retailers were directly invited to attend his Department's stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps focus group meeting of 21 December 2012 on the EC proposal for a revised F-gas regulation; which UK retailers have been formally consulted on the review of EC Regulation No. 842/2006 in the last 12 months; with which companies and individuals his Department has met in the last 12 months to discuss the review of that regulation; and if he will make a statement. [161997]
Richard Benyon: While data are available for the total sales of F-gases in the UK, they do not provide information about which market sectors and sub-sectors subsequently use these F-gases.
No UK retailers were directly invited to attend the stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps focus group meeting held on 21 December 2012. However, representatives were invited from the Food and Drink Federation, British Retail Consortium (BRC) and British Frozen Food Federation.
All UK supermarkets were invited, either directly or through invitations to industry representative bodies, to attend an open stakeholder meeting that was held in London on 4 March to discuss the European Commission's proposal for a new regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases.
Officials continue to have regular dialogue with UK food retailers and the BRC to discuss steps they are taking to address their use of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. Furthermore, as part of the implementation of the fluorinated greenhouse gases regulatory framework there have been concentrated efforts to work with the large food retailers, who are major users of HFCs, to address their HFC emissions and reduce their leakage rates.
I have placed a copy of the list of companies and individuals that DEFRA has met in the last 12 months to discuss the review of EC Regulation No. 842/2006 on fluorinated greenhouse gases in the Library of the House.
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Nature Conservation
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which programmes and projects were undertaken by his Department under its priority of a healthy natural environment programme in each of the last three financial years; what the spending was on each in each such year; and what estimate he has made of likely spend on each such programme and project for each of the next three years; [163394]
(2) which programmes and projects were undertaken by his Department under its priority to help to enhance the environment and biodiversity in each of the last three financial years; what the spending was on each in each such year; and what estimate he has made of likely spend on each such programme and project for each of the next three years; [163381]
(3) which programmes and projects were undertaken by his Department under its priority to support a strong and sustainable green economy in each of the last three financial years; what the spending was on each in each such year; and what estimate he has made of likely spend on each such programme and project for each of the next three years; [163382]
(4) what programmes and projects were undertaken by his Department under its priority to prepare and manage risk from animal and plant diseases in each of the last three financial years; what the spending was on each in each such year; and what estimate he has made of likely spend on each such programme and project for each of the next three years; [163383]
(5) what programmes and projects were undertaken by his Department under its priority to prepare and manage risk from environmental emergencies in each of the last three financial years; what the spending was on each in each such year; and what estimate he has made of likely spend on each such programme and project for each of the next three years; [163384]
(6) what programmes and projects were undertaken by his Department under its priority of adapting to a climate change programme in each of the last three financial years; what the spending was on each in each such year; and what estimate he has made of likely spend on each such programme and project for each of the next three years. [163385]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 4 July 2013]: Details of DEFRA's performance against its priorities can be found within the Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) for the relevant years. The ARA is presented to the House of Commons each year; details are available on the DEFRA pages of the www.gov.uk website. The ARA for 2012-13 is due to be published prior to summer recess.
Budget information for 2013-14 can be found in the parliamentary estimates that were published by Her Majesty's Treasury on the gov.uk website.
DEFRA's Business Plan sets out our current priorities along with details of planned departmental expenditure. Budgets for the years 2014-15 and 2015-16 are still being finalised. Once this has been done, details will be available in the parliamentary estimate documents for the respective year. The Business Plan is published on the Number 10 pages of the gov.uk site.
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A table detailing the breakdown of the priorities by programme has been placed in the House Library.
Plants: Falkland Islands
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help he has given to the Falkland Islands Government to tackle the plant calafate originally from Argentina; and when this invasion of plant calafate is expected to be eradicated. [161892]
Richard Benyon: Responsibility for environmental management in the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) has been devolved to the Territories' own Governments. However, the UK Government recognise that many UKOTs lack sufficient funding and/or personnel to ensure the protection of the local environment and therefore they require additional support.
In 2011, DEFRA initiated a series of research projects to address threats to biodiversity in the South Atlantic Overseas Territories. These projects were designed to bring UK and overseas expertise together to address issues specifically identified by the Overseas Territories' Governments. The funding for these was separate from Darwin Initiative funding. Two of these projects addressed threats from invasive plants in the Falklands:
1. A review of the potential for bio-control of invasive species in the Falklands and South Georgia, a £58,000 project undertaken by CABI UK. This identified one potential bio-control agent for calafate (Berberis microphylla). The research was published on the DEFRA science website in 2012.
2. A review of the rate and extent of spread and risks posed by invasive species, a £74,000 project undertaken by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Falklands Conservation. This research looked at a range of invasive plants in the Falklands, including calafate and has supported the production of a draft strategy for invasive species control in the Falklands. The final report will be published on the DEFRA science website in 2013. The draft invasive plant strategy is currently being reviewed by Falklands Government experts.
In October 2012, UK Government also launched a new Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund, also known as Darwin Plus. This provides funding of around £2 million per year for projects in our UK Overseas Territories; the call for applications is currently open.
Shellfish: Colchester
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on issuing a Protected Geographical Indication for the Colchester Oyster; and if he will make a statement. [164037]
Richard Benyon: The application to register the Colchester Native Oyster as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) was received in 2005. It was then the subject of a consultation in order to allow interested parties the opportunity to object to the application. A number of objections were received during the consultation process.
Since then, officials have met with representatives of the applicant group to discuss the objections and outstanding points relating to the product specification for the application. Following on from this further information relating to the geographical area and other aspects of the application was sought from the applicant
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group which, despite reminders from officials, was not forthcoming. As a result, no further progress has been made with this application.
The PGI scheme is a voluntary one and so it is for the producers to decide whether they wish to pursue the application. Should they wish to do this then officials would be happy to meet with them to discuss the outstanding points which need to be resolved. This should then enable the application to be completed and a decision to be taken on its eligibility.
Tyres: Waste Disposal
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences are currently approved for the recycling of waste tyres. [160585]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 19 June 2013]:As of April 2013 there were 59 facilities permitted specifically for the treatment of waste tyres. This does not include civic amenity sites or facilities that may transfer and treat a whole range of wastes, of which tyres may be one of many permitted waste streams. It does not include incineration facilities either, although some of these may also burn waste tyres.
In addition to permitted sites, a number of sites are registered with the Environment Agency as exempt from the need for an environmental permit. These are detailed in the following table:
| Exemption | Total |
|
Preparatory treatment of end of life tyres (baling, sorting, etc.) (T4) | |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
African Union
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to co-operate with member states of the African Union which supported its recent resolution calling for payments of ransom to terrorists to be made illegal, in working towards that goal. [163084]
Alistair Burt: The British Government and the African Union share the same policy against the payment of ransoms to terrorist groups. The Government used our G8 Presidency to secure a G8 commitment to unequivocally reject the payment of ransoms to terrorists. We will work closely with the African Union and other multilateral fora to amplify the strong message made by the G8 in order to suffocate kidnap for ransom as a source of terrorist funding. We hope African countries will support our work in the UN to establish new mechanisms to raise awareness of the threat of kidnap for ransom, including any further resolutions to address and mitigate the threat.
It is already illegal to pay ransoms to terrorists under international and UK law.
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Dominican Republic
Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when HM Ambassador to the Dominican Republic last discussed the case of Ms Nicole Reyes, a constituent of the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Penarth, with the Government of the Dominican Republic. [163667]
Mr Swire: HM Ambassador to the Dominican Republic discussed the case with the Dominican ambassador to the UK in February. Consular officials at the British embassy have raised welfare concerns on a regular basis and urged the relevant authorities to address these issues where appropriate. We are monitoring Ms Reyes' case very closely and stand ready to make further representations as necessary.
Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he or one of his Ministers last met the (a) Justice Minister and (b) Attorney-General of the Dominican Republic. [163669]
Mr Swire: The position of Justice Minister does not exist in the Dominican Republic. The responsibility for the justice system is shared between the Attorney-General and the President of the Supreme Court. Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs nor any members of his ministerial team have met the President of the Supreme Court or the Attorney-General of the Dominican Republic.
Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when HM Ambassador to the Dominican Republic last met the (a) Justice Minister and (b) Attorney-General of the Dominican Republic. [163670]
Mr Swire: The position of Justice Minister does not exist in the Dominican Republic. The responsibility for the justice system is shared between the Attorney-General and the President of the Supreme Court. Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Dominican Republic last met the President of the Supreme Court on 24 January 2013 and last met the Attorney-General on 11 September 2012.
Dominican Republic
Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when HM Ambassador to the Dominican Republic last met the Dominican Republic's Ambassador to the Court of St. James. [163671]
Mr Swire: Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Dominican Republic last met the Dominican Republic's ambassador to the United Kingdom on 10 June 2013 in Santo Domingo.
Kidnapping
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department is considering taking steps to prevent (a) insurance companies, (b) businesses and (c) other bodies from paying ransoms to terrorists. [163085]
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Alistair Burt: It is already illegal to pay ransoms to terrorists under international and UK law. The British Government are committed to ensuring that UK insurance companies, businesses and other bodies abide by these legal obligations. The Government are also pressing international partners to do the same and used the UK Presidency of the G8 to secure a G8 commitment to unequivocally reject the payment of ransoms to terrorists. We hope that other countries, and businesses and the non-governmental sector in those countries, will follow the G8's lead. We will work closely with them in order to suffocate kidnap for ransom as a source of terrorist funding.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has held with interested parties about the practice of freeing convicted terrorists as part of hostage-release packages; and what steps he plans to take to bring that practice to an end. [163086]
Alistair Burt: The British Government have a long-standing policy of not making or facilitating substantive concessions to hostage-takers. This means the Government will not pay ransoms, exchange prisoners or change government policy.
We continue to press the international community to follow the UK's lead in not making any concessions to terrorists at the UN and elsewhere. The Government recently used our G8 Presidency to prioritise this issue and secured a significant G8 commitment unequivocally to reject the payment of ransoms to terrorists. We hope other countries will follow the G8’s lead. At the same time the Government will continue to discuss the issue at the UN and in other multilateral fora to amplify the strong message made by the G8 to suffocate kidnap for ransom as a source of terrorist funding.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that an effective mechanism is put in place to regulate and police ransom payments to terrorists. [163087]
Alistair Burt: It is already illegal to pay ransoms to terrorists under international and UK law. The UN sanctions regime established by UN Resolution 1267 (1999) states that the payment of ransoms to designated terrorists contravenes international law. The UK's obligations under international law are also mirrored in UK domestic legislation through the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT).
The UK is taking the lead in encouraging other states, businesses and the non-governmental sector not to make concessions to terrorists. The Government recently used our G8 Presidency to prioritise this issue and secured a significant G8 commitment to unequivocally reject the payment of ransoms to terrorists.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of international measures in place to prevent countries rejecting financial ransom demands in public while paying them in private. [163088]
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Alistair Burt: International legal obligations under the UN Sanctions regime established by UN Resolution 1267 (1999) explicitly state that the payment of ransoms to designated terrorists contravenes international law. The Government have taken the lead pressing the international community to abide by its international legal obligations. The UK used its presidency of the G8 to secure an unequivocal commitment to reject ransom payments to terrorists in accordance with the UN sanctions regime. At the G8 leaders recognised that ransom payments only fuel the problem of terror, strengthening and sustaining terrorist groups and encouraging them to carry out future kidnaps. We hope that other countries will follow the G8's lead and ensure that all states uphold the sanctions regime.
Palestinians
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of reports that the UN Development Programme has sponsored the annual Palestinian Prince of Martyrs Abu Jihad Football Tournament; [163257]
(2) what representations he has made to the Palestinian Authority about UN Development Programme sponsorship of a recent football tournament in memory of terrorist Abu Jihad. [163258]
Alistair Burt: As the Prime Minister made clear in his speech to the United Jewish Israel Appeal on 15 October 2012, the UK will not tolerate incitement to terrorism and cannot support those who name sporting events after suicide bombers. The UN Development Programme made clear in a statement on 2 May 2013 that it has had no role in the tournament, its naming or any other activity related to it. The statement is available here:
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/articles/2013/05/02/undp-response-to-soccer-tournament-hosted-by-ansal-al-quds-club-in-jerusalem/
We have a regular dialogue with the Palestinian Authority and Israeli Government in which we reiterate the need for both sides to prepare their populations for peaceful coexistence and to avoid anything which stirs up hatred and prejudice. Our consul-general to Jerusalem reiterated this position in a speech on 19 June 2013, in which he called on Prime Minister Hamdallah to continue to avoid violence and incitement. We have also raised the issue of incitement with the then Prime Minister Fayyad's office in January 2013.
Saudi Arabia
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue a public condemnation of the recent convictions of and prison sentences awarded to seven activists in Saudi Arabia for inciting protests on Facebook. [163247]
Alistair Burt:
We are aware of reports that seven men have been found guilty of incitement to protest in Saudi Arabia. We understand that some of the men had also been charged with—and may have been found guilty of—inciting violence, including calling for attacks on Government targets. The case remains subject to appeal. We are clear that the rights to legitimate and peaceful demonstrations are guaranteed by international law and should be welcomed in any society. We also expect
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opposition activists to ensure their words and actions do not incite violence. We regularly raise our concerns about freedom of expression with the Saudi Government, and will continue to do so.
Health
Blood: Contamination
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on awarding ongoing payments to victims of contaminated blood who are infected with either HIV or hepatitis C stage two; for what reasons such payments are awarded; and if he will make a statement. [163531]
Anna Soubry: The Government make annual non-discretionary payments, currently £14,191, uprated each year in line with the consumer prices index, to all individuals infected with HIV or with the most serious hepatitis C-related disease, in recognition of the special circumstances of these individuals as a result of their infection.
Fertility
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the differences in the availability of (a) intrauterine insemination and (b) in vitro fertilisation across NHS trusts in England. [164070]
Anna Soubry: The Department does not collect this information.
Health Services: Foreign Nationals
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's latest estimate is of that sum owed to the NHS by foreign patients; and how much of that sum is made up of debts owed by foreign patients treated in private beds in NHS hospitals. [163714]
Anna Soubry: The Department holds data centrally from national health service trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) on income relating to chargeable overseas visitors, which is the amount they have charged them for NHS treatment, and the amount of debt relating to them that they have written off in their accounts. The following table shows this data for 2011-12, which is the latest year for which figures are available. The chairman of Monitor has provided similar data for NHS foundation trusts, which are also in the table.
| £ | ||
| Overseas patients (non-reciprocal) income | Overseas patients losses, bad debts and claims abandoned | |
| Source: NHS trust audited summarisation schedules and NHS foundation trust consolidated accounts. | ||
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However, this does not reveal the amount that is owed to the NHS by foreign patients. The written-off debt data may relate to treatment provided to overseas visitors in earlier financial years. Furthermore, since overseas visitors can include United Kingdom nationals visiting the UK, the data will not relate exclusively to foreign patients.
The Department does not hold information centrally about how much of the sum shown in the table is made up of debts owed by foreign patients treated in private beds in NHS hospitals.
NHS: Standards
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what involvement Sir David Nicholson had in (a) commissioning and (b) producing the NHS Next Stage Review; [163510]
(2) with reference to the answer of 10 October 2007, Official Report, column 672W, on NHS Next Stage Review, what the final cost of the NHS Next Stage Review was and the costs of the review under each major cost area were; [163511]
(3) with reference to the answer of 10 October 2007, Official Report, column 672W, on NHS Next Stage Review, how many (a) clinicians, (b) managers and (c) other staff made formal contributions to the NHS Next Stage Review. [163512]
Anna Soubry:
The NHS Next Stage Review was commissioned by the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown), the then Prime Minister, and reported in 2008. The report was based on the contributions of a wide variety of organisations and individuals, primarily under the auspices of the strategic health authorities, who themselves published their own strategic vision documents, upon which the final report drew considerably. The national review team was led by Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, the then
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Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department, with contributions from many other Ministers. Sir David Nicholson, as chief executive of the national health service at the time, played a substantial role in the review, alongside other leaders in the health and social care system.
Papers relating to the review are available on the national archives website at:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/healthcare/highqualitycareforall/index.htm
Available information about the costs of the review were set out by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Ann Keen) on 10 October 2007, Official Report, columns 672-73W. She said that the total departmental spend so far on staff, patients and public engagement in direct connection with the review was £1.2 million. Further breakdowns are not available, since the process of developing the local strategic vision documents, which involved many thousands of staff, included activities such as strategic planning, public consultation and service quality improvement that are an integral part of core, mainstream business.
Nurses: Greater London
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered nurses there were at each acute hospital trust in London in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [163535]
Dr Poulter: As a consequence of Transforming Community Services, the provider arm of some former primary care trusts may have transferred into local acute trusts. For that reason, the following table shows the numbers of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed by each national health service organisation, including acute trusts, in the former London strategic health authority area as at 30 September in each of the specified years.
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| n/a = Not applicable. Notes: 1. Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 2. As a consequence of TCS (Transforming Community Services) the former provider arm of some PCTs may have transferred into local acute trusts, this can be seen in the large increase in staff numbers at Ealing Hospital NHS Trust for example. For this reason we have supplied figures for all NHS organisations. Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census | |||