Civil Servants: Pay

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual pay settlement for the civil service has been since 2010. [164743]

Danny Alexander: Annual pay awards to civil servants are determined by individual Departments and arm’s length bodies, subject to the process and limits set out in the annual civil service pay guidance.

The following table shows the annual pay increase expected to be implemented by civil service departments and their arm’s length bodies, falling within the scope of the guidance between 2010-11 and 2013-14.

Food

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of all food procured for his Department was sourced from (a) British producers, (b) small and medium-sized enterprises and (c) producers which met British buying standards in the latest period for which figures are available. [164775]

Sajid Javid: Some 76% of food procured in the last 12 months for the catering services provided in 1 Horse Guards Road by a subcontractor to Exchequer Partnership, the PFI provider, came from British sources. Some 73% came from small and medium-sized businesses. The catering subcontractor is accredited by Assured Food Standards and a number of items provided are Red Tractor approved. Food was procured in line with these standards.

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Government Securities

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's policy is on the issue of Government bonds with expiry dates in excess of 30 years. [165369]

Sajid Javid: The Government's debt management objective is:

“to minimise, over the long term, the costs of meeting the Government's financing needs, taking into account risk, while ensuring that debt management policy is consistent with the aims of monetary policy”.

The Government issue debt with maturities in excess of 30 years, along with a range of other maturities, as an important part of fulfilling this objective. Longer-dated debt reduces the Government's near-term exposure to refinancing risk. The average maturity profile of the UK's debt stock is approximately twice that of any other G7 country.

In June this year, the Government successfully issued their first ‘super-long' gilt, a 55-year gilt maturing in 2068. This was the longest dated debt the UK Government have issued since 1937, and represented an eight-year extension of the nominal yield curve.

House Insurance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many properties with home insurance have (a) only buildings insurance, (b) only contents insurance and (c) have both buildings and contents insurance; [164556]

(2) how many domestic properties (a) have and (b) do not have home insurance; [164557]

(3) if he will provide a breakdown of the households that do not have home insurance by (a) total household income, (b) property ownership type, (c) number of people who reside in the household and (d) length of residence at the property; [164640]

(4) if he will rank by (a) constituency, (b) local authority and (c) electoral ward the proportion of properties in each such area without home insurance. [164641]

Sajid Javid: The Government do not hold this information. Data on the take-up of home insurance are available in the Office for National Statistics' ‘Living Costs and Food Survey’.

Infrastructure

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount has been raised through the Pension Infrastructure Platform (PIP) since its launch; and how much capital has been invested in infrastructure projects by PIP since its launch. [165378]

Sajid Javid: The Pension Infrastructure Platform (PIP) is an industry-led initiative and is fully independent of Government.

The National Association of Pension Funds has announced that the Pension Infrastructure Platform (PIP) has secured soft commitments of £1 billion of

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investment capital from its founding investors. The PIP is scheduled to launch and begin making investments this year.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the administrative costs to lenders for the implementation and running of the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme. [164722]

Sajid Javid: When using the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme, lenders will need to pay the Government a commercial fee for each mortgage guaranteed under the scheme. This fee will be set so that the scheme is self-financing, and will therefore be set on a commercial basis.

This fee will be set by HM Treasury in line with State Aid guidance.

On 27 June 2013, the Treasury announced that UK Asset Resolution will administer the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme. As scheme administrator they will be responsible for the collection of the fee.

Further details on the scheme will be announced later this year.

Northcote House

Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department used the facilities at Northcote House, Sunningdale Park, Berkshire in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [164830]

Sajid Javid: Following a review of learning and development across Government the National School of Government, which delivered training on the Sunningdale Park site, closed in March 2012. Data on which individuals may have used the site were not retained.

Personal Income: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the change in median household real income before housing costs in Ashfield constituency since May 2010. [165706]

Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2013:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the change in median household real income before housing costs in the Ashfield constituency since May 2010 (165706).

ONS does not publish estimates of median household income at a parliamentary constituency level. Estimates of mean household income are produced using our small area income estimates modelling and are available at such a level, the latest available being for the year 2007/08. The next year for which ONS small area income estimates will be available will be 2011/12. The release date for these statistics has not yet been finalised, but it is anticipated that they will be released in early 2014.

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Mean household equivalised weekly disposable income for the Ashfield parliamentary constituency was estimated at £500 for 2007/08 (in 2012 prices). This estimate, as with any involving sample surveys, is subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Public Private Partnerships

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many Public Private Partnership infrastructure projects have been assisted through the temporary lending programme announced in July 2012; and what the total value of the support provided so far is; [164720]

(2) which departmental capital budgets have been used to fund loans advanced through the temporary lending programme for Public Private Partnership infrastructure projects announced in June 2012. [164721]

Danny Alexander: Following the announcement of the temporary lending programme long-term debt sources for well-structured PPP infrastructure projects have begun to re-emerge.

The announcement by the Government signalled their willingness to see PPP projects go ahead using departmental capital budgets if necessary. This policy reassured the market that the Government were willing to act. A significant number of PPP projects reached financial close, including 12 PFI projects, without the need for Government lending.

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which 30 public private partnership infrastructure projects are to be funded by the UK Guarantees temporary lending programme. [165366]

Danny Alexander: Following the announcement of the temporary lending programme, long-term debt sources for well-structured PPP infrastructure projects have begun to re-emerge.

The announcement by the Government signalled their willingness to see PPP projects go ahead using departmental capital budgets if necessary. This policy reassured the market that the Government were willing to act. A significant number of PPP projects reached financial close, including 12 PFI projects, without the need for Government lending.

Revenue and Customs

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of HM Revenue and Customs enquiry centre customers were (a) from an ethnic minority, (b) female and (c) disabled in the latest period for which figures are available; [164549]

(2) what proportion of migrant workers used the face-to-face services provided by HM Revenue and Customs enquiry centres in (a) the East of England, (b) the East Midlands, (c) London, (d) the North East of England, (e) the North West of England, (f) Northern Ireland, (g) Scotland, (h) the South East of England, (i) the South West of England, (j) Wales and (k) the West Midlands in 2011-12. [164550]

Mr Gauke: The information is available only at a disproportionate cost.

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VAT: Hospices

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it his policy to zero rate hospices for the purposes of VAT; and if he will make a statement; [164730]

(2) what representations he has received on the value of revenue accruing to the Exchequer from VAT paid by hospices. [164731]

Mr Gauke: EU VAT agreements do not allow the UK (or other member states) to unilaterally extend the scope of our zero rates, or introduce new ones. Any extension would require the unanimous agreement of all 28 member states.

The last discussions on reduced rates of VAT concluded after six years of highly politically charged negotiation and there is limited appetite among the member states at EU level to revisit them.

I receive regular representations from the charitable sector on the VAT that they incur.

The Government provide support for charities primarily through over £4 billion a year in tax reliefs. The charities sector currently receives £300 million in reliefs from VAT.

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Welfare Tax Credits

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims from people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK for (i) child tax credits and (ii) working tax credits have been appealed in each of the last five years; and what the average waiting time for such appeals to be (A) heard and (B) concluded has been. [165161]

Sajid Javid: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not hold data about average waiting times for formal appeals to be heard or concluded since these are matters for Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

Health

Accountancy

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on contracts with (a) Deloitte, (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (c) KPMG and (d) Ernst and Young in each year since 2008. [164953]

Dr Poulter: The Department's spend for all financial years since 2008-09 to 2011-12 on Contracts with Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst and Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers are all contained in the following table.

2012-13 consultancy spend will not be available until the Department's summarised annual accounts are published later in 2013.

In July 2008, the Department implemented a new business management system which collects enhanced detail on the categorisation, purpose and value of orders. This has now given the Department the scope to be more specific about the nature of each of the consultancy commissions.

Antibiotics

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 25 April 2013, Official Report, column 1106W, on antibiotics, when the five-year antimicrobial strategy and action plan will be published; what assessment he has made of the findings reported in Science Transitional Medicine 2013, Vol. 5, Issue 192, on the effects of excessive or chronic use of antibiotics on those with mitochondrial disease; and whether concurrent use of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine with antibiotic treatment is authorised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for those with mitochondrial disease. [165126]

Anna Soubry: The five-year antimicrobial strategy will be published later this summer. The findings reported in Science Transitional Medicine have been brought to the attention of the NHS England's Rare Mitochondrial Disorders Service, which aims to provide clinical and laboratory based diagnosis, advice and support to individuals and families. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has not issued guidance to the national health service on the use of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine for the treatment of mitochondrial disease.

Breast Cancer

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce clinical trials aimed at younger breast cancer patients. [165283]

Dr Poulter: Government and charities work closely together in breast cancer research through the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI).

The remit of the NCRI Breast Cancer Clinical Studies Group includes being responsible, in liaison with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network and clinical trials units, for the development and delivery of a trials portfolio encompassing both academic and industry-sponsored trials, and to propose new trials and other well-designed studies.

Consultants

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) he and (b) officials in his Department spent on external assistance to prepare for (i) appearances

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before Select Committees and (ii) contact with the media in (A) 2011-12 and (B) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [164669]

Dr Poulter: In 2011-12 and 2012-13, there was no spend on external assistance for Ministers for preparing for Select Committee appearances or for contact with the media.

For the National Programme for Information Technology, the cost of external assistance for officials for preparation for Public Accounts Committee hearings was £98,056 in 2011-12 and £73,563 for 2012-13. Information about any other spend on external assistance for 2011-12 or 2012-13 for officials for preparing for Select Committee appearances or for contact with the media is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defibrillators

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with ambulance trusts on the site mapping and registration of automated external defibrillators (AED) in England and Wales; and what protocols are in place to ensure that ambulance trusts regularly replace batteries installed in public access AEDs. [164617]

Anna Soubry: In June 2013, I met with the London Ambulance Service to discuss issues around the provision of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

As set out in the Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy, NHS England is working with the Resuscitation Council, the British Heart Foundation and others to promote the site mapping and registering of AEDs.

Protocols for the replacement of batteries installed in public access AEDs is a matter for individual ambulance trusts.

Food

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of all food procured for his Department was sourced from (a) British producers, (b) small and medium-sized enterprises and (c) producers which met British buying standards in the latest period for which figures are available. [164768]

Dr Poulter: The information is as follows:

For London buildings

(a) 61% of food is sourced from British food producers;

(b) 44% is sourced from small and medium-sized enterprises; and

(c) 100% of producers used meet British buying standards.

For Blenheim House, Leeds

(a) 65% of food is sourced from British food producers; .

(b) 95% is sourced from small and medium-sized enterprises; and

(c) 87% of producers used meet British buying standards.

Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on how many occasions companies have failed to meet a Responsibility Deal pledge by a stated deadline; [164901]

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(2) what steps he takes when a company fails to meet a Responsibility Deal pledge by a stated deadline. [164902]

Anna Soubry: Of the Responsibility Deal's 28 pledges, only a selection include specific deadlines.

The alcohol unit pledge has a deadline of the end of December 2013. The Portman Group will be overseeing an independent audit of on-shelf labelling at the end of 2013-early 2014 to assess progress on this pledge.

The salt reduction pledge set salt targets to be achieved by the end of 2012 and the artificial trans fats and salt catering pledges ask new partners to make progress within 12 months of signing up. We recognise that technical issues may have impacted on some partners' ability to deliver these pledges fully but it is important to recognise the significant reductions that have been achieved to date.

The occupational health pledge set a deadline of the end of March 2013. We will be revising this and asking new signatories to make progress on this within 12 months of signing up.

For all the deal's pledges partners are expected to report annually on the progress they have made meeting their commitments. This information is made publicly available on the Responsibility Deal website. We believe that this transparent and open reporting of progress provides a powerful lever for delivery.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many companies and organisations have signed up to the 34 pledges of his Department's Responsibility Deal. [165081]

Anna Soubry: Full details of the Responsibility Deal's partners are publicly available on the deal's website at:

https://responsibilitydeal.dh.gov.uk/partners/

The website is updated on a daily basis with new partners and any changes to the commitments of existing partners.

On 10 July 2013, 536 organisations were signed up to the deal's 28 pledges.

Health Services

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) private companies and (b) charity providers were granted Any Qualified Provider Status in England in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013. [164618]

Anna Soubry: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Hepatitis

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many known hepatitis C victims have received financial assistance via charities set up by the Government since 2010. [164984]

Anna Soubry: As at 11 July 2013, the Caxton Foundation, which was established in 2011 to provide discretionary support to those infected with hepatitis C through treatment with national health service supplied blood

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or blood products and their families, has provided financial assistance to 402 beneficiaries in the United Kingdom, including 319 beneficiaries in England.

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many known hepatitis C victims have been given financial assistance throughout the UK; and what the average amount of such support is; [164985]

(2) how much support his Department provides to hepatitis C sufferers; and how much on average each sufferer receives; [165284]

(3) what the lowest amount paid by the Government to a hepatitis C victim is; [165285]

(4) what the highest amount paid by the Government to a hepatitis C victim is. [165286]

Anna Soubry: The Department funds the Skipton Fund Ltd, which, as at 30 June 2013, had made ex gratia non-discretionary payments to 5,065 individuals in the United Kingdom, including 3,964 in England. These payments, which are in respect of hepatitis C infection acquired through treatment with national health service-supplied blood or blood products prior to 1991, are:

Stage 1: £20,000 lump sum for individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection; and

Stage 2: £50,000 lump sum, and an annual payment, currently £14,191, for individuals with the most serious hepatitis-C related disease, namely Cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma and those either awaiting or who have undergone a liver transplant.

In addition, discretionary support has been available through the Caxton Foundation for infected individuals and their families since 2011. The Department has made available up to £2 million to the Caxton Foundation for this, and previous, financial years.

As of 30 June 2013, the lowest amount paid by the Skipton Fund to any individual is £20,000 and the highest amount paid out to any individual is £103,478.75, since annual payments were introduced in 2011.

Due to the nature of the various payments, it is not possible to provide a meaningful average amount that each individual has received.

The range of sources of financial assistance in the UK that is available to individuals with hepatitis C also includes state welfare benefits.

Hospitals: Administration

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, Official Report, column 659-60W, on hospitals: administration, to whom assurances following changes to the size and shape of hospital workforces and the quality and safety of patient care is maintained or improved are given; and what form they take. [164801]

Dr Poulter: Employers are responsible for workforce planning. Planning the numbers of nurses, the size and shape of the workforce must be based on the needs of the patients. Services must be properly designed around the care and treatment people need.

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The Department and NHS England published ‘Compassion in Practice’, a new three-year vision and strategy that articulates the nursing profession's role in delivering health care and improved health outcomes in December 2012. The strategy is based around six core values: Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, and Commitment. The vision aims to embed these values, known as the 6Cs, in all nursing, midwifery and care-giving settings throughout the NHS and social care to improve care for patients in England.

As well as the clear focus on the 6Cs, the strategy sets out six areas of action to be delivered together as one programme to achieve the values of the 6Cs. Action Area 3 ‘Delivering high quality care and measuring impact’, requires Boards to publish and discuss quality metrics and outcomes at each board meeting. Action Area 5 requires Boards to sign off and publish information on staffing levels at least every six months to demonstrate that they are using evidence based tools to calculate their staffing which meets the needs of their patients. The staffing levels need to be published along with an explanation of how they impact on quality. It is recommended that this should be discussed in public Board meetings.

There is a detailed implementation plans for each of the 6Cs Action Areas, which are available on the NHS England website at:

www.6cs.england.nhs.uk/pg/groups/66536/Compassion+in+practice/

Hospitals: Consultants

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the performance of individual consultants in every specialism is measured consistently and published; and if he will publish national guidance on this matter. [165379]

Anna Soubry: NHS England has begun the staged publication of mortality rates for individual hospital consultants in 10 specialties, leading a drive to give patients more information about their treatment and helping the national health service drive up and maintain the quality of care.

The 10 specialties were chosen on the basis that they are covered by an audit that was felt fit for purpose, or in a position that they could be developed so they are fit for purpose. Over time, the initiative will be expanded to include other specialties.

Data on consultant mortality rates can be accessed on the NHS Choices website at:

www.nhs.uk/consultantdata

Hospitals: Food

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department gives to hospitals in England on what types of food should be available to the general public on their premises. [165168]

Dr Poulter: The Department and a number of its agencies have issued a range of guidance on food served to the public which can be adopted by the national health service.

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Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (Food GBS), launched in June 2011, covers nutrition and sustainability aspects of food provision. While not mandatory for hospitals, NHS organisations are encouraged to adopt the Food GBS, which includes recommendations on reducing fat and salt, including more fruit and vegetables on the menu as well as making sure that food is bought in an environmentally sustainable way.

The Department also encourages employers to sign up to the Responsibility Deal's pledge on healthier staff restaurants. This specifically mentions fat, salt and sugar as well as other recommendations on fruit and vegetables and portion size. Further information is available on the Department's website at:

https://responsibilitydeal.dh.gov.uk/health-at-work-pledges/

There is also guidance that caterers could use to help provide food that meets the nutritional needs of adults, including those in NHS organisations. Public Health England is planning an update to this guidance. This guidance, “Healthier and more sustainable catering: A toolkit for serving foods to adults”, can be found on the Department's website at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/147376/dh_127593.pdf.pdf

Finally, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidance in December 2006 for the NHS on tackling obesity, “Guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children”. This includes recommendations that the NHS as an employer should actively promote healthier choices in restaurants, hospitality, vending machines and shops. This guidance can be found at:

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11000/30364/30364.pdf

Mental Health Services: Barrow in Furness

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many serious unexpected incidents (SUIs) occurred at the Dova Acute Mental Health Unit in Barrow in Furness in the last three years; on what dates such incidents took place; what the nature of such incidents were; and on what dates relatives and the Care Quality Commission were informed of each SUI. [165237]

Dr Poulter: The information requested is not available centrally.

National health service care providers are required to submit reports of patient safety incidents leading to severe harm or death to the National Reporting and Learning System owned by NHS England. However, due to the way these incident reports are categorised, it is not possible to identify the information requested.

We have written to Mike Taylor, Chair of the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust informing of the hon. Member’s query. He will reply shortly and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Mental Health: Floods

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of flooding upon a person's mental health. [164558]

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Norman Lamb: Public Health England has advised that the Health Protection Agency reviewed the literature on the mental health effects associated with flooding and published the report “The Effects of Flooding on Mental Health (2011)”, a copy of which has been placed in the Library and is also available at:

www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317131767423

Midwives

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that there are sufficient trained midwives to cope with the UK's increasing birth rate. [164795]

Dr Poulter: The Government are committed to giving mothers the support and care they need throughout their pregnancy, birth and after birth. Safety and high quality care for mothers are at the heart of maternity services.

As at March 2013, there were 1,368 (6.8%) more midwives in the national health service than in May 2010, and there are 5,000 in training. This will help mothers get the care they want. There were 2,527 student midwife training places available for 2012-13.

The number of qualified midwives for the period 2008 to 2012 is set out in the following table:

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that midwives are retained by the NHS. [164796]

Dr Poulter: The retention of midwives is the responsibility of employers within the national health service. As at March 2013, there were 1,368 (6.8%) more midwives in the NHS than in May 2010, and there are 5,000 in training.

The number of qualified midwives for the period 2008 to 2012 is set out in the following table.

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Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that newly qualified midwives are able to find suitable positions in maternity units. [164797]

Dr Poulter: The recruitment of newly qualified midwives is the responsibility of local health care employers within the national health service. It is their responsibility to ensure they have available sufficient staff to run their services to meet the needs of their local population, based on clinical need and sound evidence.

Muscular Dystrophy: South East

Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that people affected by muscle-wasting conditions will be able to continue to access neuromuscular co-ordinator support in the South East coast health region following September 2013; and if he will make a statement. [164844]

Norman Lamb: All tertiary centres for neuromuscular disorders provide a regional care adviser function. Patients in Kent, Medway, Surrey and Sussex requiring these services are mainly referred to London for treatment, where care advisers, including a paediatric adviser at Great Ormond Street hospital, already exist within the London tertiary centres.

We understand the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (MDC) and the Surrey and Sussex area team are currently exploring the potential for funding an extension of the care pathway adviser post for a further six months. The role of the care pathway adviser is now incorporated in the nationally prescribed service specifications, and the area teams for London, Surrey and Sussex will work together to ensure that London tertiary centres support the role across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

NHS England area teams will continue to remain involved in the oversight of the entire care pathway for patients with neuromuscular diseases through Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs), who work in conjunction with colleagues across the area team, clinical commissioning groups and local authority Health and Wellbeing Boards.

The SCNs for London and the SCN for Kent, Surrey and Sussex will work together on the aspects of the accessibility of pathways that cross the two areas. This will include how care co-ordination will link from the tertiary centres in London to local services in Kent and Medway and Surrey and Sussex. In addition, the Surrey and Sussex area team at NHS England intends to continue to work closely with the MDC in the development of the new MDC project "Bridging the Gap", building upon the existing good relationship with the charity.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns about Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164690]

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(2) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns about Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164691]

(3) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164692]

(4) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164693]

(5) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164694]

(6) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164695]

(7) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164696]

(8) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding George Eliot Hospitals NHS Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164697]

(9) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding Medway NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164698]

(10) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns about North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164699]

(11) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding North Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164700]

(12) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164701]

(13) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust; [164702]

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(14) what representations (a) his predecessors and (b) his Department received expressing concerns regarding United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in each year prior to May 2010, since the foundation of that trust. [164703]

Anna Soubry: Information is not available in the format requested. Records are available from August 2005. For those trusts that achieved foundation trust (FT) status after August 2005, the data shown are from the date FT status was achieved.

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A search of the Department's ministerial correspondence database has identified correspondence received that is potentially about each trust—the following table shows the volumes of this correspondence split by year due for answer. It is not possible to identify which items of correspondence raised concerns without incurring disproportionate cost. These figures represent correspondence received by the Department's ministerial correspondence unit only.

NHS: Awards

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the criteria for giving a Clinical Excellence Award (CEA); and if he will introduce more routine reviews of CEAs already made. [165377]

Dr Poulter: On 17 December 2012, the Government responded to the report by the independent Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration: “Review of compensation levels, incentives and Clinical Excellence and Distinction Awards schemes for NHS Consultants”. This report made recommendations for changes to the clinical excellence award scheme, and observations on the consultant contract.

The Department is currently in discussion with NHS Employers and the British Medical Association about changes to the Clinical Excellence Awards scheme and the intention is to reach a Heads of Terms agreement this summer.

National Clinical Excellence Awards and Distinction Awards are currently subject to application for renewal every five years. The current process of five year renewal ensures that Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards only rewards consultants who continue to meet the standards required.

Arrangements for the future are being covered in the talks referred to above.

NHS: Drugs

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made since the report Extent and causes of international variations in drug usage in 2010 by Sir Mike Richards of the relative success of the NHS in delivering new medicines to patients quickly once they are licensed, compared to other countries; [164837]

(2) what progress has been made by his Department towards publishing indicators that would enable the public to compare the NHS's usage of new medicines with that of other EU countries; and if he will publish a timetable for the publication of such indicators. [164839]

Norman Lamb: Professor Sir Mike Richard's 2010 report on the Extent and Causes of International Variations in Drug Usage looked at usage of a number of drugs in a range of therapeutic areas across 14 countries, including the United Kingdom. The report did not seek to identify a correct level of utilisation, but rather to identify where variations exist and provide potential explanations for them.

We have not repeated the exercise since this report was published. The 2009 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme agreement commits the Department to continuing work in this area. Plans for further work are under discussion but a specific timetable for this has not been agreed.

Northcote House

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department used the facilities at Northcote House, Sunningdale Park, Berkshire in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [164823]

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Dr Poulter: Following a review of learning and development across government, the National School of Government, which delivered training on the Sunningdale Park site, closed in March 2012. Data on which individuals may have used the site were not retained.

Obesity: Surgery

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people at what cost to the public purse have been fitted with gastric bands since May 2010. [164990]

Dr Poulter: Information on the cost of fitting gastric bands is not available because these costs are not reported separately to the Department.

Information on the number of people fitted with gastric bands is also not available. However, information on the number of finished consultant episodes with a main or subsequent procedure of gastric band insertion is collected. These data show that between 1 May 2010 and 31 March 2012 there were 2,805 such finished consultant episodes. This does not necessarily represent the total number of people fitted with a gastric band as a person may have had more than one finished consultant episode during the period.

Orthopaedics: Armed Forces

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has taken steps to implement recommendation 6 of the Murrison Report, ‘A Better Deal for Military Amputees’, calling for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to be tasked with the production of national guidelines for prosthetic prescription and rehabilitation for all amputees including provision for military amputees. [163857]

Dr Poulter: NHS England has drafted and consulted on a national service specification for the direct commissioning of services by NHS England, put in place from 1 April 2013, which sets out the standards and quality of care to be provided for patients requiring prosthetic services. A decision was therefore taken not to pursue recommendation 6 of the Murrison report, ‘A Better Deal for Military Amputees’, to avoid unnecessary duplication.

The national service specification has been sent to providers of prosthetic services who are currently assessing their service against the core requirements set out in the specification. Should any prosthetic service not meet the core requirements an action plan will be agreed with NHS England to ensure timely compliance.

The service specification will be implemented from 1 October 2013.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of recommendation 3 of the Murrison Report, ‘A Better Deal for Military Amputees’, published 2011; and if he will adopt this recommendation as his policy. [164035]

Dr Poulter: Dr Murrison's report ‘A Better Deal for Military Amputees’, recommended that veterans should be able to access mainstream national health service provision through a Disablement Service Centre (DSC) of their choice. The Government are committed to supporting veterans who have lost a limb as a result of

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their service in the armed forces and the recommendation made by the hon. Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) is being put in place by the Department of Health in England.

All veterans are able to choose which NHS DSC they access and this has been supported by the changes in the commissioning arrangements for prosthetic services in England following the Health and Social Care Act 2012. NHS England is now the commissioner for all NHS prosthetics services, replacing the previous commissioning arrangements for prosthetics services in England.

For those injured service personnel being discharged from the armed forces, work is ongoing between the Ministry of Defence and the NHS to improve the transition and give the injured service person the opportunity to choose the NHS DSC that best meets their needs, whether it is one of the nine centres announced earlier in the year in response to the recommendations made by the hon. Member for South West Wiltshire or a DSC closer to home or friends and family.

Patients

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the top five most expensive NHS patients have cost since May 2010. [164989]

Dr Poulter: The information requested is not available because cost is not reported to the Department at individual patient level.

Self-harm: Children

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of 18 were admitted to hospital in each health care trust as a result of self-harm in each of the last three years. [165306]

Norman Lamb: A table giving details of admissions for which the primary diagnosis is intentional self-harm and the patient is aged 0-17 in each of the three years 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12 has been placed in the Library.

Social Services: Disability

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the consultation to decide on the capped care cost of social care for working age disabled people will be published. [165376]

Norman Lamb: We will launch a consultation on the implementation of our reforms to social care funding shortly. This will gather evidence to inform a decision on the appropriate level of the cap for working age adults of different ages.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many answers by his Department to parliamentary questions involving tables of statistics fewer than four pages in length were (a) printed in full and (b) provided via a link to a website in the last year; [165470]

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(2) what guidance his Department follows in determining whether statistics in answers to parliamentary questions are (a) provided in full, (b) provided via a link to a website and (c) deposited in the Library. [165489]

Dr Poulter: The Office of the Leader of the House provides guidance to all Departments on the practice of answering parliamentary questions by reference to Government websites.

The guidance advises that the answer should give the hon. Member the factual information requested (including supplying paper copies of the website pages), with an additional line in the answer indicating that the information is already made readily available.

The full guide is available on the Cabinet Office website at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work

A copy of the guidance relating to referring to websites has already been placed in the Library, and the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons intends to review the Guide to Parliamentary Work later this year.

The Department's practice is to include tables in the answer and not via a web link. It is unlikely that this practice has not been followed in a particular case but it would incur disproportionate cost to review the answer to every written question to confirm whether this was the case.

Energy and Climate Change

Energy Bill

Sir Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to bring forward amendments to the Energy Bill for the purpose of improving market access for independent generators to power purchase agreements and improving the viability and workability of the final mechanism; and whether any charges will be in place before the allocation of the first contracts for difference. [165031]

Michael Fallon [holding answer 12 July 2013]:Independent generators play a key role in helping meet the Government's low carbon ambitions, and I am committed to ensuring that they can continue doing so under the reforms to the electricity market that will be implemented through the powers in the Energy Bill. I recognise the concerns that have been raised around access to the market, and my officials are working closely and constructively with the industry to identify the causes of any problems and explore potential solutions. As part of this work, the Department is working with stakeholders to ease the transition to CfDs, including by developing standard power purchase agreement contracts and a voluntary code of practice, and is considering whether further regulatory intervention is required.

I intend to respond more fully on this issue in the course of the Bill's passage through Parliament, including bringing forward amendments to the Bill if necessary.

Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent by his Department (a) in total and (b) on staff costs on

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promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose. [165452]

Gregory Barker: The total spend (excluding salary costs) by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on promoting equality and diversity was:

2010 to 2011—£30,815.00

2011 to 2012—£54,691,83

2012 to 2013—£32,806.80

The number of staff employed on promoting equality and diversity was:

2010 to 2011—1 HEO member of staff, salary band £29,261 to £34,424

2011 to 2012—1 HEO member of staff, salary band £29,261 to £34,424

2012 to 2013—0.6% HEO member of staff, salary band £29,554 to £34,424, plus 1.33 Grade 7, salary band £47,445 to £56,597

Due to the low numbers of staff involved it is not possible to give exact salary details under the Data Protection Act.

Northcote House

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department used the facilities at Northcote House, Sunningdale Park, Berkshire in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [164819]

Gregory Barker: No DECC Ministers used the facilities at Northcote House Sunningdale Park, Berkshire in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, and (iii) 2012-13.

Our systems do not allow us to identify if staff used the facilities.

Power Stations

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the total installed capacity of power stations in Great Britain was in each year since 1989 for which figures are available. [165258]

Michael Fallon: The following table gives the total capacity of power stations (owned or operated by major power producers (MPPs)) in Great Britain from 1999 to 2011. While DECC publishes figures for all generators for the UK as a whole, figures for Great Britain are only available for MPPs, while data for 1989 to 1998 are not available. To note that, under this measure, the capacity of some renewable technologies (wind and small hydro) has been de-rated to account for intermittency.

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Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many power stations of each fuel type (a) were commissioned and (b)

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began generating in each year since 1989 for which figures are available. [165259]

Michael Fallon: Table 1 shows the number of power stations (owned or operated by major power producers) by fuel type and the year in which commissioning/generation began, until May 2012. Data to May 2013 will be available on 25 July 2013. No distinction is made between the year in which commissioning began and the year in which normal generation began. The data are taken from Table 5.11 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many senior civil servants left his Department and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was. [164399]

Gregory Barker: A total of three senior civil servants (SCS) have left the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPB's) under voluntary exit arrangements in the period between April 2010 and March 2013: one in 2011-12 and two in 2012-13. All voluntary exits included in this answer have been taken to include all non-compulsory departures.

The total value of the payments associated with these exits was £111,513 in 2011-12 and £605,995 in 2012-13.

The civil service compensation scheme was reformed in 2010. Under the previous terms there could be costs extending for up to 10 years from a departure while under the reformed scheme all of the costs fall within the year of departure.

The above information is included in the Departments annual report and accounts for 2011-12 and 2012-13. Information on voluntary exits covering the period from DECC's formation in 2008 to March 2012 was also provided in a response to my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Priti Patel) on 24 April 2013, Official Report, columns 974-75W.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Business: Billing

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many signatories to the Prompt Payment Code are members of the FTSE 350 index; and how many private firms have signed the Code to date. [165381]

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Michael Fallon: As at 11 July 2013, 1,436 organisations had signed up to the Prompt Payment Code. This figure included 141 of the FTSE350 companies.

Business: Government Assistance

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many small and medium-sized enterprises in the South of England participated in the Growth Accelerator Scheme. [164887]

Michael Fallon: As of 8 July 2013, the total number of companies receiving direct support through the Growth Accelerator Scheme in the South of England (defined by the South East, South West and London) is 2,819. The split by ‘region' is as follows:

Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the compatibility of proposed changes to section 32 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 with Article 5(3)(a) of the Copyright Directive; and if he will make a statement. [165238]

Jo Swinson: The Government aim to ensure that all legislation is compliant with the UK's European and international obligations, and is confident that the proposed changes to Section 32 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 are compatible with Article 5(3)(a) of the Copyright Directive. The Government are currently inviting comment on their draft regulations for changes to copyright exceptions and would welcome any views on this issue as part of this process. Written comments on the draft regulations for educational exceptions should be submitted by 2 August either in writing to the Intellectual Property Office or by e-mail to:

Copyriqhtconsultation@ipo.gov.uk

Cosmetics: EU Law

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer

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of 18 December 2012,

Official Report,

column 728W, on cosmetics: EU law, if he will make it his policy to instruct local Trading Standards officers to examine the product information files accompanying cosmetic products to ensure compliance with the marketing ban on animal-tested cosmetics introduced by the seventh amendment to the European Cosmetics Directive, Directive 76/768 EEC. [165236]

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will give guidance to Local Authority Trading Standards officers to examine product information files in the course of their normal business, to ascertain compliance with the marketing ban on animal-tested cosmetics.

Economic and Social Research Council: Scotland

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who has been appointed as a Scotland Leadership Fellow by the Economic and Social Research Council; what funding has been made available to support their fellowships; and if he will make a statement. [164681]

Mr Willetts: With a referendum on Scottish independence due to be held in 2014, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has appointed seven one-year senior fellowships with overall funding of £1.3 million. The Fellows will also act as champions for the social sciences, promoting the importance of social science research in addressing current and future issues in relation to possible Scottish independence. The ESRC is in the process of commissioning an additional two fellowships. These are still at contract negotiation stage and are yet to be publicly announced. It is anticipated that they will commence from September 2013.

The seven fellowships appointed to date are listed in the following table. Further information on their research can be found at:

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/impacts-and-findings/our-research/future-of-uk-and-scotland/fellowships.aspx

Information on ESRC-funded grants can be found via the Research Catalogue, which also includes details of over 100,000 research outputs arising from ESRC funding. The catalogue can be browsed by grant holder, year, output type, subject area and keyword:

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/impacts-and-findings/research-catalogue/

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Exports: Government Assistance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses have received support through the Export Refinancing Facility. [164754]

Michael Fallon: The parameters of the Export Refinancing Facility are still being developed and therefore no businesses have yet received support through the facility.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many local enterprise partnerships have a female (a) chair and (b) chief executive. [165239]

Michael Fallon: Local enterprise partnership (LEP) board membership is a matter for LEPs themselves, although the Government do request that LEP chairs and 50% of the LEP board should come from the business sector. The Government do not hold information on the number of female chairs and female chief executives.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: EU Grants and Loans

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria were used to determine the allocation of the European regional development fund and the European social fund monies to local enterprise partnerships in England. [165088]

Michael Fallon: Allocations for 2014-20 were made with respect to the EU budget categories of less developed regions, transition regions and more developed regions.

The Government’s aim was to protect EU funding to those regions with the lowest GDP (designated ‘less developed’ as far as possible). EU regulations limited the Government to move just 3% of the budget between regional categories. As result 3% of the budget for more developed regions and transition regions at UK level was transferred to the less developed regions (Cornwall and West Wales and the Valleys) budget.

On 26 March the Government announced that for 2014-20 England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would each receive an equal 5% reduction in relation to their overall European regional development fund (ERDF) and European social fund (ESF) allocation for 2007-13.

In England, the allocations of ERDF and ESF for 2013 set the baseline for allocations for the 2014-20 funding period:

All ‘transition’ regions received an equal c.20% uplift based on their UK spending commitment against the EU budget for 2013.

All ‘more developed’ regions received a c. 5% uplift based on its UK spending commitment against the EU budget for 2013.

Cornwall as the ‘least developed’ region received a 16% reduction—based on its UK spending commitments scheduled against the EU budget for 2013.

Some 4.3% of England's overall budget for ERDF and ESF has been reserved by Government for programme administration costs and for a service to support prisoners from prison and into paid employment upon their release.

Allocations on the basis of NUTS 2⁽¹⁾ geographies were then converted to local enterprise partnership areas on the basis of population statistics.

^{(1 )}NUTS 2 regions are typically large counties or groups of smaller counties.

Mature Students

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what educational advice and support is available to mature students who wish to pursue (a) Level 2 courses, (b) Level 3 courses and (c) undergraduate degree courses. [164553]

Matthew Hancock: The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to adults on all the choices available to them when they are considering their career or learning options. It is available face to face through over 2,800 local community based locations, including jobcentres and further education colleges. Alternatively people can call the national freephone helpline on 0800 100 900, or visit the website at:

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

The website offers a course directory listing all publicly funded further and higher education courses, and giving performance information about each course and its provider to help the individual make an informed choice.

Overall investment in adult Further Education and Skills will be £4.1 billion in the 2013-14 financial year. Of this, £3.6 billion will be routed through the Skills Funding Agency to support the capacity for over 3 million learners. Mature students may be eligible for full or co-funding depending on the course of study and level of prior attainment. Full details of entitlements are set out in the Skills Funding Statement 2012-15 available through this link.

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http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/BISCore/further-education-skills/docs/S/12-p172-skills-funding-statement-2012-2015.pdf

Discretionary Learner Support helps those most in need to meet some of the costs associated with further education. A Bursary Fund mirrors this for 24+ Advanced Learning Loan recipients. Both funds are administered directly by colleges and training organisations.

24+ Advanced Learning Loans have been introduced in Further Education, to support adults aged 24 and above to take courses at Level 3 and Level 4. These loans are not subject to credit checks and the learner will only begin to repay once they earn over £21,000. The loans complement the Government supported Professional and Career Development Loans, which over 25 years have enabled around a quarter of a million adults to undertake vocational study at all levels.

For those considering higher education opportunities we want them to make the best choices of course and university. We are improving the information available to potential students so that they are better placed to make informed choices about higher education. The Key Information Set (KIS), published for the first time last September, now allows prospective students to compare the headline items which students consider most important.

http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/

Information on the student support package can be accessed through the

www.Gov.uk

and Student Finance England websites. Guidance materials are produced by Student Finance England for students intending to apply for full-time and part-time financial support and these are available in both hard copy and electronic formats. In addition, many universities and colleges also provide advice on student support and other aspects of HE for mature students on their websites.

Minimum Wage

Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on enforcement of the national minimum wage. [164865]

Jo Swinson: No Ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have had any recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on enforcement of the national minimum wage. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has, however, recently met with the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, the hon. Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Gauke), and officials from HM Revenue and Customs to discuss this matter.

The Department is also in contact with HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs at official level.

New Businesses: Young People

Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of businesses which have secured funding under the Start-Up Loans scheme to date. [163687]

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Michael Fallon: The Start-Up Loans Company reports that, as of 28 June, 5,477 businesses had secured funding under the Start-Up Loans scheme.

Northcote House

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department used the facilities at Northcote House, Sunningdale Park, Berkshire in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [164802]

Jo Swinson: Following a review of learning and development across government the National School of Government, which delivered training on the Sunningdale Park site, closed in March 2012. Data on which individuals may have used the site were not retained.

Postal Services

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for how many years the provision of a six day universal service after any privatisation of Royal Mail will continue; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to guarantee future universal service provision. [163721]

Jo Swinson: The Government are committed to securing the future of the universal postal service provided by Royal Mail, which is so important to our communities, society and the economy.

Regardless of the nature of ownership, Royal Mail will still be the UK's designated universal service provider and will continue to provide deliveries to all UK addresses—rural and urban—on a six days a week basis.

Parliament has guaranteed, through the Postal Services Act 2011, the continuation of collection and delivery of letters six days a week throughout the UK at uniform affordable prices. Only Parliament can change the level of our universal service.

The steps we have taken so far to reform the regulatory framework and to support Royal Mail, coupled with securing access to private capital for the business, are the best way to safeguard the future of the universal service in the United Kingdom.

Regional Growth Fund: Dorset

Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of (a) the performance of the Regional Growth Fund against its objectives and (b) the effect of the fund on (i) Bournemouth and (ii) Dorset; and if he will make a statement. [164516]

Michael Fallon: My written ministerial statement of 11 July 2013, Official Report, cols. 27-30WS, refers to the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) Annual Monitoring Report 2013, which details the progress up to 31 March 2013 in Rounds 1 and 2 of the RGF.

Over 400 awards have been made in the four rounds totalling £2.6 billion of RGF which will generate £14.7 billion of private sector investment, delivering 550,000 jobs.

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A strategy to evaluate the overall RGF programme is now in place. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has recently commissioned the first phase of this, to comprise a scoping study of the possible approaches for conducting full impact and economic evaluations of the RGF and an evaluation of the RGF allocation process.

No RGF allocation has been made to Bournemouth or Dorset but £210 million has been allocated to a number of programmes and projects in the South West Region from the four bidding rounds.

Royal Mail

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the chief executive of Royal Mail was paid in 2012-13; and what percentage change in his salary there was between (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13. [163856]

Michael Fallon: The remuneration of the chief executive, Moya Greene, will be reported in Royal Mail's 2012-13 full annual report and accounts, which have not yet been published.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his statement of 10 July 2013, Official Report, columns 361-76, on Royal Mail, (1) what information Royal Mail has provided to his Department to demonstrate its ability to fulfil its assurance on keeping a predominantly full-time workforce; [165500]

(2) what information Royal Mail has provided to his Department to demonstrate its ability to fulfil its assurance on using the current workforce with no change to the current structure of the company; [165501]

(3) what information Royal Mail has provided to his Department to demonstrate its ability to fulfil its assurance on not outsourcing any additional services. [165502]

Michael Fallon: As the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), said, in response to questions about his statement, these and other assurances are matters for Royal Mail.

Royal Mail set out the assurances that it is prepared to make under a proposed three-year agreement in its press release issued on 1 July. On 10 July, Royal Mail issued a further press release in which, Moya Greene, chief executive, stated in relation to these assurances that Royal Mail:

“will create a legally-binding and enforceable contract with the CWU. Pay and protections could not be changed for the period of the contract without CWU agreement.”

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his statement of 10 July 2013, Official Report, columns 361-76, on Royal Mail, what the evidential basis is for his statement that under public ownership there is simply not the freedom for Royal Mail to raise capital in the markets. [165503]

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Michael Fallon: Consecutive Governments have not permitted public sector bodies to borrow on private markets, as this would increase the Government's overall cost of borrowing.

To ensure that Royal Mail can exploit market opportunities, such as the growth in online shopping, the company should be able to access flexible private sector capital just like its competitors.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his statement of 10 July 2013, Official Report, columns 361-76, on Royal Mail, what alternatives to privatisation were explored by his Department as a means of providing the Royal Mail with access to capital. [165504]

Michael Fallon: The Government's reforms of the postal sector are based on the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Postal Sector led by Richard Hooper in 2008 which was commissioned by the previous Government and Richard Hooper's updated report in 2010. This review considered alternative structures such as the not for profit model (e.g. Network Rail and Glas Cymru) but rejected them on the grounds that Royal Mail was operating in a changing, competitive market and did not, therefore, have access to the steady income stream associated with water and rail network monopolies.

As the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), said on 10 July, in relation to water companies, they:

“have extremely high gearing because of the nature of their business and do not require anything like the same level of equity. We have a model that combines the best use of equity markets and the level of debt that the company will need to finance its future investment.”

Like the previous Government, we decided that a sale of shares was the best way to give Royal Mail access to private capital and its associated commercial disciplines. This also reduces the risk of political intervention in commercial decisions.