Cheshire Regiment

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure the survival of Regimental Headquarters of the Cheshire Regiment, at Chester Castle, following the amalgamation of the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment in the Mercian Regiment. [R] [166864]

Mr Robathan: The former Regimental Headquarters of the Cheshire Regiment is now the Chester Outstation of the Mercian Regimental HQ, providing a valuable link to the civic authorities and wider public, serving as an organisational centre for the Cheshire Regimental Association and as a management structure for the Cheshire Military Museum.

The outstation is housed in Chester castle which is also home to the Cheshire Military Museum.

Iraq

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF personnel were embedded with the US Air Force in Iraq in each year since 2003. [R] [167613]

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Mr Robathan: The information requested is not held centrally. To retrieve this information would require searching personnel files back to 2003, which could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Libya

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions UK forces flew drones as part of Operation Ellamy; and how many people were recorded as having been (a) killed and (b) injured as a result of those missions. [R] [167605]

Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 November 2012, Official Report, column 494W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham and Rainham (Rehman Chishti). UK personnel embedded with United States forces contributed to around 200 armed remotely piloted air system missions as part of the NATO mission in support of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

The Government do not record total figures for casualties, whether civilian or otherwise, caused by UK forces because of the immense difficulty and risks that would be involved in collecting robust data. This was particularly the case for Operation Ellamy, without contemporaneous verification from within Libya. The UK and NATO were committed to enforcing the UN mandate to protect civilians. Operations were only conducted against legitimate military targets and the utmost care was taken to avoid civilian casualties at all times.

Mali

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK personnel deployed to the European Union Training Mission in Mali are tasked with providing information or advice on the use of drones. [R] [167615]

Mr Robathan: None.

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to provide training to the African-led International Support Mission to Mali on drones. [R] [167616]

Mr Robathan: We have no plans to provide such training.

Military Aid

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military equipment his Department has donated to other nations in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the value of such equipment. [165331]

Mr Dunne: Gifts of military equipment to other nations are made where it is in the UK's defence and security interests to do so. This could be to help fill a capability gap or in support of peacekeeping operations. All gifts made to other nations are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.

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Military equipment gifted to overseas Governments in the last three financial years by the Ministry of Defence has been as follows:

Medical equipment, training equipment, personal protection equipment, trucks, trailers and other vehicles, vehicle maintenance and recovery equipment, navigation aids, weapons and ammunition, a Harrier GR3 aircraft, a Jaguar aircraft, uniforms, EOD suits, fibre glass helmets and body armour, sangars, IT and telecommunications equipment, a toilet block, musical instruments, stationery, a General Purpose Test Facility, an ammunition supply point, a generator, a lifeboat, a small arms trainer and shears.

The value of these gifts was £2,144,052 in 2010-11, £390,629 in 2011-12 and £711,524 in 2012-13. In the previous two years the value of gifts was £329,612 in 2008-09 and £631,308 in 2009-10.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the value of the (a) Reaper, (b) Chinook, (c) Merlin, (d) Puma, (e) Sea King, (f) Apache, (g) Lynx Mk7, (h) Lynx Mk9/9a, (i) Gazelle, (j) Islander, (k) BAE 146, (l) BAE 125, (m) Vigilant, (n) Viking, (o) Lynx Mk8, (p) Lynx Mk3, (q) Rivet Joint, (r) Sentry, (s) Augusta, (t) Griffin HAR2 and (u) F-35 aircraft fleets. [166267]

Mr Dunne: The current value of each aircraft fleet is shown in the following table. The values reflect the Net Book Value (NBV) of the fleet; they do not include future deliveries or assets in the course of construction. NBV is calculated by adding the cost of any major upgrades to the original capital cost of each asset and deducting depreciation to reflect the decrease in value of an asset over time. The values quoted bear no relation to the replacement costs of the assets and capabilities, nor can they be used to calculate an accurate NBV per aircraft.

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The Agusta 109 and Griffin HAR2 aircraft are not owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). They are operated under a lease arrangement and are not therefore recorded as an asset on the MOD balance sheet. No NBV is available.

The unit cost of each F-35B Lightning II and therefore the estimated cost of the fleet will be determined at its main investment decision point. To publish estimates prior to such decision points could prejudice the Department's commercial position.

No Rivet Joint aircraft are in service, so an NBV figure is not yet available.

Navy: Cardiff

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has for the future of HMS Cambria; [166324]

(2) which specific locations he has identified for a new Royal naval reserve centre in Cardiff; and if he will make a statement. [166325]

Mr Robathan: HMS Cambria is currently planned to remain in its present location until 2016 when it will move to a new site in Cardiff. A naval presence will, however, remain in Barry, although it is too early to define what this will be.

The Navy Command Maritime Reserves team is currently investigating a number of options for a new Royal Navy Reserve site in Cardiff but no specific locations have yet been identified.

Nuclear Weapons

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many nuclear emergency exercises have been held in each location in each of the last two years; [162887]

(2) which Ministry of Defence nuclear emergency exercises and at which location took place in Scotland in the last three years; which of these exercises were assessed as adequate demonstrations of the emergency response by regulators; and what the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's findings and observations were of each exercise. [162996]

Mr Dunne: Nuclear emergency exercises held in the last two years 2011 and 2012 are listed in the following table:

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Nuclear emergency exercises held in Scotland during the three years 2010, 2011 and 2012 are as follows:

Nuclear emergency exercises form part of regular safety programmes to test and demonstrate the effectiveness of procedures, facilities, systems and equipment. An adequate demonstration means that the emergency arrangements meet the exceptionally high standards required for nuclear activities; any areas identified for improvement are acted on accordingly.

The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's findings and observations of the exercises will be placed in the Library of the House following a review to identify whether any

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information in the reports needs to be withheld, consistent with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will estimate the value of all the nuclear warheads and their D5 delivery system in the UK's current arsenal; [166274]

(2) if he will estimate the value of Atomic Weapons Establishment. [166275]

Mr Dunne: As at 31 March 2013, the net book value of the nuclear warhead stockpile was £273.7 million, the D5 missile pool was £419.3 million, and the

Atomic Weapons Establishment was £2,785.9 million.

The net book values bear no relation to the replacement costs of the assets and capabilities.

Pakistan and Afghanistan

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 86W, on Pakistan and Afghanistan, what plans his Department has to undertake surveys in 2013 in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on drone strikes. [R] [167607]

Mr Robathan: As the Ministry of Defence only operates its fleet of unmanned aircraft systems in support of operations in Afghanistan, there are no plans to survey the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan.

RAF Akrotiri

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air-to-air refuelling assets will assist Typhoon aircraft stationed at RAF Akrotiri. [167572]

Mr Robathan: There are currently two Tri-Star air-to-air refuelling aircraft at RAF Akrotiri.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assets capable of suppression of enemy air defences missions are stationed at RAF Akrotiri. [167574]

Mr Robathan: There are no UK aircraft currently based in RAF Akrotiri that are configured for the suppression of air defence systems.

Reserve Forces

Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 25 April 2013, Official Report, column 1280W, on reserve services, what changes have been made to the contract procedures followed by his Department as a result of lessons learned from the abandonment of the bidding process for the SAR-H competition in 2010; and whether he has concluded that any officials in his Department at the time have any responsibility for the improper release of information. [167651]

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Mr Dunne: There have been a number of changes in Ministry of Defence (MOD) procedures and training following the termination of the Search and Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) competition. These include changes to procedures regarding the control of sensitive information and to those governing the employment of current and former MOD personnel by industry. There has been no disciplinary action taken within the Department.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department plans to target cyber security experts for recruitment as reservists. [167704]

Mr Robathan: The White Paper on reserves was launched on 3 July 2013.

We are already recruiting reservists in both specialist and generalist roles including specifically into cyber roles. The recruitment campaign will continue throughout the autumn when the Secretary of State for Defence, expects to make an announcement on targeted recruitment.

Somalia

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether drone use by the British Army Training Unit Kenya has included surveillance over Somalia. [R] [167609]

Mr Robathan: No.

Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place copies of the Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme tier one contracts that have been signed in the Library. [167588]

Mr Dunne: I am withholding release of the contracts requested as their publication would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests.

Justice

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many creditors to his Department owed more than £10,000 remained unpaid for more than (a) 30 days, (b) 45 days, (c) 60 days, (d) 75 days and (e) more than 90 days in each of the last three years. [166378]

Mrs Grant: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In common with other Government Departments, the annual report and accounts for the Ministry of Justice, which are available in the Libraries of both Houses, contain information on supplier payment performance.

Claims Management Services

Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made in bringing claims management companies under the jurisdiction of the Legal Ombudsman; and when this will take effect. [166349]

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Mrs Grant: The intention is that claims management complaints' handling is brought within the remit of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC).

We were aiming to do this by the end of 2013. However, in order to ensure that the Office for Legal Complaint's costs are recovered from the claims management companies and not the wider legal profession, primary legislation will be required. Until we secure a legislative vehicle we cannot commit to a specific timeline and the OLC is aware of the position.

Community Orders

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average level of fines paid by those who have been successful in having an uncompleted community order suspended has been in each of the last two years. [167132]

Mrs Grant: It is not possible for HM Courts and Tribunals Service systems to identify the average fine amounts paid or identify fines which are paid by offenders who were also given community orders. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual search of all live and closed fine accounts.

Crown Courts: Leicester

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many trials have been adjourned more than once because no judge was available at Leicester Crown court in each of the last five years; [167169]

(2) how many murder trials have been adjourned because no judge was available at Leicester Crown court in each of the last five years; [167170]

(3) how many sexual assault trials have been adjourned because no judge was available at Leicester Crown court in each of the last five years; [167171]

(4) how many Crown court trials have been adjourned in each of the last five years due to no judge being available with less than 24 hours' notice, in each court; [167395]

(5) how many Crown court rape trials have been adjourned in each of the last five years due to no judge being available, in each court; [167396]

(6) how many Crown court sexual assault trials have been adjourned in each of the last five years due to no judge being available, in each court; [167397]

(7) how many Crown court murder trials have been adjourned in each of the last five years due to no judge being available, in each court; [167398]

(8) how many Crown court trials at each court have been adjourned more than once because of no judge being available in each of the last five years; [167417]

(9) how many trials at Leicester Crown court have been adjourned in each of the last five years because of no judge being available; and how many such trials were adjourned with less than 24 hours notice; [167418]

(10) how many rape trials at Leicester Crown court have been adjourned because of no judge being available in each of the last five years. [167419]

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Mrs Grant: The number of trial hearings which are considered ineffective due to ‘judge/magistrates availability’ is published by court as part of the National Statistics publication 'Court Statistics Quarterly'.

The proportion of trials which are ineffective at the Crown court has remained stable between 2007 and 2012 at around 13%. The proportion of effective trials have increased since Q4 2010 (44%) to Q1 2013 (51%).

We are overhauling the Criminal Justice System to make the court process swifter and more efficient and recently launched our 'CJS Strategy and Action Plan' which includes steps to address the number of cracked and ineffective trials including increasing digital working and improved case management of files.

The number of trials is not currently collated by offence—the counting basis is such that for any hearing there may be multiple defendants appearing to be tried for multiple offences.

The number of trials 'which have been adjourned more than once' is not currently collated—it is not possible to reliably track hearings listed by case using the current trial hearing reporting system.

The average length of time taken from offence to completion for cases in the Crown court is published quarterly by court as part of the National Statistics publication 'Court Statistics Quarterly'.

Published timeliness totals relate to all case outcomes (eg those acquitted as well as found guilty—it is not possible to discern the timeliness of trial only Crown court cases from these data.

Prisoners’ Release

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions those convicted of a serious specified violent or sexual offence for which the penalty is more than 10 year imprisonment have been released having not served 10 years of their sentence in prison in the last five years. [158960]

Jeremy Wright: Where the maximum penalty for an offence is 10 years' imprisonment, or more, the court may impose any sentence up to the maximum.

Sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) or an extended sentence for public protection (EPP), and their equivalents for offenders aged under 18, could only be imposed for specified violent and sexual offences listed in Schedule 15 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003, where the court also found the offender to be dangerous within the meaning of the provisions. An IPP sentence could only be imposed where the maximum penalty for the offence was 10 years, or more, and where the court considered that a life sentence was not appropriate or available. All offenders who have received a sentence of imprisonment or detention for public protection must serve the minimum custodial term imposed by the court, before being considered for release on licence by the Parole Board. These sentences were introduced in April 2005 and therefore no offender receiving an IPP sentence with a minimum term of 10 years would yet be eligible for release.

Since July 2008, the court also had the discretion to impose an EPP sentence for an offence listed on Schedule 15, regardless of the maximum penalty, and where the offender was considered to be dangerous, or a standard

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determinate sentence. Offenders who received an EPP sentence since July 2008, are subject to automatic release at the half-way point of the custodial term. On release, an offender serving an EPP is on licence for the balance of the custodial term plus the full extended licence period imposed by the court, and may be recalled to custody. The table shows the figures for those released under an EPP, or young offender equivalent, where a custodial term of more than 10 years was imposed but where automatic release occurs before 10 years has been served.

Offenders serving a standard determinate sentence are subject to automatic release having served one half of the custodial term with the rest of the sentence served on licence, and subject to recall to custody. Data on offenders released from determinate sentences for specified offences are not held centrally. A manual trawl of prisoner files would be required to obtain these data; this would incur disproportionate cost.

Where an offender committed an offence prior to April 2005, the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 apply. An offender serving a sentence of four years or more under the 1991 Act, regardless of the offence, is subject to release by the Parole Board between the one half and two-thirds point of the custodial term. On release, the licence period continues to the three-quarter point of the sentence. Under the 1998 Act, the court could impose an extended sentence where the offender was convicted of a sexual or violent offence. The custodial term of an extended sentence of more than four years would be served as under the 1991 Act provisions, and in addition the offender would be subject to an extended period on licence, commencing at the three-quarter point of the sentence.

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 replaced IPP and EPP sentences (and extended sentences under the 1998 Act) with extended determinate sentences and automatic life sentences. Under an extended sentence, the offender must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial term and, in serious cases, may serve the whole of the custodial term, before serving the rest of the sentence on licence. In addition, where the offender is convicted of a second very serious specified offence both of which merit a custodial term of 10 years or more, the court must impose a life sentence. These provisions were commenced in December 2012.

Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to implement the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. [158167]

Mrs Grant: In line with other Government Departments the MOJ Procurement Directorate issued Cabinet Office

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guidance regarding Public Services (Social Value) Act to MOJ commissioning teams and procurement staff.

The guidance stipulates that before the procurement process begins, commissioners and procurers need to consider what is to be procured, its relevance, and how it may improve social, environmental and economic well being of areas in England and Wales. Considerations also need to be given as to how they might secure any such improvement and the possible need to consult.

Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders released on licence following a life sentence have committed (a) homicide and (b) other offences in each of the last two years. [166423]

Jeremy Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 2 September 2013, Official Report, column 217W.

Sign Language

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to ensure the services it offers are accessible to British Sign Language users. [157936]

Mrs Grant: My Department recognises the importance of removing the barriers that deaf and hearing impaired people face, where they might otherwise be at a substantial disadvantage compared to the way others access a particular service.

My Department is committed to meeting the needs of its service users, and endeavours to work with them to respond to their requirements. In cases where British Sign Language is the appropriate form of communication, my Department would look to provide an interpreter on request.

Communities and Local Government

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many creditors to his Department owed more than £10,000 remained unpaid for more than (a) 30 days, (b) 45 days, (c) 60 days, (d) 75 days and (e) more than 90 days in each of the last three years. [166368]

Brandon Lewis: The number of creditors owed during the years specified, and meeting the criteria in terms of value and days elapsed between invoice receipt and credit to the supplier bank account, is shown in the following table:

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The Department reports against the cross-Government prompt payment target of paying 80% of invoices within five days of receipt. Our performance has improved in each financial year since 2010.

Building Regulations

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to monitor the effectiveness of third party certification under the revised Part P of the building regulations. [167340]

Mr Foster: Third party certification scheme operators will monitor the effectiveness of third party certification under Part P in a similar way that they monitor the effectiveness of self-certification by installers by carrying out periodic assessments of certification work by their registered third party certifiers. Scheme operators will provide the Department with biannual statistics on the number of registered third party certifiers and the number of certifications issued. The scheme operators themselves will be required to meet conditions of authorisation and their performance against these conditions will be checked by a third party. In addition, the Department will continue its regular dialogue with all interested bodies with an interest in electrical safety.

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons third party certification under the revised Part P of the building regulations will take place after completion when much of the work will be inaccessible. [167341]

Mr Foster: Certification that domestic electrical work complies with the Building Regulations, whether self certification by a member of a competent persons scheme, or by a registered third party, can only be done on completion of the work. Third party certifiers will be free to judge for themselves whether they need to inspect electrical work while it is in progress—according to the complexity of the work and the installer's competence.

Fire Services: Pensions

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to publish the Government's response to the report of Dr Williams on aspects of the terms and conditions of pension eligibility for the fire service. [166547]

Brandon Lewis: The Normal Pension Age for Firefighters report contains a number of recommendations which I am currently considering. The Government's response will be published in due course.

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High Speed 2 Railway Line

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues in the Department of Transport about the loss of business rates to local authorities in areas where the proposed High Speed 2 route would have an adverse effect on or lead to the closure of existing businesses. [167469]

Brandon Lewis: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, meets with Ministers in the Department of Transport on a regular basis, discussing a broad range of issues.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future of Zero Carbon Homes building regulations. [167242]

Mr Foster: As set out in Budget 2013, the Government remain committed to implementing zero carbon homes from 2016. A further strengthening of the energy efficiency requirements in Building Regulations was announced on 30 July. A consultation seeking views on the next steps to zero carbon including a flexible way to help home builders meet the zero carbon standard through the use of cost effective ‘Allowable Solutions’ was published on 6 August.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable he has set for the introduction of a target on building fabric energy efficiency. [167247]

Mr Foster: Changes to the Building Regulations including the introduction of a fabric energy efficiency rate target for new homes were announced on 30 July. The amending regulations come into force on 6 April 2014.

Housing: Construction

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will introduce minimum space and light standards for all new homes. [167554]

Mr Foster: The Government are currently consulting on space and daylighting standards as part of the Housing Standards Review and will take decisions in due course following the consultation.

Local Government Finance: Dudley

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he proposes to respond to the case set out by Councillor Pete Lowe on the impact of his Department's distribution of funds to local authorities on Dudley metropolitan borough council. [167668]

Brandon Lewis: I provided a response to Councillor Peter Lowe dated 29 August 2013.

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Noise: Pollution Control

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what additional planning guidance he is giving to address noise pollution; and if he will make a statement. [166583]

Nick Boles: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out how planning policies and decisions should take into account noise pollution. To help the effective implementation of the Framework, we have published planning practice guidance on noise. The guidance is part of a web-based resource open in test mode for comment for six weeks until 9 October 2013. We are seeking views on the format and style, how the web-based resource works and on the content of the material.

The planning practice guidance can be found on the following web link:

http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/

Public Houses

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of pubs that have closed in each of the last five years. [167700]

Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The Government do not compile statistics on pub closures and have made no estimate of the number of pubs that have closed in each of the last five years. The Government's consultation on the relationship between pub companies and their tenants and the accompanying impact assessment, published on 22 April 2013, referred to data on pub closures from CGA strategy.

Church Commissioners

Investment

Helen Goodman: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the category limits are of the Church Commissioners' ethical investment policy. [167384]

Sir Tony Baldry: The Church Commissioners are advised on ethical investment policy by the Church of England’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group. In directly held investments, the Church Commissioners avoid investment in companies involved in indiscriminate weaponry and, if their strategic military supplies exceed 10% of turnover, in companies involved in conventional weapons. The Church Commissioners do not invest in companies that derive more than 3% of revenues from the production or distribution of pornography, nor companies a major part of whose business activity or focus (defined as more than 25% of group revenues) is tobacco, gambling, alcoholic drinks, high interest rate lending or human embryonic cloning. Where the Church Commissioners are not able to invest in an asset class directly they do so indirectly (in pooled funds). In indirectly held investments, where the Church Commissioners usually cannot fully implement their ethical restrictions, exposure to businesses operating in

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excluded sectors is monitored. If the level or nature of exposure to excluded sectors in any one fund becomes unacceptable, the Church Commissioners review the options for remedial action.

Energy and Climate Change

Electricity

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what timetable he has set for the proposed electricity demand reduction pilot. [167241]

Michael Fallon: We plan to announce further detail regarding the proposed electricity demand reduction pilot shortly.

Fracking: Norfolk

Mr Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the volume of shale gas reserves present in black shale deposits under (a) North West Norfolk constituency and (b) Norfolk. [167184]

Michael Fallon: None. DECC has published a report from the British Geological Survey on shale gas resources in the Bowland basin, and is supporting work in hand by BGS seeking to quantify such shale gas or oil resources as may exist in the Weald basin of southern England.

Mr Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many fracking licence applications have been (a) received, (b) granted and (c) refused for exploratory hydraulic fracturing in (i) North West Norfolk constituency, (ii) Norfolk and (iii) the UK to date. [167185]

Michael Fallon: No part of Norfolk has been licensed for oil or gas activities. A map showing all UK onshore Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences can be found on the Government website via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227180/landfields_lics.pdf

Green Deal Scheme: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for the Green Deal Scheme in Scotland have been made by residents of flats in pre-1919, stone-built tenements. [167533]

Gregory Barker: DECC published the number Green Deal assessments lodged between January and March 2013 broken down by tenure in the first quarterly Official Statistics release on 27 June.

DECC does not currently hold the information that will enable tenure to be broken down by Scotland, although it will have this information in the future. Furthermore, whilst DECC collects some information on property type, it does not collect information on the age or structure of individual properties where Green Deal assessments have taken place.

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Nuclear Power

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the implications for his plans for the UK's future nuclear programme of recent reports relating to the nuclear plant at Fukushima. [167464]

Michael Fallon: The Government remain firmly committed to their efforts to ensure that the conditions are right for investment in new nuclear power in the UK. Safety is our number one priority.

Government, industry and the nuclear regulators will continue to learn all possible lessons from the events at Fukushima. Dr Mike Weightman's 2011 report on the implications of the events in Japan and the lessons to be learned for the UK nuclear industry confirmed that the UK's current safety regime is working and reassured us that nuclear can be part of the future energy mix as it is today. We must, however, continue to improve where we can, not just with operating power stations and new sites but by dealing with our nuclear legacy in a robust and effective manner, and continue to work with our international partners to push forward work on enhancing nuclear safety standards.

Sellafield

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of progress towards deadlines for the decommissioning of the Sellafield nuclear plant; and which deadlines have been (a) missed or (b) extended in the last three years. [167335]

Michael Fallon: DECC/Shareholder Executive Officials have regular meetings with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to review performance at all its sites. Ministers have made regular visits to see progress at Sellafield for themselves and hold regular meetings to discuss progress on tackling the high hazard work programmes. Sellafield represents a unique and complex challenge and progress has been mixed. Detailed reports on performance against targets are available on the NDA's website and through its annual report:

http://www.nda.gov.uk/

http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2012-2013.pdf

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been paid in bonuses to employees of Nuclear Management Partners for their work in decommissioning the Sellafield nuclear plant in each of the last three years. [167389]

Michael Fallon: Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) is a private sector consortium that won a competition in 2008 to become the parent company for Sellafield Ltd, which operates the Sellafield site under contract to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). Any bonuses NMP pays to its own employees is a matter for them; however, the cost of Sellafield Ltd employees (including the salaries and bonuses of executives seconded by the parent company) is funded by the taxpayer.

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The amounts paid directly by NDA to fund bonuses for NMP Executives seconded to Sellafield Ltd are as follows:

FY 2009-10

Total bonus paid: £1,999,192

FY 2010-11

Total bonus paid: £2,451,269

FY 2011-12

Total bonus paid: £2,148,035

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many fines have been levied due to unsafe practices in decommissioning the Sellafield nuclear plant in each of the last five years; and to which incidents each such fine relates. [167390]

Michael Fallon: An incident in July 2007, during which two contractors received a higher than anticipated radiation dose intake while carrying out floor refurbishment work within a redundant area of the Plutonium Finishing and Storage Plant, resulted in a fine of £75,000 in December 2009.

Sellafield Ltd was also fined £700,000 in June 2013 in Carlisle Crown court following the inadvertent transfer of four waste bags to a landfill site at Lillyhall, West Cumbria rather than to the Low Level Waste Repository at Drigg.

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the role of Nuclear Management Partners in the decommissioning of the Sellafield nuclear plant. [167391]

Michael Fallon: It is the responsibility of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to assess performance of its contractors and to take appropriate action through the contracts it has let. The NDA is currently assessing the performance of Nuclear Management Partners during its first contract period before concluding whether or not to extend the contract into its second term.

Health

Allergies: Food

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the possibility that his Department should subsidise the cost of alternative foods for people with allergies. [167603]

Norman Lamb: No assessment has been made of the possibility to subsidise the cost of alternative foods for people with allergies.

The Government are very aware of the need to protect the health of consumers with food allergies and intolerances and this is why food allergens are required to be clearly declared on the labels of pre-packed foods.

Atrial Fibrillation

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether Clinical Commissioning Groups are encouraged to treat atrial fibrillation as a priority; [167618]

(2) what steps are being taken in the NHS to prevent atrial fibrillation strokes; [167619]

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(3) whether his Department plans to develop the focus within the cardiovascular outcomes strategy on the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation. [167620]

Anna Soubry: As set out in the Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy, published in March 2013, atrial fibrillation is a priority for this Government and NHS England will work to support primary care to provide good management of people with or at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including atrial fibrillation-related stroke.

Responsibility for improving clinical outcomes from healthcare services lies with NHS England.

NHS England is developing its overall approach to delivering reduced premature mortality, in line with the NHS Outcomes Framework. As one of the major causes of premature mortality, reducing cardiovascular-related mortality is expected to form a significant element of NHS England's work to support primary care, including providing good management of people with or at risk of CVD.

The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Outcome Indicators Set for 2013-14 will be used to measure improvement in the quality of services and health outcomes achieved by CCGs through commissioning. This includes indicators on CVD, which covers atrial fibrillation.

In line with this overall aim, NHS Improving Quality's (NHS IQ's) strategic priorities for 2013-14 include public awareness and early diagnosis and a major drive to increase general practitioner engagement in stroke.

Prior to the formation of NHS Improving Quality, NHS Improvement implemented the national roll out of Guidance on Risk Assessment and Stroke Prevention for Atrial Fibrillation (GRASP-AF), as part of a wider programme aimed at improving the management of atrial fibrillation in stroke prevention. GRASP-AF is a simple audit tool for use in primary care to help with stroke risk assessment and the management of atrial fibrillation.

NHS IQ will continue to promote these tools.

Dementia

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on dementia research through the National Institute for Health Research in 2012-13; and what activities were funded by such spending. [167622]

Dr Poulter: The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) spent £24.4 million on dementia research in 2012-13. This investment supported a wide range of research activity including individual projects, programme grants, research training awards, research undertaken by NIHR biomedical research centres and units, and other support through NIHR infrastructure including the Clinical Research Network, Clinical Research Facilities and Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care.

Diabetes

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to reduce variancies in the quality of diabetes care across the NHS; [167147]

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(2) what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people with diabetes who are at risk of further complications; [167148]

(3) what steps he is taking to increase the number of people with diabetes who receive all nine of the tests his Department has established as minimum standards for diabetes care; [167149]

(4) what steps he has taken to ensure that patients with diabetes are able to see a consultant if their condition worsens; [167151]

(5) what steps he has taken to increase the early diagnosis of diabetes. [167152]

Anna Soubry: Responsibility for improving the quality of diabetes care sits with NHS England and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

Through the Mandate, the Department has asked NHS England to demonstrate progress towards making the NHS among the best in Europe at supporting people with ongoing health problems such as diabetes to live healthy and independent lives, with better control over the care they receive.

National performance on diabetes will be monitored through the NHS Outcomes Framework. Diabetes is mentioned specifically in an indicator which focuses on enhancing the quality of life for people with long-term conditions and is relevant to all five domains of the Framework. Alongside this, the CCG Outcomes Indicator Set 2013-14 will enable NHS England and local authorities to monitor variations in the quality of diabetes services and health outcomes achieved through commissioning.

General practitioners and other doctors and nurses are at the centre of making local NHS decisions, enabling CCGs to create more integrated care for all patients with long-term health problems. Local commissioners within CCGs have the responsibility to determine what local diabetes services will be provided and should follow the evidence-based guidelines for good diabetes care, including providing adequate support to patients whose conditions worsen.

Diabetes is included in the Cardiovascular Disease Outcome Strategy, published in March 2013, which reiterates our commitment to the NHS Health Check programme. To increase the early diagnosis of disease, NHS Health Check assesses everyone between 40 and 74 for their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. In July, Public Health England published a review of the NHS Health Check implementation and action plan. NHS England will be working with Public Health England to make the NHS Health Check programme as effective as possible.

NHS Improving Quality (NHS IQ), as part of NHS England, is working with Strategic Clinical Networks to support commissioners and providers deliver appropriate services and treatment to people with diabetes. NHS IQ has cited improved public awareness and early diagnosis as a key improvement programme.

The risk of diabetes related complications can be reduced through careful monitoring and management of the disease. There are a number of national and locally developed patient education programmes available to diabetes patients, as well as a range of tools and guidance to help local services choose the best programmes to meet the needs of their local population.

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To encourage improved management of diabetes, the Government have set dear objectives for the NHS to increase universal coverage of the nine National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) recommended care processes to 80% by 2018 (from 49% in 2010). The National Diabetes Audit measures the percentage of diabetes patients who receive all nine checks. The 2010-11 Audit, published in September 2012, found that 54.43% of people with diabetes had records showing all nine checks had been completed between January 2010 and March 2011, up by almost 3% from 2009-10. The data for 2011-12 are expected to be published in October.

General Practitioners

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the variance in GP charges for work that is not covered under their contract with the NHS. [167351]

Dr Poulter: The fees charged by general practitioners (GPs) for work outside of their contract with the national health service, are a private matter. It is not appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those arrangements.

Under the terms of their contract for the provision of NHS primary medical services, GPs are required to provide certain medical reports, or complete certain forms such as those required to support a claim for incapacity benefit, free of charge to their registered patients. This has been the position since the contracting arrangements were introduced in 2004. Such reports are provided free of charge under arrangements between the requesting body and GP practices and are provided to enable the statutory body to carry out its functions. If a patient wishes to have further information over and above that required by the requesting body, this is regarded as a private matter.

The Professional Fees Committee of the British Medical Association (BMA) suggests fees for such services to help doctors set their own professional fees. However, these fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested. Where doctors intend to charge for services to patients, the BMA advises them to forewarn patients, at the earliest opportunity, of the likely level of fees.

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to block fraudulent websites of companies that offer fast-track services for a fee to renew the European Health Insurance Card. [166786]

Anna Soubry: The Department and the NHS Business Services Authority ((NHSBSA)—which issues European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) on behalf of the Department)—are aware of various third party websites offering charge for the application service for EHICs. The EHIC is a European Union-wide resource that is free to all United Kingdom citizens via the NHS Choices website.

As requested by the Department, the Office of Fair Trading reviewed information on a number of these third party websites, but concluded that they are not, in

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their view, illegal, provided they make clear the card can be obtained free of charge from the NHSBSA, and that no action will be taken at this time.

The NHSBSA is continually seeking to improve its processes and is working closely with NHS Choices to enhance its web presence, thereby ensuring that citizens are able to choose the correct method of applying for an EHIC in the future.

Home Care Services

Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support and advice his Department plans to provide to authorities that choose to provide care and support services above the proposed national minimum. [167438]

Norman Lamb: The Care Bill will introduce a national minimum eligibility threshold for adult care and support to help remove variation in access to care depending on where people live. Local authorities will not be able to tighten their eligibility criteria beyond the national minimum threshold but if they choose they will be free to meet needs not included in the national criteria.

On 28 June, the Government published a discussion document which set out the national minimum eligibility threshold. The threshold is set at a level similar to “substantial” in the current system. This is the level which the majority of local authorities already set their local eligibility criteria. The discussion document asks local authorities what training and support they will need to implement the eligibility regulations.

The Department will issue statutory guidance to support the implementation of the reforms in the Care Bill, and this will include detail to support local authorities implementing the national minimum eligibility criteria. The guidance will be prepared in consultation with stakeholders and will be informed by the feedback from the discussion document. We intend to issue the guidance for consultation in spring 2014 and the final version will be published in autumn 2014.

Lead: Health Hazards

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of all internal briefings prepared for Ministers on the effects on human health of exposure to lead in the UK in the last three years. [167471]

Anna Soubry: Health Ministers have received no specific briefing on the effects on human health of the exposure to lead in the United Kingdom in the last three years. Relevant background notes from previous written parliamentary questions have been placed in the Library.

Medicine: Research

Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential effects on medical research in the UK of the proposed General Data Protection Regulation before the European Parliament. [167308]

Dr Poulter: The proposed European Union General Data Protection Regulation text is yet to be finalised. The Government have many concerns about the quality

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of the text in the proposed regulation and will want to ensure that researchers can continue to process data for their legitimate purposes without disproportionate obstacles being placed in their way. The regulation is not yet finalised due to the high level of amendments, and in addition member state reservations need to be considered before it can be agreed, and voted upon. The Government place a great deal of importance on research into the life sciences and will continue to pursue a data protection framework that does not constrain work unnecessarily whilst still providing for the effective protection of the personal data of individuals.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation regarding the future assessment of the Meningitis B vaccine Bexsero and a timetable for a population-based evaluation. [167386]

Anna Soubry: We have not had any discussions with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) about its interim position statement on the meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero®, which was published on 24 July 2013 for consultation with organisations who had submitted evidence to it.

The JCVI will be considering the consultation responses to its interim position statement at its meeting on 2 October and is due to submit a final position statement to the Department by mid-November, to which we will then respond.

Mental Health Services

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to expand the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme; [167538]

(2) what steps he is taking to make cognitive behavioural therapy more widely available; [167539]

(3) what recent assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of increased spending on mental health care; [167540]

(4) what recent representations he has received from the Mental Health Foundation; [167542]

(5) what steps he is taking to improve care for mental health patients within the NHS. [167543]

Norman Lamb: The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme supports the frontline National Health Service in implementing National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders. Over £400 million is being invested over the spending review period to make a choice of psychological therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, available for those who need them in all parts of England.

The Department's Mandate to the NHS sets a clear objective for NHS England to deliver the key objectives of the IAPT programme—providing access to therapies to 15% of those eligible (around 900,000 people) per year by 2015, with a recovery rate of 50%. Helping people back into employment is a key objective of the programme.

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The Operating Framework for the NHS in England clearly states that the NHS should carry on expanding access to psychological services as part of the IAPT programme. NHS England is also running a series of pilot programmes to expand or improve IAPT services for people with severe mental illness, long-term conditions, black and minority ethnic groups and older people.

The annual cost of mental health problems to the economy in England has recently been estimated at £105 billion. This is why we have enshrined in law the equal importance of mental health, alongside physical health. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 sets out the equal status of mental and physical health. We have made improving mental health, and treating mental illness, a key priority for NHS England. One of NHS England's 24 objectives is to put mental health on a par with physical health, and close the health gap between people with mental health problems and the population as a whole.

We will hold the NHS to account for the quality of services and outcomes for mental health patients through the NHS Outcomes Framework. There are four measures which relate specifically to mental health. Improvements for people with mental health problems will also be a crucial element of success across the framework as a whole.

We are supporting local organisations in taking effective action to improve mental health. Our mental health strategy and implementation framework, and our suicide prevention strategy, focus on specific actions which specific local organisations can take to improve mental health across the life course in their areas.

The Mental Health Foundation is one of the Department's key partner organisations. The mental health strategy ‘No Health without Mental Health’ and its accompanying implementation framework, copies of which have already been placed on the Library, were co-produced with a number of partner organisations including the Mental Health Foundation. They are also represented on the mental health Ministerial Advisory Group which I chair. Therefore, representations of varying degrees of formality are received and responded to on a regular basis.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the proportion of those younger than 65 with mental health problems who receive adequate care. [167832]

Norman Lamb: Mental health and well-being is a priority for this Government and our overarching goal is to ensure equality between mental health and physical health services.

Our mental health strategy, ‘No health without mental health’, focuses on specific actions which local organisations can take to improve mental health across the life course, and includes a specific objective to give more people a positive experience of care and support.

It is the responsibility of local organisations to assess the care and treatment received by patients in their area.

The national health service will make sure people experience better care, not just better treatment, so that everyone with a mental illness can expect to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect whenever they come into contact with the NHS.

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Mental Health Services: Young People

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adolescent in-patient mental health units have ceased to operate as a result of the change in Tier 4 specification introduced by NHS England. [167498]

Norman Lamb: No units have ceased to operate as a result of the change in Tier 4 specification that will be introduced by NHS England on 1 October 2013, nor do we expect any to cease operating when the change is implemented.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve detection of mental illness in younger people. [167541]

Norman Lamb: ‘No Health Without Mental Health, a cross-Government mental health strategy for people of all ages’ stakes a life-course approach, recognising that the foundations for life long well-being are already being laid down before birth. The implementation framework for this strategy, published in July 2012, outlines the important role schools and colleges play in relation to health and well-being and what they can do to embed the right skills, behaviour and support systems to remove barriers to learning and build confidence and self-esteem including:

‘Whole school’ approaches;

School nursing;

Addressing bullying; and

Ensuring staff are aware of how mental health relates to their work.

In February 2012, departmental Ministers agreed the development of interactive e-learning programmes to extend the skills and knowledge of:

Health workers;

Non-health workers working in universal settings, such as teachers, social workers, school and faith workers; and

Counsellors and supervisors working in a range of educational and youth settings.

These programmes will be delivered via an e-Portal for children and young people's mental health.

Mental Illness: Employment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if his Department will work with relevant bodies to develop Commissioning for Quality and Innovation payments based on employment rates of people with severe mental illness; [167102]

(2) what estimates his Department has made of the cost of developing an atlas of variation at a clinical commissioning group level for mental health conditions; [167103]

(3) what steps his Department plans to take to support the development of a clinical commissioning group outcome indicator on the employment of people with mental illness; [167104]

(4) what information his Department holds on the numbers of people with severe mental illness who are in employment at (a) local authority and (b) clinical commissioning group level; [167105]

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(5) what estimate his Department has made of the number of mental health trusts that provide Individual Placement and Support services. [167106]

Norman Lamb: NHS England (NHSE) is currently undertaking a review of incentives, rewards and sanctions, including Commissioning for Quality and Innovation payments. It has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders and is currently analysing the responses from this process. This will inform the content and design of the scheme for 2014-15.

Public Health England (PHE) and NHSE have jointly committed to developing a National Mental Health Intelligence Network (NMHIN) which will aim to bring together a range of mental health and well-being indicators for NHS commissioners and other stakeholders by early 2014. This data will allow comparisons between different areas.

The development of a Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator in relation to the employment of people with mental illness is under consideration by NHSE. Technical work is being undertaken by the Health and Social Care Information Centre to determine whether this can be appropriately measured at Clinical Commissioning Group level.

We do not collect information about patients with severe mental ill health in employment which is broken down to local authority or clinical commissioning group level.

Individual Placement and Support services are based within mental health trusts and providers and the Department does not collect this information centrally.

NHS: Apprentices

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget for apprenticeships in the NHS was in each of the last five years. [166488]

Dr Poulter: The actual budget set by the Department for national health service apprenticeships is as follows:

Since April 2013, Health Education England has assumed responsibility for the national healthcare apprenticeship agenda and is currently working with Local Education and Training Boards to increase uptake across the NHS.

Following the introduction of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, individual local provider organisations continue to be responsible for the level of funding they invest in apprenticeships based on local service demand.

The Department currently has no apprentices. The Department runs and actively encourages teams to offer work experience and other opportunities to candidates from Government schemes. These initiatives include the Civil Service Whitehall Internship programme, the Summer Development and Placement Scheme, plus the

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Department's own Building Bridges programme, the NHS Management trainee programme, and placements for finance and analytical students. Since 2012 the Department has increased its allocation on the Building Bridges programme to eight places, due to the high demand.

NHS: Technology

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the contributions by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health of 21 November 2012, Official Report, column 210WH, and column 214WH, on mobile technology (healthcare), when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health plans to meet (a) the hon. Member for West Lancashire and (b) healthcare providers to discuss mobile technology in healthcare. [167621]

Dr Poulter: I would be happy to meet the hon. Member and representatives from healthcare providers about mobile technology in healthcare. We have suggested to the hon. Member's office that ahead of that meeting we will also arrange for her to meet with senior officials from the Department to ensure we can make best use of our meeting.

Public Health England

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2013, Official Report, column 673W, on Public Health England, what consideration was given to gender and equality in the shortlisting process for the Public Health England advisory board. [167378]

Anna Soubry: The recruitment campaign to Public Health England's Advisory Board was managed in a way that complied with the principles of the Commissioner for Public Appointment's Code of Practice—it was open, transparent and appointments were made on merit.

The code states that

“Departments must also ensure that they comply with all relevant legislation. This includes legislation relating to the particular public body or statutory office and the Equality Act 2010 (which prohibits discrimination, harassment and other unlawful conduct because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation where an individual applies for a public appointment).”

Slaughterhouses: Horses

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date licences were granted for horse slaughter to the five UK abattoirs which were in possession of such licences in January 2013. [167455]

Anna Soubry: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that while there were only five establishments still involved in the slaughter of horses in January 2013, there were actually seven establishments which were still approved to slaughter horses in the United Kingdom at this time. Details on when these establishments were originally licensed are provided in the table. With the advent of new EC Food Hygiene legislation in 2006, premises operating at that time were subject to re-approval under Regulation (EC) 853/2004.

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South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much the South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust has spent on public relations in each of the last 10 years; [167118]

(2) how many staff of South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust earn (a) £70,000 per year, (b) £100,000 per year and (c) £150,000 per year; and if he will make a statement. [167119]

Anna Soubry: This information is not collected centrally.

We have written to Lorraine Cabel, Chair of South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, informing her of the hon. Member's inquiry. She will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

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Streptococcus

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of (a) the dangers posed by and (b) steps taken to avoid Group B streptococcus among pregnant women and their families; [167579]

(2) what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of the signs of Group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies; [167580]

(3) what targets his Department has set for long-term reduction in the number of Group B streptococcal infections in maternity wards; [167641]

(4) what his Department's policy is on routine testing for carriage of Group B streptococcus in the early stages of pregnancy; [167642]

(5) what steps his Department is taking to identify pregnant women at higher risk of Group B streptococcal infection. [167643]

Dr Poulter: The Department is working together with the national health service, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry to raise awareness and make improvements in the reduction of early-onset Group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies.

The RCOG published their updated guidelines on prevention of Group B streptococcus (GBS) on incidence of GBS infection in neonates in July 2012. The updated guidelines took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guidelines.

Following the publication of the revised guideline, the UK National Screening Committee suggested a formal audit of practice, to establish how well the new guidance is being implemented at a national level.

The RCOG, in partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, have now appointed a clinical research fellow to carry out an audit across the United Kingdom. It would aim to provide feedback and advice to all participating trusts about how they can further improve their adherence to the RCOG guidelines on the prevention of neonatal GBS disease.

In addition, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early-onset neonatal infection. We expect NHS organisations to take them fully into account in their decision making, including on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection.

NICE recommends that all women should be offered a test in early pregnancy to identify the presence of bacteria in their urine. GBS can sometimes be identified in this way and current RCOG and NICE guidelines recommend that antibiotics in labour should be offered as a result.

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The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme is currently commissioning a study to provide evidence on whether intrapartum testing of high risk women for GBS colonisation enables more timely identification of women with GBS carriage and potentially better targeted antibiotic use.

Women and Equalities

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many questions answered by the Government Equalities Office included fewer than four pages of statistics in the Official Report for the last month. [166705]

Mrs Grant: This information is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will make it her policy to ensure that all answers provided by the Government Equalities Office containing tables of statistical data which would not require more than four pages in the Official Report are published in full rather than by reference to a hyperlink. [166730]

Mrs Grant: It is currently the policy of DCMS, which includes GEO, to provide a hyperlink for information which is easily accessible to the public; where this is not the case then the Department will endeavour to publish the information in full in the Official Report.

Treasury

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds have been set aside by HM Revenue and Customs to begin preliminary work on the operation of the new tax free child care scheme. [166996]

Sajid Javid: HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs are currently working on the design of the tax free child care scheme. Staff in both Departments are engaged in this work. The costs of these staff are being met from within existing resources.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is being budgeted for the design of the IT system for the tax free child care scheme. [166997]

Sajid Javid: The requirements for the development of the tax free child care system will be informed by the forthcoming public consultation. The estimated costs for the development of TFC will be calculated after the consultation.

Companies: Ownership

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Prime Minister's policy is on the introduction of EU regulation to collect beneficial ownership information on companies and to make such information public; and what the Prime Minister's policy is on including such requirements in the anti-money laundering directives. [167463]

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Greg Clark: The Government are committed to ensuring that UK companies know who owns and controls them by placing a legal obligation on companies to obtain and hold adequate, accurate and current information on their beneficial ownership. The Government used the UK’s presidency of the G8 to achieve a political commitment across all G8 countries to this standard. The Government believe that beneficial ownership information should be held in a central registry and is consulting on whether such information should be made publicly available.

The UK is committed to full implementation of beneficial ownership transparency through the Fourth EU Money Laundering Directive, which is currently being negotiated.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on tackling under-performance in (a) the Work Programme and (b) the Youth Contract; and if he will make a statement. [167440]

Sajid Javid: The performance of large Government programmes such as the Work programme and the Youth Contract are a priority for both the Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). As such, there are ongoing discussions between our two Departments about the performance of these projects.

The Work programme has been underway since June 2011, delivering personalised support to long term and vulnerable jobseekers. With more people getting into work within a year of joining the programme, performance is improving. The numbers of people finding lasting work—at least six months for most people or three months for the hardest to help—has increased from 9,000 in March 2012 to 132,000 in March 2013.

DWP have issued Performance Improvement Notices on 12 contracts that are deemed as not delivering the Work programme to the agreed standards. If these providers do not demonstrate significant improvements DWP will continue to take action in line with contracts. This could lead to contract termination.

The Youth Contract was launched in April 2012 to help support half a million young people into employment. The Government remain committed to implementation of this programme, and in July this year announced £50 million will be made available to England's eight largest cities (outside London) to invest in getting young people into work.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Charles Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out how his Department calculates the levels of settlements offered to each Equitable Life claimant. [166648]

Sajid Javid: The scheme published the detailed calculation methodology in May 2011 and this information can be found on the scheme's website:

http://equitablelifepaymentscheme.independent.gov.uk/resources/index.htm

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Imports: Ethiopia

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue from import taxes has been received on goods imported into the UK from Ethiopia in each of the last five years. [167454]

Mr Gauke: The following table contains details of the total revenue collected on goods imported to the UK from Ethiopia since 1 September 2009. It has not been possible to provide details for the full five-year period requested as the information is held for a rolling four-year period.

National Insurance Contributions: Self-employed

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to enable self-employed people to pay voluntary class 1 national insurance contributions to ensure that they are eligible for contribution-based jobseeker's allowance if they become unemployed. [167387]

Mr Gauke: The contributions that self-employed earners pay have never counted towards contribution-based jobseeker's allowance entitlement. There are no plans to either change this rule or to allow the self-employed to pay Class 1 contributions voluntarily.

PAYE

Nick de Bois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received following HM Revenue and Customs' decision to withdraw the P38(S) form following the introduction of PAYE Real Time Information; and if he will make a statement; [167399]

(2) what estimates he has made of costs to his Department of HM Revenue and Customs' decision to withdraw the P38(S) form following the introduction of PAYE Real Time Information; and if he will make a statement. [167400]

Mr Gauke: HMRC consulted with external representative bodies and the National Union of Students (NUS) regarding the withdrawal of form P38(S) for students from April 2013. It was recognised that students now tend to work throughout the year and not just during vacation periods and that their tax affairs could hence be dealt with through normal PAYE processes. No representations were received following the announcement that the P38(S) form and process would be withdrawn. No estimate has been made of the costs associated with the decision to withdraw form P38(S).

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Revenue and Customs

John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many administrative errors by HM Revenue and Customs there have been in each of the last five years; [167646]

(2) how many cases there have been of HM Revenue and Customs taking tax from the wrong account in each of the last five years; [167648]

(3) how many cases there have been of HM Revenue and Customs taking multiple tax payments in error in each of the last five years. [167649]

Mr Gauke: This information is not available centrally, and could be researched only at disproportionate cost.

Standards

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his statement of 26 June 2013, Official Report, column 314, on spending review, whether he has informed the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which of his Department's programmes he has identified as under-performing; and if he will make a statement. [167437]

Sajid Javid: The performance of Government programmes is continuously monitored and discussed at ministerial level. Where changes to policies or programmes are agreed as a result of any under-performance, these changes will be announced publicly by the relevant Minister or Department at the appropriate time.

Tax Allowances: Cultural Heritage

Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the minimum requirements are for public access to properties to qualify for estate duty exemption. [167635]

Mr Gauke: The estate duty exemption only applies to chattels. It does not apply to land and buildings or to collections of art, in the same way that a similar exemption applies for inheritance tax purposes. The estate duty exemption criteria do not include any requirements for chattels to be made available for public viewing.

Taxation

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims accepted by HM Revenue and Customs after inquiry between January 2002 and 12 March 2008 related to tax planning schemes subsequently covered by section 58 of the Finance Act 2008. [167303]

Mr Gauke: HMRC became aware in July 2012 that during March 2006 inquiries into fewer than five scheme users had a closure notice issued with no amendment. The closure notices were issued in error and related to only one of the years under inquiry in each case. I am unable to give a more precise figure on the number of enquiries that were closed in error as it would breach HMRC’s duty of confidentiality.

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HMRC is unaware of any other cases where a scheme user's claim to double tax relief was investigated and then a closure notice was issued which referred to the scheme and made no amendment.

Trusts

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of trusts and foundations registered in the UK; and what his policy is on establishing registries of beneficial owners of trusts and foundations along the same lines as registries proposed for companies. [167461]

Mr Gauke: Unlike companies, trusts do not need to be registered to be valid. As such, there are no centrally held figures on the overall number of trusts in the UK.

The case for a registry of UK trusts is not convincing and poses significant economic risks to the UK's competitiveness. It would lead to an increased administrative burden on trusts as well as increased costs of compliance and risks shifting the problem of the misuse of trusts into other jurisdictions. A registry is therefore unlikely to provide sufficient value to justify the costs associated with it.

VAT

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the merits of setting a reduced rate of VAT for personal care alarms. [167239]

Mr Gauke: A zero rate of VAT applies to the supply of an alarm system designed for use by chronically sick or disabled people to allow them to alert a specified person or a control centre, and the supply of certain associated services, as set out in the VAT Act 1994.

The Government are not considering the introduction of a reduced rate of VAT for personal care alarms.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on assigning child care businesses as zero-rated for value added tax. [167575]

Mr Gauke: EU legislation does not allow the UK to extend the scope of our existing zero rate reliefs or otherwise waive the payment of VAT. Assigning child care businesses as zero-rated for VAT would amount to an extension of the scope of our existing zero rate reliefs, and is therefore not possible.

At Budget 2013, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Government would support working families through the creation of a new tax-free child care scheme. The new scheme will be phased in from autumn 2015, supporting working families with 20% of their child care costs, up to £1,200 a year for each child.

VAT: Advertising

Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the rate of VAT payable on advertising services is the same for all advertisements irrespective of the medium or platform used. [167427]

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Mr Gauke: Advertising services are subject to the standard rate of VAT, regardless of the medium employed. However, the supply of advertising services to a charity is zero-rated for VAT purposes, subject to the conditions set out in the VAT Act 1994.