5 Sep 2013 : Column 449W

Written Answers to Questions

Thursday 5 September 2013

Attorney-General

Travel

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Attorney-General what the cost of travel by him was in the 11 months to 1 March 2013. [167497]

The Solicitor-General: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle) on 5 June 2013, Official Report, column 1134W.

Education

GCSE

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children of a white ethnic background eligible for free school meals achieved 5 A*-C GCSE grades (a) nationally and (b) in Birmingham in 2013. [167724]

Elizabeth Truss: The requested information will be provided when the 2013 data are officially published in January 2014. The release date will be made known on the Department's website later in the year¹.

¹Note:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education/about/statistics

School Milk

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that children with lactose and other allergies are catered for under the free school milk scheme. [167227]

Elizabeth Truss: The Department of Health operates the Nursery Milk Scheme, which provides free milk to children under the age of five at participating schools and child care settings. There is no equivalent scheme for school pupils over the age of five.

Schools: Sports

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the findings of the Third Report from the Education Committee, school sport following London 2012, HC 164, and the effect of decisions in this area on the 14-25 programme. [900126]

Mr Timpson: We welcome the publication of the Select Committee's Report and the contribution that it has made to the debate on how to improve provision of PE and sport in schools.

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A cross-Government response to the findings of the report is currently being prepared and will be shared with the Committee shortly.

Schools: Swimming

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in (a) England and (b) Hampshire are able to offer swimming lessons to pupils. [167329]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education does not hold data concerning the number of schools offering swimming lessons either nationally or in Hampshire.

Under the national curriculum for physical education, it is a requirement that all primary school pupils should be taught to swim at least 25 metres unaided by the time they complete key stage 2.

In March 2013 the Prime Minister announced additional ring-fenced funding of £150 million a year for academic years 2013/14 and 2014/15 to support provision of PE and sport in primary schools. This funding can be used to improve the provision of swimming.

Youth Clubs

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which visits in an official capacity (a) he and (b) his Ministerial colleagues made to a youth club before the responsibility for youth services was transferred to the Cabinet Office. [167560]

Mr Timpson: It is not possible to supply a comprehensive list of visits made by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), and his ministerial team to youth clubs and projects without incurring disproportionate cost. My previous response published in Hansard on 17 January 2013, Official Report, columns 903-4W, contains an incomplete list of visits made between May 2010 and October 2012 to youth projects. The response also explains that a complete list could not be ensured.

Communities and Local Government

Billing

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what proportion of prime contractors his Department paid their subcontractors within 30 days in each of the last 24 months. [167828]

Brandon Lewis: This information is not held centrally. However, where a contractor enters into a subcontract, for the purpose of performing its obligations under the contract, a term is included in such subcontract. The term requires payment to be made by the contractor to the subcontractor within a specified period not exceeding 30 days from receipt of a valid invoice as defined by the subcontract.

Council Housing

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council houses have been purchased by residents in (a) Harlow constituency, (b) the East of England and (c) the UK since 2001. [167282]

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Mr Prisk: Figures for Harlow constituency are not available. Figures are available at a local authority level and the relevant local authorities for the Harlow constituency are Harlow and Epping Forest. Between 2001-02 and 2012-13 there were 1,111 sales of local authority owned dwellings through the Right to Buy scheme in Harlow and 535 in Epping Forest. The annual figures for the two local authorities concerned show increases in sales since the change in Right to Buy discounts in April 2012. Harlow increased from 16 (in 2011-12) to 38 (in 2012-13) sales, while Epping Forest from 7 to 13 over the same period. These figures do not include other schemes such as Social Homebuy. Over the same time on the same basis 308,000 dwellings were sold in England. Figures on an annual basis are available at the following link. Figures for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not comparable.

Following the abolition of regional government by the coalition, DCLG no longer publishes statistics at a regional level and does not believe that regions provide a coherent or meaningful framework for assessing public policy. Instead, our published statistics relate, where relevant, to other sub-national geographies which are more aligned with public policy. However, we hold data from which the requested figures can be derived and these are available through the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/230904/LT685.xls

Transport

Channel Tunnel Railway Line

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many woodland sites were subject to land take or disruption during the construction of High Speed 1; how many hectares of woodland were translocated during the construction of High Speed 1; what steps he has taken to monitor the environmental quality of such translocated woodland sites; and if he will place copies of any written assessments he has made through such monitoring in the Library. [167794]

Mr Simon Burns: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the energy capacity required to power (a) Phase 1 and (b) Phase 2 of High Speed 2 when it operates at full capacity. [167787]

Mr Simon Burns: Peak power demand for the Phase One network at the maximum planned capacity (18 trains per hour per direction) is in the order of 350MW.

HS2 Ltd is currently working on estimates of peak power demand for the Phase Two network and these will be available once the route of Phase Two has been developed further.

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the carbon footprint of High Speed 2 (a) during the building phase and (b) when fully operational; and if he will place a copy of such estimates in the Library. [167788]

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Mr Simon Burns: HS2 Ltd is currently preparing information on the carbon footprint of HS2 Phase One during its construction and operation phases. This will be published in the Environmental Statement which will be deposited in Parliament alongside the hybrid Bill later this year.

High Speed Trains: Noise

Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the peak decibel level of noise generated by a high speed train travelling over a 30 feet high viaduct in open countryside at a distance of (a) half a mile, (b) one mile and (c) 1.5 miles. [167732]

Mr Simon Burns: A full and detailed assessment of the impacts and likely significant noise effects due to the operation of HS2 Phase One, including all viaducts, is being completed and will be reported in the Environmental Statement that will accompany the Bill when it is deposited with Parliament towards the end of this year. As a minimum all viaducts will include barriers installed close to the track with a height of 1.4m above rail.

Ipswich

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons he visited Ipswich on 20 August 2013; whether this visit was in an official capacity; who invited him; and which hon. Members were present. [167555]

Mr McLoughlin: I visited Ipswich in an official capacity. Following the spending round, this engagement formed part of a wider programme of visits in East Anglia to reinforce the Government's commitment to invest in transport to secure future growth.

I have received representations from hon. Members from across the region requesting a meeting to put the case for strategic investment in the East Anglia rail network, led by my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich North (Miss Smith).

In Ipswich I met with my hon. Friends the Members for Ipswich (Ben Gummer), for Norwich North (Miss Smith) and for Witham (Priti Patel).

M11

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons on 29 August 2013 there were 50 mph speed limits southbound on the M11 south of the crash north and south of Stansted Airport; for what distance such restrictions were in place; for how long such restrictions were in place; and if he will make a statement. [167694]

Stephen Hammond: Temporary advisory 50 mph speed limits and uneven road surface warning signs were erected on a 5.5 mile section of the north and southbound carriageways of the M11 between Junction 8 (Stansted) and Junction 7 (Harlow) on 10 May 2013. The surface of the motorway at this location is below current standards, although it remains in a safe condition.

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There is an ongoing drainage issue here with water being trapped under the carriageway which has hastened the deterioration of the road surface. The Highways Agency plan to deal with the drainage issue, and to resurface this section of road in the next financial year depending on the availability of funding and other priorities on the network.

Pedestrian Crossings

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on the installation of new pelican crossings; and if he will make a statement. [167534]

Norman Baker: The decision on what type of pedestrian crossing to provide is for local traffic authorities. The Department has published guidance on all types of pedestrian crossings:

Local Transport Note 1/95: The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings

Local Transport Note 2/95: The Design of Pedestrian Crossings

The Puffin Good Practice Guide

all of which are available to download from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/managing-improving-and-investing-in-the-road-network/supporting-pages/traffic-signs

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the research by TRL Limited on relative accident levels on puffin crossings and pelican crossings. [167535]

Norman Baker: The research by TRL Limited was commissioned by the Department for Transport. The report was published in January 2011 and is available to download from the TRL website at:

http://www.trl.co.uk/online_store/reports_publications/trl_reports/cat_traffic_engineering/report_puffin_pedestrian_crossing_accident_study.htm

The report concluded that converting pelican to puffin crossings could result in a reduction in accidents.

It is for local authorities to take this, and any other relevant information, into account when deciding what type of crossing to provide at any particular location.

Public Bodies

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has made an assessment of the desirability of bringing together the Driving Standards Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Service Agency into one single Government-supported agency. [167451]

Stephen Hammond: The consultation on the Motoring Services Strategy ran from 13 December 2012 to 7 March 2013. It asked for views on the proposal to rationalise the number of agencies delivering motoring services. There was broad support for this principle, though there was little agreement on the best way forward. A summary of the responses to the consultation was published on the Department's website on 20 June 2013.

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On 20 June 2013 I also announced that the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) would merge. This announcement followed a review of the benefits of bringing together two agencies which shared many operational and functional similarities in the way that they delivered motoring services. The single agency will deliver the same high quality services, but with greater efficiency. It will be easier for customers to navigate the services offered, and will reduce the administrative burden of customers currently using both VOSA and DSA.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) shared fewer common operational activities with VOSA and DSA. Therefore the conclusion was that VOSA and DSA services should be rationalised into a single agency, and that DVLA should focus on a clear strategy as a digital services agency.

Public Transport

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to Department for Transport Statistics: Table NTS9904—Average distance travelled by mode, region and area type: Great Britain, 2011-12, what estimate he has made of the number of miles per person per year in Scotland for each of the means of transport under the heading of other public transport. [167267]

Stephen Hammond: The following table shows the estimate of the number of miles per person per year by residents of Scotland for the modes included in the category of “other public transport”.

The sample size is too small to produce reliable results for non-local bus, London Underground and “Other public transport”. These results have therefore been omitted.

Railways: East of England

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of implementing the East of England Rail Manifesto submitted to him by the hon. and Right hon. Members representing constituencies in the East of England. [167501]

Mr McLoughlin: Network Rail will shortly be undertaking a number of route studies as part of its long-term planning process to inform the next industry plan, to be published in 2016. These studies will include an estimate of the cost of implementing any schemes in the East of England, which could include those proposed in the East of England manifesto.

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West Anglia Railway Line

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) journey times and (b) reliability of rail services on the West Anglia line between London and Stansted Airport. [167789]

Norman Baker: Although performance across the Greater Anglia network is monitored, no specific assessment has been made of the reliability of journey times on the West Anglia line between London and Stansted Airport. I regularly meet with rail industry representatives to discuss performance.

Work and Pensions

Atos Healthcare

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many assessment centres Atos Healthcare (a) provided and (b) have been contracted to provide in each region under its personal independence payment contract. [167097]

Esther McVey: As part of the specification for personal independence payment (PIP) assessments, the two providers—Atos and Capita—must provide sufficient suitable accommodation for face-to-face consultations. Atos' delivery model utilises the premises of local supply chain partners already established in the health care sector and as such have access to large flexible network of sites—locations such as private medical centres, physiotherapy practices and hospitals. Atos have published details of 171 consultation centres on their website. The number of sites utilised by Atos for PIP consultations will fluctuate in line with the demand for assessments. Using the Department's forecast volumes of PIP assessments, Atos have demonstrated through their supply chain contractual arrangements that they have full geographic coverage with an additional capacity of at least 15% in each of their supply chain partners, as well as back up options across their network, should volumes prove higher than expected.

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how regularly he meets with (a) executives and (b) assessors of Atos Healthcare to discuss disability assessments. [167715]

Esther McVey: Officials from the Department for Work and Pensions meet frequently with Atos representatives to discuss the assessments they undertake on behalf of the Department.

Credit: Interest Rates

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people with disabilities that have requested a payday loan in each of the last 60 months. [167760]

Mr Hoban: The information requested is not available.

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Food Banks

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether he has been invited to meet representatives of the Trussell Trust to discuss food insecurity; [167363]

(2) when he will next meet with the Trussell Trust to discuss food insecurity. [167644]

Mr Hoban: An invitation to meet representatives of the Trussell Trust was received. There are currently no plans to meet with the Trussell Trust. Food banks are not Government responsibility and, therefore, it is not considered necessary to have a meeting.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of armed forces veterans affected by the spare-room subsidy in (a) Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency, (b) Renfrewshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK. [167782]

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.

Jobcentre Plus

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what way Jobcentre Plus is contributing to the Military Covenant; and if he will make a statement. [167518]

Steve Webb: DWP officials play an active part in the Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group. DWP has a nominated armed forces advocate who is responsible for ensuring that the needs of service personnel, their families and veterans are properly catered for by the Department.

Every Jobcentre district has an “armed forces champion”, who works with the Ministry for Defence Career Transition Partnership, and links with providers and charities giving specialist support, such as the Royal British Legion.

DWP has ensured that war disablement pensions and guaranteed income payments made under the armed forces compensation scheme will be fully disregarded in calculating an award of universal credit. Working with the Ministry of Defence we have introduced the armed forces independence payment to provide financial support to service personnel and veterans seriously injured as a result of service. Finally, we have ensured that ex-service personnel can have early access to the work programme.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many visually impaired people in (a) Hendon constituency, (b) Greater London and (c) England and Wales are in receipt of jobseekers allowance. [167236]

Mr Hoban: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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Occupational Health

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department plans to spend on the proposed Health and Work Assessment Advisory Service in each of the next three years. [167819]

Esther McVey: The Government response estimated that the health and work assessment and advisory service will cost between £25 million and £50 million per annum. The service will be funded through the abolition of the percentage threshold scheme. We are unable to share further details of spending on the service in advance of a commercial tendering exercise.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to proceed with tendering for the Health and Work Assessment Advisory Service. [167820]

Esther McVey: The health and work assessment and advisory service will be introduced by the end of 2014. A tendering exercise will take place in due course that will enable this delivery date.

Occupational Pensions

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of public awareness of alternative automatic enrolment pension options instead of NEST. [167763]

Steve Webb: It is for employers to choose the qualifying pension scheme which best suits the needs of their workforce. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is carrying out qualitative research with employers that will explore their pension scheme choices for automatic enrolment. Findings will be published this autumn. DWP is also conducting its biennial survey of employer pension provision which monitors trends in provision and provides evidence on employers' plans and responses to automatic enrolment. Findings from this survey will be published in 2014.

The Pensions Regulator's “finding a provider” page on their website reminds employers that NEST is one qualifying scheme that they can choose to use and that the scheme has a public service objective to accept any employer who wishes to use it. It also signposts employers to the Association of British Insurers' list of ABI members providing qualifying automatic enrolment schemes and the NAPF's information about pension service providers.

Social Security Benefits

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of the benefit cap on (a) single-parent and (b) two-parent households. [167713]

Mr Hoban: The benefit cap started phased implementation in April this year and is due to complete national implementation by the end of September when all appropriate households will be capped. Statistics of

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those who have been capped in the first four local authorities as of end June 2013, by household type, are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/series/benefit-cap-statistics

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the rates are of (a) mortality and (b) contraction of serious illnesses among persons assessed for eligibility for employment and support allowance and disability living allowance between their medical assessment and the decision of their case in each of the last four years. [167578]

Mr Hoban: The information requested is not available

Training: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances a young person engaged on a traineeship is (a) permitted to claim and (b) precluded from claiming jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement. [167821]

Mr Hoban: There is scope for providers to design a programme that meets the core aims and elements of traineeships but also fits with benefit rules. This would enable young people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance (or the new universal credit) to continue to receive financial support while taking part in a traineeship. To enable this, colleges and providers are encouraged to work with Jobcentre Plus when designing their programmes.

Claimants will continue to be paid jobseeker's allowance/universal credit at their benefit rate, and to maintain benefit entitlement will be subject to all existing conditionality such as actively seeking and available for employment. They will also continue to attend regular face-to-face Jobcentre Plus adviser interviews for the duration of their traineeship.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates meetings of the (a) Universal Credit Programme Board and (b) Universal Credit Service Design Steering group have been held. [167818]

Mr Hoban: The information is as follows.

(a) Universal Credit Programme Board meetings have been held on:

2 September 2011

17 October 2011

7 November 2011

16 November 2011

5 December 2011

16 January 2012

13 February 2012

12 March 2012

22 March 2012

16 April 2012

14 May 2012

11 June 2012

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18 June 2012

9 July 2012

26 July 2012

29 August 2012

3 September 2012

1 October 2012

26 October 2012

15 November 2012

26 November 2012

10 December 2012

14 January 2013

11 February 2013

4 June 2013

3 July 20 13

1 August 2013

4 September 2013

(b) Universal Credit Design Steering Group meetings have been held on:

30 August 2011

27 September 2011

24 October 2011

22 November 2011

12 December 2011

30 January 2012

27 February 2012

27 March 2012

1 May 2012

29 May 2012

26 June 2012

26 July 2012

21 August 2012

18 September 2012

16 October 2012

12 November 2012

Vacancies: Thirsk

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies there are in Thirsk and Malton constituency. [167248]

Mr Hoban: Headline figures on the number of unfilled vacancies at a point in time are published by the Office for National Statistics, based on a regular survey of employers. The sample size of the survey is, however, too small to allow information to be published below national level.

Administrative data on the number of unfilled vacancies held locally by Jobcentre Plus were published until the end of last year and can be accessed by following this link

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/construct/summary.asp?mode=construct&version=0&dataset=89

and selecting the ‘live unfilled' vacancies variable and the relevant geography and time period.

Any snapshot of unfilled Jobcentre vacancies at a point in time misses the regular turnover of new vacancies that are notified as existing opportunities are filled. It also misses jobs available in the wider labour market, including those outside the local constituency, and those coming up through other recruitment channels or filled by direct approaches to employers or word of mouth.

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Universal Jobmatch has replaced the previous Jobcentre Plus system of taking vacancies. Information on vacancies reported through the new service is not currently available for parliamentary constituencies. Some information, including notified vacancies at local authority level, is available from the Universal Jobmatch management information tool

https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/Reports/Reports.aspx

and selecting number of new jobs and the relevant geography and time period. DWP is working with Monster Worldwide Limited, the Universal Jobmatch supplier, on a timetable for prioritising and implementing improvements to the available Ml, including breakdowns by parliamentary constituency, subject to funding.

Work Programme: Birmingham

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Birmingham, Hall Green constituency have found employment lasting more than six months through the Work programme since its inception; how many such people were aged under 24 years old; and how many such people had a disability. [167494]

Mr Hoban: Work programme statistical information is available for the period 1 June 2011 to 31 March 2013. In the Birmingham, Hall Green constituency in that period 410 people found work lasting for more than six months; 140 of these were aged 18 to 24 and 40 were registered disabled.

International Development

Afghanistan

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many Afghan women's organisations working on violence against women have been consulted in the development of the strategic priority on tackling violence against women in her Department's next Operational Plan for Afghanistan. [167107]

Justine Greening: DFID maintains regular contact with women's organisations in Afghanistan, most recently with representatives of the Afghan Women's Skills Development Centre (AWSDC) and Kabul University's Empowerment Centre for Women.

DFID has also held formal consultations on tackling violence against women with members of the British and Irish Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG), an umbrella group for Afghan and international aid agencies working in Afghanistan.

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to support essential emergency protection services for victims of violence against women in Afghanistan. [167108]

Justine Greening: Violence against women and girls is now a strategic priority for DFID's programme in Afghanistan. Our approach is to focus on prevention, including supporting the legal framework and enforcement

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measures that safeguards women from violence. However, the UK also recognises the important role of protection services and supports our partners in funding national shelter programmes.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department considered any independent or external consultancy views on the viability and future of the Bost Agri-Business Park, Afghanistan; and if she will place any such report in the Library. [167204]

Justine Greening: I refer to my previous answer to the hon. Member on 14 February 2013, Official Report, column 823W.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department had with counterparts at USAID on the viability and potential problems in relation to the Bost Agri-Business Park, Afghanistan before her Department took over the initiative; and if she will place the minutes of any such discussions in the Library. [167205]

Justine Greening: As part of the international effort in Helmand, DFID has worked closely with USAID on a range of development projects, including the Bost Agricultural Business Park. The Department does not publish internal records of such discussions.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the effect on the education of girls in Afghanistan of the decision by US Aid not to fund Aid Afghanistan for Education; whether she has considered funding such activity; and what communications her Department has received from the Afghanistan Technical Vocational Institute in respect of the funding for girls' education in Afghanistan. [167561]

Justine Greening: DFID currently supports the Afghanistan Technical Vocational Institute's (ATVI) youth vocation training programme in Helmand and DFID maintains regular communication with this organisation. Any new funding decisions will be announced in due course.

Developing Countries: Asylum

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2013, Official Report, column 280W, on Syria, what assessment she has made of the ability of UNRWA to provide for young disabled refugees. [167650][Official Report, 8 October 2013, Vol. 568, c. 2MC.]

Justine Greening: The UK is funding the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) to support vulnerable people in Palestine, including disabled people affected by the crisis in Syria. The crisis in Syria has placed a huge strain on an already overstretched UNRWA. It is operating in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions and the security situation remains unstable.

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Health

Atrial Fibrillation

Mr Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the most recent data from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme regarding the number of patients admitted to hospital with a stroke who have a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and are anticoagulated will be published. [167736]

Anna Soubry: The Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) is delivered by the Royal College of Physician's (RCP) Stroke Programme.

According to the RCP website, the first public report for the clinical component of SSNAP is anticipated in early 2014 subject to recruitment and case ascertainment.

Cancer

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve the provision of gallium PET scans for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours. [167092]

Anna Soubry: Responsibility for determining the overall national approach to improving clinical outcomes from health care services lies with NHS England.

NHS England has advised that University College London Hospital is currently the only centre in the United Kingdom manufacturing 68Ga (gallium) Somatostatin-peptides used in PET scanning. NHS England is aware that there are supply and demand and commercial issues which need to be resolved before it becomes more widely available.

The British Nuclear Medicine Society, the BNMS Molecular Radiotherapy Group, UKINETS (UK and Ireland Neuroendocrine Tumour Society) and the NET Patient Foundation sent a position paper to the then National Clinical Director for Cancer and End of Life Care setting out issues surrounding the availability of Dotatate Radionuclides in the UK, which included the use of Dotatate as an imaging agent with gallium. This information is now with NHS England and the current National Clinical Director for diagnostics.

Carbon Emissions

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the future cost to his Department of complying with carbon emission regulations. [167443]

Dr Poulter: The Department estimates its future costs of carbon programme compliance using historical CO2 output and offsetting cost data. In financial year 2011-12 the Department spent £82,704 offsetting energy related CO2; this reduced to £81,660 in 2012-13. We would expect these costs to continue decreasing in future years in line with the Department’s focus on energy efficiency.

The Department has five core properties whose electricity and gas consumption is offset through the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency scheme. Last year the Department emitted 6,805 tonnes of CO2 related to electricity and gas use, and paid £81,660 in offsetting costs under the CRC scheme.

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The Department also participates in the Department for Energy and Climate Change administered Government Carbon Offsetting Framework (GCOF) scheme, which offsets carbon emissions related to Departmental staff business travel. Last year the Department emitted 1,328 tonnes of CO2 related to business travel and paid £903.04 in offsetting costs under the GCOF scheme.

Cardiovascular System: Greater London

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) myocardial infarction and (b) suspected myocardial infarction emergency (i) attendances and (ii) admittances there were in each of the last three years at (A) The Royal Free Hospital, (B) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital, (C) Whittington Hospital, (D)

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The Royal London (Barts) Hospital and (E) North Middlesex and University College Hospital London. [167113]

Anna Soubry: The information is not available in the format requested.

The following table provides data on the count of finished episodes with a primary diagnosis of myocardial infarction by the requested hospital providers for emergency via accident and emergency (A and E), and for emergency via all emergency admissions for 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

It is not possible to separately identify myocardial infarction diagnosis as the A and E datasets use broad classifications. In addition, it is not possible to identify suspected myocardial infarction but only those records where diagnosis has been recorded.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Animal Feed

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the extension of the length of animal feeding studies designed to establish genetically-modified organism toxicity or safety. [167318]

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Anna Soubry: The data required to establish the safety of genetically modified organisms are set out in “European Union regulation 503/2013”, which came into force in May 2013. The length of animal feeding studies required is 90 days, which is consistent with previous guidance from the European Food Safety Authority. There are currently no scientific grounds for increasing the length of such studies.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Food

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on human health of the consumption of meat raised on genetically-modified animal feed. [167312]

Anna Soubry: The Food Standards Agency advises that all genetically modified (GM) food and animal feed materials to be marketed in the European Union are subject to a mandatory pre-market safety assessment under the EU regulation on GM food and feed before they can be permitted to enter the food chain. This safety assessment is carried out on a case-by-case basis and is the responsibility of the European Food Safety Authority.

The safety evaluation of GM food and feed is based on rigorous scrutiny of scientific data and complies with internationally agreed guidelines. No GM food or feed would be authorised if after it was evaluated it was considered unsafe. Given these safety evaluations we are satisfied that products from animals fed GM animal feed are as safe as products from animals fed non-GM feed and pose no additional risk to the consumer.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the introduction of a labelling scheme for meat and dairy products from animals raised on genetically-modified animal feed. [167313]

Anna Soubry: There are currently no plans to alter the statutory genetic modified (GM) labelling requirements as set out in the ‘GM food and feed regulation (EC) No 1829/2003’. However, the Commission is currently considering whether to harmonise national voluntary ‘GM-Free’ schemes that exist in several European Union member states.

Hospitals: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the future of acute hospital services in Worcestershire on health services in Worcestershire. [167129]

Anna Soubry: The configuration of local health services is a matter for the local national health service. Commissioners in Worcestershire are working with local providers and stakeholders to develop proposals for the future provision of acute services across the county, which will be subject to public consultation later this year.

5 Sep 2013 : Column 466W

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Mr Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospital bed days were taken up by patients being treated for an injury caused by assault by a sharp object in each of the last six years. [167298]

Anna Soubry: The number of bed days for finished consultant episodes with a cause code of assault by sharp object between 2006-07 and 2011-12 is shown in the table. We have also supplied the number of day case episodes with a cause code of assault by sharp object as these are not included in the calculation of bed days. This data are available as part of the Health and Social Care Information Centre's admitted patient care annual publications.

It should be noted that the vast majority of people who attend hospital due to assault by a sharp object (including knives), are treated without being admitted to hospital—there is no accurate data on the number of people who attend hospital for treatment for this type of assault, but are not admitted.

5 Sep 2013 : Column 467W

Meningitis: Vaccination

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the next meeting of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation sub-Committee on meningococcal infection is scheduled for; and for what reasons this group is not currently planning to meet face to face after the close of the consultation on the meningitis B vaccine; [167173]

(2) whether the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's Code of Practice published on 24 July 2013 was subject to consultation; [167175]

(3) whether the paper from the Uncertainty in Vaccine Evaluation and Procurement Working Group was applied to the cost-effectiveness analysis that underpinned the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's interim position statement on the use of a meningitis B vaccine; [167176]

(4) whether the paper from the Uncertainty in Vaccine Evaluation and Procurement Working Group was subject to consultation; [167177]

(5) if he will publish a list of all organisations, institutions and individuals who submitted a response to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's October 2010 call for evidence on meningococcal disease; [167178]

(6) who requested the updated study on meningococcal vaccines referred to on page 22 of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's minutes from 12 June 2013; and on what basis that request was made. [167179]

Anna Soubry: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) meningococcal sub-committee is planning to convene on the 20 September 2013 via teleconference. This is in order to convene the sub-committee quickly, to maximise the availability of sub-committee members to participate and to facilitate discussion of the responses to the stakeholder consultation on the JCVI interim position statement on the use of Bexsero® meningococcal B vaccine in the United Kingdom by the members.

The revised Code of Practice of the JCVI was considered and agreed by the Committee and UK health departments before publication. Both the revised and original Code of Practice were not subject to public consultation.

The approach described in the report by the Working Group on Uncertainty in Vaccine Evaluation and Procurement was applied to the considerations by the JCVI and its meningococcal sub-committee about the cost effectiveness of meningococcal B immunisation programmes.

The report by the Working Group on Uncertainty in Vaccine Evaluation and Procurement was considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and by the Department. The report was not subject to consultation.

Those that made submissions in response to the JCVI call for evidence issued in October 2010 were: Novartis, Pfizer, the Meningitis Trust, the Meningitis Research Foundation and Meningitis UK.

The study on meningococcal vaccines referred to on page 22 of the JCVI's minutes from 12 June 2013 was updated at the request of the JCVI meningococcal

5 Sep 2013 : Column 468W

sub-committee to support its consideration of the impact and cost effectiveness of routine meningococcal B immunisations programmes. It was updated to take into account: the considerations of the sub-committee about inputs to, assumptions made, and sensitivity analyses in, the study based on the sub-committee's review of the evidence; to examine different immunisation strategies; to include costs for vaccine administration provided by the Department; and to support the assessment of the results of the study in line with the report by the Working Group on Uncertainty in Vaccine Evaluation and Procurement.

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Government's aim to reduce children's deaths through public health measures, as outlined in its pledge, “Better health outcomes for children and young people”, published in February 2013, what assessment he has made of the recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on meningococcal B immunisation. [167753]

Anna Soubry: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has not yet finalised and submitted its position statement on meningococcal B vaccine to the Department. Therefore, we have not yet made any such assessments.

Mental Health Services

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of mental health specialists in the NHS. [167545]

Dr Poulter: The Government have established Health Education England (HEE) to ensure that the national health service has the right number of staff, with the right skills and behaviours to deliver high quality patient care.

Through its Mandate, the Government have asked HEE to ensure the NHS has sufficient numbers of staff across the mental health work force. Working with NHS providers HEE will work to ensure there are sufficient numbers of psychiatrists, other clinicians and care staff with the right skills and values trained to meet mental health service needs.

Mental health is a matter for all health professionals and, in addition to ensuring more staff are trained, HEE will also develop training programmes that will enable employers to ensure that staff have an awareness of mental health problems and how they may affect their patients.

NHS 111

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) the NHS and (b) NHS Direct of the operation to date of the 111 telephone service; what estimate he has made of the cost (i) to the NHS and (ii) to NHS Direct of the closure of those contracts held by NHS Direct for that service; and what proportion of the overall costs of those contracts will be met by the NHS. [167372]

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Anna Soubry: Information on the cost of running NHS 111 in England is not held centrally by either NHS England or the Department. NHS 111 is a locally commissioned service and the cost of running it during 2013-14 will depend on a number of factors such as call volume and roll-out dates in different parts of the country. Costs are reimbursed to providers on a price per call basis, so the final costs will depend on the number of calls received over the course of 2013-14.

With regard to the decision to reprocure NHS 111 services in those areas currently contracted to NHS Direct, NHS Direct has forecast a deficit in the region of £26.2 million for the total running costs of NHS 111 contracts for the year 2013-14, and this figure has been agreed by the NHS Trust Development Authority and NHS England. This is a forecast predicated on a number of conditions and so the final figure may vary but should not exceed £26.2 million. The final figure is dependent on call volumes and how quickly NHS England and local commissioners are able to find alternative providers.

The full and final cost of the loss of 111 contracts to NHS Direct is yet to be determined as the trust is working with prospective hosts, NHS England and the NHS Trust Development Authority to minimise the impact of this.

NHS: Anniversaries

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what activity his Department organised to mark the 65th anniversary of the NHS; [167801]

(2) if any Ministers in his Department attended an event to mark the 65th anniversary of the NHS. [167802]

Dr Poulter: To mark the 65th Birthday on 5 July of the national health service in England, the Department organised an event at the Evelina Children's Hospital (part of Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust) at which the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and the Minister of State, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb), marked the NHS achievements during its first 65 years and set out proposals to improve care for vulnerable older people and to create a more personalised health service. The Prime Minister also attended.

In addition, the Department organised a series of visits by Ministers to NHS services, to mark the birthday:

4 July 2013

Minister of State (Norman Lamb) Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Dr Daniel Poulter) Southend University Hospital

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Earl Howe) Copes Pharmacy Streatham, London

5 July 2013

Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) The Earls Court Health and Well-being Centre

NHS: Negligence

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the money set aside by the NHS to compensate patients for clinical negligence claims will be paid to lawyers representing patients. [167352][Official Report, 8 October 2013, Vol. 568, c. 2-4MC.]

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Dr Poulter: As at 31 March 2013 the National Health Service Litigation Authority has made provision for claimant solicitors' costs of £1.22 billion. This is against a total provision of £5.8 billion relating to all reported but unresolved clinical negligence claims, equating to a proportion of about 21% of the provision.

It should be emphasised that these sums do not represent a single year's costs, but a provision in the account for costs that may be paid out spread over a number of subsequent years.

Ovarian Cancer

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what arrangements he plans to put in place to ensure that ovarian cancer patients currently receiving treatment through the Cancer Drugs Fund will continue to be able to access treatment from 2014; [167291]

(2) what arrangements he plans to put in place to ensure that new ovarian cancer patients who could benefit from treatments currently available on the Cancer Drugs Fund will be able to access appropriate treatments from 2014. [167292]

Norman Lamb: We will ensure arrangements are in place to protect individual patients receiving treatment through the Cancer Drugs Fund, including those with ovarian cancer, as the planned end of the fund approaches.

We are exploring ways in which new patients can continue to benefit from innovative cancer drugs at a cost that represents value to the national health service.

Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether ovarian cancer drugs previously appraised but not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will be re-assessed under value-based pricing. [167660]

Norman Lamb: Value-based pricing will focus primarily on new medicines. It is possible that a small number of existing drugs, such as some cancer drugs previously considered but not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), could be assessed under value-based pricing. However, it is not our intention under value-based pricing to routinely reassess treatments already appraised by NICE.

Paediatrics: Greater London

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paediatric emergency (a) attendances and (b) admissions there were in each of the last three years at (i) The Royal Free Hospital, (ii) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital, (iii) Whittington Hospital, (iv) The Royal London (Barts) Hospital, (v) North Middlesex Hospital and (vi) University College Hospital London. [167112]

Anna Soubry: The number of accident and emergency (A and E) attendances by provider and for years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 where the patient age on attendance was 17 or under is shown in Table 1.

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The number of emergency admission episodes by provider and for years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 where the patient age on admission was 17 and under is shown in Table 2.

The number of attendances/admissions does not represent the number of patients, as an individual may attend A and E and/or be admitted to hospital on more than one occasion in any given time period.

Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector

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Poultry Meat: Food Poisoning

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of retailed chickens tested positive for (a) campylobacter and (b) salmonella in the most recent survey of chicken on retail sale by the Food Standards Agency. [167314]

Anna Soubry: The Food Standards Agency published the report of a United Kingdom survey of Campylobacter and Salmonella contamination of fresh chicken at retail (B18025) in October 2009.

The prevalence of Campylobacterin chicken at retail in the UK was 65.2% and Salmonella prevalence in chicken at retail remained low at 6.6%.

School Milk

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of access to the Nursery Milk Scheme on children's health outcomes; [167353]

(2) what assessment he has made of child care settings' packaging preferences for milk delivered through the Nursery Milk Scheme; [167666]

(3) what assessment he has made of the effect of the Nursery Milk Scheme on local businesses. [167667]

Dr Poulter: The Department of Health has not made a specific assessment of the effect of access to the Nursery Milk Scheme on children's health outcomes. However, the proposed changes to the Nursery Milk Scheme have been designed to ensure that the benefits of the Nursery Milk Scheme continue to apply equally to all eligible children—on a universal basis. In parallel with the public consultation, we also asked all child care providers currently registered with the scheme to complete a simple survey about how the scheme works for them now, and how potential changes might affect them and the children they care for. The questions asked included those on packaging preferences.

We have conducted an in-depth analysis of all the responses to the Nursery Milk consultation and the accompanying survey to ensure that the most suitable way forward for the Scheme does not disadvantage children or child care providers.

As part of the consultation process we carried out an impact assessment of the proposed options on business including small to medium-sized businesses. The data gathered during the consultation process will help to inform this assessment. Based on the evidence received, we will provide a fuller assessment of the direct impact on small to medium-sized businesses.

A decision about the future operation of the Scheme will be made after full consideration is given to the impact assessment, a comprehensive analysis of the consultation responses and other relevant information.

South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints were made about the South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in each of the last 10 years; and how many such complaints were upheld. [167120]

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Anna Soubry: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table:

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of staff of the South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are employed in a managerial role. [167121]

Dr Poulter: The information requested is shown in the following table:

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Conditions of Employment

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of the staff of his Department have been on (a) fixed-term and (b) permanent contracts in each of the last five years. [167525]

Alistair Burt: The table shows the number and proportion of staff on fixed-term and permanent contracts as recorded on our HR system on 31 March each year, in each of the last five years.

We have taken permanent contracts to be Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) home civil servants and diplomatic staff and inward secondments from other civil service bodies.

We also have a small number of staff that do not fit into either category, such as secondees from other Ministries of Foreign Affairs and fee paid officers recruited for specific roles.

We have not included locally engaged staff as this would require us to contact each of our missions overseas and would incur disproportionate costs.

European External Action Service

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his European Council colleagues reducing the 17 weeks per year holiday entitlement of EU staff working for the European External Action Service. [167189]

Mr Lidington: Holiday entitlement for staff working for the European External Action Service (EEAS) and other EU Institutions is set by the EU Staff Regulations at a basic annual minimum of 24 working days. This can rise to 30 days depending on the length of service.

Special leave may also be granted in certain circumstances, such as bereavement or marriage, but overall this would not amount to an entitlement of 17 weeks.

As part of the Government's commitment to EU administrative reform, the UK argued for a review of leave provisions for EU staff during the recent negotiations on amended staff regulations. While we were not successful in this endeavour, the UK will continue to champion EU administrative reform at every possible opportunity, including in the context of annual budgetary negotiations and the ongoing review of the EEAS.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential economic development of Gibraltar's territorial waters in (a) fishing, (b) land reclamation, (c) renewable energy and (d) oil and gas exploration; and if he will make a statement. [167481]

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Mr Lidington: Economic development, fishing and energy policy are all areas within the constitutional competence of the Government of Gibraltar. Because of this, the UK has made no recent assessment of these issues but will keep this under review as part of its regular dialogue with the Government of Gibraltar.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase the depth of Gibraltar harbour in order to allow for the docking of Royal Navy aircraft carriers. [167482]

Mr Lidington: We do not assess that there is currently a need to increase the depth of Gibraltar's port in order for it to accommodate visiting naval assets. If the need were to arise in future it would have to be addressed in consultation with the Gibraltar Port Authority.

Gibraltar: Spain

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support the Gibraltar authorities in preventing Spanish fishermen fishing illegally in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. [167093]

Mr Lidington: In line with the 2006 Gibraltar Constitution, the Government of Gibraltar are responsible for enforcing the laws of Gibraltar, including those regulating fishing in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The British Government are responsible for Gibraltar's external affairs, defence and some aspects of security. In relation to the dispute with Spain over fishing in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, the British Government have consistently supported efforts by the Government of Gibraltar to reach a local solution and is confident that the Government of Gibraltar have a credible plan to resolve the dispute. I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) on 20 May 2013, Official Report, column 511W.

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to increase the powers available to the Gibraltar Squadron and the Royal Gibraltar Police to deal with incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. [167094]

Mr Lidington: Royal Gibraltar Police powers are a matter of Gibraltar law. The British Government's response to incursions is kept under review, including the use of Ministry of Defence assets. The Government's overarching commitment to ensure the security, prosperity and development of all the British Overseas Territories was set out in the Queen's Speech in Parliament on 8 May. We take this commitment seriously and we do not rule out any measures that are necessary to defend Gibraltar from a genuine threat to its security or defence. However, while the incursions of the Guardia Civil are an attempt to assert Spain's legal position in respect of the waters, they do not weaken or undermine the legal basis for British sovereignty over Gibraltar and British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. Nor are they acts of war. The Government's assessment is that the structures and procedures of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron are adequate to deliver their current tasking.

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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Moroccan counterpart on the sovereignty of Gibraltar and the Spanish North African enclaves; and if he will make a statement. [167483]

Mr Lidington: The UK has had no recent such discussions with Morocco. We are fully confident of UK sovereignty over Gibraltar.

Horn of Africa

Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) EU counterparts and (b) the Intergovernmental Authority on Development towards establishing a wildlife enforcement network in the Horn of Africa; and if he will make a statement. [167167]

Mark Simmonds: Britain is committed to working with partners internationally to combat the growing problem of illegal wildlife trade. We will host a high level London Conference on illegal wildlife trade in early 2014 to galvanise top level political commitment to significant and meaningful action to tackle the issue.

We have had no discussions with EU partners or the Intergovernmental Authority on Development about establishing a wildlife enforcement network in the Horn of Africa.

Nature Conservation: Crime

Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the relationship between the (a) Lord’s Resistance Army, (b) Al Shabab and (c) similar groups and the illegal trafficking of wildlife products and ivory; and if he will make a statement. [167117]

Mark Simmonds: We are aware of reports of the Lord's Resistance Army, Al Shabaab and other armed groups being involved in illegal wildlife trade.

Illegal wildlife trade presents a security and corruption threat to range, transit and consumer states. We will host a high level London Conference on illegal wildlife trade in early 2014 to galvanise top level political commitment to significant and meaningful action to tackle the issue. We will continue to work with partners to understand and respond to the security and criminal implications.

Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his (a) EU and (b) G8 counterparts on tackling wildlife trafficking; and if he will make a statement. [167162]

Mark Simmonds: Her Majesty's Government are committed to working with partners internationally to combat the growing problem of illegal wildlife trade. We will host a high level London Conference on illegal wildlife trade in early 2014 to galvanise top level political commitment to significant and meaningful action to tackle the issue.

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While there has been no recent ministerial-level discussions with EU and G8 colleagues on combating wildlife trafficking, Her Majesty's Government are working on galvanising top level political commitment to increase significant and meaningful action to tackle illegal wildlife trade.

Official Cars

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which senior officials of his Department are entitled to use the Government Car Service. [167295]

Mr Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 July 2013, Official Report, column 739W.

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to his Department of using the Government Car Service was in each of the last four years. [167296]

Mr Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle) on 6 June 2013, Official Report, column 1225W.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials do not use the Government Car Service.

The FCO provides internal guidance to staff on use of public transport and taxis. The London Car Service, a small pool of cars operated by FCO Services, is also used by certain senior officials.

Pakistan

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken in response to the recent attacks on the Hazara people in Pakistan. [166931]

Alistair Burt: We continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to protect and guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised issues of human rights and religious freedom during his visit to Pakistan in July.

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the number of Hazara people murdered in Quetta, Pakistan in the last two years. [166939]

Alistair Burt: There are a number of different reports on the number of Hazara people killed in Quetta. Estimates from Human Rights Watch suggest over 100 Hazaras were killed in 2012 alone. Local media has also reported more than 700 Hazaras have been killed in Pakistan since 2004.

Syria

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received about the welfare of Christians living in rebel-held areas of Syria. [166942]

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Alistair Burt: We have serious concerns about rising sectarian tensions in Syria. We believe that President Assad's actions include a deliberate attempt to stir up tensions in his efforts to hold on to power. The regime's actions continue to undermine the stability and security of Syria and therefore endanger all Syria's citizens, including Christians and other religious minorities. The National Coalition have committed to reaching out to minorities and have made clear that there will be a place for all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religious belief, in a future Syria. We continue to encourage the National Coalition to deliver on these principles and commitments.

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate whether any UK-manufactured chemicals have been used in any chemical weapons deployed in Syria. [167514]

Alistair Burt: The Government operate one of the most rigorous arms export control regimes in the world, and have been at the forefront of implementing an international sanctions regime on Syria. All export licence applications are considered by the Government on a case-by-case basis and in line with the provisions of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. We will not grant a licence if the export would contravene any of our international legal obligations, including our obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Since the conflict began, the Government have issued only two licences for chemicals to Syria, for sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride, in January 2012. The exporter and recipient company demonstrated that the chemicals were for a legitimate civilian end use—which was for metal finishing of aluminium profiles used in making aluminium showers and aluminium window frames.

The licences were revoked following a revision to the sanctions regime which came into force on 17 June 2012. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) advises that no goods were exported to Syria under these licences before they were revoked.

We have reviewed all licences for chemicals to Syria between 2003 and the start of the conflict. Five licences were issued, which were all for sodium fluoride for use in cosmetic products. The quantities involved were commensurate with the stated end-use and there was no reason to link the end users with Syria's chemical weapons programme. No subsequent evidence has arisen to cast doubt on the assessments made at the time.

Taxis

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average cost per user is of his Department's use of the London Car Service. [167339]

Mr Lidington: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Services, a trading fund of the FCO, has a small pool of vehicles and security-cleared drivers which are used mainly transporting Queen's Messengers, diplomatic bags and other classified material. As part of a long-standing arrangement the Permanent Under-Secretary and other senior officials are able to draw on this pool for official and operationally necessary travel and since 2010 FCO Ministers have also used the service.

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In the financial year 2012-13 approximately 90 individuals used the London Car Service, including Ministers, at an average cost of approximately £2,300 per user over the course of the year.

Treaty of Utrecht

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the governments of Spain and Catalonia on Spanish compliance with Article XIII of the Treaty of Utrecht 1713; and if he will make a statement. [167484]

Mr Lidington: The position of Catalonia within Spain is a domestic policy matter for Spain. The UK is clear that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to questions raised by movements calling for independence. Each case needs to be addressed according to its specific legal and constitutional circumstances and existing international agreements.

Written Questions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many questions answered by his Department included fewer than four pages of statistics in the Official Report for the last month. [166704]

Mr Lidington: We do not hold this information centrally and it can be obtained only at disproportionate cost

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that all answers provided by his Department 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. [166729]

Mr Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 July 2013, Official Report, column 647W. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office follows advice in the “Guide to Parliamentary work” produced by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons. This states that answers should reproduce information rather than refer to hyperlinks.

Defence

Afghanistan

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average time is for which UK drones have loitered over targets in Afghanistan prior to the release of a missile; what records his Department keeps of the amount of time for which UK drones fly over civilian communities; what assessment his Department has made of the potential psychological effects of loitering drones on civilian populations; and if he will make a statement. [167098]

Mr Robathan: UK forces in Afghanistan operate a wide range of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), only one of which, the Reaper remotely piloted aircraft

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system (RPAS), is armed. The information requested regarding the average time UK UAS may have loitered over targets in Afghanistan prior to the release of a missile, and the time UK UAS have flown over civilian communities, is not held in the format requested. UK policy is that, as far is operationally possible, UAS should not fly over built up areas.

We have no reason to believe the presence of any type of aircraft in Afghanistan has had any psychological impact on the civilian population.

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the implementations of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the role of women in conflict resolution and security in Afghanistan was discussed at the NATO Defence Ministers' meeting in June 2013. [167124]

Mr Robathan: At the Heads of Government Chicago Summit in May 2012, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) was tasked to undertake a review of the practical implications of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 for the conduct of NATO-led operations. The review was completed in May 2013. The NATO Military Authorities have taken the recommendations of the NAC report and are now working to complete a draft implementation plan by the end of September 2013, which will be discussed by NATO Defence Ministers in due course.

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure the security of women and girls in Afghanistan is protected (a) during and (b) after the withdrawal of military forces. [167125]

Mr Robathan: The security of women and girls in Afghanistan will remain a priority for the UK. At the political level the UK Government are working with the Afghan Government to meet their constitutional commitments to preserve women's rights, including making sure that the law on Elimination of Violence Against Women and the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan are fully implemented. The UK supports the Afghan Ministry of Interior to ensure the police understand their role in promoting women's rights, including protecting women's rights defenders. We also support the Ministry's efforts to increase the number of family response units across Afghanistan.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of drone missions undertaken by the UK in Afghanistan in each year resulted in the release of a missile. [167364]

Mr Robathan: UK forces in Afghanistan operate unmanned aircraft systems to provide Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), with Hermes 450, Desert Hawk III, T-Hawk, Black Hornet and Reaper systems. Reaper is the only armed system; the following table demonstrates that the majority of flights are also wholly in the ISTAR role, with only a small proportion resulting in one or more weapons being fired.

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