Local Government: Magazine Press

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on how many local councils in England publish magazines more than six times a year. [171936]

Brandon Lewis [holding answer 22 October 2013]: In their response to our consultation paper, “Protecting the independent free press from unfair competition”, the Local Government Association indicated that 10% of councils publish a newspaper/newsletter with a frequency of more than quarterly (contrary to the advice in the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity).

The Newspaper Society's submission to that consultation drew attention to particular council publications which I understand are still being published—including Newham (fortnightly), Greenwich (weekly), Tower Hamlets (weekly),

21 Nov 2013 : Column 981W

Hackney (fortnightly), Luton (monthly), Waltham Forest (fortnightly), East Northamptonshire (fortnightly), North Somerset (monthly).

In his comments of 28 October 2013, Official Report, column 719, the hon. Member mentioned the fortnightly, freely delivered publication Nene Valley News (from East Northamptonshire council). Having read a copy, I note it is full of commercial advertising, from estate agents to designer kitchens, plumbers to pet supplies, and curry houses to carpets. It is frequent, municipal publications such as this which represent unfair, state-subsidised competition to the independent free press.

Local Government: Procurement

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of local authorities posted low-value procurement contracts on Contracts Finder in the latest period for which figures are available. [168874]

Brandon Lewis: From the data available, in the last 40 days, approximately 32 local authorities posted at least one below the Official Journal of the European Union Threshold contract opportunity on Contracts Finder. Not all of the 353 local authorities in England use Contract Finder, and many councils may have had no appropriate procurement contracts to post.

The Cabinet Office have recently consulted on using Contracts Finder as a single platform for locating all contract opportunities as part of a package of measures recommended by Lord Young. A response to the consultation will be published shortly.

New Towns

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what recent discussions he has had on increasing housing supply in the south east of England by building an entirely new town; [175710]

(2) what discussions he has had on the potential construction of a new town within the boundaries of the Mid Bedfordshire constituency. [175711]

Kris Hopkins: Ministers have had no recent discussions specifically on the construction of new towns in the south east of England or within the Mid-Bedfordshire constituency.

Reflecting commitments made in both coalition parties' general election manifestos and in the coalition agreement, the coalition Government have scrapped top-down Whitehall planning. This has included ending the last Government's so-called eco-towns programme.

Instead, this Government are working with local communities to build more homes, and promote sustainable development. This is being supported by programmes such as Help to Buy, the Growing Places Fund and Get

21 Nov 2013 : Column 982W

Britain Building. There is also a role for more bespoke assistance to unlock and kick start locally supported, locally-led, large scale sites suitable for housing.

Through the local infrastructure fund, the Department is investing £474 million on a recoverable basis to support locally-led, large scale housing and commercial development, including several schemes near Fareham in Hampshire and Cranbrook in Devon. As part of this work, departmental officials and Ministers have held discussions with local councils, the housing industry and others with an interest in these schemes.

Defence

Armed Forces: Dogs

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been raised in each of the last five years from the sale of military working dogs which have been withdrawn from service. [175675]

Anna Soubry: The amount of money raised from the sale of military working dogs that are no longer in service or have failed training over the last five years is shown in the following table:

Money from the sale of military working dogs is re-invested back into the Defence Animal Centre's animal procurement budget to contribute towards purchase costs of the next generation of military working animals.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that military dog handlers be given first refusal of taking ownership of a dog when the decision is taken to withdraw it from service. [175677]

Anna Soubry: Any requests to re-home a specific military working animal when they retire from service are appended to the animal's service record.

A dog may have many handlers during their service career, and more than one may request to re-home it on retirement. The dog is normally offered to the individual who made the first request, dependent upon the individual and the dog's circumstances, but the welfare of the animal is always our over-riding concern.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2013, Official Report, column 309W, on Air Force: recruitment, whether his Department takes account of family history of (a) diabetes, (b) heart failure, (c) obesity, (d) epilepsy and (e) Anderson-Fabry's disease in the selection of applicants to the armed forces who have neither symptoms nor a diagnosis of such illnesses; and if he will make a statement. [175437]

21 Nov 2013 : Column 983W

Anna Soubry: Before a medical examination to assess fitness for entry into the services, candidates are asked to declare any family history of tuberculosis, diabetes, mental health disorders, high blood pressure, heart disease and any other serious illness. While a family history of obesity and epilepsy is not specifically asked about, it may be declared under ‘any other serious illnesses'.

If there is a concern that the family history may include conditions with a significant hereditary component, such as Anderson-Fabry's disease, and where there is a strong likelihood of it being passed through the family to the candidate, further inquiry will be undertaken to define the likelihood of the inherited disease manifesting during service. If there is such a risk, the candidate may be referred for a further specialist opinion or rejected for entry, irrespective of whether they have signs, symptoms or a formal diagnosis of a disease at the time of the medical.

The Department relies on family history as a screening tool and does not ask for genetic data or require genetic testing. However, should a candidate declare previous genetic testing for a condition then that information would be factored into a fitness decision as relevant to the candidate's health in the future.

Army

Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the regular army have resigned or have been made redundant since 5 July 2012; and how many have subsequently enlisted into the territorial army. [175544]

Anna Soubry: The resignation and redundancy outflow figures from the regular army, and the number for subsequent enlistment in the Territorial Army Group A between 1 June 2012 and 30 September 2013 are shown in the following table:

In addition to the above there is end of service outflow, some of who have subsequently enlisted in the Territorial Army.

EU Law

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) to which EU Directives within his Department's areas of responsibility the Government have formally opted in in each financial year since May 2010; on what dates each such directive was signed; and if he will make a statement; [175489]

21 Nov 2013 : Column 984W

(2) what EU Directives within his Department's areas of responsibility have come into force without the need for an opt-in decision in each financial year since May 2010; on what dates each such directive came into force; and if he will make a statement. [175510]

Dr Murrison: The UK's Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) opt-in is the only such mechanism available. It does not directly apply to the Ministry of Defence's area of responsibility.

Details of all EU directives that the UK has opted into pursuant to protocol 21 to the treaties on the functioning of the European Union since May 2010 are listed on the Government's JHA opt-in web page, which can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206297/2_JHA_opt-in_webpage_update_-_data_v0_l.pdf

Details of all EU legislation, including full details of all EU directives that have come into force since May 2010, can be found on the Commission's website at the following link:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/RECH_legislation.do

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many private sector employees have been seconded by the private sector to his Department; what the name was of the company from which they were seconded; and whether any of those employees have worked on drafting legislation. [175647]

Anna Soubry: There are currently 21 private sector employees who are seconded into the Ministry of Defence. They are seconded from companies with technology and engineering backgrounds, and are shown in the following table. None of these secondees have worked on drafting legislation.

Energy and Climate Change

Biofuels

Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what sanctions are available if generating stations using biomass to generate electricity exceed their forecasted domestic wood use; and if he will make a statement. [175680]

Gregory Barker: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 18 November 2013, Official Report, column 719W.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 985W

Energy Supply: Fees and Charges

Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of Project TransmiT on consumer energy bills until 2020; and if he will make a statement; [175794]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of Project TransmiT on (a) investment in combined cycle gas turbines and (b) the UK's security of energy supply until 2020; and if he will make a statement; [175795]

(3) what discussions he has had with Ofgem about Project TransmiT; and if he will make a statement; [175796]

(4) what assessment he has made of the financial effect of Project TransmiT on combined cycle gas turbines, nuclear power stations and onshore and offshore wind farms in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland until 2020; and if he will make a statement. [175797]

Michael Fallon: Responsibility for the transmission charging regime and Project TransmiT sits with the independent regulator, Ofgem.

The Department takes an interest in the regime as one of the key factors in delivering the transmission network in a way that maintains security of supply and keeps down costs for the consumer. Project TransmiT has been one of a number of topics Ministers and officials have discussed during routine meetings with Ofgem.

National Grid and Ofgem have carried out detailed analysis of the impacts of different transmission charging approaches on security of supply and consumer costs during Project TransmiT. Ofgem consulted on its “preferred approach” and impact assessment in August 2013. Details can be found here:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/electricity/transmission-networks/charging/project-transmit

Ofgem's analysis indicates long-term benefits for both security of supply and costs for consumers from its “preferred approach”.

Environmental Protection: Taxation

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are working on the review of green levies on consumer bills. [175958]

Michael Fallon: A number of staff from a range of different teams within the Department of Energy and Climate Change are contributing to the review of green levies on consumer bills.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what fees his Department paid to (a) Willis, (b) Leigh Fisher Associates, (c) Slaughter and May, (d) KPMG and (e) Lazard Ltd for financial, legal and technical advice on the strike price negotiated with EDF Energy for Hinkley Point C. [175765]

21 Nov 2013 : Column 986W

Michael Fallon: The fees paid (inc. VAT) for financial, legal and technical advice on the proposed investment contract for Hinkley Point C up until October 2013 were as follows:

Prior to July 2013 the cost of advice from Slaughter and May on Final Investment Decision enabling (FIDe) was not split out for individual projects. The spending for all FIDe projects to end June 2013 was £2,250,830.

Renewables Obligation

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what amount of money was disbursed through renewable obligation certificates in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales in 2013. [175957]

Michael Fallon: The renewables obligation is a market-based support mechanism which does not involve the disbursement of money. Generators receive renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) in respect of the eligible renewable electricity that they generate. The nominal value of a ROC for 2012-13 was £44.48. The actual value of a ROC to a generator will be determined by the market.

The following table shows the number and total value of ROCs issued to generators that have been redeemed against the 2012/13 obligation in the UK, England, Scotland and Wales:

Treasury

Cash Dispensing

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps his Department is taking to extend the use and availability of free-to-use money dispensers; [176033]

(2) how many ATMs operated on an (a) pay-to-use basis and (b) free-to-use basis in each year since 2001-02; [176368]

(3) whether he has set a target for the total number of free ATMs in the UK. [176146]

Sajid Javid: The Government have not set a target for the total number of free ATMs in the UK.

Decisions on the building and placement of ATMs are operational decisions for the industry to take, and the Government do not seek to intervene in these decisions.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 987W

Since December 2006, LINK (the ATM network operator) has been receiving and forwarding site nominations to place free ATMs in low-income areas. As a result of this, 840 new free-to-use ATMs have been installed, helping consumers in over 1,300 target areas. The industry invests an extra £830,000 per year to maintain these machines.

The Government do not hold information on the number of ATMs operated on a pay-to-use basis and a free-to-use basis. However, Link holds information on the number of ATMs connected to the Link network, which is effectively all ATMs in the UK. This information can be found at the following link:

http://www.link.co.uk/AboutLINK/Statistics/Pages/Statistics.aspx

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2013, Official Report, column 183W, on children: day care, if he will assess how much is spent on tax relief for workplace nurseries specifically; and how many (a) companies and (b) nurseries benefit from that scheme. [176372]

Nicky Morgan: The information requested is not available.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received from the Welsh Government on the exclusion of rural areas in Wales from bids for a fuel duty reduction; [172150]

(2) what the criteria for inclusion in the bids for fuel duty reductions were; and if he will make a statement. [172151]

Danny Alexander: The Chancellor routinely receives a range of representations from stakeholders such as the devolved Administrations.

The Government are giving fuel retailers a further opportunity to submit information to the Treasury as part of our plan to extend the rural fuel rebate to mainland rural areas. Areas that have already qualified will remain part of the application to the European Commission and will not need to submit further information.

This supplementary call for information could see further areas added to the scheme providing they meet the strict criteria which were used to identify the areas which have already qualified:

1. Pump price threshold:

Pump prices have to be more expensive than the lowest pump price on the islands in the existing scheme (not including the current rebate), during the months examined:

21 Nov 2013 : Column 988W

2. Cost of transporting fuel:

Places have to be over 100 miles by road from the nearest refinery.

3. Population density:

The population density must be no higher than any area in the current scheme.

Jesse Norman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what criteria were applied when selecting which locations would be the subject to the Government's application to the European Commission for an extension of the rural fuel duty rebate scheme; [172191]

(2) how many submissions were received to his Department's August 2013 call for information on rural fuel prices in (a) total and (b) each location identified in that document. [172192]

Danny Alexander: The Treasury received 35 responses to the call for information, which closed on 4 September. As not all retailers were able to provide information, the Government are giving fuel retailers a further opportunity to submit information to the Treasury.

This supplementary call for information could see further areas added to the scheme providing they meet the strict criteria which were used to identify the areas which have already qualified:

1. Pump price threshold:

Pump prices have to be more expensive than the lowest pump price on the islands in the existing scheme (not including the current rebate), during the months examined:

2. Cost of transporting fuel:

Places have to be over 100 miles by road from the nearest refinery.

3. Population density:

The population density must be no higher than any area in the current scheme.

Intestacy

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many estates passed to the Crown under the rules of intestacy in each of the last five years; [176028]

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of people who died intestate in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK in each of the last five years. [176029]

Sajid Javid: The Treasury does not hold records of the number of people who die intestate each year. However, in England and Wales (excluding the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall), the Treasury Solicitor administers the estates of deceased who die intestate and without known entitled relatives (known as bona vacantia) on behalf of the Crown. The number of estates that were administered and the amount collected in each of the last five years is:

21 Nov 2013 : Column 989W

This information is available in the Bona Vacantia Division of the Treasury Solicitor's Department's annual accounts and is available on the division's website at:

www.bonavacantia.gov.uk

Minimum Wage

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) successful convictions and (b) investigations launched there have been in respect of alleged or proven breaches of the national minimum wage regulations in each year since their introduction. [175853]

Mr Gauke: The Government take the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them, investigating the complaint and, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where we identify a high risk of non-payment of NMW.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the right hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr Lammy) on 8 October 2013, Official Report, column 152W, with regard to prosecutions.

HMRC has enhanced the range of interventions it makes to investigate employers' compliance with national minimum wage. Enforcement officers investigate individual workers' complaints and may extend their review to include the whole of the employer's workforce dependent on the perceived level of risk. While this had reduced the number of cases completed, it has increased the level of assurance gained on employers' compliance with NMW legislation. This approach has led to an increase in the numbers of workers helped, which rose by 53% in 2012-13 when compared to 2011-12.

The data in the following table relate to cases opened or registered since 1999.

Chris Williamson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people work for companies employing over 250 staff and are paid the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement. [175956]

21 Nov 2013 : Column 990W

Mr Gauke: The information requested is not available.

The Government take the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC enforces the national minimum wage legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and has done so since the introduction of NMW in April 1999. It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW.

Revenue and Customs

Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed in HM Revenue and Custom's Personal Tax Directorate on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts. [175599]

Mr Gauke: Within HM Revenue and Custom's Personal Tax Directorate, there are the following numbers of staff employed on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts as at the 31 October 2013.

(a) Permanent—22,640 (equivalent to 19,504.6 full-time staff)

(b) Fixed-term contracts—3,210 (equivalent to 2,716.01 full-time staff)

Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether HM Revenue and Customs monitors whether customer calls to its contact centres on a Saturday are from customers who were not able to get through during a week day; [175602]

(2) what proportion of calls were answered by HM Revenue and Customs contact centres in each of the last six months. [175604]

Mr Gauke: HMRC does not hold this information as it does not monitor whether customer calls received on a Saturday are from customers who are unable to get through on a week day.

HMRC periodically publishes its quarterly performance statistics at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-plan-indicators

HMRC is working hard to improve customer's experience in respect of call handling and processing. The department has recently introduced an Intelligent Automated Telephony system which is speech recognition based. This allows customers to say what they want to discuss when they telephone HMRC. This means that for the majority of customers, the adviser knows why the customer is calling before they answer the call, offering a more effective service, HMRC is also using increased flexible working across both processing and call handling activities in order to meet demand and improve overall service to customers while meeting its targets.

Stamp Duty Reserve Tax

George Freeman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect on pension investment returns of the abolition of schedule 19 stamp duty reserve tax. [175856]

Sajid Javid: The impact of these changes has been independently assessed by the Government Actuary's Department (GAD).

21 Nov 2013 : Column 991W

They calculate that a typical 22-year-old currently earning average weekly earnings and investing the equivalent of 10% of gross income each year over a 45 year period would see a fund value £11,200 greater at retirement as a result of these changes.

This is equivalent to approximately a 1.3% uplift in their total fund at retirement. In current money terms that is equivalent to an additional £4,600.

George Freeman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the abolition of Schedule 19 stamp duty reserve tax on UK funds will have on jobs in the UK in (a) total and (b) each region. [175857]

Sajid Javid: We estimate that there are currently 32,300 people directly employed by the asset management industry. This includes for example 3,300 people in Edinburgh, 1,200 people in Coventry, 900 people in Reigate and 500 people in Liverpool. In addition there are tens of thousands whose jobs indirectly rely on the sector.

Many of these jobs are created by funds which are set up in the UK. The abolition of this tax will encourage more funds to be set up here, thereby safeguarding existing jobs and equipping the UK to compete more effectively in the global race for growth.

Welfare Tax Credits

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many working tax credit and child tax credit claims were not paid into a bank account or building society account or a post office card account in 2012-13; and how such claimants received their payments. [176370]

Nicky Morgan: The total number of working tax credit and child tax credit payments issued to customers in 2012-13 was 206,186,204 (see following table). Of these 192,190 were issued by cashcheque. Cashcheque is the only payment method used by HMRC which gives the customer the choice of either encashment across a Post office counter or to pay in to a bank account.

No data are available on the exact split between the number of cashcheque payments that customers elected to cash across post office counters as against paying into a bank account. Low level sampling indicates that the majority are cashed at the Post Office. Calculation of a reliable estimate could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Welsh Government: Borrowing

Paul Murphy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will hold discussions with Ministers in the Welsh Government to discuss borrowing powers for the Welsh Government. [175567]

21 Nov 2013 : Column 992W

Danny Alexander: We announced on 1 November that the Welsh Government will be given new tax and borrowing powers, as recommended by the Commission on Devolution in Wales (the Silk Commission). The Government's response to the Commission was published on 18 November, with 30 of the 31 recommendations for the UK Government accepted in full or in part.

As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all meetings and discussions. But I regularly meet with the Welsh Government Finance Minister to discuss matters that are relevant to Wales.

Education

Hotcourses Ltd

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many contracts his Department has awarded to Hotcourses Ltd since May 2010; and what the (a) purpose, (b) monetary value and (c) net worth was of each contract. [176374]

Elizabeth Truss: According to centrally held records, the Department for Education has not awarded any contracts to Hotcourses Ltd since May 2010. This does not include data relating to arm's length bodies prior to April 2012, which are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Kings Science Academy

Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will publish the articles of association for the Kings Science Academy in Bradford; [176155]

(2) if he will publish the report by Crowe Clark and Whitehill accountants into the financial arrangements at Kings Science Academy, Bradford; [176037]

(3) pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2013, Official Report, column 339W, on Kings Science Academy, for what reason his Department contacted Action Fraud on 5 September; [176173]

(4) if he will publish the warning notice issued to the Kings Science Academy, Bradford in May 2013. [176159]

Mr Timpson: The articles of association for Kings Science Academy are available on the Department's website at:

http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=137277

The report by Crowe Clark and Whitehill is produced for and owned by the academy. It is a matter for the academy to determine whether the report is published.

Officials from the Department for Education contacted Action Fraud on 5 September for a progress update.

The warning notice issued to Kings Science Academy was published on 20 November on the Department's website:

http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/executiveagencies/efa/efafundingfinance/b00212647/extemal-assurance/academiesfraud/investigation-reports

21 Nov 2013 : Column 993W

Translation Services

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on interpreters and translation services in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012. [176375]

Elizabeth Truss: The following table shows the sum spent on interpreters and translation services by the Department for Education and its agencies in the last three financial years:

Much of this spend relates to the cost of translating documents on teachers' pay, pensions and conditions into the Welsh language as these areas are still reserved powers to Westminster.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

vCJD: Sheep

14. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the presence of vCJD prions in sheep. [901182]

George Eustice: vCJD prions have not been found to be present in sheep.

Meat Exports: Russia

16. Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what increase there has been in meat exports to Russia in the last year. [901185]

George Eustice: Our success last year in opening up the Russian market to poultry has helped fuel a 61% rise in meat exports to Russia from a total of £932,000 for January to September of 2012 to nearly £1.5 million for the same period this year. In September my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs finalised a trade deal for beef and lamb that is expected to be worth up to £100 million over three years. This is further proof of his commitment to driving export growth.

Anaerobic Digestion

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of anaerobic digestion. [176116]

21 Nov 2013 : Column 994W

Dan Rogerson: Government financial support and action under our Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan is leading to growing uptake of anaerobic digestion. We published a progress report in August, which is available on the Gov.uk website. It can be viewed at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/229432/pb14019-anaerobic-digestion-annual-report-2012-13.pdf

Since the Strategy was published, the number of plants has increased from 54 to more than 120. Another 200 projects have planning permission.

Animal Welfare: Horses

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to prevent an increase in fly-grazing of horses in England following legislative changes to be made in Wales. [175971]

George Eustice: There is a range of existing legislation that can be used to deal with fly-grazing, including the Animals Act 1971 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In addition, because fly-grazing is a form of antisocial behaviour, existing antisocial behaviour legislation and forthcoming measures in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Bill may be used to tackle it. The Government consider that a joined-up approach by enforcers and interested parties at a local level can be helpful in tackling the problem. There are continuing discussions at official level on tackling practical problems associated with fly-grazing, including any that might arise from any new legislative measures in Wales.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to page 17 of his Department's review of effectiveness, environmental impact, humaneness and feasibility of lethal methods for badger control, published on 20 October 2005, whether the small scale toxicity trial involving four badgers carried out following Lord Zuckerman's 1980 review is the last time that live testing on badgers of gassing techniques has been carried out in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [175927]

George Eustice: We are not aware of any research looking at the effects of gas on live badgers since the work at Porton Down carried out in 1982 following the report by Lord Zuckerman.

Food

Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of food eaten in the UK was produced in the UK in (a) 1993 and (b) 2013; and what estimate he has made of what that proportion will be in 2033. [176154]

George Eustice: The proportion of food eaten in the UK that was produced in the UK in 1993 was 63%.

The latest available figures for 2012 give the proportion as 53%. Figures for 2013 are not yet available.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 995W

A full time series from 1988 to 2012 is available in Chapter 14 of the publication 'Agriculture in the United Kingdom' at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/agriculture-in-the-united-kingdom

We do not make estimates for future years. Meaningful and accurate estimates of domestic production of food are difficult to calculate and would run the risk of influencing commodity markets.

Horses

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the problems caused to landowners by illegally-tethered ponies, abandoned ponies and fly-grazing; [R] [176180]

(2) what guidance he gives to landowners who find abandoned ponies on their land. [R] [176181]

George Eustice: DEFRA is aware of, and has considered, the issues relating to the problems of illegally-tethered ponies, abandoned ponies and fly-grazing. There is no formal Government guidance. However, there is a range of existing legislation that can be used to deal with these issues, including the Animals Act 1971 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The abandonment of ponies which causes unnecessary suffering is a potential offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In addition, because fly- grazing is a form of antisocial behaviour, existing antisocial behaviour legislation and forthcoming measures in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Bill may be used to tackle it.

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of recent trends in the practice of fly-grazing horses. [901183]

George Eustice: No such assessment has been made by Government. However, the various horse charities have estimated that almost 7,000 horses in England and Wales may be at risk in terms of their welfare this year.

Inland Waterways: Conservation

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the use of rotenone to eradicate topmouth gudgeon in rivers, brooks and streams. [176163]

George Eustice: No recent representations have been made to the Secretary of State on the use of rotenone to eradicate topmouth gudgeon in rivers, brooks and streams.

Topmouth gudgeon is a highly invasive species that has the potential to cause significant impacts on our freshwater environment, native species, habitats and our recreational fisheries on a national basis. To address this threat the Environment Agency has put in place a programme to eradicate topmouth gudgeon from the UK by 2017.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 996W

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many private sector employees have been seconded by the private sector to his Department; what the name was of the company from which they were seconded; and whether any of those employees have worked on drafting legislation. [175651]

Dan Rogerson: As at 31 October 2013, three private sector employees were seconded into core DEFRA. They were seconded from the following organisations:

Carbon Disclosure Project (a registered charity);

Thames Water; and

Veolia Environmental Services.

All three were involved in work on the impact on business of government policy, including matters which are the subject of legislation, regulations and guidance.

Wildlife: Smuggling

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what international action the Government are taking to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife. [901178]

George Eustice: Tackling the alarming increase in poaching and illegal wildlife trade is a priority for this Government and we are actively supporting international efforts. For example, during a recent visit to Kenya, the Secretary of State announced that British Army paratroopers will provide patrol and field training to Kenyan wildlife rangers. We are hosting a high-level, inter-governmental conference in London in February 2014 to galvanise the international community to take action to reduce poaching and trafficking.

Justice

Health Services: Freedom of Information

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to bring forward an extension of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to cover private healthcare providers. [172448]

Mr Vara: The Government recognise the importance of maintaining transparency in relation to outsourced public services. The NHS Standard Contract already includes a provision requiring private providers to assist and co-operate with commissioners to enable them to meet their obligations under FOIA. In our response to the Justice Select Committee's Post Legislative Scrutiny of FOIA we also made clear that guidance will be provided in a revised code of practice to be issued under section 45 of the Act to promote openness by all contractors providing public services, including through the use and enforcement of contractual transparency provisions to encourage still greater openness.

Copies of the response to Post Legislative Scrutiny can be found in the House Library and at the following web address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/217298/gov-resp-justice-comm-foi-act.pdf

21 Nov 2013 : Column 997W

Prisons: Civil Disorder

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether any compensation will be paid to prisoners for lost, damaged or destroyed goods as a result of the disturbances and rioting at Maidstone, Rye Hill and Rugby prisons at the beginning of November 2013; and which budgets this is covered by. [175395]

Jeremy Wright: No claims have been received relating to the disturbance at HMP Maidstone but NOMS will always robustly defend a claim where the evidence allows. Any decision to pay compensation to prisoners will depend on the facts of the case and the legal advice received. Compensation payments are usually settled by the prison concerned. HMP Rye Hill, near Rugby, is a contracted prison and NOMS would not be responsible for dealing with any litigation claims there.

We have introduced amendments to the prison rules and young offender institution rules which took effect on 1 November. Where prisoners are charged with a breach of the rules and found guilty, the changes require adjudicators to impose a compensation payment where the charge relates to destruction or damage to prisons or prison property. The changes allow governors to take monies directly from prisoners' private cash, savings and spend accounts to satisfy the compensation requirement.

Health

Accident and Emergency Departments

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on medical locums in accident and emergency departments in each year since 2009-10. [175436]

Dr Poulter: The data collected by the Department on the costs of staff who are not permanently employed by the national health service do not identify medical locums in accident and emergency departments.

Care Homes

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be living in residential care homes in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) England in (i) 2023, (ii) 2033 and (iii) 2043; [176030]

(2) how many people have been resident in residential care homes in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) England in each of the last five years. [176031]

Norman Lamb: The Department has not made any estimate of the number of people who will be living in residential care homes in Ribble Valley constituency or Lancashire. Local councils are responsible for providing or arranging social care services for their populations and planning for future need.

The Personal Social Services Research Unit at the University of Kent published a report of research for the Commission on Funding of Care and Support in

21 Nov 2013 : Column 998W

December 2011, entitled Projections of Demand for and Costs of Social Care for Older People in England, 2010 to 2030, under Current and Alternative Funding Systems. The report is available at:

www.lse.ac.uk/LSEHealthAndSocialCare/pdf/Dilnot_report.pdf

Information on the total numbers of people resident in residential care homes is not collected centrally.

We are informed by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre that it collects and publishes data on the numbers of adults—aged 18 and over—permanently and temporarily admitted to residential care homes whose care is funded wholly or in part by councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs). Information is not collected on self-funders - those who pay for their own care.

Information for Ribble Valley constituency is not available separately. The following table shows data for Lancashire, the North West region and England from 2008-09 to 2012-13.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 999W

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much clinical commissioning groups have spent on consultancy services in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 to date. [175540]

Jane Ellison: NHS England's recent Quarter 2 expenditure return to the Department showed that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have spent £17.6 million so far this year on consultancy services.

There are no data for 2012-13, as no CCG was established and authorised to commission services before April 2013.

Commissioning Support Units

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the potential sale of NHS commissioning support units; and if he will make a statement. [175428]

Jane Ellison: NHS Commissioning Support Units (CSUs) are due to move from their current host, NHS England, to more autonomous forms by April 2016. As their host, NHS England will support their development to maximise their future success within a vibrant and diverse commissioning support market that provides commissioners with a choice of excellent and affordable support services.

We are advised that NHS England is currently considering the shortlist of potential forms that CSUs will be able to choose from. This currently precludes the ability for CSUs to choose sale. NHS England plans to outline a final list of options and process in a consultation which will invite feedback from stakeholders. We also understand that NHS England is planning to publish their final strategy for moving CSUs to autonomous forms in summer 2014.

Diabetes

James Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr Sanders) of 18 March 2013, Official Report, column 521W, on continuing care, what recent progress the NHS Commissioning Board has made in developing the Diabetes Action Plan; and when he expects this document to be published; [175529]

(2) on what date the operation of the National Service Framework for Diabetes will end; and who is leading work on that framework; [175555]

(3) what steps he has taken to ensure that the quality of care for people with diabetes is maintained in the period between the end of the operation of the National Service Framework for Diabetes and the start of the Diabetes Action Plan. [175556]

Jane Ellison: The National Service Framework for Diabetes, published in 2001, was a 10-year strategy vision.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1000W

Since 1 April 2013, responsibility for ensuring the quality of diabetes care sits with NHS England and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).

Dr Jonathan Valabhji, the National Clinical Director for Obesity and Diabetes, is committed to improving the quality of NHS services and ensuring better health outcomes for people living with diabetes.

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.

NHS England is continuing to develop the Diabetes Action Plan. This document will set out clearly how NHS England will drive improved outcomes for patients using diabetes as an exemplar. NHS England has advised that it aims to publish the Plan by the end of this year.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) quality standard for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes was published on 31 March 2011. This builds on NICE'S clinical guidelines, and also the National Service Framework for Diabetes. Quality standards are a powerful tool for NHS England to ensure that local commissioners are able to provide high quality care that meets the needs of their communities.

Diabetes is included in the Cardiovascular Disease Outcome Strategy, published in March 2013. The strategy sets out key actions for commissioners and providers to help improve the quality of care for those with or at risk of diabetes and to ensure that patients and carers get the best possible support.

NHS Improving Quality, 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.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to the NHS was of consequential care for diabetes in each year since 2006. [176196]

Jane Ellison: Information on the total cost to the national health service of consequential care for diabetes is not held centrally. However, the programme budgeting estimates of expenditure on diabetes are provided in the following table for 2006-07 to 2011-12.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1001W

Due to changes in the collection methodology and underlying data it is not possible to directly compare figures between years. In particular, there was a significant change to the collection in 2010-11.

The programme budgeting estimates include all PCT expenditure. However, for some care settings there is not sufficient information available to allocate all expenditure to specific programme categories. The majority of primary care expenditure is allocated to Category 23a GMS/PMS and not all expenditure on diabetes for areas such as out-patients and community care will be captured in the diabetes expenditure estimates.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the document Action for Diabetes. [176197]

Jane Ellison: Responsibility for improving the quality of diabetes care sits with NHS England and clinical commissioning groups.

NHS England is continuing to develop the Diabetes Action Plan. This document will set out clearly how NHS England will drive improved outcomes for patients with diabetes. NHS England advises that it aims to publish the plan by the end of this year.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1002W

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the tariff payments issued to secondary care providers for carrying out diabetes treatments; [176198]

(2) if he will list the value of tariff payments issued to secondary care providers for carrying out diabetes treatments in each year since 2010. [176199]

Dr Poulter: The mandatory tariffs for the years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 are available on the Department's website:

2010-11:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_112284

2011-12:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130507170152/https:/www.gov.uk/government/publications/confirmation-of-payment-by-results-pbr-arrangements-for-2011-12

2012-13:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/confirmation-of-payment-by-results-pbr-arrangements-for-2012-13

2013-14:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payment-by-results-pbr-operational-guidance-and-tariffs

For in-patient care provided for patients with diabetes; the Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) tariff payable to the provider will depend on the number and type of procedures undertaken during the spell in hospital. While it is not possible to provide a definitive list of the possible tariffs that could have been generated by a diabetic patient's spell in hospital, there are a number of HRGs listed in chapter K and chapter P whose titles relate explicitly to diabetes care.

For out-patient attendances, there are two Treatment Function Codes (TFCs) for which mandatory tariffs have been provided which relate explicitly to diabetes: TFC 307 (diabetic medicine) and TFC 263 (paediatric diabetic medicine).

Health

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of former Directors of Public Health who now work for Public Health England. [176379]

Jane Ellison: Since April 2013 Public Health England (PHE) has appointed nine people directly from a post as Director of Public Health (DPH). All of these appointments are to posts responsible for delivering front line public health services in local areas where close working with local authorities and DPH/their teams is a key requirement.

All posts were appointed following fair and open competition consistent with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles and in accordance with Department's good practice guidance on the appointment of medical and dental consultants. These numbers are small in the context of the overall number of PHE and local authority posts.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities currently employing acting or interim Directors of Public Health. [176380]

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1003W

Jane Ellison: Nationally there are 152 local authorities (LAs) who employ 134 Directors of Public Health (DPH) (taking into account agreed sharing arrangements). There are 33 LAs who have agreed sharing arrangements. Most of these arrangements are where one DPH covers two LAs (nine instances covering 18 LAs), a smaller number have a three-way sharing arrangement (three instances covering nine LAs) and a single instance where one DPH covers six small LAs.

Currently 105 of the 134 (78%) DPH posts are filled substantively by Directors of Public Health, i.e. a permanently appointed DPH is in post.

There are currently 29 vacancies, all (100%) of which are all covered on an interim basis and, of the 29 current vacancies, 11 (38%) are under active recruitment in which adverts have been released and/or interview dates set.

Health Education England

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current (a) budget, (b) number of staff employed and (c) budget for staff salaries is for Health Education England. [175535]

Dr Poulter: Health Education England (HEE) has a budget of £4.886 billion in 2013-14.

HEE directly employs 1,872 full-time equivalent staff. The salaries budget for the staff directly employed by HEE is £107.7 million.

These figures include staff from HEE and the local education and training boards that are responsible for the training and education of healthcare staff within their area.

HEE works to improve the quality of health and healthcare for the people and patients of England, through educating, training and developing health and healthcare staff. HEE is employer-led, working with those who deliver health and healthcare services, to provide the education, training and lifelong development of its work force, ensuring it has the right skills and values, in the right place at the right time, to better meet the needs and wants of patients—now and in the future.

HEE has established 13 committees, known as local education and training boards (LETBs), which cover the whole of England.

LETBs provide local delivery and leadership. LETBs are the forum for providers and professionals to work collectively to improve the quality of education and training in their local area and to meet needs of service providers, patients and the public.

Health Visitors

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made against his target of increasing the number of health visitors by 50 per cent by 2015. [176041]

Dr Poulter: The Government are committed to growing, by April 2015, the health visitor workforce by 4,200 and transforming health visiting services to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1004W

The latest workforce data (for August 2013¹) show the total number of health visitors nationally is 9,066 full time equivalents.

¹ Published on 21 November 2013 by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

This is 974 more health visitors compared to the May 2010 baseline of 8,092, and equates to 23.2% of the 4,200 extra health visitors required by April 2015. Further significant growth is expected between September and November 2013 as health visiting students complete their training and join the workforce.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the retention rate of health visitors has been (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area in each year since 2010; [176042]

(2) how many health visitors were working in (a) each constituency, (b) each local authority and (c) total in each of the last four years. [176043]

Dr Poulter: The total number of health visitors in England in each of the last four years (by full-time equivalent) is shown in the table.

Information about the number of health visitors working in the last four years is not available at either constituency or local authority level.

Information about the retention rate of health visitors is not recorded centrally and is not available in either of the formats requested.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of legal highs on levels of demand for mental health services. [176381]

Jane Ellison: In the short term, people may suffer acute psychological/psychiatric adverse effects when intoxicated with new psychoactive substances (NPS), just as is the case with alcohol and other drugs. Effects which wear off as the person recovers from intoxication do not require the intervention of mental health teams.

A summary of the health harms of drugs, which was published by the Department in August 2011, documents where mental health problems have been associated with drug use, including NPS which are sometimes referred to as legal highs. A copy of the report has already been placed in the Library, and is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/215470/dh_129674.pdf

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1005W

The Department's executive agency, Public Health England, is supporting, and contributing clinical expertise to, the development of the first set of clinical guidance on the acute management and treatment of NPS, called project NEPTUNE, being developed by the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. This includes consideration of co-occurring mental health issues.

Mental Illness: Smoking

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of any link between smoking and mental health; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of smokers who have also reported having a mental health problem. [176382]

Norman Lamb: We know that smoking is around twice as common among people with mental disorders and that a third of all cigarettes smoked in England are smoked by people with a mental disorder.

In contrast to the marked decline in smoking prevalence in the general population, smoking among those with mental disorders has changed little, if at all, over the past 20 years.

Up to 3 million smokers in the United Kingdom, 30% of all smokers, have evidence of mental disorder and up to 1 million have a longstanding condition. Smoking and particularly high levels of nicotine dependence, are especially common among people in forensic psychiatric settings and prisons, homeless people, and those with alcohol or other drug misuse.

Mental Illness: Young Offenders

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is provided to young offenders with mental health problems. [176388]

Norman Lamb: Health care for young offenders with mental health problems is available across the criminal justice system in young offender institutions, other secure accommodation or in the community. The same range and quality of health care treatments should be available for young offenders as is available for other young people.

Liaison and diversion services are currently being rolled out across England for people of all ages, in police custody and at court. These services will identify, assess and refer young offenders with mental health problems to the most appropriate services for treatment and support.

NHS: Public Appointments

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women have been members of NHS boards in each of the last five years. [176404]

Jane Ellison: The table shows the number of women appointed to NHS boards over the last five years on 1 April: this includes primary care trusts (PCTs), strategic health authorities (SHA), and NHS trusts. This information is not held centrally for NHS foundation trusts. PCTs and SHAs were abolished on 31. March 2013, so the figure for 2013 represents appointments to NHS trusts only.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1006W

At November 2013, 35% of those appointed to NHS trust boards are women.

Nurses: Prisons

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions each prison has had no nurse on duty since 1 January 2013. [175961]

Norman Lamb: This information is not collected centrally by NHS England.

Obesity and Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the roles and responsibilities of Dr Jonathan Valabhji within the NHS are. [176195]

Jane Ellison: Jonathan Valabhji is National Clinical Director (NCD) for Obesity and Diabetes at NHS England. He is also Consultant Diabetologist, Physician and Endocrinologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

His responsibilities at NHS England include:

providing high quality clinical advice and promoting best national practice within the fields of diabetes and obesity;

engaging effectively across the system with patients, clinicians, clinical commissioning groups, specialised commissioning clinical reference groups, strategic clinical and operational delivery networks and NHS England area teams;

working as a team with NCD colleagues in the NHS England Medical Directorate to design services which provide best care; and

working with partner organisations including patient groups, Public Health England, the Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Health and Social Care Information Centre, Care Quality Commission, Health Education England, colleges, specialty associations, industry, research partners and the third sector to lead innovation and improvement throughout the NHS in England in the fields of diabetes and obesity.

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 November 2013, Official Report, column 16WS, on Pharmaceutical Pricing Regulation Scheme, (1) if he will (a) restore the small company exemption rate to its level in the earlier pricing scheme and (b) enhance the small company exemption rate; [176184]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) inward investment, (b) growth of emerging biopharmaceutical companies based in England and (c) the competitiveness of the UK life sciences industry on the reduction of small company exemptions in the revised pricing scheme; and if he will make a statement; [176185]

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1007W

(3) what discussions his Department had with (a) the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, (b) the Office for Life Sciences and (c) small companies in the biopharmaceutical industry on the reduction of small company exemption in the revised pricing scheme. [176186]

Norman Lamb: In respect of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, “2014 PPRS: Heads of Agreement”, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, it sets out the headline terms of the negotiated agreement reached between the Department and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

The new scheme provides stability and predictability on the United Kingdom branded medicines pricing environment both to the Government and to all companies who choose to join it, supporting the industry's global competitiveness.

There is a small company exemption in the Heads of Agreement, which forms part of the negotiated agreement, with all companies with sales of less than £5 million in the previous calendar year being exempted from making payments to the Department.

The UK Life Sciences sector is one of the strongest and most productive in the world and the “Strategy for UK Life Sciences” sets out how Government are supporting this sector. The Government's assessment is that pricing does not materially affect investment in the UK. The global biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry remains a valued partner in the UK Government's plans for a vibrant economy and an NHS that is fit for the future. We value the industry's current investment in the UK and will continue to support the sector through the strategy.

The Department holds regular discussions with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Office for Life Sciences within it and has been in close contact with officials there throughout the negotiations. The ABPI negotiating team included specific representation for smaller companies.

The Department is working with the ABPI to publish the full scheme as soon as possible.

Pregnancy: Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of mother and baby mental health units in the UK; and if he will publish a regional list of such units. [176383]

Dr Poulter: NHS England commission 17 in-patient mother and baby units, 11 of which have integrated Perinatal Community Psychiatric Teams:

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS FT

Beadnell Mother and Baby Unit, Morpeth, Northumberland

Leeds Partnership NHS FT

Mother and Baby Unit, The Mount, Leeds¹

Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust

The Anderson Ward, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester¹

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Margaret Oates Mother and Baby Unit, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham¹

Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS FT

The Beeches, Derby City General Hospital, Derby¹

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1008W

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

Mother and Baby Unit, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester¹

South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS FT

Brockington Mother and Baby Unit, St George's Hospital, Stafford¹

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS FT

Mother and Baby Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham¹

Hertfordshire Partnership NHS FT

Thumbswood Mother and Baby Unit, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn

North Essex Partnership NHS FT

Rainbow Mother and Baby Unit, The Linden Centre, Chelmsford, Essex

East London NHS FT

Margaret Oates Mother and Baby Unit, Homerton Hospital, London¹

Central and Northwest London NHS FT

Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Coombe Wood, London

South London and Maudsley NHS FT

Channi Kumar Mother and Baby Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Kent¹

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health NHS FT

New Horizons Mother and Baby Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol

Hampshire Partnership NHS FT

Perinatal Services (Mother and Baby Unit), Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, Hampshire¹

Dorset Healthcare University NHS FT

Florence House Mother and Baby Unit, Bournemouth

The Eastbourne Clinic

The Eastbourne Clinic Mother and Baby Unit, Eastbourne, East Sussex.

¹ Units that have an integrated linked Specialised Perinatal Community Psychiatric Team.

Source:

NHS England.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average annual cost of prescription charges is for organ transplant recipients in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement; [175708]

(2) what his policy is on the payment of prescription charges by organ transplant recipients for essential drugs related to their transplant and required to manage their long-term health; if he will introduce free prescriptions for such patients; and if he will make a statement. [175729]

Norman Lamb: Information on the condition for which a medicine is prescribed is not collected centrally.

Around 95% of prescription items in England are dispensed, without charge at the point of dispensing, through the exemption arrangements we have in place. This figure is largely made up of items dispensed to people who are exempt, but includes items dispensed to people with prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs). People who have to pay national health service prescription charges and need multiple prescriptions can save money with a PPC as there is no limit to the number of items the holder may obtain through the certificate. The current price of a three-month PPC is £29.10 and a 12-month certificate £104. If a patient pays a prescription charge, this is currently £7.85 for each dispensed item.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1009W

In the light of the challenging financial context, the Government announced in the spending review, published in October 2010, that we would not extend free prescriptions to all those with a long-term condition in England, and we do not intend to add any medical conditions to the list of medical exemptions. Prescription charges in England raise valuable income, in the region of £450 million each year, which helps the NHS to maintain vital services for patients.

Prostate Cancer

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the annual cost to the NHS is of providing treatment to patients suffering from prostate cancer; [176108]

(2) how many prostate-specific antigen tests take place in the NHS each year; [176160]

(3) how much it costs the NHS to provide a prostate-specific antigen blood test. [176164]

Jane Ellison: Information concerning the number of prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests that take place in the national health service each year and the cost of individual PSA tests are not held centrally. However, we understand the average price is in the region of £35. The commissioning and pricing of PSA tests is a local matter.

Expenditure data relating to the treatment of patients suffering from prostate cancer are not available in the format requested. Programme budgeting data collected from primary care trusts (PCTs) can provide estimated aggregate PCT expenditure on urological cancers, which includes prostate cancer.

In the following table, NHS England has provided data for NHS spend on urological cancers in 2011-12, the latest financial year for which these data are available. It is important to note that it is not always possible for commissioners to break down their expenditure to a specific programme category, therefore not all expenditure relating to the identification and treatment of cancers and tumours will be included within this estimate. Areas of expenditure that are difficult to estimate include general practitioner costs, diagnostic imaging and community care costs. Not all expenditure on radiotherapy, chemotherapy or high cost drugs will be included within the estimate of urological cancers, and will be included instead within the “Cancers and Tumours (Other)” category.

Public Health England

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Public Health England spent on consultancy services in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 to date. [175539]

Jane Ellison: In 2012-13 Public Health England (PHE) was established and became operational on 1 April 2013 so is reporting no costs prior to that.

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1010W

In the first six months for 2013-14 of PHE's operation, the total expenditure on management consultancy according to the Cabinet Office definition was nil.

The relevant definition of Consultancy issued by the Department on 1 April 2013 as defined by Cabinet Office is:

“The provision of management, objective advice and assistance relating to strategy, structure, management or operations of an organisation in pursuit of its purposes and objectives. Such assistance will be provided outside the business as usual environment when in house skills are not available and will usually be time-limited. Service may include the identification of options with recommendations and/or assistance with (but not delivery of) the implementation of solutions”.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2013, Official Report, column 504W, on Radiotherapy, for what reason a tariff for multi-fraction stereotactic radiotherapy has not been included within the 2014-15 National Tariff Payment System: A Consultation Notice, published by NHS England and Monitor on 3 October 2013, Annex 4a, section 1.2.1; [175846]

(2) pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2013, Official Report, column 504W, on Radiotherapy and the 2014-15 National Tariff Payment System: A Consultation Notice, published by NHS England and Monitor on 3 October 2013, section 6.4.3, how NHS England intends to meet its obligations to create a national tariff for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. [175847]

Dr Poulter: It is a matter for NHS England and Monitor, the independent regulator, as to when and how a national tariff is created for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. Relatively few changes are being made to the national tariff for 2014-15, in line with an approach of limiting uncertainty in the system and providing space for local experimentation in payment design, for example to support integrated care.

Before expanding the scope of the mandatory national tariff, NHS England and Monitor will want to take advice to establish clinical priorities and the strength of the clinical evidence base. They will also want to be assured that any national prices they set are underpinned by robust cost data. This in no way prevents commissioners purchasing stereotactic ablative radiotherapy services at locally agreed prices.

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private sector employees have been seconded by the private sector to his Department; what the name was of the company from which they were seconded; and whether any of those employees have worked on drafting legislation. [175653]

Dr Poulter: The Department does not hold information centrally about the organisations from which it seconds individuals. Gathering that information could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many personnel from private companies are currently seconded to (a) his Department and

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1011W

(b)

NHS England; from which companies each such personnel are drawn; and what functions such staff undertake. [175735]

Dr Poulter: The core Department does not hold information centrally about the organisations from which it seconds individuals. Gathering that information could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Five or fewer individuals are seconded in to NHS England from private companies. Details are not given as otherwise they could be personally identified, infringing their rights to privacy under current data protection legislation.

Speech and Language Disorders

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress NHS England has made in identifying historic spending levels for augmentative and alternative communication services; [176169]

(2) what quantitative information on augmentative and alternative communication provision NHS England will collect from clinical reference groups; and if he will make a statement. [176170]

Norman Lamb: Figures concerning the historical spend on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) services cannot be provided. Prior to 1 April 2013, there was no national NHS commissioning of AAC services. There was also no standard, nationally consistent definition of AAC services that were the commissioning and funding responsibility of the national health service. There was also a mix of commissioning agencies involved in AAC provision, including from the social care and education sector, charitable and third sector funding agencies and NHS commissioned assessment and funding of specialised AAC aids.

In terms of collecting quantitative information on AAC provision, NHS area teams monitor quantitative information on activity, finance and key quality indicators from providers of AAC as part of NHS England's formal contract and in line with the national contract requirements.

Cabinet Office

Consumers: Complaints

Mr Watts: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will bring forward legislative proposals to allow regulators to introduce fairness to customer criteria when assessing complaints. [174805]

Mr Letwin: There are no current plans to bring forward legislative proposals to allow regulators to introduce fairness to customer criteria when assessing complaints.

I recently announced the Government's intention to review complaints handling within public services, and the role of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Employment: Chelmsford

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what comparative assessment he has made of the number of people in full-time and part-time employment in Chelmsford constituency; [175963]

21 Nov 2013 : Column 1012W

(2) how many people in Chelmsford constituency are in full-time equivalent employment. [175964]

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

Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated November 2013:

On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many people in Chelmsford constituency are in full-time equivalent employment (175964) and what comparative assessment has been made of the number of people in full-time and part-time employment in Chelmsford constituency. (175963)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.

The number of people in Chelmsford constituency who were in full-time employment was 42,100 and part-time employment was 15,800 for the latest period available. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the period July 2012 to June 2013. People interviewed self-classify themselves to full-time and part-time employment.

As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk