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Written Answers to Questions

Friday 29 November 2013

Attorney-General

BAE Systems

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General (1) what proportion of documents related to the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into BAE sent in error to a warehouse in London's Docklands district (a) have now been recovered and (b) are likely to be recovered; [177870]

(2) to which locations the Serious Fraud Office has erroneously sent evidence related to its investigation into BAE; [177871]

(3) what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) documents and (b) audio tapes and electronic media related to the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into BAE that have been sent to the wrong destination. [177877]

The Solicitor-General: The SFO has recovered 98% of the data—this includes all audio tapes and electronic media. The SFO continues to pursue the recovery of outstanding material, The material was sent to a single location at the request of the recipient. It is not appropriate to provide further information.

The volume of data incorrectly sent to the third party was calculated to be 32,000 pages of documents; 81 audio tapes and electronic media. This remains unchanged and represents 3% of data obtained during the investigation.

Domestic Violence: Convictions

Helen Jones: To ask the Attorney-General how many people convicted of offences involving domestic violence had been previously convicted of (a) a domestic violence offence, (b) other offences involving assault or violence or (c) other offences in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [177865]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of convictions for offences involving domestic violence where defendants have previously been convicted of any other offence(s). Such data could not be reasonably obtained locally or nationally other than by a manual exercise at disproportionate cost.

Rape: Convictions

Helen Jones: To ask the Attorney-General how many people convicted of rape had previously (a) been arrested following domestic violence, (b) been convicted of a domestic violence offence, (c) been arrested for an offence involving stalking or harassment or (d) been convicted of a stalking or harassment offence in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [177868]

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The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of convictions for offences of rape where defendants have previously been convicted of any other offence(s). Such data could not be reasonably obtained locally or nationally other than by a manual exercise at disproportionate cost.

The CPS does not hold a record of the number of people arrested for offences involving domestic violence, stalking or harassment. The official statistics on crime and policing are maintained by the Home Office.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Copyright: Arts

Mr Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that copyright protection for artistic designs made before 1 June 1957 is provided under British law. [177901]

Mr Willetts: The Government do not intend to create new copyright in works created before 1 June 1957.

Artistic designs created before 1 June 1957 may attract copyright protection by virtue of the Term Directive (2006/116/EC) if they were protected by copyright in any EU member state on 1 July 1995.

Mr Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the transition period for the implementation of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. [177902]

Mr Willetts: The Call for Evidence on the timing of the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act closed on 27 November 2013. The Government intend to consult further on proposals for transitional provisions and implementation of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 in due course.

Mr Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department's planned timeline is for the implementation of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013; and if he will make a statement. [177903]

Mr Willetts: The Government have not yet decided on the timing of implementation of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.

The Call for Evidence on the timing of the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, which would be implemented by virtue of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, closed on 27 November 2013. The information submitted is intended to shape the consultation, which will be launched in due course, on the date of the repeal and any necessary transitional provisions.

Private Sector

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the proportion of the population of each English region who (a) run their own business and (b) work for private sector small and medium-sized enterprises. [177814]

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Matthew Hancock: The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) provides a measure of the percentage of the working age population starting or running a business. The following table provides estimates of activity within the English regions in 2009. Later editions of the GEM survey only provide estimates for countries within the UK, because of a reduction in the size of the sample after 2009.

There are no data available to estimate the proportion of the resident population working in small and medium enterprises by region.

Communities and Local Government

First-time Buyers

Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to help first-time buyers get onto the housing ladder. [176313]

Kris Hopkins: This Government are committed to supporting people's aspirations to own their own home.

By tackling the budget deficit left by the last Administration, we are keeping long-term interest rates down. Just a 1% rise in market interest rates would mean the average family with a mortgage would have to pay £1,000 a year more. This Government's steps to ensure financial stability and support the housing market have had a positive effect on mortgage markets—the Council of Mortgage Lenders confirmed recently that the number of new mortgages is now at the highest level since before the last Administration's housing crash in 2008. The number of first-time buyers is at its highest level since 2007 according to estimates by Halifax.

We have also introduced a number of targeted schemes. Since 2010, the Government have been helping over 90,000 hard-working people on to the housing ladder: over 36,000 through innovative Help to Buy and earlier schemes; 20,800 social tenants through the Right to Buy (which has been reinvigorated); and over 37,000 affordable home ownership homes as part of our Affordable Housing Programme.

Housing: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new house builds in Worcestershire there have been in each of the last three years. [177281]

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Kris Hopkins: Statistics on house building completions in each local authority district, Worcestershire and England are published in the Department's live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link:

http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building

Local Government Finance

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to announce the provisional local government finance settlement. [179136]

Brandon Lewis: As in previous years, the provisional local government finance settlement for 2014-15 will be announced as soon as practicable after the autumn statement.

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he will respond to the report of the Public Accounts Committee on financial sustainability of local authorities, published 7 June 2013, HC 134. [179137]

Brandon Lewis: We have already have. Our responses to the Public Accounts Committee's recommendations were published in the Treasury minutes on the 12 September.

Local Government: North East

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether alternative administrative structures for delivering economic development, transport and vocational skills training at a local level in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham are being considered by his Department; [177424]

(2) what the timetable is for creation of a combined authority for Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham; and what functions he intends to devolve to this body; [177431]

(3) what the economic development functions are of (a) the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and (b) the proposed North East Combined Authority covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham. [177433]

Brandon Lewis: I refer the right hon. Member to the consultation paper published by my Department on 7 November, which is available online at:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposal-to-establish-a-combined-authority-for-durham-northumberland-and-tyne-and-wear

Private Rented Housing: Students

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Government have given consideration to changing the status for the purpose of council tax of landlords renting properties to university students to classify them as (a) a business and (b) any other classification. [177906]

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Brandon Lewis: As I said to the hon. Member in my answer to him of 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 112W, the Government have no plans to change the rules governing the long-standing council tax exemption for full-time students; nor do we have plans to charge business rates on the residential dwellings that landlords rent out.

In the last Session, my Department duly noted the amendments to the Local Government Finance Bill tabled by Labour hon. Members to (a) make students liable for council tax and (b) levy business rates on student landlords (‘Notice of Amendments given on 26 January 2012, New Clauses 17 and 18’). The Government opposed these Labour proposals for new taxes on students and student housing and the amendments were not approved by the House.

In 2011, the Secretary of State was lobbied by a Liberal Democrat councillor on the Local Government Association to allow councils to increase council tax on students. Details are laid out in my Department's Freedom of Information disclosure log:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/meeting-with-local-government-association

This is not a policy proposal that we supported.

The reason why properties occupied entirely by students are exempt is because students, unlike other groups of people on low incomes, are not normally entitled to income-related benefits, such as housing and council tax benefit/local council tax support. If a Government were to make landlords of such properties liable for council tax or business rates, landlords would simply pass the costs on to the students through raising rents.

The Government do recognise the need to compensate local authorities for the notional loss of council tax income from student accommodation, which would otherwise have to be borne by other local residents, and this is done through the local government funding system. Councils are also rewarded for new student accommodation through the New Homes Bonus.

In addition, in July, I took steps to stop the inappropriate practice of local authorities trying to impose backdoor bin taxes on student accommodation. More information can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-bin-charging-on-student-accommodation

Culture, Media and Sport

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many local radio stations in Lancashire broadcast on DAB. [177862]

Mr Vaizey: In the administrative county of Lancashire, there are two local analogue stations which are simulcast on DAB—Rock FM and Magic 999.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the coverage of the trunk and A road network in Cumbria by DAB radio; and when she expects these areas to be fully covered. [177872]

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Mr Vaizey: Under the Communications Act 2003 (as amended), Ofcom is required to submit a report to the Secretary of State every three years, describing the state of the electronic communications networks and services in the UK.

On 14 October, the BBC has announced improvements to its DAB coverage to reach 97.3% of households by 2015. This will include improvements to the network in Cumbria. We will provide an update on progress on digital radio at the end of the year.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of the (a) UK, (b) north-west England and (c) Cumbria is covered by DAB radio reception of comparable quality and range to FM coverage. [177873]

Mr Vaizey: The figures are in the following table.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has made of the proportion of radio audience represented by digital devices. [177874]

Mr Vaizey: This type of data are collected and published quarterly by RAJAR Ltd (Radio Joint Audience Research). In Q3 2013, 45.2% of the adult population has a DAB radio set at home (or 24 million adults), up 10% year on year and the share of all listening to digital is 35.6%, up 14% year on year.

Telecommunications

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) whether her Department holds data on the number of instances of telecommunications companies switching a consumer from one company to another without their knowledge or consent; [177295]

(2) what assessment her Department has made of the effect of unintentional phone slamming on small and medium-sized enterprises. [177296]

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Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not hold data on incidences of telecommunications companies switching a consumer from one company to another without their knowledge or consent. However, Ofcom does record the number of complaints it receives about fixed-line mis-selling and slamming (including erroneous transfers).

There has been a significant reduction in complaints about slamming since the introduction of General Condition 24 in 2010—the rule which governs sales and marketing of landline telecoms services and provides greater protection for consumers by enabling Ofcom to take swift and effective action against offending companies. Since 2010, complaints about slamming have fallen from an average of 647 complaints a month to an average of 184 complaints a month in 2013.

Around 46% of incidents where consumers complain they have been switched with no knowledge or consent are a result of erroneous transfers. 2.8 million switches take place each year over BT's copper network. Ofcom estimates that approximately 4.2% of these homes were affected by the wrong line being switch in 2012-13.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not made any assessment of the effect of unintentional phone slamming on small and medium-sized enterprises, although in both representations to the Department and in complaints to Ofcom there is anecdotal evidence of the harm that small and medium-sized enterprises can be caused when slamming occurs. That is why the system of safeguards exist to recover the situation as soon as possible when an incidence of unintentional slamming occurs, why, (for example) agreed industry practice is that a previously allocated business number that becomes free when switching or slamming takes place should not be reallocated for a period of 14 months and why the prohibition and deterrent fines are in place where slamming is other than unintentional or erroneous.

Defence

Flexible Working

Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department make use of compressed hours arrangements as part of the Civil Service's flexible working hours scheme (a) above and (b) below director level. [177392]

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a number of flexible working arrangements, such as term time working, irregular hours, home working and compressed hours. MOD defines compressed hours as meaning that an individual works a shorter working week but meets their conditioned hours, in one of the following ways: a nine day fortnight, a four day working week, or a four and a half day working week (because of an individual arrangement not a site closure).

Flexible working arrangements are agreed between staff and their line managers at local level. Although some data are held centrally, not all such arrangements are notified therefore the following table is accordingly likely to be an underestimate of the total number of civilian staff on compressed hours.

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Data relating to the senior civil service cannot be readily split between those at or below director level.

France

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made on the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force with France; what plans that body has made for its future; and if he will make a statement. [177900]

Dr Murrison: We continue to make good progress towards our objective of creating a capability able to undertake co-ordinated and coherent expeditionary operations with France through a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) consisting of national force elements operating side by side with the ability to respond to a wide range of scenarios.

This progress is being achieved through the conduct of joint exercises and other training activities, joint work on military concepts and doctrine, the exchange of personnel between national armed forces, the exchange of information and the alignment of capability lines of development.

We remain on track to achieve full verification of concept for the CJEF by the target date of 2016.

Watts Andrews Report

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 25 April 2013, Official Report, column 1287W, on Watts Andrews Report, when he plans to write to the hon. Member for Bridgend; when he plans to place a copy of the Watts Andrews Report in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [167338]

Anna Soubry: I have written to the hon. Member today and have placed a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

Deputy Prime Minister

Constituencies

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2013, Official Report, column 1015W, on constituencies, whether any additional cost to the public purse will arise from the decision to move the review of equalisation of constituency boundaries from 2013 to 2018. [177457]

The Deputy Prime Minister: The relevant legislation provides for boundary reviews to take place every five years. The 2013 review was not completed, but a boundary review was due to be held in the next Parliament in any event, meaning no additional cost to the Boundary Commissions is anticipated.

Education

Children: Autism

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people with autism are (a) in education and (b) formally or informally excluded from education. [179139]

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Mr Timpson: The Department for Education's School Census collects information on the number of pupils whose primary type of special educational need is autistic spectrum disorder.

In January 2013 there were 70,780¹ pupils with autistic spectrum disorder in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools.

In 2011-012, the latest year for which we have data, there were 2,750² pupils in state-funded primary, secondary and special schools with autistic spectrum disorder who received at least one fixed period exclusion and 70² pupils who received a permanent exclusion.

The Department does not collect data on the use of informal exclusions. All exclusions must follow the legal process. Any evidence of unlawful exclusion would be taken seriously by the Department and Ofsted.

Schools have a legal duty to support pupils with special educational needs. This would include those pupils with autism. Support typically includes adapting teaching and lessons, providing specialist teaching and support staff. Some schools have specialist resources (classes) where children with autism spend part of their time, and part in mainstream classes.

The same legal duty and need for support would apply to alternative provision. Statutory guidance on exclusion reinforces that early intervention to address the underlying causes of disruptive behaviour should include an assessment of whether appropriate provision is in place to support any SEN or disability that a pupil may have.

¹Source:

Table 1.4, Children with special educational needs: an analysis—2013

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251742/SFR42-2013Chapter1tables.xlsx

²Source:

Table 5.10, Children with special educational needs: an analysis—2013

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251746/SFR42-2013Chapter5tables.xlsx

Kings Science Academy

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether the valuers employed to provide a valuation of the land and property owned by Hartley Group which became the permanent site of the Kings Science Academy, Bradford (a) visited and (b) carried out a thorough inspection of this site in assessing the valuation of the land and property with respect to the negotiated lease agreement; [177425]

(2) whether the valuation placed on the land and property owned by Hartley Group which became the permanent site of the Kings Science Academy, Bradford prior to the lease being agreed for this land and property took into account the derelict state of some of the buildings on this site. [177426]

Mr Timpson: The company commissioned to undertake the independent valuation visited and inspected the site. The valuation provided took account of the state of repair and condition of the property.

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will commission an independent valuation of the land and property owned by Hartley Group which became the permanent site of the Kings

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Science Academy, Bradford to determine whether the lease agreement negotiated for this land and property was fair value. [177427]

Mr Timpson: The Department commissioned and received an independent report and valuation of the Hartley Business Park in Bradford. This confirmed that the annual rent proposed for Kings Science Academy was in line with the market rent for the leasehold interest of the site.

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the options appraisal report carried out in relation to the Kings Science Academy, Bradford, prior to the conclusion of a lease agreement for the Hartley Group site in Lidget Green, Bradford. [177528]

Mr Timpson: The Department does not publish options appraisal reports for free schools. To do so could inhibit the free and frank provision of advice and impact on the Department's ability to maintain a strong bargaining position for other free school sites.

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what total rent per annum was being received by Hartley Group for the site that became the permanent site for the Kings Science Academy, Bradford, at the time of the options appraisal carried out prior to the lease agreement with Kings Science Academy, Bradford for that site. [177529]

Mr Timpson: The information requested is not held by the Department.

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what area in square feet was covered by the (a) £2.77 and (b) £2.88 per square foot rental agreement with the then existing tenants identified in the options appraisal report into the Hartley Group site which became the permanent site for Kings Science Academy, Bradford; [177530]

(2) what area in square feet would have been covered by the £3.00 per square foot rental agreement then on offer to tenants identified in the options appraisal report into the Hartley Group site which became the permanent site for Kings Science Academy, Bradford. [177531]

Mr Timpson: The information requested is provided in the table:

Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the Review of Financial Management and Governance report for Kings Science Academy, Bradford. [177585]

Mr Timpson: A redacted version of the Review of Financial Management and Governance report for Kings Science Academy was published on the Department's website on 29 November:

http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/r/kings_science_academy_final_report.pdf

A copy has been placed in the House Library.

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Mirus Academy

Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when it is intended that the Minister for schools will write to the hon. Member for Walsall North on matters arising from the deputation on 17 October 2013 concerning the Mirus Academy. [177808]

Mr Laws: I wrote to the hon. Member and the principal of the academy on Thursday 28 November with my officials’ advice on the best way to pursue the development of the academy site, and the funding opportunities available.

Offences against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment he has made of the report of the Children's Commissioner on Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups, published on 26 November 2013, and whether he will propose changes to the teaching of sex and relationship education in schools in light of that report; [179149]

(2) what discussions he has had with the Children's Commissioner's office regarding the Commissioner's final report on Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups. [179150]

Mr Timpson: The Government welcome the important work the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) has been doing in its inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups. The three reports which the OCC published on 26 November have provided new information on the nature and extent of this shocking form of abuse which we will need to consider carefully.

I met the Deputy Children's Commissioner on 25 November to discuss the findings from the inquiry and attended the report launch on 26 November. On the issue of sex and relationships education, the Government agree that high quality teaching is important and that children need access to reliable and well-informed sources of support.

The Department for Education will reflect on the OCC's recommendations and contribute fully to the Government's response in due course.

Shannon Matthews

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2013, Official Report, column 745W, on Shannon Matthews and with reference to the answer of 20 November 2012, Official Report, columns 446-7W, on offences against children: Kirklees, when he agreed with the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham that the Government would not pursue publication of the Kirklees Serious Case Review; and when his decision on that matter was published. [179156]

Mr Timpson: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), had various discussions on this matter with the former Children's Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton).

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The decision not to seek publication of the Overview Report is recorded in a Consent Order of the High Court dated 19 June 2013.

University Cathedral Free School

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2013, Official Report, column 736W, on free schools: Chester, which key document lawyers for the University Cathedral Free School Trust are awaiting from the landlord of the free school site. [177564]

Mr Timpson: Lawyers for the University Cathedral Free School Trust are still awaiting a draft Joint Use Agreement from the landlord for the use of certain cathedral facilities.

Young People: Unemployment

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what support his Department provides to young people not in education, employment or training. [177440]

Matthew Hancock: In “Building engagement, building futures: our strategy to maximise the participation of 16 to 24-year-olds in education, training and work”, the Government set out a clear strategy to increase participation in education or training and address the challenge of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). This includes plans for preparing young people for further education or training, and work; for raising the age for compulsory participation in some form of education or training; and for supporting the most vulnerable.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to support young people aged 16 to 18 to participate in education and training and to provide targeted support for those who are NEET. They know the needs of young people in their area and are responsible for making sure that there is sufficient, suitable education and training provision to meet those needs.

The Government plan to spend £7.4 billion in 2013-14 to fund an education and training place for every 16 to 18-year-old who wants one. We are introducing new individually tailored study programmes; raising the quality and standard of apprenticeships; and introducing traineeships for those not quite ready for apprenticeships.

The Youth Contract provides support for disengaged.16 and 17-year-olds with no or low qualifications to address the barriers they face to accessing and staying in education, an apprenticeship or employment with training.

Young People: Voluntary Work

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what National Citizens Service projects he has visited since taking office. [179148]

Elizabeth Truss: A list of National Citizen Service projects visited by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Responsibility for the policy was transferred from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, my

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hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mr Timpson), to the Cabinet Office in July 2013. The Department for Education remains committed to young people and its responsibilities for education and children's services in England.

Electoral Commission Committee

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many electors were on the electoral register in each local authority area in each of the last 10 years. [176815]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not hold this information. However, the relevant data for each local authority, by year, are held by the Office for National Statistics and can be found on their website here:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/electoral-statistics-for-uk/index.html

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission which local authorities did not conduct a door-to-door canvass in each of the last 10 years. [176816]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has set standards and monitored the performance of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) since 2008. Information before this point is not held.

The Electoral Commission's Performance Standards, specifically Standard 3 aim to ensure that EROs make the necessary house-to-house enquiries to ensure that all eligible residents are registered, in line with their legal duty to maintain the electoral registers. The following list sets out which local authorities’ Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) did not meet performance standard 3 in each of the years 2008 to 2012.

2008:

Brentwood

Bridgnorth

Broad land

Caerphilly

Cambridge

Carmarthenshire

Chester-le-Street

Conwy

Copeland

Coventry

Craven

Crewe and Nantwich

Derwentside

Dumfries and Galloway

Durham

East Dorset

East Hampshire

East Lindsey

Eastbourne

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Epping Forest

Forest Heath

Gwynedd

Halton

Harborough

Harrow

Hillingdon

Hyndburn

Leeds

Mendip

Merthyr Tydfil

Newport

North Dorset

North Lanarkshire

Nuneaton and Bedworth

Orkney Islands

Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

Ryedale

Sefton

Shetland Islands

Shrewsbury and Atcham

Slough

Solihull

South Lanarkshire

South Norfolk

South Northamptonshire

Stratford Upon Avon

Sutton

Tameside

Teesdale

The Vale of Glamorgan

Uttlesford

Warrington

Wellingborough

West Devon

Weymouth and Portland

Windsor and Maidenhead

Wirral

2009:

Basingstoke and Deane

Brentwood

Broadland

East Hampshire

East Hertfordshire

Epping Forest

Hyndburn

Merthyr Tydfil

Newport

Runnymede

South Lakeland

The Vale of Glamorgan

Uttlesford

Warrington

Warwick

West Devon

West Somerset

2010:

Brentwood

East Hertfordshire

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Epping Forest

Hertsmere

Hyndburn

Maldon

Mid Devon

West Devon

2011:

Angus

Arun

Braintree

Broxbourne

Cannock Chase

Castle Point

Chichester

Clackmannanshire

East Ayrshire

East Devon

East Dorset

East Hampshire

East Hertfordshire

East Lindsey

East Lothian

Edinburgh, City of

Falkirk

Fife

Gravesham

Great Yarmouth

Hart

Lancaster

Maldon

Malvern Hills

Medway

Merthyr Tydfil

Mid Devon

Midlothian

Milton Keynes

Mole Valley

North Ayrshire

North Devon

North Dorset

North Lanarkshire

North Somerset

North Warwickshire

Perth and Kinross

Powys

Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

Sedgemoor

Shropshire

Solihull

South Ayrshire

South Lanarkshire

Stirling

Suffolk Coastal

Tandridge

Taunton Deane

Thanet

The Vale of Glamorgan

Torfaen

Warwick

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West Devon

West Lothian

West Oxfordshire

West Somerset

Windsor and Maidenhead

Wycombe

2012:

Arun

Braintree

Broxbourne

Castle Point

East Devon

East Dorset

East Hampshire

East Hertfordshire

East Lindsey

Eastbourne

Great Yarmouth

Gwynedd

Lancaster

Merthyr Tydfil

Mid Devon

Mid Sussex

North Devon

North Hertfordshire

North Warwickshire

Powys

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

South Oxfordshire

Taunton Deane

Torbay

Torridge

Uttlesford

Vale of White Horse

West Devon

West Oxfordshire

West Somerset

In 2013 the Commission also required all EROs to report on their performance prior to the start of the canvass, to confirm that arrangements were in place for the necessary house-to-house enquiries to be carried out. The Commission has intervened where issues were identified and recommended improvements to be made before the completion of the canvass. The Commission's report on ERO performance in 2013 will be published in March 2014.

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what future plans the Electoral Commission has for use of the household enquiry form for the purposes of electoral registration. [177060]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it is required by law to design the household enquiry form, which must then be approved by the Lord President of the Council. The approved form will be made available to electoral registration officers to support the transition to individual electoral registration in Great Britain, which is expected to commence in June 2014.

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The Commission is also required to design a number of other statutory registration forms, notices and letters to support individual electoral registration, including the invitation to register and individual electoral registration application form. These documents must also be approved by the Lord President of the Council.

The Commission has published guidance for electoral registration officers setting out how they should use household enquiry forms during the transition to individual electoral registration and as part of their ongoing duty to maintain the register.

The Commission will be monitoring the response that electoral registration officers receive from electors to the household enquiry form through a joint data collection exercise with the Cabinet Office so that any necessary changes to legislation or practice can be made.

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what milestone dates have been set by the Electoral Commission and local electoral registration officers for (a) gathering, (b) processing and (c) publishing data on electoral registration before the introduction of individual electoral registration. [177061]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it intends to collect data from all Electoral Registration Officers at the conclusion of the final household canvass in early 2014.

The final household registers are due to be published in England on 17 February 2014 and on 10 March 2014 in Wales and Scotland. The Commission has asked for data to be returned by 28 February 2014 in England and 21 March 2014 in Wales and Scotland. The data will be published shortly thereafter.

The Commission will also publish electorate figures for the European Parliament and local elections due to be held on 22 May 2014. The last date for electors to apply to be included on the registers for these elections is 7 May 2014.

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will undertake an assessment of electoral registration rates in university towns and cities for the purpose of determining best practice in these circumstances. [177062]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has previously published research which indicated that registration rates among students are lower than average and that university towns and cities were one of several areas likely to see higher levels of under-registration.

In addition, the Commission recently evaluated the data matching process, known as confirmation, which will be used to support individual electoral registration (IER). They found that students were much less likely to be successfully matched with the Department for Works and Pensions' database and therefore automatically transferred to the new individual electoral registers.

The Commission has no current plans to undertake a direct assessment of registration rates in specific university towns and cities. However, its programme of research

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during the transition to individual registration will continue to assess how various demographic and other characteristics affect registration rates.

The Commission is currently reviewing public engagement strategies produced by all electoral registration officers for the transition to individual electoral registration to ensure that they take account of their local context, including that they have plans in pace for engaging with students in their area.

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the effects of illiteracy on registration levels. [177063]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has undertaken no assessment of the effects of illiteracy on electoral registration levels.

The Commission is currently designing the registration forms that they will recommend be used by members of the public under the new system of individual electoral registration.

The Commission has taken account of the available evidence on varying levels of literacy across the UK and the forms are being designed to be as accessible as possible, including for people with low literacy. The forms have been user tested with the public and people with low literacy were included within the research.

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the number of people eligible to vote who were not on the electoral register in each of the last 10 years. [177064]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has not made an assessment of the number of eligible electors who were registered to vote in each of the last 10 years.

However, the Commission's research on the December 2000 registers in England and Wales found that they were 91-92% complete, meaning that approximately 3.5 million people were not registered at their current address. More recently their research into the December 2010 registers in Great Britain found that they were 85-87% complete, meaning that approximately 6 million were not registered at their current address.

The Commission plans to undertake further work on the level of registration in Great Britain immediately before the introduction of individual electoral registration and after it has been fully implemented.

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the (a) top and (b) bottom performing electoral registration departments were in terms of the proportion of the eligible population registered to vote in each of the last seven years. [177065]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not have this information.

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The Commission also informs me that there is no reliable method for calculating annual registration rates for local authorities. The only available data are the mid-year population estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics and the number of entries on the registers. However, the population estimates include people who are not eligible to register and the registers include inaccurate entries.

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what progress the Electoral Commission has made on providing individual constituency reports on the levels of voter registration and key indicators for registration performance to hon. Members, Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Members of the Scottish Parliament and Members of the National Assembly for Wales; and what changes have been made to the reporting process in each of the last seven years. [177066]

Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that in July 2008 the Commission published performance standards for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in Great Britain and has monitored and reported on the performance of EROs against these standards in each year since. The Commission writes to all hon. Members on publication of its annual assessment of the performance of EROs, providing information on the performance framework and directing Members to more detailed information and registration data on its website, where they can review the individual performance of each local authority in Great Britain. In addition to this, since 2011, the Commission writes specifically to those hon. Members, Members of the Scottish Parliament and Members of the National Assembly for Wales whose EROs have failed to meet one or more of the standards, setting out which standards have not been met and highlighting questions they may consider asking of their ERO(s) regarding what practices they follow in order to keep their electoral registers as complete and accurate as possible.

The Commission's report on ERO performance in 2013 will be published in March 2014 and at that time the Commission will write to all hon. Members, Members of the Scottish Parliament and Members of the National Assembly for Wales, and will again highlight any cases where their ERO(s) have failed to meet one or more of the standards.

The Commission's statutory power to set performance standards does not extend to Northern Ireland and we have therefore not corresponded directly with Members of the Legislative Assembly to date on key indicators for registration performance. The Commission is, however, working with the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland to pilot a set of registration performance standards for Northern Ireland.

Energy and Climate Change

Coal

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of coal reserves available in (a) Wales, (b) each region of England, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [177550]

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Michael Fallon: The following table shows the coal reserves for England (Central North, Central West and Northern), Scotland and Wales. There are no reserves in Northern Ireland.

The data are provided by the Coal Authority.

Current Site and Licences includes: operational mines, planning granted, in planning process and pre-planning.

Prospects include: well developed, identified, fully and partly proved and potential.

Coal Gasification

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to create a regulatory environment governing underground coal gasification. [177547]

Michael Fallon: We are keen that Government play their part in creating a regulatory environment which helps rather than hinders those with ambitions in the sector. With this in mind we will shortly launch a Working Group involving both DECC and the Coal Authority to look at the current licensing processes and in particular the interaction between underground coal gasification and coal bed methane. The group will consult with the relevant parties as part of its work.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Coal Authority on underground coal gasification. [177548]

Michael Fallon: The Coal Authority is the freehold owner of the UK's coal resources and the licensing body for the exploitation of coal. We maintain a regular dialogue with it on the range of its activities including licensing. The Coal Authority has issued several offshore conditional licences to interested companies to assist in facilitating the development of UCG and full details of the Authority's processes for licensing in this area can be found on its website:

http://coal.decc.gov.uk/en/coal/cms/services/licensing/license_apps/license_apps.aspx

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential of underground coal gasification in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [177549]

Michael Fallon: The Government undertook a feasibility study of UCG in 2004 which concluded that, in conjunction with carbon capture and storage, UCG had the potential to contribute to the UK’s energy requirements. No further assessment has been undertaken by Government but we have held meetings with interested companies as they continue to look at how this technology might be developed.

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Energy: Sussex

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average household (a) gas and (b) electricity bill was in (i) West Sussex and (ii) Mid Sussex constituency in each year since 2010. [177879]

Michael Fallon: Energy bill data are only available at a Public Electricity Supply (PES) region level. The Mid Sussex constituency is within the South East PES region. However, West Sussex has postcodes in both the South East and Southern PES regions. Energy bill estimates for these regions have been provided in the following table.

These data are taken from Tables 2.2.3 and 2.3.3 of DECC's publication Quarterly Energy Prices (QEP), assuming an annual consumption of 3,300 kWh for electricity and 18,000 kWh for gas. Provisional annual bill estimates for 2013 will be published in December's edition of QEP on 19 December 2013.

Fuel Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2013, Official Report, columns 724-5W, on fuel poverty, if he will also give the proportion of people living in fuel poverty under the old measure. [177841]

Gregory Barker: The following table shows the number and proportion of fuel poor households in England under the previous 10% indicator of fuel poverty as well as the new Low Income High Costs (LIHC) indicator:

Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps the Minister is taking to ensure the Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil is working with regulators to encourage public engagement. [177912]

Michael Fallon: The Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil (OUGO) works closely with the regulators on public engagement and to improve understanding of the facts about shale gas development. Staff from OUGO have attended a number of events alongside colleagues from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA), in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the regulation in this area.

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Renewable Energy

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of energy (a) consumed and (b) produced in the UK is sourced from each renewable source. [177261]

Gregory Barker: The following table shows the proportion of UK energy consumed and produced from each renewable source in 2012:

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fly-grazing

Mike Thornton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the extent of fly-grazing in (a) England, (b) the South East, (c) Hampshire and (d) Eastleigh constituency; [177798]

(2) what steps he is taking to tackle fly-grazing; and what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing legislation to tackle fly-grazing in England; [177803]

(3) what assessment he has made of the effect of the Control of Horses (Wales) Bill, due to come into effect in 2014, on fly-grazing in England. [177804]

George Eustice: No specific assessment has been made by Government on the extent of horse welfare problems in specific parts of the country. However, the most recent estimates by welfare organisations suggest that there may be 2,500 horses being fly-grazed in England.

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There is a range of existing legislation that can be used to deal with the issues, 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 and Policing Bill may be used to tackle it. There are no plans to go down the same legislative route as the Wales Government. We consider the practical answer lies in tackling local issues through effective use of existing and forthcoming legislation together with sharing best practice and joined-up working by interested parties.

Pate de Foie Gras

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to introduce an EU-wide ban on foie gras. [179140]

George Eustice: The UK Government are opposed to foie gras production. In many European Union member states it is already banned on the grounds that it is contrary to animal welfare laws. However, any future ban on its production in the few member states which still produce it is a matter for the European Commission.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

European Parliament

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the recent vote of the European Parliament to meet in a single location is agreed to by the European Council. [177444]

Mr Lidington: We are pleased to see that the European Parliament continues to push for a single seat. The current arrangements are expensive, impractical and indefensible on environmental grounds. The UK Government's position remains the same; we are in favour of a single seat.

The European Parliament's vote on 20 November 2013 committed it to initiating the Ordinary Revision Procedure, with the aim of amending the Treaties with regards to the institution's location. When a proposal comes forward, we will work with our partners in the European Council, with the aim of reaching a settlement that results in less waste.

Flexible Working

Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department make use of compressed hours arrangements as part of the Civil Service's flexible working hours scheme (a) above and (b) below director level. [177396]

Hugh Robertson: Flexible working is delegated to line managers and staff. Line managers are responsible for recording and monitoring working patterns in their teams. There is no central record on the number of staff working compressed hours at each grade. Gathering this information could be done only at a disproportionate cost.

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Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps he plans to take in respect of the expiry of the Libyan General National Congress's mandate on 6 February 2014; and if he will make representations to the Libyan Government on the importance of progress towards democracy; [179125]

(2) what reports he has received on the progress made by the General National Congress and Libyan Government in respect of creating a common national vision; and what assessment he has made of the need for a different approach to reaching a political solution in Libya; [179127]

(3) what account his Department has taken of Libyan social media in its assessment of national confidence in the political progress in that country; what assessment he has made of popular support for the current political process in Libya; and what steps his Department has taken to engage the people of Libya in political reform; [179128]

(4) what assessment he has made of the progress made by the Libyan General National Congress (GNC) in producing an agreed constitution; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of such a constitution being agreed before the expiry of the GNC's mandate on 6 February 2014. [179129]

Hugh Robertson: I discussed these, and other issues, with Prime Minister Zeidan during my recent visit to Tripoli of 18-19 November. The Libyan Prime Minister also met the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), during his recent stopover in London on 24 November.

The UK Government are concerned at the instability in Libya and the threat that poses to Libya's democratic transition. We are monitoring events in Libya closely, including via social media, and are in continuous dialogue with the General National Congress and Government as they continue to make steady progress steering Libya's transition to a democratic state.

However, political divisions within Libya are hampering progress overall. It is essential that all Libyans work towards agreement on a single, inclusive, authoritative, and independently-facilitated national dialogue process.

The Libyans need to work through the Constitutional Drafting Assembly and national dialogue to reach a political settlement. While the substance of any settlement must be worked out by the Libyans themselves; the UK is committed to working with Libya and its international partners to create an enabling environment that supports the Libyan people reaching a political settlement that will bring stability.

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government provided to Libya in order to establish a national army and police force; and what assessment he has made of reasons for the failure of the Libyan Government to establish such forces to date. [179126]

Hugh Robertson: In addition to our political support and co-operation in a range of fields, the UK is providing considerable security assistance to Libya's armed forces and police force, including:

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A Defence Advisory and Training Team (DATT) of approximately 20 personnel, with advisers embedded in the Libyan Ministry of Defence, Navy, Air Force, Border Security Force and Joint Training Directorate;

A 12-18 month project to assist the Libyan Army in training and creating a joint operational planning staff; and,

A strategic policing expert, embedded within the Libyan Ministry of Interior, to provide support and guidance on reforming the Libyan police.

Furthermore, as the Prime Minister announced at the G8 Summit, the UK, US and other European partners have offered to train more than 7,000 Libyan troops to help the Libyan Government disarm and integrate militias and improve the security and stability of the country. As part of this package, the UK will train up to 2,000 Libyan armed forces personnel, in tranches, in basic infantry skills.

We have further committed additional support through a three and a half year security, justice and defence programme which will strengthen the capability, accountability and responsiveness of these sectors, including through training 30,000 police officers in investigative techniques, 1,500 judicial police in courts and prisoner protection, and supporting the integration of up to 40,000 militia into the police or armed services.

Maldives

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent presidential elections in the Maldives. [177280]

Mr Swire: The British Government monitored with concern the delays to Maldives presidential elections. We are pleased that the second round of elections was able to take place on 16 November, and that the winner, President Yameen, has now been inaugurated.

The Maldivian people demonstrated their commitment to democracy throughout the electoral process, as evidenced by their high turnout of over 90% for the last round of elections. As I said in my statement of 18 November, I urge the new Government and the opposition to work together constructively in the interests of all Maldivians and to avoid any acts of recrimination or retribution. I raised this point during my meeting with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dunya Maumoon, during my visit to the country on 18 November.

The UK looks forward to working with the new Maldives Government, and to the strengthening of democratic institutions in Maldives.

Tibet

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to protect the safety of people living in Tibet. [177441]

Mr Swire: We regularly express our concerns about the situation in Tibet with the Chinese authorities. We did so most recently at official level on 24 October. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has also raised this in Parliament, most recently on 3 September. Our concerns are addressed

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in detail in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's Annual Human Rights Report, published on 15 April:

www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk

and in the update to it, published on 17 October.

We also work with international partners and through multilateral fora. For example, we made a strong statement regarding, human rights issues, including Tibet, during China's UN Universal Periodic Review on 22 October, and we will continue to work with the UN Human Rights council to engage China on human rights issues, including Tibet.

It is only through engaging China that we can help bring about positive change to human rights in China, including for Tibetan communities.

USA

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his US counterpart about the fairness of the trial of the Miami Five; and if he will make a statement. [177523]

Hugh Robertson: The British Government will not make representations to the US Government on this issue, or a formal statement.

Health

Accident and Emergency Departments

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what accident and emergency unit waiting times were for each accident and emergency unit in the North East and Cumbria in the most recent period for which data are available. [177435]

Jane Ellison: There are three measures of waiting times in the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) for accident and emergency departments (A&E). These are time to assessment; time to treatment; and time to departure.

The following table shows the average (mean and median) waiting times for all providers of A&E departments in the North East Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and the area covered by Cumbria Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) for 2011-12. Information for 2012-13 is not yet available.

The mean and median duration (in minutes) to assessment, treatment and departure in A&E for 2011-12 for providers in the North East SHA Region or within the boundaries of Cumbria Teaching PCT.

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Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports his Department has received on pressure in accident and emergency departments in the forthcoming winter. [179130]

Jane Ellison: NHS England publishes weekly statistical reports on accident and emergency (A&E) performance on all 144 trusts, available publicly. The data cover the 95% patients seen in under four hours target, emergency attendance and emergency admissions for that week and performance cumulatively for the year.

During the winter period, NHS England collects daily situation reports from acute trusts each weekday. These indicate where there are any winter pressures on the service around the country such as A&E closures, cancelled operations, bed pressures, or ambulance delays. Daily Flu highlights the number of patients with confirmed or suspected influenza in critical care beds at 8 am.

Furthermore, NHS England produces monthly reports on five key clinical indicators. These look across a range

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of factors to give a broader indication of the quality, experience and timeliness of care.

The indicators are:

1. Left before being seen for treatment rate

2. Unplanned re-attendance rate

3. Time to initial assessment

4. Time to treatment

5. Total time spent in the A&E department

Electronic Cigarettes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his policy is on the classification of e-cigarettes as medicinal; [177479]

(2) what research has been carried out by his Department and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in relation to the use and efficacy of e-cigarettes; and who funded such research. [177481]

Jane Ellison: The United Kingdom Government support a requirement to introduce an approved regulatory framework. This position will need to take account of the final form of the Tobacco Products Directive. In the meantime, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) continues to encourage companies voluntarily to license nicotine-containing products on the basis of presentation and will continue to decide on whether products are medicinal products on a case-by-case basis. This is intended to ensure that products are available that meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy to help reduce the harms of smoking to smokers and those around them.

The MHRA has commissioned two studies at the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London. The first study was an analysis of nicotine content in the cartridge contents and in the generated vapour of electronic cigarettes and has been published. The outcome of the second study, evaluating toxin and nicotine delivery in electronic cigarette has not yet been reported to the MHRA.

Flexible Working

Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in his Department make use of compressed hours arrangements as part of the civil service's flexible working hours scheme (a) above and (b) below director level. [177397]

Dr Poulter: The Department recognises that all types of flexible working hours-including compressed hours-enable staff to manage their work-life balance and helps with the retention of valuable, experienced and qualified staff. Staff can request to work compressed hours at any point in their employment, although there can be no guarantee that such requests will be met.

Decisions to agree or refuse compressed-hours working are made by local line managers and records of these arrangements are not held centrally. It would incur disproportionate costs to establish the information requested.

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Health

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has held with ministerial colleagues on public health marketing campaigns since his appointment. [179131]

Jane Ellison: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has so far not held any meetings with ministerial colleagues solely on specific individual public health marketing campaigns but has held regular meetings with colleagues where a variety of public health campaigns have been discussed.

Health Education

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written answer of 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 147W, on Health Education, what the rationale was for suspending work on the draft guidance. [179094]

Norman Lamb: The Government carried out a review of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence public health work programme in 2010 to ensure that topics referred to it by the previous Administration were aligned with the Government's sexual health strategy.

Following the review, the public health guidance on personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) focusing on sex and relationships and alcohol education was suspended to allow a decision on its alignment with the Government's sexual health strategy and continued development to be taken in light of the new public health structures, and subsequently the Government’s review of PSHE education.

Health Services

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the transfer of public health functions from the NHS to local authorities; what steps he has taken to date to implement that transfer; and if he will make a statement. [177428]

Jane Ellison: Upper tier and unitary local authorities were given a new statutory function from April 2013 to take appropriate steps to improve the health of their populations. However, responsibility for commissioning a small number of public health programmes, including children's public health services from pregnancy to five, rests with NHS England.

The Government remain committed to transferring commissioning of children's public health services from pregnancy to five to local authorities from 2015. In order to ensure the safest and most effective transfer discussions about the timetable and process are being held with key stakeholders including the Local Government Association, Public Health England and NHS England. When these discussions are concluded an announcement will be made.

Health Services: Females

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that clinical care commissioning groups commission appropriate

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services for women who have been victims of violence; and what monitoring his Department undertakes to check that such services meet the requisite standards. [177905]

Jane Ellison: Except for the immediate response to sexual assault, the provision of services for women who have been victims of violence as for all health services is decided by the local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). In providing services, CCGs take into account the needs of the population overall. CCGs decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local healthcare needs. As such, provision of services will vary in response to local needs. NHS England, through its area teams, will be conducting quarterly assurance meetings with CCGs to ensure patients receive high quality services that deliver better outcomes for patients.

NHS England directly commissions sexual assault referral services for victims of sexual violence, and in doing so, works in collaboration with police forces and others in the criminal justice system, local authorities and CCGs with the aim of providing an integrated care pathway. The Health and Justice Clinical Reference Group is the route through which NHS England will get clinical advice into justice health commissioning.

Health Services: Weather

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department provides during exceptionally cold weather for health trusts. [177454]

Jane Ellison: We are providing an extra £250 million of funding for urgent and emergency care this winter, and NHS England have also announced a further £150 million to ensure the national health service is able to maintain the current high-level of patient care during winter.

In addition Public Health England published the 2013 Cold Weather Plan for England on 25 October 2013. It sets out a number of valuable actions that health trusts can take to manage pressures during cold weather and is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/252838/Cold_Weather_Plan_2013_final.pdf

Health Services: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent meetings he has had on health service reconfiguration in Worcestershire. [177282]

Jane Ellison: The Department's Ministers have had two recent meetings to discuss the review of acute services at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

On 5 September 2013, the Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter), met my hon. Friend. Prior to that meeting, on 16 May 2013, my hon. Friend the Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter) met my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Nadhim Zahawi), local national health service and council representatives and a local campaigner.

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The reconfiguration of local health services is a matter for the local NHS. Commissioners in Worcestershire are currently working with local providers and stakeholders to develop proposals for the future provision of acute services across the county, including Alexandra hospital, which will be subject to public consultation.