Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what species fishing licences in Ascension Island's fisheries have been issued in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014; and what requirements are included in these licences in respect of (i) quotas (ii) species type caught and landed and (iii) time spent fishing. [178687]
Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. Licences are granted to ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna) registered vessels on application. In the years 2010 to 2013 licences were granted for all species of tuna (Albacore, Bigeye, Yellow Fin) and bill fish (swordfish, striped marlin, black marlin, blue marlin). The requirements in the licences are consistent with guidelines established by ICCAT, and all vessels licensed must comply fully with ICCAT regulations on quotas per member. All vessels are required to report weekly to ICCAT and to fishery officials on catch data, species and time fishing.
The Ascension Island Government are reviewing their fishery. All existing licences expire at the end of 2013 and no new licences will be issued until a new regime has been put in place.
Barry Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many vessels held fishing licences for the Ascension Island's fisheries
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in
(a)
2010,
(b)
2011 and
(c)
2012; how many vessels hold such licences for (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014; and what the role is of the UK Government in the issuing of those licences. [178688]
Mark Simmonds: I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 20 May 2013, Official Report, 507W, UIN number 156036. No licences have been issued for 2014. Licences are issued by the Ascension Island Government only. Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government.
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many fishing vessels are registered in Ascension Island. [178689]
Mark Simmonds: None. Ascension Island does not have a shipping register.
Board Membership
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many of his Department's (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are (i) men and (ii) women; [178116]
(2) how many of his Department's (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are identified as (i) white British and (ii) of black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups. [178136]
Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Management Board consists of nine executive and two non-executive members. The gender breakdown is (a) six male and three female executive board members and (b) one male and one female non-executive board members. The FCO does not monitor the ethnic composition of boards separately from its general monitoring of the representation of different ethnic groups.
Egypt
Mr Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps he will take to monitor the independence of any inquiry into the violent suppression of the demonstrations in Cairo in August 2013; and if he will make a statement; [R] [178537]
(2) when he expects an independent inquiry into the violent suppression of the demonstrations in Cairo in August 2013 to (a) begin and (b) report. [R] [178558]
Hugh Robertson: The Egyptian National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) has launched unofficial investigations into the clearances of the sit-ins at Rabaa al Adawiyya and Al-Nahda on 14 August, and the violence on 6 October. These investigations are expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
The Egyptian Government have also begun investigating some specific events in August, such as at the Abu Zaabal prison incident. This is a step in the right direction, but is focused on only one incident.
We continue to press the Egyptian Government for there to be an independent inquiry into the violence in August. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for
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Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed this with Egyptian Foreign Minister Fahmy in September. We will continue to raise it, including the investigation into the death of British cameraman Mick Deane.
We will monitor the results of the unofficial investigation by the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) and any Egyptian Government inquiries.
El Salvador
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the arrest of Xiomara Cruz in El Salvador; and if he will make a statement. [178538]
Mr Swire: The British Government is aware of the case of Glenda Xiomara Cruz, a Salvadoran national currently in detention for aggravated homicide. The recently reopened British embassy in San Salvador cannot interfere with the laws and legal processes of another country. However, we do pay particular attention to human rights issues, including fair trials and prisoner conditions, as part of our bilateral dialogue with the Government of El Salvador.
English Language: Education
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role Accreditation UK has in monitoring the terms and conditions of employment of staff of language schools as part of its responsibility for quality assurance of UK-based ELT providers. [178072]
Mr Swire: Accreditation UK is a specialist voluntary quality assurance scheme for providers of English language teaching (ELT) services in the UK. The accreditation scheme executive board (EB) is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of the scheme.
Full details of the accreditation and inspection process are published in the Accreditation UK Handbook:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/2012-13_accreditation_UK_handbook.pdf
Middle East
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress on middle east peace negotiations, following the resignation of the Palestinian peace negotiators on 14 November 2013. [178332]
Hugh Robertson: I can confirm that the middle east peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are continuing with the goal of reaching a final status agreement next year. US Secretary of State John Kerry met with both parties on 5 December. As I made clear during my recent visit to the region, the UK strongly supports the talks and stands ready to do all we can over the coming weeks and months to support the parties and the US in their efforts to achieve a lasting two-state solution.
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Occupied Territories
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to dissuade the Israeli Government from building more settlements that lie within the established pre-1967 boundaries. [178329]
Hugh Robertson: I expressed the UK's strong concern over recent settlement announcements during my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, 4-6 November.
Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement. [178082]
Mark Simmonds: I hosted the second Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council in London on 26 November. The focus of the Council this year was on action to support economic diversification, jobs and economic growth. We agreed an ambitious agenda including steps to promote further opportunities for business, trade and investment in the Territories. We also agreed to work together on education and training; green energy and the environment; stronger links with the wider world; international financial services regulation; governance; security and self-determination.
I look forward to discussing progress with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee on 17 December.
Pay
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what the median gross pay is of staff in his Department and its executive agencies in each pay band who are identified as (a) white British and (b) of black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups; [178176]
(2) what the median gross pay of (a) men and (b) women is in each pay band in his Department. [178194]
Hugh Robertson: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) pay is determined by a range of factors including grade, performance, and length of time in employment. Where diversity data highlight discrepancies between groups, we take appropriate action to understand and address any issues. We next plan to carry out an equal pay audit in early 2014 as part of a refresh of the FCO's pay and reward strategy.
An officer's ethnic minority status is self declared. The following tables show the median gross salary for FCO staff taken from the FCO HR Database at 31 October 2013. The figures shown relate only to staff who have made a declaration of their ethnicity. All figures are given in £s.
| £000 | ||
| Grade | BME1 | White |
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| £000 | ||
| Grade | Female | Male |
The following tables show the median gross salary for FCO Services taken from the FCO HR Database at 31 October 2013.
| £000 | ||
| Grade | BME1 | White |
| £000 | ||
| Grade | Female | Male |
| 1 Black and minority ethnic groups 2 Sample too small for disclosure. | ||
Further diversity data, including the proportion of employees by ethnicity and grade, can be found in the FCO’s Diversity and Equality Report 2013 see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/193240/FCO_Diversity_and_Equality_Report _2013__as_published__26_April_2013.pdf
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Recruitment
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 were (a) men and (b) women. [178156]
Hugh Robertson: The proportion of staff recruited by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) since 5 May 2010 that are (a) men and (b) women is:
| Percentage | |
All appointments to the FCO are made through open and fair competition, in strict accordance with the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioners.
The figures cover permanent and fixed term recruitment in the UK only. Data for recruitment by our Posts overseas for local staff positions are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Sudan
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support the convening of a Consultative Conference on the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement. [178266]
Mark Simmonds: An inclusive Consultative Conference should have been held within 30 days of the conclusion of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement in October 2006, to build consensus on the arrangements for its implementation. The failure by the Government of Sudan to implement this and many other aspects of the agreement has contributed to growing disillusionment with the peace process and rising tensions in the east that could lead to a return to conflict if left unaddressed. We have regularly pressed the Government of Sudan to honour their commitments under the agreement, most recently during a visit to Eastern Sudan by the British ambassador in October 2013 when he encouraged government and other parties to address the development needs of the region as a matter of urgency.
Attorney-General
Board Membership
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many of the Law Officers Departments (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are (i) men and (ii) women; [178108]
(2) how many of the Law Officers' Departments' (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are identified as (i) white British and (ii) of black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups. [178128]
The Solicitor-General: The following table contains details on the breakdown between non-executive and executive board members, available ethnicity data and the gender composition of each of the Law Officers Departments management boards.
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| Board members | Gender | Ethnicity1 | ||||
| Department | Non executive | Executive | Male | Female | White British | Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups |
| 1 There is no requirement for staff members, including board members, to officially declare ethnicity. The available data therefore cover only information that has been declared. | ||||||
Pay
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what the median gross pay is of staff in the Law Officers Departments and its executive agencies in each pay band who are identified as (a) white British and (b) of black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups. [178168]
The Solicitor-General: The following table contains data on the median gross pay for staff by each pay band in the Law Officers Departments, covering only those staff members who have declared their ethnicity. We have not provided data covering AGO and HMCPSI because the numbers of staff in each grade for both Departments are below five and the information could therefore be used to identify individual members of staff.
| £ | ||||||
| Treasury Solicitor's Department | Serious Fraud Office | Crown Prosecution Service | ||||
| Grade | BME1 | White | BME1 | White | BME1 | White |
| 1 Black, Asian and other minority ethnic group. | ||||||
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what the median gross pay of (a) men and (b) women is in each pay band in the Law Officers Departments. [178186]
The Solicitor-General: The following table contains data on the median gross pay for men and women by each pay band in the Law Officers Departments. We have not provided data covering AGO and HMCPSI because the numbers of staff in each grade for both Departments are below five and the information could therefore be used to identify individual members of staff.
| £ | ||||||
| Treasury Solicitor's Department | Serious Fraud Office | Crown Prosecution Service | ||||
| Grade | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female |
Recruitment
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of staff recruited to the Law Officers Departments since 5 May 2010 were (a) men and (b) women. [178148]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table.
| Proportion of staff recruited by gender | ||
| Percentage | ||
| Male | Female | |
| 1 TSol data also cover the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. | ||
Work and Pensions
Atos Healthcare
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many doctors Atos employed in (a) Gloucester constituency, (b) Gloucestershire and (c) England in each of the last five years. [178527]
Mike Penning: Currently, Atos Healthcare employs one doctor in Gloucester Medical Assessment Centre.
Atos Healthcare does not employ any doctors in the wider community of Gloucester or Gloucestershire.
Atos Healthcare has used other doctors, as necessary, from outside the area, but these are sessional and not directly employed doctors.
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Board Membership
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are (i) men and (ii) women. [178126]
Mike Penning: There are four male and no female executive board members.
There are three male and one female non-executive board members.
In his most recent annual report (2012-13) the Government lead non-executive, Lord Browne, noted that whereas
“FTSE100 companies only have 12.5 per cent of board members who are women, more than 36 per cent of government non-executives are women.”
The Department is committed to ensuring that it reflects the diversity of the public we serve, at all levels.
Disclosure of Information
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what monitoring his Department carries out to ensure it complies with requests for information to be supplied in an accessible format. [178754]
Esther McVey: The Department takes very seriously its duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments and provide a fully accessible service appropriate to the needs of individuals. We take a variety of steps to provide help and support to enable individuals to engage with DWP.
Requests for information to be provided in an alternative format are tailored to the personal needs of the individual and will depend on which service is being used or which benefit is being claimed. The support offered by DWP includes a variety of communication methods: face to face contact on our premises; home visits; telephony; online services; and written communications in alternative formats such as large text. A request for an alternative format from an individual will be detailed on their customer record of the appropriate benefit system to ensure requests are carried out.
While we strive to deliver excellent service to all who need to use our services, DWP conducts millions of customer interactions each year, face to face, over the telephone and by correspondence and, with an operation on this scale, it is inevitable that on occasion things may go wrong. Although the Department does not undertake any formal monitoring around accessible formats, we do investigate instances where an error has occurred and take steps to put things right.
Electronic Government
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Department has lead policy responsibility for the Government Gateway. [178529]
Mike Penning: The overarching policy for Government Gateway is owned by Cabinet Office (CO) and Government Digital Service (GDS).
Government Gateway provides identity solutions. Identity assurance and the policy of identity assurance are owned by CO and GDS.
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Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will rank each English local authority by the percentage change in the number of housing benefit and local housing allowance claims from April 2010 to April 2013; [178833]
(2) if he will rank each English local authority by the (a) number of and (b) percentage change in claims for housing benefit and local housing allowance made by people in work between April 2010 and April 2013. [178834]
Steve Webb: The information requested in relation to housing benefit (HB) claimants will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
The economic status of all HB recipients is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The information requested is only available for HB recipients whose claim is not passported: that is, for those who do not receive either income support, jobseeker's allowance (income-based), employment and support allowance (income-based), or pension credit (guaranteed credit). This information has been included in the tables provided.
Detailed statistics on housing benefit and local housing allowance can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm
Housing Benefit: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families in Peterborough city council area have been assisted with discretionary funding as a result of changes in housing benefit rules introduced in April 2013; and if he will make a statement. [178075]
Steve Webb: The Department has been collating six-monthly returns detailing DHP awards made by local authorities and is currently quality assuring those returns. This includes the number of awards granted, but not specifically the number of families who have claimed from the DHP fund.
This year the Government contribution to discretionary housing payments has been increased to £180 million. As part of this, local authorities are able to bid for funding from a £20 million reserve fund. The scheme is open to bids until 3 February 2014.
Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2013, Official Report, column 659W, on housing benefit: social rented housing, if he will estimate the number of such households which will enter poverty. [178484]
Steve Webb: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Legal Costs
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what amount his Department has spent on lawyers' fees in the present Parliament. [178597]
Mike Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions does not retain financial data by Parliament or parliamentary session. The following table details the Department's spend on external legal costs incurred for the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013 to date. These figures include all invoices for fees authorised by the Department's internal Legal Service, including but not limited to the case management services provided by the Treasury Solicitor's Department, external legal representation and external training and professional development of the Department's Legal Service.
It is not possible to provide a more detailed breakdown of the fees without exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold.
| DWP External Legal Costs (inclusive of VAT where applicable) | |
| £million | |
Pay
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the median gross pay of (a) men and (b) women is in each pay band in his Department. [178202]
Mike Penning: The median gross pay of (a) men and (b) women in each pay band in the Department for Work and Pensions is as follows:
| Grade | Men (£) | Women (£) |
Pensioners: Income
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of pensioners with a pension income below 60% of median income (a) on the latest date for which data are available and (b) in each of the last 10 years. [178770]
Steve Webb:
Estimates of the number and proportion of pensioners with household income below 60% of median household income are published in the National Statistics Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or
10 Dec 2013 : Column 154W
‘equivalised') for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living. This information is captured using the Family Resources Survey.
The figures for 2011-12 (the latest period for which figures are available) and each of the last 10 years can be found in the latest HBAI publication, available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/households-below-average-income-hbai-199495-to-201112
Relevant figures can be found in Tables 6.1tr-6.4tr (on pages 206-209).
Household income refers to net disposable income which includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes.
Pensioners are defined as all those adults above state pension age. Prior to 6 April 2010, women reached the state pension age at 60. From 6 April 2010, the qualifying age for women has been gradually increasing. Therefore the age groups included in these statistics have changed over time. The changes do not affect the state pension age for men, currently 65.
Recruitment
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 are (a) men and (b) women. [178166]
Mike Penning: Since 5 May 2010, 46% of the Department’s recruits were men and 54% were women.
Universal Credit
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus advisers have been trained in the use of and give guidance on the universal credit system; and when he expects all advisers to have received such training. [178729]
Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson), 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 769W. All our Jobcentre Plus advisers who are currently delivering universal credit have received training and guidance on the new system. We will ensure that future training requirements are aligned with the plans for expansion of the universal credit service, outlined in the recent ministerial written statement.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the extra costs to local authorities of assisting claimants to use the universal credit system. [178730]
Esther McVey: The Department recognises that local authorities will have to work with claimants to prepare them for universal credit and we know there will be an impact on local authorities.
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We will continue to consult with local authorities to fully understand what the implications will be for delivery of universal credit.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the universal credit pathfinder programme to be extended to (a) couples and (b) families. [178731]
Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the recent written ministerial statement, in which the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced that we will expand our current pathfinder service and develop functionality so that from next summer we progressively start to take claims for universal credit from couples and, in the autumn, from families.
Once safely tested in live universal credit areas, we will also expand the roll-out to cover more of the north-west of England. This will enable us to learn from the live running of universal credit at scale and for more claimant types, including the more vulnerable and complex.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the value of the IT systems that will be replaced by the universal credit IT project. [178732]
Esther McVey: The Department's existing IT systems will continue to be used to assess and pay claimants for existing benefits for a number of years and in some cases will continue to provide a platform for other benefits beyond universal credit implementation.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his statement of 5 December 2013, on universal credit progress, how passported benefits will be included in the universal credit pathfinder programme. [178809]
Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by the then Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr Hoban), to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr Byrne) on 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 69W.
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the cost of the ICT system to administer universal credit. [178840]
Esther McVey: The most recent estimate of the cost of the ICT system is set out in the NAO report Universal Credit: Early progress, HC 621, published on 5 September 2013.
Universal Credit: Northern Ireland
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on the implementation of universal credit in Northern Ireland of changes to the time scale for the introduction of universal credit in England. [178850]
Esther McVey: No assessment has been made.
Officials from my Department work closely with their colleagues in NISSA to keep up to date on developments of mutual interest.
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Work Capability Assessment
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to make work capability assessments more responsive to the needs of people with mental health problems. [178806]
Mike Penning: A number of changes have been implemented to ensure that the work capability assessment assesses those with mental health problems as fairly and accurately as possible;
Mental Function Champions have been in place across the country since July 2011 to spread best practice and improve understanding of mental health conditions.
We have changed the ESA50 questionnaire which claimants fill in to make it more user friendly for people with mental health conditions.
Safeguards are in place to ensure claimants with mental health conditions are treated fairly. For example, we do not disallow an ESA claim where an individual with a mental health condition has not returned their ESA50 questionnaire.
An Evidence Based Review has been conducted to try to further improve the descriptors for people with mental health conditions. A final report will be published before the end of the year.
Dr Litchfield has also been carrying out the fourth independent review of the WCA which will be published this year. We await his findings and will consider any recommendations he makes for further improvements, including those concerning mental health.
Communities and Local Government
Afzal Amin
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contact there has been between Ministers and civil servants in his Department and Afzal Amin. [178737]
Stephen Williams: My Department has liaised with representatives of the Curzon Institute/Curzon Education over our first world war commemoration programme on the contribution of Commonwealth nations.
My noble Friend the Minister with responsibilty for faith and communities launched the programme on 8 November in an event at the Royal United Services Institute. More information about the project can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/news/commonwealth-contribution-to-first-world-war-to-be-commemorated
Community Relations
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he can report on the cross-Government task force on tackling extremism and radicalisation; and if he will make a statement. [178368]
Stephen Williams: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), announced on 4 December the new measures proposed by the Extremism Task Force to tackle extremism and radicalism across the UK. The final report is available in the Library of the House and on the Government's website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263181/ETF_FINAL.pdf
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Council Tax: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the level of council tax arrears in the Peterborough city council area was in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement. [178282]
Brandon Lewis: The cumulative level of council tax arrears .in Peterborough city council area (at the end of March in each year) is as follows:
| £ | |
The figures are calculated by adding the amount of council tax that was uncollected within the year to the council tax arrears brought forward, less any receipts received in respect of previous years' arrears, less any council tax written off as uncollectable.
In our best practice document, “50 ways to save”, we listed improving council tax collection rates and reducing arrears as a key way of making sensible savings to help keep overall council tax bills down and protect frontline services. Every penny of council tax that is not collected means a higher council tax for the law-abiding citizen who does pay on time.
It is important that councils are sympathetic to those in genuine hardship, are proportionate in enforcement and do not overuse bailiffs. However, these figures show that there is a significant source of income for councils, which councils could use to support frontline service or cut council tax bills.
Curzon Institute
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contracts his Department has signed with the Curzon Institute; when those contracts were signed; and what services were provided under those contacts. [178738]
Stephen Williams: The Department for Communities and Local Government has signed one contract with Curzon Education, a limited community interest company (formerly the Curzon Institute), in October 2013, for the delivery of 50 lectures on the contribution made by Commonwealth nations to the first world war.
More information can be found on my Department's website:
www.gov.uk/government/news/commonwealth-contribution-to-first-world-war-to-be-commemorated
Board Membership
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many of his Department's (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are (i) men and (ii) women; [178110]
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(2) how many of his Department's (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are identified as (i) white British and (ii) of black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups. [178130]
Brandon Lewis: The executive and non-executive members of the Department's management board are listed at:
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/groups/dclg-management-board
Flexible Working
Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [177390]
Brandon Lewis: This information is not centrally held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Housing: Construction
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2013, Official Report, column 345W, on housing construction, what his most recent estimate is of the number of units with planning permission; and how many of those (a) have started on site and (b) are yet to start on site. [178315]
Nick Boles [holding answer 9 December 2013]: According to the latest figures from Glenigan, as at 2 December 2013, there were an estimated 523,700 units with planning permission. Of these:
267,500 (51%) had started on site,
184,400 were progressing towards a start,
57,100 were classed as on hold or shelved, and
the remainder had either been sold, were due to be sold or else the information was not available.
This 57,100 figure for stalled/on hold sites is a fall from the 59,100 figure that I gave in my earlier answer (for October 2013), and illustrates how the measures we are taking to help kick-start and unlock stalled sites are working.
These figures also further demolish the myth propagated by Her Majesty's Opposition that there are 400,000 homes with planning permission not being built because of ‘land banking’.
Local Government Finance
Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with Ministers from other Departments to discuss community budgets in the last 12 months. [178039]
Brandon Lewis: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from other Departments to discuss a range of matters.
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Ministers' Private Offices
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he (a) has appointed or (b) intends to appoint an enlarged ministerial office. [177509]
Brandon Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 398W.
Non-domestic Rates
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will extend small business rate relief beyond 31 March 2014. [177776]
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Brandon Lewis: Yes. I refer the right hon. Member to the Chancellor's autumn statement on 5 December 2013, Official Report, columns 1110-1112.
Non-domestic Rates: Appeals
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many appeals for the reduction of rates have been (a) made and (b) successful in each of the last five years. [175145]
Brandon Lewis [holding answer 12 November 2013]:To assist public scrutiny in how the rating appeals system operates over a revaluation cycle, I have published as follows figures for the last 10 financial years for England and Wales. It shows that the number of formal challenges received in the last three years is broadly similar to the profile at the same point over the last revaluation cycle.
| Formal challenges received | ||||||||||
| Local rating list | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
| Decisions on formal challenges that resulted in a change | ||||||||||
| Local rating list | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
| Notes: 1. The indicative data for the 1995 and 2000 rating lists was compiled in a different way (from internal management information reports), so are not precisely comparable with 2005 and 2010 lists, however, the figures illustrate the broad trends over the revaluation cycle. Procedural processes have also changed over time. 2. Decisions on formal challenges will include formal challenges received in a previous financial year. | ||||||||||
Further to my answer to the right hon. Member of 28 November 2013, Official Report, columns 387-88W, I would observe:
These figures are for appeals against revaluations that were carried out under the last Administration.
Three quarters of all appeals to the 2010 list which have been decided to date have resulted in no change to the rateable value.
The postponement of the 2015 rates revaluation has allowed the Valuation Office Agency to allocate more resources to clearing appeals.
Latest figures now show that almost 300,000 appeals were cleared in England in the 18 months to September 2013. The number of outstanding rating appeals has now fallen to 168,000 from a peak of almost 340,000, showing a fall in eight successive quarters.
Notwithstanding the extra resources being allocated to tackle the backlog thanks to the postponement of the 2015 revaluation, this Government want to increase transparency in the valuation system, including improving the system for challenging rateable values. We will publish proposals in due course.
The original answer has been reprinted with correction in the Daily Part for 11 December 2013.
[Official Report, 11 December 2013, Vol. 572, c. 233-4W]
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The original answer has been reprinted with correction in the Daily Part for 11 December 2013.
[Official Report, 11 December 2013, Vol. 572, c. 233-4W]
Recruitment
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 were (a) men and (b) women. [178150]
Brandon Lewis: The proportion of men and women recruited to my Department since 5 May 2010 is 48% and 52% respectively.
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Staff
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of employees in his Department are (a) female and (b) male, by each civil service pay grade. [176583]
Brandon Lewis: At 31 October 2013, the proportion of female and male employees in the Department for Communities and Local Government by each civil service pay grade is:
| Percentage | ||
| Civil service pay grade | Female | Male |
Health
Abortion
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been certified on mental health grounds since the Chief Medical Officer issued her circular of 23 February 2012. [178038]
Dr Poulter: Between 23 February 2012 and 31 December 2012 (the latest date for which figures are available), there were 153,335 abortions performed where the grounds involved a risk to the woman's mental health.
Anaemia
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of anaemia have been diagnosed since 2010 in (a) total and (b) each parliamentary constituency. [178699]
Norman Lamb: A table showing a total count of finished admission episodes with a primary diagnosis of anaemia in England and each parliamentary constituency since 2010 has been placed in the Library.
Cancer: Drugs
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve provision of drugs to reduce suffering and prolong the lives of patients with cancer. [178302]
Norman Lamb: Since October 2010, the Cancer Drugs Fund has helped over 38,000 patients in England to access the life-extending or life-improving cancer drugs their clinicians think they need. On 28 September 2013, the Government announced that a further £400 million will be made available to extend the fund to the end of March 2016.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides advice to the national health service on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of drugs and treatments. NHS commissioners are legally required by regulations to fund those treatments recommended by
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NICE in its technology appraisal guidance. NICE can apply flexibility in the appraisal of end-of-life treatments for terminal illnesses, including cancers affecting small numbers of patients.
The new pricing arrangements for NHS branded medicines, detailed in the 2014 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, will also help to ensure that patients will continue to benefit from new discoveries and better medicines.
Childbirth
Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many births per full-time equivalent NHS midwife there were in (a) England and (b) each region in each of the last five years. [178667]
Dr Poulter: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for St Ives (Andrew George) on 22 October 2013, Official Report, column 76W.
Cholesterol
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Quality and Outcomes Framework Indicator CHD003, scheduled for retirement from April 2014, whether the indicator will be retired permanently; and what other measures will be put in place to monitor GPs' management of cholesterol in patients with existing coronary heart disease after April 2014. [178203]
Dr Poulter: Following negotiations on the General Medical Services contract, changes have been announced to simplify the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) from April 2014. These changes are intended to remove unnecessarily prescriptive requirements for clinical practice and to give general practitioners (GPs) greater flexibility in adapting care to reflect the needs of individual patients, particularly older people and people with more complex health and care needs.
NHS England will use clinical data from GP practices to ensure continued transparency about quality and outcomes in relation to the areas in which indicators are retired. These data will enable NHS England's commissioning teams, clinical commissioning groups and the Care Quality Commission to reach more rounded judgments about the quality of care provided by general practice, and will support transparency for patients and the public. They will also help evaluate the impact of retiring these indicators and help inform future decisions about the development of the QOF.
Clinical Trials
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all clinical trials data are made publicly available. [178552]
Dr Poulter: The Government are committed to transparency in the area of clinical trials and will continue to work with partners in the United Kingdom and in the European Union to ensure greater transparency in the dissemination of clinical trials information.
Steps being taken by the Government and their arm's length bodies to address this matter are set out in the Government's recent response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry into clinical trials.
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Congenital Abnormalities
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to support people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in (a) Peterborough and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [178692]
Norman Lamb: NHS England is responsible for supporting people with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.
Through the Mandate, we have asked NHS England to make measurable progress towards making our health service among the best in Europe at supporting people with ongoing health problems such as spina bifida and hydrocephalus to live healthily and independently, with much better control over the care they receive.
Domain 2 of the NHS Outcomes Framework and Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set ‘Enhancing the quality of life for people with long term conditions’ contains a range of improvement areas relevant to people with long-term conditions.
Directors
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many of his Department's (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are (i) men and (ii) women; [178117]
(2) how many of his Department's (a) executive and (b) non-executive board members are identified as (i) white British and (ii) of black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups. [178137]
Dr Poulter: In line with Cabinet Office guidance we do not publish details about individuals' protected characteristics.
The members of the departmental board are:
The Secretary of State (Mr Jeremy Hunt)
The Minister of State (Norman Lamb)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Earl Howe)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Dr Daniel Poulter)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Jane Ellison)
Una O'Brien CB, Permanent Secretary.
Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer
Felicity Harvey CBE, Director General, Public Health
Karen Wheeler CBE, Director General, Information and Group Operations
Jon Rouse, Director General, Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships
Richard Douglas CB, Director General, Finance and NHS
Charlie Massey, Director General, Strategy and External Relations
Dr Catherine Bell (non-executive)
Peter Sands (lead non-executive)
Chris Pilling (non-executive)
Mike Wheeler, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee (non-executive)
The members of the executive board are:
Una O'Brien CB, Permanent Secretary
Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer
Felicity Harvey CBE, Director General, Public Health
Karen Wheeler CBE, Director General, Information and Group Operations
Jon Rouse, Director General, Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships
Richard Douglas CB, Director General, Finance and NHS
Charlie Massey, Director General, Strategy and External Relations
Dr Catherine Bell (non-executive)
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Heart Diseases
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many less invasive ventricular enhancement cardiac operations have taken place in NHS hospitals. [178309]
Norman Lamb: Information on how many less invasive ventricular enhancement cardiac operations have taken place in national health service hospitals is not collected centrally.
Home Care Services
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which Minister in his Department is responsible for ensuring access to home treatment for patients; and what steps NHS England is taking to develop and implement cost savings in this area; [178048]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential benefit to the NHS of minimising the use of hospital beds for patients receiving intravenous antibiotics that could be delivered at home; [178049]
(3) what steps his Department is taking to increase the use of home therapies and prevent hospital beds being used for delivery of intravenous antibiotics. [178050]
Norman Lamb: Responsibility for ensuring access to home treatment lies with NHS England.
NHS England supports the use of safe and effective care in the home setting which provides a positive patient experience.
The commissioning of home therapies is encouraged where quality is maintained or improved.
Such services are commissioned by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that understand the local context, which is critical to ensure that high quality care is maintained.
NHS England is working with Monitor and other statutory bodies to support commissioners by creating the appropriate national levers and incentives, such as guidance on tariff flexibilities, to enable better value commissioning by CCGs. The Department has also championed the integrated pioneers programme to support innovation and care that creates collaborative and co-ordinated care around the personal goals and needs of individual patients.
Internet
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether access to any websites or domains is blocked from computers in his Department; and if he will publish a list of all such websites and domains to which access is prohibited. [178505]
Dr Poulter: The Department takes action to restrict access to certain categories of websites such as pornography, gambling etc. using industry standard tools.
Information on individual websites or domains that are blocked is not made available as this may aid those with malicious intent.
NHS: Drugs
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for the time taken by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to publish guidelines on drug treatments for rare conditions. [178304]
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Norman Lamb: In the great majority of cases the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) publishes draft or final technology appraisal guidance on significant new drugs within a few months of their launch. National health service commissioners are legally required by regulations to fund those treatments recommended by NICE in its technology appraisal guidance.
From 1 April 2013, NICE assumed responsibility for the evaluation of highly specialised technologies for people with very rare conditions as part of its new Highly Specialised Technologies Programme. NICE'S interim process and methods guide for this programme states that draft recommendations are anticipated to be issued within approximately three to four months of confirmation from the European Commission that a marketing authorisation has been granted.
Where a product is referred to NICE for assessment after it has been launched in the United Kingdom, the time elapsed between launch and publication of NICE guidance will inevitably be longer.
NHS commissioners will also be legally obliged to fund drugs NICE recommends through this programme.
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ring-fence funding for drug treatments for rare diseases. [178305]
Norman Lamb: The Department has no plans to ring-fence funding for drug treatments for rare diseases. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has responsibility for the evaluation of selected high cost, low volume drugs under its Highly Specialised Technologies Programme. National health service commissioners are legally obliged to provide funding for drugs that have been recommended in NICE technology appraisals or highly specialised technologies evaluations.
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which types of treatment NHS funding has been ring-fenced in each of the last three years. [178306]
Dr Poulter: Since local clinicians are best placed to determine which services are required by their local population, funding for specific national health service treatments is not ring-fenced. It is for commissioners of NHS services including clinical commissioning groups and NHS England to decide how best to use the funding allocated to them to commission services, underpinned by clinical knowledge of local health care needs.
From 2013-14, some of the funding allocated to NHS England is ring-fenced for spending on public health functions such as screening and immunisation through an agreement made under section 7A of the NHS Act 2006. This amount totals £1,843 million in 2013-14.
Also from 2013-14, a ring-fenced public health grant has been paid to local authorities in respect of their public health responsibilities. This amount was £2,662 million in 2013-14.
Pay
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the median gross pay is of staff in his Department and its executive agencies in each pay band who are identified as (a) white British and (b) of black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups. [178177]
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Dr Poulter: The gross median pay for civil servants by grade and declared ethnicity, in the Department itself, can be found in the following table:
| Department of Health median gross salary by grade and ethnicity | ||
| £ | ||
| Grade | White | Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic Groups |
| Source: DH Business Management and Payroll System 30 September 2013-12-10 | ||
The Department's two executive agencies, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Public Health England (PHE) have provided information on median salary by grade and ethnicity in the following tables:
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| PHE median gross salary by grade and ethnicity | ||
| Grade | White British (£) | Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups (£) |
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| Notes: 1. Data given are as at 31 October 2013. 2. ‘Other’ grades include default and ad hoc grades: staff on grades that are not set up on PHE's electronic staff records, (i.e. not AfC or civil service. Some of these are staff that transferred in from universities, whose pay scales are different or are National Radiation Protection Board staff based at CRCE Chilton still on old terms and conditions. 3. Only ‘White-British’ is used. i.e. no ‘White-English’ ‘White-Welsh’ etc. 4. Ethnic minority categories are defined as per 2011 Census. 5. AfC are agenda for change and civil service pay bands. 6. Information on ethnic origin is only held for 82% of staff. 7. HEO and SEO grade median salary has fallen on group of new starters on minimum of Inner London scale. 8. AfC 8C median salary is the max spine point of the scale where the median point falls. | ||
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the median gross pay of (a) men and (b) women is in each pay band in his Department. [178195]
Dr Poulter: The information requested is published by the Office for National Statistics as part of the Civil Service Statistics 2013 Statistical Bulletins in Table 32. The relevant departmental data have been extracted in the following table. The full tables can be found on the ONS website at the following web address: