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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Treasury

Air Passenger Duty

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much revenue is lost annually as a result of the exemption of transfer passengers from air passenger duty; [185976]

(2) how much revenue he expects air passenger duty to yield in the current and next year. [185977]

Nicky Morgan: The Treasury has not estimated the revenue yield from applying Air Passenger Duty to passengers that connect in the UK to a final destination.

The Office of Budget Responsibility's current receipts forecast was published as Table B3 in the autumn statement 2013. The Air Passenger Duty forecast for 2013-14 is £3.1 billion and £3.2 billion in 2014-15. The table will be updated in the 2014 Budget report.

Annuities

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that pension providers that send out default annuity offers do so on a more competitive basis. [185552]

Mr Gauke: The Government are committed to making sure that the annuity market is working in the best interests of consumers and that consumers are empowered to exercise competitive pressures on the market so they can get the best rates possible.

As a result of a joint working group set up by the Government in 2011, the Association of British Insurers (ABI)'s Code of Conduct on Retirement Choices, which came into effect in March 2013, now requires all members to provide better information to consumers to help them shop around on the open market for the best annuity to meet their needs. A full copy of the Code of Conduct can be found on the ABI's website:

https://www.abi.org.uk/Insurance-and-savings/Products/Pensions/Your-pension-in-retirement/Code-of-Conduct-on-Retirement-Choices

The ABI has committed to assess the effectiveness of the code on consumer behaviour this year.

In addition, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is conducting a thematic review of the annuities market. The review will address: the level of detriment to consumers from not shopping around; where such detriment is most likely to occur; and whether firms create barriers that restrict or inhibit consumers from shopping around.

Economic Situation: Northern Ireland

Naomi Long: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the economic package announced for Northern Ireland in June 2013. [185951]

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Danny Alexander: The Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are working closely together to implement the 'Building a Prosperous and United Community' package announced in June 2013. Most recently, the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury and the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance hosted an Infrastructure Investment Seminar at Titanic Belfast on 23 January this year. The next formal update on the package will be published in summer 2014.

Income Tax: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington North constituency paid the top rate of tax in each of the last five years. [186051]

Mr Gauke: Data on the number of additional rate tax payers at parliamentary constituency levels are not published.

Population projections at constituency level would not be reliable or statistically robust.

Procurement

Chris Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of his Department's overall procurement spend for each of the last three financial years was spent (a) in joint procurement exercises with other Departments and (b) shared between different organisations within the same Department group. [185400]

Nicky Morgan: The information requested is not recorded separately and would require analysis of financial information from across HM Treasury Group; this could be done only at disproportionate cost.

HM Treasury Group participates in Government-wide joint procurement exercises, which are led by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS—formally the Government Procurement Service, GPS). This work supports the development of frameworks and contracts for use by Government Departments relating to common goods and services.

Chris Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for each of the last three financial years how much and what proportion of his Department's procurement was conducted using e-procurement tools; and what the value of such contracts was. [185405]

Nicky Morgan: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

In July 2013 HM Treasury's procurement functions transferred to the Crown Commercial Service (CCS—formally the Government Procurement Service, GPS) who in return provide a managed procurement service. CCS use a range of e-Procurement tools. These include:

An e-Sourcing suite—Used to run further competitions under framework agreements, to run procurements that must be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and to undertake industry consultations and buyer surveys for early market engagement.

Government e-Marketplace—Provides easy access to centralised deals via online catalogues (CCS's framework agreements and other Departments' contracts) and allows customers to place orders; provides an optional facility for complete transactional and integration functionality with e-Invoicing.

Dynamic Marketplace—Used by customers to tender for non-complex and low-value procurements below the OJEU threshold.

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Re-employment

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff who have been made redundant or retired from his Department have subsequently been re-employed by his Department since May 2010. [185570]

Nicky Morgan: No civil servants who have left receiving an exit package or retired from HM Treasury in the period requested have been re-employed by HM Treasury.

Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013

Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of the provisions of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2012 on the amount of VAT collected from the metal recycling industry. [185960]

Mr Gauke: No estimate has been made.

Severn River Crossing

Jessica Morden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional revenue has accrued to the Exchequer from Severn River Crossings plc to date as a result of (a) the phasing out of the industrial buildings allowance and (b) VAT payments since the introduction of VAT on tolls. [185730]

Mr Gauke: The information requested is not available due to statutory rules on taxpayer confidentiality.

Stamp Duties

John Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from stamp duty for properties worth (a) up to £250,000, (b) between £250,000 and £500,000 and (c) over £500,000 in 2012-13. [184221]

Mr Gauke: Revenue from Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is published by HMRC in National Statistics publications on the following webpage:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/stamp-duty.htm

Revenue from the price brackets asked for in the question can be found in the following table or by following the link:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/stamp-duty/stamp-tax-sep13.xls

and looking at sheet 7, rows 88-98.

John Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from stamp duty on (a) commercial and (b) residential properties in 2013. [184222]

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Mr Gauke: Estimates of revenue raised from Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) for residential and non-residential properties, by Stamp Duty consideration band, have been published by HMRC as 'UK Stamp Tax Statistics 2012-13' (Table 3.1, previously known as table 15.3) and can be found at:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/stamp-duty.htm

Total SDLT receipts for 2013 can be found in the publication 'Tax and NICs receipts: statistics table' at:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/receipts.htm#2

It is not yet possible to provide an estimate of the amount raised separately for residential and non-residential properties for the whole of 2013. Estimates for 2013-14 are due to be released on 30 September 2014.

State Retirement Pensions

Mr Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of exempting the state pension from income tax. [185136]

Nicky Morgan: Exempting the state pension from income tax would cost around £6.7 billion in 2013-14.

The estimate takes no account of possible behavioural impacts, which might be significant, and excludes any impact on benefit entitlement.

Estimates are based on the 2010-11 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2013-14 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2013 economic and fiscal outlook.

Tax Evasion

Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs has spent on advertising on Facebook for the purposes of preventing tax evasion in the current financial year. [185440]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs has not spent any money on advertising on Facebook as part of our advertising campaign to prevent tax evasion since April 2013.

Transport

Biofuels

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure the continued availability of zero or low content biofuel at five % or below for use by owners of older motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [R] [185399]

Mr Goodwill: Decisions on whether to supply petrol with zero ethanol content are a commercial matter for individual fuel suppliers. The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999 set the maximum permissible ethanol content of petrol.

Following consultation, the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 came into force on 1 January to ensure that petrol with no more than 5% ethanol content remains available until the end of 2016.

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Driving: Licensing

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Angus of 16 January 2014, Official Report, column 643W, on driving: licensing, what proportion of driving licences surrendered voluntarily following a health-related incident were restored within the 90 day target in each of the last five years. [186009]

Stephen Hammond: The information the hon. Member has requested is not readily available. I have asked officials at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to collate the required information and I will write to the hon. Member when it is available. I will place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the schedule and costs were of (a) the original advertising campaign for the consultation on the High Speed 2 phase one environmental statement and (b) the advertising campaigns following the ruling of the Standing Orders Committee to extend the consultation period. [186143]

Mr Goodwill: In accordance with Standing Order 10 for the House of Commons, notices have to be published for two consecutive weeks following deposit of a hybrid Bill in newspapers circulating along the line of route, as well as the relevant Gazettes. Following deposit of the HS2 hybrid Bill, newspaper notices were placed in the newspapers listed as follows in each of the week’s commencing 25 November and 2 December, at a cost of £1,625,412.07. This approach follows established practice for other hybrid Bills.

The House of Commons and House of Lords Standing Orders Committees decided to extend the consultation period and required a notice to be placed in the same newspapers. This was done on 24 January for The Times, and the week commencing 27 January for the other newspapers at a cost of £294,600.81.

In addition, the consultation closing dates were advertised on the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd websites. They were also covered on a range of news and campaign group websites. There was no cost associated with this advertising.

Newspaper

Banbury Guardian

Bicester Advertise

Birmingham Mail

Buckingham & Winslow Advertise

Bucks Advertiser

Bucks Advertiser & Examiner

Bucks Herald

Camden New Journal

Cannock Chase Chronicle

Coventry Evening Telegraph

Daventry Express

Ealing & Acton Gazette

Edinburgh Gazette

Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle

Hampstead & Highgate Express

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Harrow Observer Group

Islington Tribune

Kilburn Times

Leamington Spa Courier

Lichfield Mercury

London Gazette

Manchester Evening News

Metro (Evening Standard)

Solihull News

South Bucks Star

Sutton Coldfield Observer

Tamworth Herald

The Times

Uxbridge Gazette Series

Watford Observer

Railways: Finance

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the overall Network Grant was intended to be used for subsidising track access charges in each year from 2008-09 to 2012-13. [186110]

Stephen Hammond: Network Rail's funding comes from two main sources: Government grant and track access charges. The amount of funding is set by the independent Office of Rail Regulation as part of their five-yearly Periodic Review of Network Rail's outputs and funding.

Government pays Network Grant direct to Network Rail. Track access charges are paid directly to Network Rail by the Train Operators. As such the two revenue streams are separate and Network Grant is not used for subsidising track access charges.

Rescue Services: Belfast

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff were employed at the Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in each of the last five years. [185906]

Stephen Hammond: The process to compile data in respect of how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff employed at the Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in each of the last five years involves reconciliation from multiple sources.

I have asked officials at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to compile the information and I will write with the full answer once this information has been collated and a copy will be placed in Libraries of the House.

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was staffed at below risk assessed levels in January 2014. [185907]

Stephen Hammond: During January 2014 Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk assessed levels on six occasions out of 62 shifts.

Where there are specific issues at a MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard is using the current long established

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pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff are currently employed at the Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. [186019]

Stephen Hammond: There are currently (a) 25 full-time and (b) 2 part-time staff employed at Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.

Severn River Crossing

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the current estimated end date is of the Severn River Crossings concession. [185728]

Mr Goodwill: The Severn River Crossings concession is expected to end in 2018.

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the level of the outstanding debt following the end of the Severn River Crossings concession. [185729]

Mr Goodwill: The accumulated costs owed to Government that need be recovered after the end of the concession are estimated to be £88 million.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total budget of the Vehicle and Operator Standards Agency was in each year from 2009 to date; and what his estimate is of the budget in 2015. [185908]

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is shown in the following table.

Home Department

Animal Experiments

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she intends to include a target for the number of scientific experiments conducted on animals in her Department's strategy for reducing the number of animals used in medical experimentation. [185281]

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Norman Baker [holding answer 30 January 2014]:The Coalition Commitment to work to reduce the number of animals in scientific research is not concerned with just baseline numbers which are influenced by a range of extraneous factors. Instead it encompasses the replacement, refinement and reduction (3R's) more broadly, putting them at the heart of a science led approach.

Our Delivery Plan will shortly be published and will set out how the Government is supporting and encouraging these advances and the programmes and policies through which Government will continue to deliver its commitment. The consequence will be accelerated take up of the 3R's, both domestically and internationally set on the tenets of good science, good animal welfare and good for the UK and economic growth.

Our commitment to reduce the use of animals is being delivered through a science-led programme led by the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), an organisation with a strong record in reducing animal use. The Coalition Government is proud to support the work of the NC3Rs which is an internationally recognised leader in the field.

I also welcome the Technology Strategy Board's recent announcement of its decision to invest £4 million in feasibility studies into how non-animal technologies can be further developed and applied to improve product development across a range of industries.

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cats and dogs were used in experiments in the UK (a) in the last 12 months and (b) in the year ended January 2009; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the use of cats and dogs in experiments is phased out. [185490]

Norman Baker: The publication "The Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals" is published annually and copies are available in the House Library.

In 2012, the last year for which statistics are available, 3,214 dogs and 202 cats were used in scientific procedures. During 2008, 4,271 dogs and 176 cats were used in scientific procedures.

The use of animals in scientific research is not allowed if there is an alternative that does not use animals and the Government strongly supports the development and use of non-animal alternatives. Dogs, cats and some other species are given special protection by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and may only be used if no other species is suitable or it is not practicable to obtain animals of any other species that are suitable for the purposes of the relevant programme of work.

Dogs, where used at all, are primarily used in pharmaceutical research and development, or in pharmaceutical safety and efficacy evaluations. They are also used, when no other species is suitable, in the evaluation of cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory problems in humans. Such work contributes to advances in human healthcare. Dogs are also used in the development of veterinary medicines and techniques.

Cats are primarily used in the development of veterinary medicines and techniques, and in neurological research. Much of the veterinary research is for the benefit of cats

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In 2010, the Coalition Government made a commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research in "Coalition: our programme for Government".

The Coalition Commitment is not concerned with just baseline numbers, but encompasses the replacement, refinement and reduction (3R's) more broadly, putting them at the heart of a science led approach.

We will publish a delivery plan shortly that will set out how the Government is supporting and encouraging these advances and the programmes and policies through which Government will continue to deliver its commitment. The consequence will be accelerated take up of the 3R's, both domestically and internationally set on the tenets of good science, good animal welfare and good for the UK and economic growth.

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to release more information pertaining to the conducting of animal experiments in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [185572]

Norman Baker: We are actively reviewing section 24 which provides for the protection of confidential information provided in connection with our regulatory activities under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. A breach of section 24 can result in criminal sanctions. However, Section 24 is now out of step with government policy on openness and transparency and with the approach taken in other legislation, such as the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The challenge is to design a more flexible framework that will provide greater transparency to assist public understanding whilst protecting proprietary rights and intellectual property.

Drugs: Screening

Sir James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he plans to introduce saliva drug testing kits for drugs other than cannabis; and if he will make a statement; [185811]

(2) what approval process will be followed for the use of saliva drug testing kits for drugs other than cannabis; and if she will make a statement. [185795]

Norman Baker: The Road Traffic Act 1988 stipulates that drug testing devices must be of a type approved by the Secretary of State. The type approval testing process involves detailed laboratory evaluation to ensure that devices meet the stringent technical requirements laid out in published specifications. These specifications define the requirements for the construction of Preliminary Drug Testing Devices for both station-based and mobile drug testing devices.

In 2012, a device was type approved for use in police stations for the detection of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, one of the psychoactive components of cannabis). In 2013, a specification for mobile drug testing devices was released, and manufacturers were invited to submit mobile devices for consideration for type approval. Work is ongoing towards type approval of mobile drug testing devices that will test for cannabis, cocaine and the main metabolite of cocaine, benzoylecgonine. It is anticipated that laboratory testing of devices will commence in the next three months. This is to ensure that a

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recommendation for type approval of mobile drug testing devices can be made as close as possible to the introduction of the new drug driving offence planned for summer 2014.

Licensing Laws

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which NHS bodies have replaced primary care trusts as responsible authorities for the purpose of determining a premises license application; and when she plans to update the guidance given to local authorities and potential applicants on the .gov.uk website to reflect the fact that primary care trusts no longer exist. [185911]

Norman Baker: The Statutory Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 was revised in June 2013. This latest version is available on the GOV.UK website and states that the each local authority's Director of Public Health in England (DPH) or Local Health Board in Wales are responsible authorities under the licensing Act 2003.

Police Custody

Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral answer of 27 January 2014, Official Report, column 638, on police recruitment, if she will place the letter to HM Inspector of Constabulary on an all-force inspection on the welfare of vulnerable people in custody with particular reference to people with mental health conditions and people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds in the Library. [185207]

Mrs May [holding answer 30 January 2014]: I am aware of the hon. Gentleman's campaign to prevent deaths in police custody, ensure the welfare of vulnerable people in custody, and improve the experience of loved ones when people do, sadly, die in custody. As the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), told the House on Monday, I wrote to the Chief HM Inspector of Constabulary on 24 January. I asked the Inspectorate to undertake a specific thematic inspection in 2014-15 on the welfare of vulnerable people in police custody including, but not limited to, those with mental health problems and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. I am placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House, and I commend my hon. Friend for his work.

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many secondments of staff in her Department (a) to and (b) from the private sector have taken place in the last three months; and in each such case what the name of the organisation concerned and the duration of the secondment was. [185928]

James Brokenshire: No staff have been seconded into the Home Office from the private sector or out to the private sector during the last three months.

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Attorney-General

Legal Aid Scheme

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what the policy is of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office on whether to proceed with prosecutions of defendants who have not been able to find counsel to represent them under the new fee regime for very high-cost criminal cases. [185900]

The Solicitor-General: The policy of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office is to proceed.

Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many and what proportion of decisions to take no further action referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police concerned (a) indictable-only offences, (b) serious sexual offences excluding child abuse, (c) child abuse and (d) domestic violence in each year since 2006. [185446]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of referrals made to the CPS by the police for specific offences or offence type, such as sexual offences or indictable only offences.

The CPS does identify, by way of monitoring flags, the number of pre-charge decisions, including decisions to take no further action, in respect of cases flagged as involving allegations of child abuse and domestic violence, since statutory charging was fully rolled out across England and Wales in April 2006.

The following tables show, for each financial year from April 2006, the number and proportion of decisions to take no further action in cases flagged as child abuse and domestic violence¹:

¹ The CPS collects data to assist in the effective management of its prosecution functions. The CPS does not collect data which constitute official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. These data have been drawn from the CPS's administrative IT system, which (as with any large scale recording system) is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the CPS.

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Royal Bank of Scotland

Paul Flynn: To ask the Attorney-General how many bankers (a) formerly and (b) currently employed by the Royal Bank of Scotland are being investigated for (i) fraud and (ii) other criminal acts in respect of (A) the authorisation of the misselling of financial products and (B) Libor rate manipulation. [185836]

The Solicitor-General: It would not be appropriate to give this information while investigations are ongoing.

RSPCA

Karl McCartney: To ask the Attorney-General whether he was consulted about the choice of Mr Stephen Wooler to head the investigation into the RSPCA's prosecution policy. [186016]

The Solicitor-General: Neither the Attorney-General or I were consulted about the choice of Stephen Wooler to conduct an investigation into the RSPCA's prosecution's policy, although his name was suggested to the RSPCA by my officials as a person who may be appropriate to conduct such a review given his previous role as Chief Inspector of Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to monitor whether the Serious Fraud Office complies with its obligation under the Human Rights Act 1998 when executing requests for mutual legal assistance. [185588]

The Solicitor-General: The decision to accept a request for mutual legal assistance is one for the UK Central Authority in the Home Office taking into account all applicable domestic and international law obligations (including human rights obligations) and any wider policy issues which may apply.

In addition, the Attorney-General and I regularly discuss a wide range of issues with the director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and are assured that compliance with the SFO’s obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 is integral to the work of his office.

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Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 30 January 2014, how much of the £19 million additional resources for the Serious Fraud Office has been ear-marked for specific investigations or prosecutions. [185994]

The Solicitor-General: It is not in the public interest to specify what resources the Serious Fraud Office intends to dedicate to each case.

Sexual Offences: Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions there were following (a) kerb crawling, (b) brothel keeping and (c) controlling prostitution in each of the last six years; and how many such cases were reported to the Crown Prosecution Service by the Police for a charging decision. [185442]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of cases referred to it by the police for a pre-charge decision where the alleged offences were either kerb crawling, keeping a brothel or controlling prostitution. To obtain details of the number of cases referred for a charging decision for these offences would require a manual exercise incurring disproportionate cost.

The records¹ held by the CPS identify the number of offences (not defendants) in which a prosecution commenced and reached a first hearing in magistrates courts. In each of the last six years the number of offences prosecuted by the CPS, in which the prosecution commenced and reached a first hearing is detailed in the following table.

Offences of kerb crawling (or solicitation) are charged by way of section 51A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which repealed, as from 31 March 2010, the solicitation offences previously prosecuted under the Sexual Offences Act 1985. Offences of brothel keeping are prosecuted under sections 33 to 36 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Controlling, causing or inciting prostitution offences are prosecuted under sections 52 and 53 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. A single defendant may be prosecuted for multiple offences.

To obtain details of the number of defendants prosecuted for these offences would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files incurring a disproportionate cost.

¹ The CPS collects data to assist in the effective management of its prosecution functions. The CPS does not collect data which constitute official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. These data have been drawn from the CPS's administrative IT system, which (as with any large scale recording

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system) is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the CPS.

Witnesses

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many victims and witnesses were referred to Crown Prosecution Service-run witness care units in (a) each year from 2008-09 to 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [185801]

The Solicitor-General: The following table shows the number of civilian victims and witnesses supported by joint police/Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) witness care units (WCUs) in cases where a Not Guilty plea has been entered.

These data have been obtained from the Witness Management System (WMS), which is a management information system that nearly all WCUs use. The exceptions are the WCUs in North Yorkshire and Kent, as they use different management information systems and the data are not collected centrally, and they are therefore not included in the data set out in the table.

The CPS collects data to assist in the effective management of its prosecution functions. The CPS does not collect data which constitute official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. These data have been drawn from an administrative IT system, which (as with any large scale recording system) is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animals: Exports

Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made on negotiating with third countries to accept compartmentalisation as a concept to be included in their export health certificates to permit the continued sale and export of breeding stock from the UK in the event of an outbreak of notifiable disease specific to such stock in the UK. [185621]

George Eustice: We continue to make good progress promoting the use of compartmentalisation to help avoid trade in breeding poultry being interrupted in the event of an outbreak in the UK of notifiable avian influenza or Newcastle disease. For example, New Zealand has accepted our poultry compartment scheme and Canada and Japan have visited the UK to assess it. When negotiating or reviewing export health certificates with third countries, we will continue to explore with them the compartmentalisation option.

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Cattle

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered in (a) England and (b) Wales in each of the last three years. [185674]

George Eustice: DEFRA collects data on the number of livestock slaughtered according to both England and Wales combined. These numbers are published on a monthly basis at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cattle-sheep-and-pig-slaughter

These include any UK prime cattle of all ages (calves, steers, heifers, young bulls) slaughtered as meat for human consumption in abattoirs in England and Wales.

Slaughter statistics are required by the EU under Regulation (EC) No 1165/2008.

DEFRA runs a monthly survey of registered England and Wales slaughterhouses. It is a statutory survey (of approximately 105 slaughterhouses) that collects information on livestock slaughter numbers and weight of meat produced.

All major slaughterhouses participate in the survey and the response rate is typically 100%. These data are supplemented by administrative data for smaller slaughterhouses.

Climate Change

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made on implementation of the recommendations of the Climate Change Risk Assessment for the Energy Sector on mitigation of the identified in the Tier 1 assessment for each of the 11 sectors collectively; how much has it cost to date to (a) mitigate and (b) adapt to the impacts; and if he will make a statement on how he plans to take forward work on this report. [185509]

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The National Adaptation Programme (NAP) published last summer set out the Government's response to the risks identified in Climate Change Risk Assessment, across a number of sectors including energy together with a register of actions going forward. Progress against actions will be assessed by the Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) of the Committee on Climate Change. This forms part of its statutory duty under the Climate Change Act to assess progress towards implementation of objectives, proposals and policies highlighted in the NAP and the register of actions, with reports to be published in 2015 and every two years thereafter.

DECC does not hold information on costs as this is a matter for companies concerned and for Ofgem where it is relevant to price control setting. Actions to adapt the

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energy system to climate change are in addition those needed to maintain the resilience and reliability of networks in the face of standard challenges including severe weather.

Databases

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the previous data-collection system will still be closed on 1 April 2014 and transferred to the SAM system as scheduled. [185673]

George Eustice: The decommissioning of Vetnet will commence after the final module of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency's change programme has been delivered, which is expected to happen later this year. The decommissioning process will take account of the need to ensure we have access to legacy data that needs to be retained in line with retention periods.

Eels

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of recent trends in the number of eels in the UK; and what steps he is taking to improve eel habitats. [185467]

George Eustice: European eel stocks have declined significantly over recent decades. The European Council Regulation 1100/2007, for the recovery of the European eel, requires relevant member states to produce eel management plans aimed at reversing the decline in eel numbers. These eel management plans (EMP) set out actions aimed at achieving 40% 'escapement' of silver (mature) eel to the sea compared to 'pristine' conditions (i.e. before declines started and without any anthropogenic impacts such as habitat loss affecting the eels as they grow to maturity in river systems before 'escaping' to the sea). The UK's fisheries administrations have produced 15 EMPs for the European Commission; we are putting these plans into action. These cover the UK's 15 river basin districts and can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/managing-freshwater-fisheries/supporting-pages/increasing-eel-stocks

This European Eel Regulation also requires member states to report, on a three- yearly basis, progress in implementing the measures outlined in EMPs. The latest report published in 2012 can be found at:

http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/fisheries/documents/fisheries/emp/2012- implementation.pdf

An assessment of recent year-on-year trends is not available for the UK as a whole. A comparison of the results in the 2012 EMP report and the next reporting period, due in 2015, may be possible when new data are analysed. However, there are significant uncertainties looking at any trends in eel populations, mainly due to unknowns from monitoring information and because the eel is a long lived species any changes will only be detected long term. The last two years have seen glass eel catches the size of which haven't been seen since the 1990s, but this improvement cannot be assessed in terms of eel recovery at this stage.

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Gangmasters Licensing Authority

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2014, Official Report, column 157W, on Gangmasters Licensing Authority, how many criminal investigations as a result of GLA operations resulted in court orders for the offender to pay compensation to victims in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [185599]

George Eustice: The GLA secured no compensation payments through the imposition by the courts of compensation orders on those convicted of offences under the Gangmasters Licensing Act 2004 during the three financial years 2010-13.

Nature Conservation: Crime

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many wildlife incidents were reported in the UK in each of the last three years; how many such incidents were prosecuted; and how many such prosecutions resulted in a conviction. [185462]

George Eustice: DEFRA does not hold this information.

Owls

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of owls in the UK; and what steps he is taking to increase that number. [185461]

George Eustice: Population estimates for the five regularly occurring owls in the UK are published independently by the British Trust for Ornithology. The most recent estimates are set out as follows. Estimates for little owl and tawny owl are considered more reliable than for the other three species.

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to kill or injure any wild bird and to take, damage or destroy their nests or eggs. In addition to this strict legal protection, measures are being taken to improve habitats occupied by owls.

Agri-environment schemes such as Environmental Stewardship are the principal means of improving habitats and the wider environment on farmland in England. Farmers receive funding to manage the cropped environment and provide additional habitats on their farms for birds and other wildlife. Activities currently funded by Environmental Stewardship of benefit to owls include: the establishment of grassy margins and buffer strips and the management of field corners, which can provide additional habitat for prey species, such as small mammals; the restoration of traditional farm buildings, which can provide both shelter and nesting sites; and the provision of nest boxes.

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Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made on the effect of the use of rat poisons on the barn owl population. [185653]

George Eustice: DEFRA has not made an assessment of the effect of the use of rat poisons on the barn owl population. However, levels of rodenticides are monitored via the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme and the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme investigates deaths of wildlife where pesticides are implicated. I am aware of the risks posed by secondary poisoning and this is why it is important to use rodenticides lawfully and in accordance with all the conditions.

River Thames

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent investigations his Department has undertaken into river bed changes and sedimentation rates on the upper River Thames and its tributaries, particularly in Oxfordshire. [185901]

Dan Rogerson: We have not completed formal studies on sedimentation rates on the upper River Thames and its tributaries in Oxfordshire. As part of our river flow modelling programme we survey the soft bed and hard bed of the river. This shows the depth of accumulated silt, which in turn provides a measure for the quantity of sedimentation. In the last 12 months, we have completed five of these studies, extending for a length of 100 km (Somerford Keynes to St Johns, Wolvercote Mill to Sandford and connecting tributaries along both sections).

Further down the River Thames, we completed studies in some stretches of the river to determine the movement and build up rates of sediment. These are also likely to have relevance for the Upper Thames. The areas considered were downstream of the Jubilee River (Datchet). The studies were taken over a period of three years and showed that the River Thames is much more dynamic than first thought, with large amounts of silt moving through the reaches and in many locations was found to be "self-cleansing".

Sea Fish Industry Authority

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons fish consumers are subject to a levy to fund the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish). [184145]

Dan Rogerson: The Fisheries Act 1981 established the Sea Fish Industry Authority to promote the efficiency of the industry. In general, fish consumers are not directly subject to a levy to fund the Sea Fish Industry Authority. The levy is due on all first-hand purchases of sea fish, shellfish and sea fish products including fishmeal landed in the United Kingdom. A first-hand purchase takes place when product is purchased from:

A fisherman or boat owner;

A foreign supplier; or

Fish and shellfish farmers, growers and cultivators.

Levy is also due from any UK registered fishing vessel owner, fish and shellfish farmer, grower or cultivator

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who lands product in the United Kingdom for subsequent sale direct to a foreign customer, or who trans-ships product within British fishery limits.

Levy is not charged on salmon and migratory trout. Levy is also not charged on canned or bottled fish, or sea fish products packed in a hermetically sealed container which is processed to inhibit microbial growth at ambient temperature.

Veterinary Medicine: EU Nationals

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will have discussions with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on the introduction of mandatory oral and written English tests for veterinary surgeons from the EU. [R] [185411]

George Eustice: DEFRA officials will continue to have discussions with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons about how DEFRA can enable the college to put in place processes to check the language ability of veterinary surgeons from the EU. Any such testing must meet requirements of EU law, in recognition of the professional qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC.

Health

Autism

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to ensure that greater transparency and accountability in the delivery of services for adults with autism are incorporated into the forthcoming review of the adult autism strategy; [185495]

(2) what plans he has to develop greater autism awareness in local communities. [185496]

Norman Lamb: As part of the ongoing review of the adult autism strategy, we are considering a proposal from the National Autistic Society on how local areas could become more autism-aware communities.

Public Health England (PHE) currently oversees the completion by local areas of a self-assessment exercise identifying progress being made in relation to the adult autism strategy. Individual returns should be discussed by Health and Wellbeing Boards and will be made available shortly by PHE to allow for local discussion and challenge. As part of the review of the strategy, we are also considering how the views and experiences of people with autism can have an even greater impact in this process.

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that autism is included in the revised mandate for Health Education England. [185660]

Dr Poulter: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 4 November 2013, Official Report, column 64W, to the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West (Mrs Hodgson), and to my remarks to him in the Care Bill Standing Committee on the content of the revised Health Education England mandate on 28 January 2014, Official Report, column 483.

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Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that the Department addresses issues on employment and benefits raised during the listening exercise on the review of the adult autism strategy. [185661]

Norman Lamb: Officials have been working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on issues relating to employment and benefits following the listening exercise on the review of the adult autism strategy. DWP has recently published the disability and health employment strategy which outlines a more personalised and tailored approach to employment support for disabled people including people with autism.

The disability and health employment strategy is designed to ensure that disabled people, including people with autism, can make a smooth transition into work and receive adequate in-work support when they secure employment. We are working closely with DWP officials to inform the delivery of their strategy and are supporting a stakeholder event in March with the DWP, senior representatives from the National Autistic Society and people with autism as part of this process.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the introduction of a community-based awareness scheme for autism. [186151]

Norman Lamb: As part of the ongoing review of the adult autism strategy, we are considering a proposal from the National Autistic Society on how local areas could become more autism-aware communities.

Botulism: Babies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many infants were diagnosed with botulism in each of the last three years. [185465]

Jane Ellison: The number of cases of infant botulism in the United Kingdom in each of the past three years includes:

Breast Cancer: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Cardiff University on the drug developed by that university that may control the spread of breast cancer. [185463]

Jane Ellison: Neither I nor the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), have had such discussions.

We understand that development is still at an early stage and work is under way to progress the compound to clinical trials.

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Cancer: Drugs

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2014, Official Report, columns 405-6W, on cancer drugs, (1) what communications he has received from NHS England on the effect of NICE decisions on the Cancer Drugs Fund; [185387]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in the cancer drugs approved by NICE on the Cancer Drugs Fund; [185388]

(3) what assurance he has received from NHS England that a potential overspend in the Cancer Drugs Fund will not affect patients who need access to medicines through the Fund; and if he will place in the Library a copy of any such assurance received. [185389]

Norman Lamb: Ministers have not had any communications from NHS England on the effect of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) decisions on the Cancer Drugs Fund.

We understand that NHS England takes NICE decisions into account in its planning for the Fund. Where a cancer drug funded through the Fund is recommended by NICE, responsibility for funding it will transfer from the Fund to national health service commissioners, who are legally required to fund NICE-recommended treatments.

Departmental officials have regular discussions with NHS England about the management of the Fund. In these discussions, assurances have been given that no patient whose treatment is currently being funded through the Fund will have funding withdrawn, as long as it is clinically appropriate that they continue to receive that treatment.

Child Protection

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the child protection information sharing project; and if he will make a statement. [185932]

Dr Poulter: Development of the business case for the Child Protection—Information Sharing project, which involved engagement with over 150 health and social care professionals concerned with the protection of children, included a full assessment of its expected benefits.

The project is designed to offer practitioners in emergency departments and other unscheduled health care settings prompt and easy access to relevant social care information about a child's history, including whether the child is subject to a child protection plan or is looked after by a local authority. This information will help the clinician to make a clear assessment of a child's risk of abuse or neglect. The system will also give local authorities information on when and where children for whom they are responsible have presented in such health care settings.

The Child Protection—Information Sharing project is expected to go live in first wave sites in Lancashire and London in spring 2014. Evaluation will be ongoing and any lessons learned will be taken on board before the project is rolled out to further sites.

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Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people have been detained under mental health legislation at a hospital in England in each year since 2010; [185762]

(2) how many people detained under mental health legislation have been transferred to hospitals in England in each year since 2010. [185773]

Norman Lamb: We do not have figures for people detained in England under the Mental Health Act 1983 who have been transferred to hospitals in England in each year requested as the first analysis of these figures was in the year 2012-13. Data on the number of transfers for that year are supplied in the following table.

Health Services

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the division of responsibility for health services policy is between his Department and NHS England. [185374]

Jane Ellison: The functions and duties of the Secretary of State for Health and of NHS England (referred to in the legislation as the National Health Service Commissioning Board) with regard to the national health service are set out in the National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended in particular by the Health and Social Care Act 2012).

NHS England's primary functions relate to the commissioning of health services. It discharges these functions by (a) allocating funds to, guiding and supporting clinical commissioning groups, and holding them to account; and (b) directly commissioning services, such as primary care services, certain prescribed specialised services, and services for detained persons.

The Secretary of State retains ministerial responsibility to Parliament for the provision of the health service in England. Each year, the Secretary of State sets out a mandate specifying NHS England's objectives in exercising its functions and NHS England's performance in meeting those objectives is kept under review by the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State also has public health functions under the 2006 Act, working with local authorities.

Healthcare Strategy Forum

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many meetings of the Health Care Strategy Forum officials from his Department have attended; [185434]

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(2) what representations on public policy his Department has received from the Health Care Strategy Forum. [185435]

Dr Poulter: We do not keep central records of which officials have attended external meetings and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. We have checked our main departmental correspondence database and can find no record of any correspondence from the Health Care Strategy Forum within the last 12 months. Any correspondence addressed to officials directly is not recorded centrally, and information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Hospitals: Air Pollution

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will issue guidance on the implementation of EN 13779:2007 and indoor air quality in hospitals; [185587]

(2) what he expects all NHS hospitals in England to meet the requirements of EN 13779:2007 on indoor air quality; [185600]

(3) how many NHS hospitals in England currently meet the requirements of EN 13779:2007 on indoor air quality. [185601]

Dr Poulter: The Department's guidance document, ‘Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 03-01: Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises’ sets out guidance for minimum standards with respect to ventilation strategy with health care premises. HTM 03-01 was published just prior to the publication of BS EN 13779:2007. This will be updated to reflect current standards when it is reviewed. HTM 03-01 forms part of the list of guidance currently due to be considered for review.

There are currently no plans requiring national health service hospitals to implement BS EN 13779:2007 in a wholesale manner. Health care premises will currently utilise the guidance provided within HTM 03-01 to assist in the determination of indoor air quality standards. The hospital will select the relevant primary and secondary filtration dependent upon the air quality of the local environment and upon the requirements of the clinical area that is served by the air-handling unit in question to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Adoption of the filtration standards required by BS EN 13779:2007 is a decision for local NHS services after making an assessment of the risks involved.

The Department does not collect data in relation to indoor air quality within NHS hospitals.

Influenza: Vaccination

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on the seasonal influenza vaccination public awareness campaign for 2013-14, by category of expenditure. [186134]

Jane Ellison: Responsibility for the seasonal influenza vaccination public awareness campaign moved to Public Health England on 1 April 2013 along with the other departmental public health campaigns.

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To date, expenditure on seasonal flu advertising in 2013-14, aimed at increasing uptake of the flu vaccine among the most at risk groups, has totalled £481,041. This figure includes media expenditure (press, radio, magazines, online display, search and pharmacy bags).

Medical Records: Databases

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the benefits to treatment and care quality of making health records available for medical research. [185506]

Dr Poulter: The benefits to treatment and care of making anonymised and linked patient records available to researchers, protecting patient confidentiality, are set out in the ‘Plan for Growth’, the ‘Strategy for UK Life Sciences’ and the NHS Chief Executive's report ‘Innovation Health and Wealth’.

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any medical data will be extracted by care.data from GP-held records of patients who have objected to the use of their confidential information by others than those providing them with care. [185516]

Dr Poulter [holding answer 3 February 2014]: In terms of information which identifies a patient, NHS England’s “Better information means better care” leaflet sets out how people can ask their GP practice to note their objections, which will prevent confidential, identifiable data about them being used by the care.data programme, other than in a very limited number of exceptional circumstances.

As examples, existing public health legislation may require data to control the spread of specific infectious diseases or the police may require information about an individual patient when investigating serious crime. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and must balance legal requirements, the duty of confidentiality owed to the patient and the accepted public interest in a confidential health service, all against any benefits that may arise from the disclosure.

It is important to note that provisions in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 are designed to strengthen and clarify the role of the Health and Social Care Information Centre so that information can be collected, held securely and made readily available to those who need it in safe, de-identified formats, with crucial safeguards in place to protect the confidential data it holds.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 is clear that

“information which identifies or enables identification of a person must not be published”.

Midwives

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwifery students there were in the most recent year for which figures are available. [186065]

Dr Poulter: Health Education England commissions midwifery training places on behalf of the national health service. In 2012-13, they funded a total 6,315 training places for midwives at various stages of training.

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Postnatal Depression

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to support women suffering from post-natal depression; and what steps he has taken to increase awareness of post-natal depression in maternity services and social support. [186150]

Dr Poulter: The Mandate from the Government to NHS England includes an objective for NHS England to work with partner organisations to reduce the incidence and impact of postnatal depression through earlier diagnosis, and better intervention and support.

The NHS Mandate also includes an objective that every woman has a named midwife who is responsible for ensuring she has personalised care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and during the postnatal period. This will help clinicians to identify perinatal mental health problems as early as possible and to give women the support they need.

To achieve this we have increased the number of midwives by over 1,500 and the number of health visitors by over 1,000 since May 2010. In addition, a record 5,000 midwifery students are currently in training and we are committed to having an extra 4,200 health visitors by 2015.

Health Education England has committed to ensure that we have the right knowledge and training available so that we can be skilled in how we look after women's mental as well as physical health and ensure there will be specialist staff available for every birthing unit by 2017.

The Institute of Health Visiting has delivered perinatal mental health training and introduced three interactive e-learning modules. This new resource will help health visitors in the detection and management of perinatal depression and other maternal mental health conditions.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include stroke patients in the list of those exempted from prescription charges. [185431]

Norman Lamb: In 2010, responding to Professor Ian Gilmore's review into extending entitlement to free prescriptions to all those with a long-term condition, the Government made it clear that in the light of the challenging financial context, no changes would be made to the current list of exemptions. Prescription charges in England raise valuable income, in the region of £450 million each year, which helps the national health service to maintain vital services for patients.

An extensive range of exemptions, based on age, income and medical condition are already in place to support those who may struggle to pay for their prescriptions. Around 90% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge, including to those who have a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC). PPCs are available for those who have to pay NHS prescription charges and need multiple prescriptions. With the annual PPC, someone can obtain as many items as they need for £2 a week. The price of the annual certificate has now been frozen for the fourth successive year, and the three-month PPC has been frozen for two years.

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Re-employment

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff who have been made redundant or retired from his Department have subsequently been re-employed by his Department since May 2010. [185566]

Dr Poulter: Since May 2010 the Department has re-employed one individual who had previously worked in the Department and was made redundant.

The appointment followed a fair and open recruitment process which had been advertised on the civil service jobs website. The new appointment is permanent, and at a lower grade than the position previously held. There was a gap of 16 months between the leaving date and the new appointment.

Sexuality

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on conversion therapy. [185912]

Norman Lamb: The Department has recently received a number of representations on conversion therapy, including three parliamentary questions, 35 pieces of correspondence and an adjournment debate which took place in Westminster Hall on 20 November 2013.

We have also received a number of representations on the regulation of psychotherapists, some of which have been prompted by concerns around conversion therapy or the Private Member's ‘Counsellors and Psychotherapists (Regulation) Bill 2013-14’ which contains a requirement for a code of practice which

"must include a prohibition on gay to straight conversion therapy".

The Department is working with the UK Council for Psychotherapy and NHS England to minimise the risk that lesbians, gay men and bisexual people who seek counselling about their sexuality will encounter therapists attempting to change their sexual orientation because the therapist considers that being gay is wrong.

Smoking: Young People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to prevent under-age smoking. [185466]

Jane Ellison: Reducing the uptake of smoking by children is a public health priority for the Government.

The Government published ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England’. This plan includes a national ambition to reduce smoking rates among 15-year-olds in England to 12% or less by the end of 2015.

The Government introduced legislation to stop the sale of tobacco from vending machines in England in 2011. Legislation to end the displays of tobacco products was commenced for large shops in 2012 and will be extended to all other shops in 2015. These measures will play a role in reducing smoking among young people.

On 29 January 2014 the House of Lords passed a Government amendment to the Children and Families Bill to enable the introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco products should the Government decide to proceed with this policy following the current Chandler Review.

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In addition, the Government made commitments during Report to also table amendments to this Bill to introduce a proxy purchasing offence for tobacco and for regulation-making powers to introduce an age of sale for nicotine products such as e-cigarettes.

Both measures are aimed at protecting the health of children by reducing nicotine addiction and smoking-take among young people.

Latest data show that smoking prevalence among 15-year-olds had fallen to 10% by 2012.

‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England’ has already been placed in the Library.

Streptococcus

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the reply by the Acting Chief Executive of the Health Protection Agency to the letter sent to him on 21 December 2012 by the Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, in respect of Group B streptococcus in intrapartum women. [185929]

Dr Poulter: The current Director for Health Protection and Medical Director for Public Health England (formerly the acting chief executive of the Health Protection Agency) is content to share the reply to the letter sent to him on 21 December 2012 by the chief medical officer, Department of Health, in respect of Group B streptococcus.

A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has given to regional and local laboratories to raise awareness among microbiology and pathology staff to ensure that the enhanced medium is offered when testing is requested in respect of Group B streptococcus in intrapartum women; and if he will make a statement. [185930]

Dr Poulter: Public Health England (PHE) published a briefing note in January 2014 to provide information for PHE's regional microbiologists on the appropriate place of enriched culture medium (ECM) testing within current United Kingdom guidelines. This document was developed following discussion with other relevant professional bodies and is available on their website.

The work that led to this briefing note concluded that no indications for testing high-risk women using ECM methods have been evaluated or recommended within current clinical practice. Offering the test to low-risk women at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy is also not recommended in the UK.

As a result of this work, PHE decided not to introduce the test within its laboratories.

This was also mentioned in internal PHE communications in December 2013 to regional heads of microbiology operations and regional microbiology network managers.

Telemedicine

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the use of telehealth in the delivery of healthcare to tackle health issues for (a) the homeless, (b) those suffering from long-term physical and mental health conditions and (c) other health problems. [186149]

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Norman Lamb: We recognise the significant benefits that telehealth can have on patient outcomes and experience, and that telehealth interventions could be used much more widely. The Department's Mandate to NHS England set out an ambition to achieve a significant increase in the use of technology to help people manage their health and care.

The 3millionlives programme led by NHS England has been set up to address this and create an environment which enables service improvement underpinned by technologies such as telehealth for people living with long-term conditions.

The objectives of the 3millionlives initiative are:

to promote the benefits that telehealth, telecare and other tele-interventions can provide people in managing their health and care;

to work with industry to develop the market and remove barriers to delivery;

to create the right environment to support the uptake of tele-interventions;

to work with the NHS, social care and other stakeholders to simplify procurement and

commissioning processes for telehealth, telecare and other tele-interventions at scale; and

to put the NHS and UK industry at the forefront of telehealth, telecare and other tele-intervention services globally, developing significant opportunities for UK plc.

While this will focus on patients with long-term conditions (both physical and mental) in general, local commissioners will be best placed to determine which specific conditions or patient cohorts would benefit from particular tele-interventions.

Warrington Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce ambulance waiting times at Warrington hospital; and when he last discussed those waiting times with (a) representatives of that hospital and (b) the North West Ambulance Trust. [185990]

Dr Poulter: Ambulance handover times at Warrington hospital are a matter for the local national health service. As such, no recent discussions have been held between the Department and Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust or North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust about this matter.

We have written to Allan Massey, chair of the Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, informing him of the hon. Member's query. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Culture, Media and Sport

Arts: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much arts funding from her Department and the Arts Council per head of population was allocated to (a) the North West, (b) Cheshire and (c) Warrington in each of the last five years. [186052]

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Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England makes its funding decisions independently of Government and as such we do not hold the information requested. Nearly £3 billion will be invested in the arts over the lifetime of this Parliament.

Gaming Machines

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the oral answer by the Prime Minister of 8 January 2014, Official Report, column 295, whether the review of category B gaming machines due to report in the spring will include an assessment of effects of £100 stakes and £500 prizes of fixed odds betting terminals in betting shops on problem gambling; and if she will make a statement. [186021]

Mrs Grant: DCMS has already carried out a review on the impact that a reduction in stake and/or prize limits on category B2 gaming machines would have on gambling related harm, which was published in October 2013. Formal advice received from the Gambling Commission and the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board on the triennial review of gaming machine stakes and prizes recommended that a precautionary reduction in stake and/or prize limits was not supported by the available evidence. Since then DCMS has asked the bookmakers to provide more information which will help augment our understanding of the impact of these machines, including looking at their stake and prize levels. DCMS is working with the Gambling Commission, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, the Responsible Gambling Trust and the industry itself, to assess a range of options—including but not limited to action on stakes and prizes—which might be effective in strengthening protection for users of category B gaming machines.

Olympic Games: Russia

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to promote the rights of LGBT people during the Sochi Olympic Games. [185349]

Mrs Grant: The Government have been proactive on this area and engaged frequently with the Russian Government during the past year.

The Prime Minister raised concerns about the protection of human rights for LGB&T people with President Putin in a meeting in St Petersburg on 6 September 2013. He made clear the strength of feeling about the Russian law and its impact on LGB&T people.

Ahead of the Sochi winter games, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), visited Russia last December to meet with both Russian Government Ministers and NGO groups and discussed with them the situation for LGB&T people in Russia and the promotion and protection of human rights.

Over the coming months Stonewall will be developing and working to deliver a programme of activities to Russian human rights defenders to help improve their capacity to support LGB&T people in Russia. Stonewall's work is being made possible through support from the UK Government.

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We are clear, and will continue to demonstrate, that the UK Government are committed to protecting human rights, and not just in this country, but abroad.

Pensions

Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what effect changes in pension contributions have had on the take-home pay of officials of her Department at (a) AA, (b) AO and LO2, (c) EO and LO1, (d) HEO, (e) SEO, (f) 7 and (g) SCS grades and equivalents since May 2010. [186031]

Mrs Grant: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude).

Press: Regulation

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress her Department has made in establishing the Recognition Panel. [184868]

Mr Vaizey: This is a matter for the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and not a matter for Government. I understand the Commissioner for Public Appointments has appointed the Appointments Committee that will make the initial appointments to the board of the panel.

Further information can be found on the Commissioner's website:

http://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/press-self-regulation/

Re-employment

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff who have been made redundant or retired from her Department have subsequently been re-employed by her Department since May 2010. [185561]

Mrs Grant: DCMS has not re-employed employees who have been made redundant or retired since May 2010.

Sports: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which official within her Department is the (a) national lead and (b) strategic commissioner for under-14 community sport. [186012]

Mrs Grant: DCMS is responsible for Government policy on elite and community sport and provides funding to Sport England, an arm's length body of DCMS, to deliver community sport for all ages in England, including helping 14 to 25-year-olds to keep playing sport throughout their lives. The names, roles and responsibilities of DCMS Ministers and senior officials are set out on the DCMS website.

4 Feb 2014 : Column 165W

Women and Equalities

Average Earnings

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the average salary was of employees of the Government Equalities Office who were (a) male, (b) female, (c) of white ethnic origin, (d) of Black and minority ethnic origin, (e) disabled and (f) not disabled in the latest period for which figures are available. [185375]

Mrs Grant: The tables show the average salary of employees of the Government Equalities Office who were (a) male, (b) female, (c) of white ethnic origin, (d) of other ethnic origin, (e) disabled and (f) not disabled in the latest period for which figures are available.

Completion of diversity data is non-mandatory for staff. As such these figures may not be fully representative of work force diversity.

Complaints

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many grievances have been raised by staff at the Government Equalities Office on the grounds of any kind of discrimination in each of the last five years; and what the outcome was in each case. [185377]

Mrs Grant: No employees at the Government Equalities Office have raised grievances on the grounds of any kind of discrimination since they joined the DCMS payroll on 1 June 2013. We do not hold information prior to that date.

Staff

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what proportion of staff of the Government Equalities Department have not declared their status in answer to any or all of the questions in diversity declaration forms in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [185339]

4 Feb 2014 : Column 166W

Mrs Grant: The proportion of staff based in the Government Equalities Office who have not declared their status in answer to any or all of the questions in diversity declaration forms since June 2013 is 73%. Completion of these data is non-mandatory for staff though we actively encourage disclosure.

We do not hold information prior to that date.

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many employees of the Government Equalities Office are currently (a) male, (b) female, (c) of white ethnic origin, (d) of Black and minority ethnic origin, (e) disabled and (f) not disabled. [185340]

Mrs Grant: The following tables show the number of full-time equivalents based in the Government Equalities Office who are currently (a) male, (b) female, (c) of white ethnic origin, (d) of other ethnic origin, (e) disabled and (f) not disabled.

Completion of these data is non-mandatory for staff. As such these figures may not be fully representative of workforce diversity.