Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to stop abortions due to the gender of the foetus being female; [186454]
(2) how many (a) male and (b) female foetuses were aborted in each of the last three years. [186455]
Jane Ellison: The chief medical officer has written to all doctors involved in abortion care on two occasions (23 February 2012 and 23 November 2013). Both letters stated that abortion on the grounds of gender alone is illegal. Further more detailed guidance on compliance with the Abortion Act is being developed.
Data on the gender of aborted foetuses are not collected.
Analgesics
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) dementia patients and (b) cognitively intact adults in care home settings who are prescribed analgesics. [185984]
Norman Lamb: Information on the prescribing of analgesics in care homes is not collected centrally.
Cancer: Drugs
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions his Department has had with (a) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and (b) NHS England on the potential effect of NICE's proposals for value-based assessment on (i) access to cancer medicines and (ii) expenditure on the Cancer Drugs Fund; [186440]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE's) proposals to value-based assessment on patient's access to cancer medicines; and if he will make a statement. [186441]
Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for developing the methods for wider value assessment of new branded medicines. Departmental officials have had discussions with NICE as it has developed its proposals. NICE has not yet published its proposals for public consultation and the Department has made no assessment of their potential effect on access to cancer medicines.
Departmental officials have regular discussions with NHS England about the management of the Cancer Drugs Fund and will continue to do so as the work to introduce wider value assessment continues.
Dementia
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many communities in England have (a) committed their intention to become dementia-friendly and (b) achieved dementia-friendly status and carry the Alzheimer's Society symbol. [185871]
Norman Lamb: One of the key commitments in the Prime Minister's Challenge on dementia is that by 2015 up to 20 cities and towns will have signed up to becoming more dementia friendly.
Currently 40 communities in England are taking part in the dementia-friendly communities recognition process, run by the Alzheimer's Society, and have achieved the status “working to become dementia friendly”.
A “Working to become Dementia Friendly symbol” is issued to communities that are registered and demonstrating action to become more dementia friendly.
Becoming dementia friendly is a continual process and these communities have committed to shape their communities around the needs of people with dementia.
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to update the National Dementia Strategy when it expires at the end of 2014; if he will include provisions for greater diagnosis and management of pain in dementia patients in any such update; and if he will make a statement. [185983]
Norman Lamb: The Prime Minister's Challenge runs to 2015, not just outliving the dementia strategy, but broadening its vision and providing better accountability.
Decisions on what comes after the Prime Minister's Challenge will be made when we have assessed progress against its commitments.
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to (a) produce national guidelines and (b) introduce training programmes on identifying the causes of challenging behaviour in dementia patients following a reduction in the use of antipsychotic drugs. [185987]
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Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has issued quality standards for dementia including ensuring that staff are appropriately trained in dementia care and people with dementia with behaviour that is challenging are appropriately assisted.
Dental Health
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the British Medical Association on the potential health risks associated with mouthwashes. [185464]
Norman Lamb: A wide range of mouthwashes is available for use in the United Kingdom. Those which contain active pharmaceutical ingredients and/or make medicinal claims are authorised and regulated in accordance with medicines legislation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Such products may be authorised to treat or prevent mouth, dental or throat disorders.
Neither Ministers nor the MHRA have had discussions with the British Medical Association on the potential health risks associated with such products. The product information (the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflet) details how the products should be used and what the possible side effects may be, and confirms that the balance of benefits and risks of such products is favourable when used in accordance with their marketing authorisation. As with all medicines, the MHRA keeps the safety of such products under continual review.
Depressive Illnesses
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change was in the number of people diagnosed with depression between (a) 2003-04 and 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and 2012-13. [185879]
Norman Lamb: The data on diagnoses of depression are not available in the format that has been requested. The numbers of people newly diagnosed within each year are not available. However, the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) provides annual data from general practitioner (GP) practices on the prevalence of unresolved depression in patients aged 18 or over.
The number of adults aged 18 or over on the QOF depression register as at 31 March of each year and the raw prevalence rates for all available years are given in the following table:
| Number of adult patients aged 18 or over on the QOF depression register and the raw prevalence rate in England | ||
| Sum of Register Count | Prevalence1 (percentage) | |
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| 1 Raw Prevalence = sum of registers for all practices/sum of list sizes for all practices (expressed as a percentage). 2 Calculation method changed after 2008-09. 2008-09 prevalence is presented on the basis of registers as a percentage of whole practice list size (patients of all ages). Figures for 2009-10 onwards show a percentage of patients aged 18 or over. 3 There was a change in the QOF business rules for the depression register in 2012-13. Previously all patients with a record of unresolved depression at any point in their GP patient record were included on the register. From April 2012, only patients with a record of unresolved depression since April 2006 were included. As a result, fewer patients are now included, thus reducing the reported prevalence for 2012-13. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre QOF registers |
Floods: South West
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the public health impact of the recent flooding in South West England; and what steps he is taking to address this issue. [186447]
Jane Ellison: The responsibility for assessment of the public health impacts of the recent flooding in the south-west of England lies with Public Health England (PHE) and its partners including local government and the national health service.
When alerted to the likelihood of imminent severe weather PHE implemented its severe weather reporting protocol. Individual and population health needs have been assessed by local responders and have been fed back to the local Strategic Command Groups (Gold Command) who are being supported, where appropriate, by PHE led Science and Technical Advice Cells (STACs). No new or unexpected public health problems have been identified to date.
Flood water from rivers and land is a known risk for the common bacterial gastrointestinal GI infections whether or not it is contaminated by human sewage. PHE carries out active surveillance for outbreaks of infectious diseases, and related illnesses (GI, skin, respiratory)—none of which have been identified in people living in the affected areas so far.
Further advice has also been published to assist in cleaning up after floods. This emphasises the importance of good personal hygiene when in contact with flood water. PHE is also reinforcing its advice to the public on the importance of using generators safely in confined spaces which is a known cause of carbon monoxide poisoning following flooding incidents of the past.
Any other public health issues identified by PHE's ongoing surveillance will be addressed by the local recovery groups with appropriate input from PHE, the local authority Director of Public Health and environmental health, and local NHS colleagues, including plans to manage any long-term health problems that develop in people who have been affected by the flooding.
Food
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has evaluated on the contribution of incentives to the success of voluntary agreements with food companies on measures to improve public health; and if he will make a statement. [185902]
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Jane Ellison: The Public Health Responsibility Deal evaluation commissioned by the Department comprises two parts: the scoping study; and the main evaluation. The scoping study is complete and included a review of voluntary agreements between Government and business. This makes reference to incentives and was published in the journal ‘Health Policy’ in 2013.
Food: Crime
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cross-departmental meetings on food crime have been attended by (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants. [186445]
Jane Ellison: Department of Health Ministers have not attended cross-departmental meetings to discuss food fraud. Prior to the publication of the Elliott Review into the Integrity and Assurance of Food Supply Networks Interim Report on 12 December 2013, I met with Professor Elliott so that he could present his key findings and interim recommendations, including those related to food crime. Food Standards Agency (FSA) and departmental officials also met with Professor Elliott as part of the review process. We anticipate more cross-departmental meetings when Professor Elliot publishes the findings of his report.
FSA officials have regular meetings with officials from the National Crime Agency, Intellectual Property Office, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Home Office to discuss food crime.
Department of Health officials have met with the FSA, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and enforcement colleagues regarding management of incidents of food supplement products that contain either unsafe or medicinal ingredients, or make illegal claims.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will create a Food Crime Unit within the Food Standards Agency. [186446]
Jane Ellison: Professor Chris Elliott, who recommended the creation of a Food Crime Unit within the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in his interim report into the integrity and assurance of food supply networks, is now in further discussion with stakeholders before he finalises his report. In the meantime, the FSA is establishing a Food Crime Intelligence Unit which will act to draw together and analyse intelligence leads and share strategic and tactical assessments with relevant enforcement agencies. We look forward to receiving Professor Elliott's final report and recommendations.
General Practitioners: Mental Health Services
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of GPs who have received mental health training. [186443]
Dr Poulter: The standard and proficiency of treating patients with mental health conditions is an area that all general practitioners (GPs) must evidence as part of their specialist training.
All trainee GPs must meet the requirements of the GP training curriculum, developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and approved by the
6 Feb 2014 : Column 366W
General Medical Council which includes specific learning outcomes on dealing with patients with mental health problems. The standards also prepare GPs for beyond their training period and provide support for a professional life of development and change.
The RCGP clinical examples apply the competences to the training curricular and state that all GPs should consider the mental health of a patient in every primary care consultation, but be aware of the dangers of medicalising distress.
The Government's mandate to Health Education England (HEE), published in May 2013, states that:
“Mental health is a matter for all health professionals and HEE should develop training programmes that will enable employers to ensure that staff have an awareness of mental health problems and how they may affect their patients.”
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the level of mental health training currently given to GPs. [186444]
Dr Poulter: We are assured that the training outcomes provided in the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) curriculum equips general practitioners (GPs) with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully diagnose and treat mental health issues throughout their careers.
However, to ensure standards remain high and training is proportionate to service needs, the RCGP will work to support, develop and improve GPs' knowledge and experience of the management of severe mental illness, including physical health and crisis care.
The outcomes highlighted in the recent publication, “Closing the Gap: Priorities for essential change in mental health” (2014), reflect the Department's commitment to work with the RCGP and other key stakeholders to deliver these commitments.
Health Services
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department has (a) taken and (b) plans to take in the next six months to ensure that patients and patient groups are adequately equipped to respond to the forthcoming consultation on value-based assessment; and if he will make a statement; [186086]
(2) what steps his Department has (a) taken and (b) plans to take in the next six months to ensure that the patient voice is heard in (i) the consultation on value-based assessment and (ii) future decision-making on treatments; and if he will make a statement. [186088]
Norman Lamb: As work to develop the wider value assessment for new medicines has progressed, we have engaged with interested groups, including patients and patient groups, industry, clinicians, academic experts and the national health service. We have provided a range of opportunities for stakeholders to contribute to the development of our plans. These included a public consultation between December 2010 and March 2011 and a series of engagement events and workshops.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is now responsible for developing the methods for wider value assessment of new medicines and will
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carry out a public consultation before implementing the new arrangements. We understand that NICE is currently considering how best to engage with interested parties, including patients and patient groups, during this consultation process.
Decisions on the most appropriate treatment for an individual patient remain a matter for the clinician and patient concerned.
Health Services: Private Sector
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent meetings (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) NHS England National Directors have held with representatives of private healthcare providers; and what the (i) dates, (ii) attendees and (iii) subject matter were of any such meetings. [186258]
Dr Poulter: The details of meetings held by Ministers in the Department is published regularly online, including information about the organisations that attended and the subject of the meeting. The most recent information is available at:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/273839/ministerial_gifts_hospitality_ travel_external_meetings_july_sept_2013.pdf
The details of meetings held by NHS England national directors since February 2013 is set out in the following table:
| NHS England national directors | ||
| Date of meeting | Attendees and organisation | Purpose of meeting |
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Hospitals: Food
Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what minimum nutritional standards his Department sets for hospital meals. [186152]
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Dr Poulter: Nutritious and appetising hospital food and drink are an essential part of the personal package of care and hospitals should take all reasonable steps to ensure that patients have a healthy food experience.
The existing registration system, established under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, requires all providers of health and adult social care regulated activities to meet essential levels of safety and quality, and nutrition is a part of this. The requirement for food is that people are encouraged and supported to have sufficient food and drink that is nutritional and balanced, and a choice of food and drink to meet their different needs.
The Department encourages hospitals to adopt Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (Food GBS) which include food standards relating to nutrition, including reducing salt, fat and sugar content. In addition, financial incentives are now available to providers who adopt food standards. These incentives are part of the exemplar Commissioning for Quality and Innovation process and are negotiated locally.
Human-Animal Hybrid Embryos
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human/animal hybrid embryos have been created in the UK since 2008. [185903]
Jane Ellison: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the most recent information it holds shows that 155 embryos defined as human admixed embryos by section 4A(6)(a) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, have been created since 2008. Human admixed embryos can only be used in research, not treatment.
Midwives: Sick Leave
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of midwives are on long-term registered sick leave. [186375]
Dr Poulter: The proportion of national health service midwives who, as of 30 September 2013, were recorded in the Electronic Staff Record Data Warehouse as having been on continuous sickness absence for at least 28 days, is estimated to be 1.9%.
Ministers' Private Offices
Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the (a) job title and (b) pay grade is of each member of staff in his private office; and when each member of staff was appointed; [186241]
(2) how many non-permanent civil servants work in his private office. [186242]
Dr Poulter: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Job title | Pay grade | Appointed |
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With the exception of the three special advisers, there are three non-permanent civil servants working in the private office. All are bound by the civil service code in the same way as permanent civil servants and report to a senior civil servant.
NHS: Private Patients
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been transferred to an NHS hospital following complications in their treatment at a private hospital in each of the last 10 years. [186278]
Dr Poulter: This information is not available in the format requested.
In the following table we have provided a count of finished admission episodes for national health service providers where the source of admission was a non-NHS run hospital for the years 2003-04 to 2012-13 by admission method.
| Count of finished admission episodes (FAEs)1 for NHS providers2 where the source of admission3 was a non-NHS run hospital for the years 2003-04 to 2012-134 by admission method5; activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | ||||
| Elective | Emergency | Other | Total | |
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| 1Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. 2NHS providers Where the provider type was one of the following: Care Trust, Foundation Trust, Primary Care Trust, NHS Hospital Trust, NHS Hospital Trust Treatment Centre. 3Source of admission Source of admission identifies where the patient was immediately prior to admission for example patients admitted from home and patients transferred from another hospital provider or institution, where the ADMISORC = 87 (Non-NHS run hospital). 4Assessing growth through time (In-patients) HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. 5Admission method Admission method identifies how the patient was admitted to hospital. Elective admissions include where the patient was on a waiting list and where the admission was booked or planned. Emergency admissions include admissions via Accident and Emergency (A&E) services, including the casualty department of the provider, via a general practitioner, via Bed Bureau including the Central Bureau, via consultant out-patient clinic, and by other means including patients who arrive via the A&E department of another health care provider. All admission methods which do not fit in to the above categories, including maternity related admissions, have been categorised as ‘other'. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre |
NHS: Sick Leave
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS staff are on long-term registered sick leave. [186342]
Dr Poulter: The proportion of national health service staff who, as of 30 September 2013, were recorded in the Electronic Staff Record Data Warehouse as having been on continuous sickness absence for at least 28 days, is estimated to be 1.7%.
Nuts: Allergies
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with health bodies on development of medication to prevent nut allergy. [186456]
Dr Poulter: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt) has had no such discussions.
The Department's National Institute for Health Research manages the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) programme. Findings from an EME trial funded by the Medical Research Council assessing the efficacy of oral immunotherapy for the desensitisation of peanut allergy in children were published in The Lancet in January 2014.
Pain
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include provisions on identifying pain in those less able to communicate in the Vulnerable Older People's Strategy. [185985]
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Norman Lamb: Recently announced changes to the general practitioner (GP) contract aim to restore the link between family doctors and patients, giving GPs the opportunity to provide more proactive, personalised care for all. They also introduce a new requirement for named GPs for people over 75.
The named GP will proactively ensure that a personalised care plan is in place, working with a multi professional team to make sure people stay healthy and independent for longer.
GPs will need to work closely with other healthcare professionals, their patients and their carers to identify priorities for the care plan in a co-ordinated way.
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will direct the Care Quality Commission to assess the potential benefits of and include in their inspections questions on (a) training and (b) other provisions that care homes have put in place to assist in identifying pain in people less able to communicate in their assessments. [185986]
Norman Lamb: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the 2008 Act) all providers of regulated activities, including national health service and independent providers, have to register with the CQC and meet a set of requirements of safety and quality.
(a) Under the registration requirements, employers must ensure that their employees are adequately trained to perform their duties.
(b) In addition, care providers should encourage service users, or those acting on their behalf, to understand the care or treatment choices available and discuss the balance of risks and benefits involved in any particular course of care or treatment. CQC also requires the provider to encourage the service user to express their views on what is important to them in relation to their care or treatment.
It is an offence if a provider fails to comply with the requirements and under the 2008 Act, and CQC has a wide range of enforcement powers that it can use if the provider is not compliant.
It is CQC's responsibility to develop and consult on its methodology for assessing whether providers are meeting the registration requirements.
On 15 October 2013, CQC published ‘A Fresh Start for the Regulation and Inspection of Adult Social Care’. This document sets out CQC's proposed changes to the regulation and inspection of Adult Social Care. CQC will carry out a full public consultation of these proposals in spring 2014.
On 23 January 2014, the Department published a consultation on Fundamental Standards. The Francis Inquiry report recommended the introduction of new fundamental standards of safety and quality below which care should never fall. The Department committed to incorporate these into the requirements for registering with CQC.
The Fundamental Standards are intended to be common-sense statements that describe the basic requirements that providers should always meet, and
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set out the outcomes that patients or care service users should always expect. All care providers registered with CQC will have to meet them. The consultation closes on 4 April.
Pancreatic Cancer
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer in (a) Peterborough and (b) England. [185592]
Jane Ellison: The Government's Mandate to NHS England sets out an ambition to make England one of the most successful countries in Europe at preventing premature deaths from illnesses like cancer.
Tackling late diagnosis is key to achieving this ambition. To support earlier diagnosis of symptomatic cancer, we have committed over £450 million in funding over the four years up to 2014-15.
At a local level, it is for individual clinical commissioning groups to commission treatment and services for patients, as they are best placed to identify what is needed in their local areas.
Support is available to help general practitioners assess when it is appropriate to refer patients for suspected cancer, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cancer referral guidelines.
The NICE clinical guideline “Improving Outcomes for Upper Gastro-Intestinal Cancers” sets out best practice in the care, treatment and support for patients with pancreatic cancer and continues to be a feature of all commissioned pancreatic cancer services. A pancreatic cancer quality standard has also been referred to NICE for development.
NHS England's pancreatic cancer service specification clearly defines what it expects to be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective pancreatic cancer services. The service specification has been developed by specialised clinicians, commissioners, expert patients and public health representatives to describe core and developmental service standards.
More generally, on 10 December 2013, the Department, NHS England and Public Health England jointly published the third annual report on the implementation of our Cancer Outcomes Strategy. The strategy sets out actions to tackle preventable cancer incidence; improve the quality and efficiency of cancer services; improve patients' experience of care; improve quality of life for cancer survivors; and deliver outcomes that are comparable with the best in Europe.
Pensions
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect changes in pension contributions have had on the take-home pay of officials of his 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. [186036]
Dr Poulter: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (Mr Hurd), on 4 February 2014, Official Report, columns 214-5W.
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Secondment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many secondments of staff in his 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. [185926]
Dr Poulter: No staff at senior civil service level have been seconded in or out of the Department, to or from the private sector, during the last three months.
Five or fewer other civil servants have been seconded out from the Department to the private sector during the last three months.
During the last three months, five or fewer individuals have been seconded into the Department from the private sector. The companies from which these individuals were seconded were Ernst and Young, PA Consulting Group, Boston Consulting Group and Grant Thornton.
Cabinet Office
Bombings: Greater London
John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether any official files contain a more accurate and precise time of death of the 7/7 victims than that given to their families. [186195]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office files regarding the time of death of 7/7 victims do not differ from information already in the public domain.
Charities: Political Impartiality
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that charities do not act in a politically partisan way; [186213]
(2) what recent representations his Department has received about charities acting in a politically partisan way. [186214]
Mr Hurd: The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales and produces clear guidance explaining what political activity charities can and cannot undertake. The Commission will consider allegations of improper political activity by charities and take appropriate action if necessary.
Diabetes
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds died from type 2 diabetes in England in each year since 2003. [186357]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Health how many people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds died from type 2 diabetes in England in each year since 2003. (186357)
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The mortality data held by ONS come from the information collected when a death is registered. All the conditions and circumstances recorded on the medical certificate of cause of death, or the coroner's death certificate, are coded using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).
Information on the ethnic background of the deceased is not recorded on the death certificate, nor collected as part of the registration process. Therefore we are unable to provide figures for the number of people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who died from type 2 diabetes in England.
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause, marital status, and place of death are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition-tcm%3A77-27475
Honours
Mr Raab: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many honours were awarded in each year since 1995. [186277]
Mr Maude: The number of honours awarded on the Prime Minister's list each year since 1995 is set out as follows. The figures do not include gallantry awards, peerages or long service medals.
| Honours awarded on the PM's List | |
Major Projects Authority
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) which projects and accompanying report have been examined by the Major Projects Authority since that body was established; and what traffic-light classification was given to each such project and report; [186234]
(2) what recruitment or executive search process was used to recruit the new Chief Executive of the Major Projects Authority; what the total cost of the recruitment process was; which individuals acting on behalf of the Government interviewed the candidates; and what recruitment or executive search companies were employed for this purpose; at what cost; and under which terms and conditions; [186235]
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(3) what payments were made to David Pitchford, the former Executive of the Major Projects Authority, during the term of his appointment; what his (a) annual salary, (b) claimed bonuses, payoffs or other lump sums and (c) any other remuneration were; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his contract of employment; [186233]
(4) under which terms and conditions John Manzoni has been appointed Chief Executive of the Major Projects Authority; when he commences this position; what his annual salary and any bonus scheme is; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his contract of employment. [186232]
Mr Maude: The Major Projects Authority publishes project-level information on the Government's major projects. The first Annual report was published in May 2013 and can be viewed online.
David Pitchford was Executive Director of the Major Projects Authority from February 2011 till September 2013. John Manzoni was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the MPA on 3 February 2014 on a three year fixed-term contract. He competed for the role through fair and open competition, following Civil Service Commission principals. The interview panel included; Jonathan Baume (Civil Service Commissioner. and Chair of panel); Sharon White (Second Permanent Secretary, HMT); Julia Bond (FCO Non Executive Board Member); Stephen Kelly (Chief Operating Officer) and Bill Crothers (Chief Procurement Officer). The job was advertised externally on the Civil Service Jobs website and an executive search was conducted using Korn/Ferry International Ltd. at a cost of £60,000. Salaries for Cabinet Office officials are published on:
www.gov.uk.
Work and Pensions
Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the discretionary housing payment allocation for 2013-14 has been targeted at people who have wheelchair-standard properties. [186336]
Esther McVey: In 2013-14 the Government allocated an additional £25 million to the discretionary housing payment budget, which was specifically aimed at helping disabled people who live in significantly adapted accommodation.
Internet
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2014, Official Report, columns 44-5W, on housing benefit, if he will provide a full step-by-step guide to accessing the information requested via the Stat-Xplore website. [185923]
Esther McVey: The instructions are as follows:
Stat-Xplore can be found here:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
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The IT requirements and guidance for using Stat-Xplore are given as follows:
Stat-Xplore requirements and settings
The minimum browser requirements are:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 or later.
Mozilla Firefox 4, 12 or later.
Apple Safari 5 or later.
Google Chrome (stable channel).
For Stat-Xplore to function correctly, DWP recommends that you:
Use only one browser/browser tab at the same time.
Enable JavaScript.
Ensure ‘meta refresh' is enabled in Internet Explorer.
Avoid browser add-ons.
To obtain estimates of the statistics requested, follow the steps as shown:
1. Click on the Stat-Xplore link.
2. Small tables can be produced but to produce large tables you will need to register with the site. Follow the on screen instructions to register. You will need an email address and must choose a password. The other registration details are optional. You will receive an email to confirm your registration. Follow the instructions in the email and then you will be able to login to Stat-Xplore.
3. Once in Stat-Xplore in the left-hand side window click the small arrow on the left-hand side of the Housing Benefit folder.
4. Then double click on the Housing Benefit Claimants folder.
5. Once the table information appears in the right-hand side window click on the small arrow button on the left-hand side of the Month folder.
6. To produce a table for the last five years, select each August from 2009 to 2013. (Please note the first month these data are available from is November 2008). Once selected, click the Add to Column button.
7. Next, at the top of the list select the arrow button at the side of Measures.
8. Under Weekly Award Amount click the flange button on the left hand side to customise your own range.
9. In the box that appears, enter a name for the variable e.g. Max Award, and choose the ranges using the calculation as detailed below.
10. To obtain the range divide the yearly amounts requested by 52.18 to give the weekly amount of housing benefit in payment. For example, to extract the numbers for a range between £60,000 and £70,000, divide £60,000 by 52.18 to give a weekly amount of £1,149.87 and insert this amount into the From box. £70,000 divided by 52.18 gives a weekly amount of £1,341.51 insert this into the To box. Then enter the difference between the two weekly amounts i.e. £191.64 into the Increment box.
11. Click Next and then Create to generate your variable.
12. The variable ranges created can be found by clicking the small arrow button on the left-hand side of Ranges and then the small arrow button on the left-hand side of Max Award.
13. Select the ranges you are interested in by checking the relevant boxes and click the Add to Row button.
14. Then select the Retrieve Data button in the right-hand side window to populate the table.
15. Return to step 8 and the repeat the steps to produce other ranges as required.
This will give you the number in each range as for each year from August 2009 to August 2013. Please note that the weekly amount in payment would need to be paid for the whole year to give the total annual amount requested.
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Please note that these figures are due to be updated quarterly i.e. in February 2014 the September, October and November 2013 data will be made available.
I will place a copy of this step-by-step guide to accessing information requested via the Stat-Xplore website in the Library.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the total cost of developing the Stat-Xplore website was; [185924]
(2) how many officials in his Department were employed in the development of the Stat-Xplore website; [185925]
(3) how many unique users have registered to use the Stat-Xplore website since its launch; [185953]
(4) how many unregistered unique users have used the Stat-Xplore website since its launch; [185954]
(5) whether any (a) usability surveys or (b) satisfaction surveys have been conducted among (i) officials in his Department and (ii) the public on the Stat-Xplore website; [185955]
(6) what external contracts his Department has made for the development and maintenance of the Stat-Xplore website; and what the value is of those contracts; [185956]
(7) when his Department launched the Stat-Xplore website; [185968]
(8) what training is provided to officials in his Department on the use of the Stat-Xplore website. [185969]
Mike Penning: Stat-Xplore was launched in May 2013 and supports the Government's commitment to open data by enabling users to construct their own, detailed summary statistics on a variety of subject areas such as housing benefit claimants and overseas national registering for a national insurance number. The next addition will be statistics on sanction decisions on jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance claimants in February 2014.
Since its launch in May 2013 and up to 27 January 2014, a total of 1,147 people have registered to use Stat-Xplore. Information on numbers of individual people using Stat-Xplore as non-registered users is not available. However, a total of 4,933 unique IP addresses have accessed Stat-Xplore between May 2013 and end of January 2014. Over 10,000 bespoke tables have been created by users within Stat-Xplore since May 2013.
There has not been a survey carried out among users of Stat-Xplore to date but users are invited to provide ongoing feedback.
There has not been a dedicated team responsible for developing Stat-Xplore. Officials have developed Stat-Xplore alongside other duties.
Before the launch of Stat-Xplore in May 2013, a series of short training events for DWP officials took place.
Stat-Xplore was developed during the 2012-13 financial year. The total cost of development was £247,570.80.
The maintenance and development of the Stat-Xplore website forms part of a general contract. The cost of the contract for software licences with Specialist Computer Centres Ltd for Stat-Xplore (2013-14) is £192,464.06.
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Jobcentre Plus
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the performance and effect of the Jobcentre Plus Flexible Support Fund; and if he will make a statement. [186329]
Esther McVey: Local performance monitoring is in place across all Flexible Support Fund delivery mechanisms to ensure prudent spending. The operation of the fund and its contribution was evaluated as part of the overall Jobcentre Plus Offer.
The evaluation can be found on:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-jobcentre-plus-offer-final-evaluation-report
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the Jobcentre Plus Flexible Support Fund budget for 2012-13 was spent on (a) transport, (b) childcare, (c) training and (d) other costs. [186330]
Esther McVey: The information requested is set out in the following table. Transport and child care costs relating to training have been listed under ‘Training’:
| Flexible Support Fund expenditure 2012-13 | |
| £ | |
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Jobseeker's Allowance Skills Conditionality Pilot evaluation report published in August 2011; [186333]
(2) which of the 12 policy recommendations in DWP Research report 768, The Jobseeker's Allowance Skills Conditionality Pilot evaluation report, published in August 2011, have been implemented; and if he will make a statement. [186334]
Esther McVey: The policy recommendations in ‘The Jobseeker's Allowance Skills Conditionality Pilot Evaluation Report’ (DWP Research Report 768) informed the national roll-out and mainstreaming of skills conditionality in 2011. Jobcentre advisers identify and discuss with claimants their needs and then mandate what is appropriate. In England the Department for Business Innovation and Skills funds the majority of training to which the claimants are referred. To understand how the policy was being mainstreamed the Department commissioned in 2012 a joint piece of research with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills to assess how skills conditionality and other skills-related policies were being delivered. The resulting report, ‘Employment, Partnership and Skills’ (DWP Research Report 830), was published March 2013.
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Identifying skills gaps or other barriers is key to ensuring that the support offered to benefit claimants is based on individual needs. The introduction of skills conditionality has boosted the number of referrals to the National Careers Service, with over 300,000 interviews taking place between August 2011 and August 2013. In the same period, there were nearly 240,000 starts to training by benefit claimants referred under this same policy.
Occupational Pensions
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time was for the Pensions Regulator to complete an investigation into allegations of pension abandonment in the most recent period for which information is available. [186374]
Steve Webb: There is a wide variation in the length of time of these types of cases as each case has its own unique features which determine the length of the investigation.
Pension Credit
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has plans to alter the indexation used to uprate pensions credit. [186326]
Steve Webb: There is a statutory requirement to increase the standard minimum guarantee element of pension credit at least in line with the growth in average earnings, and there are no plans to change this.
Pensioners: Poverty
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners were living in poverty in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK in each financial year since 1996-97; and what estimate he has made of the number of such pensioners in the current financial year. [186328]
Steve Webb: The annually published Households Below Average Income National Statistics report provides figures on pensioners living below 60% of median income, After Housing Costs.
Three-year averages are used for geographies below UK level to account for volatility. As such the figures in Table 1 are given from 1996/97-1998/99 to 2009/10-2011/12.
The latest published figures cover 2011-12. No estimates are available for the current financial year.
| Table 1: Population (million) and proportion of pensioners in relative low income (after housing costs) in Scotland, three year averages 1996/97-1998/99 to 2009/10-2011/12 | ||
| Number (million) | Percentage | |
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| Source: HBAI 2011/12 | ||
| Table 2: Population (million) and proportion of pensioners in relative low income (after housing costs) in the UK2,1998-99 to 2011-12 | ||
| Number (million) | Percentage | |
| Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the 2011-12 Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Figures for the United Kingdom are not available before 1998-99. Estimates for Northern Ireland are imputed for the years 1998-99 through 2001-02, and included in the survey thereafter. 3. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer this question. This 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. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 and percentages to the nearest whole percentage point. 5. Measures for pensioners are generally presented on an After Housing Costs basis. This is because pensioners are far more likely to own their homes outright and so receive value from housing, without having to pay for rent or mortgage payments out of their current income. So for assessing pensioner poverty on a before housing costs basis does not provide a good comparison of living standards. 6. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 7. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. For regional figures three year averages have been used to overcome volatility. 8. In Households Below Average Income, a household is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal together or share the living accommodation. This differs from a benefit unit (family), which is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple, plus any dependent children. From January 2006 same-sex partners (civil partners and cohabitees) are also included in the same benefit unit. A household will consist of one or more benefit units. The figures above are based on households. Source: HBAI 2011/12 | ||
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Social Security Benefits
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of claimants of employment and support allowance/incapacity benefit since August 2013; and if he will make a statement. [186332]
Esther McVey: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green), on 28 January 2014, Official Report, column 467W.
State Retirement Pensions
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made with transitional arrangements to allow people who will receive the new single-tier state pension to receive passported benefits from April 2016. [186327]
Steve Webb: There are a number of schemes and benefits available to pensioners, some on the basis of age and low income, and others via the pension credit means test. The table “Principal Passported Benefits” gives details of what benefits are available, the relevant administrative authorities and the qualifying conditions. I will place a copy in the Library. (The Single Tier reforms reduce reliance on pension credit in the system for future cohorts. Most of the benefits in the table can be accessed without first satisfying the pension credit means test. With respect to cold weather payments, the Government have no plans to change the qualifying conditions for current pensioners, and are considering the position with respect to single tier pension cohorts.)
Work Programme
Mr McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2014, Official Report, column 171W, on work programme, how many people on the work programme found work lasting longer than one year in each of the last three years. [186045]
Esther McVey: Statistics on how many people on the Work programme who found work lasting longer than one year in each year for which figures are available are shown in the following table.
The latest Official Statistics on the Work programme cover the period 1 June 2011 to 30 September 2013. The figures provided in the table are up to and including 30 September 2012. This is the latest date for which an individual could have spent enough time on the programme to have been in employment for over a year.
| Number of people referred to the Work programme who found work lasting more than a year by referral date: 1 June 2011 to 30 September 2012 | |
| Referral date | Total |
6 Feb 2014 : Column 383W
Energy and Climate Change
Energy
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of potential options for reducing the inefficiency of coal and gas plants when such plants are used as backup for other sources of energy production. [185950]
Michael Fallon: There is an economic incentive for operators to seek to maximise the efficiency of the operation of a power plant. Similarly, power plant manufacturers can be expected to seek to maximise efficiencies, for example through design where it may lead to reductions in cost and/or improvements in performance.
The Government, through the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), have awarded a £2 million grant to a consortium of universities and companies, led by Loughborough University, to undertake further research into fossil fuel plant efficiency and flexibility.
Energy Companies Obligation
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of the Energy Company Obligation on the introduction of minimum energy efficiency standards for poorest households living in the coldest homes in England; and if he will make a statement. [185417]
Gregory Barker: In July 2013 the Government published ‘Fuel Poverty: a framework for future action’1. The framework sets out an intention to set a new statutory fuel poverty target for England relating to levels of energy efficiency among fuel poor households.
Following the enactment of the Energy Act 2013, the Government will be publishing proposals on the precise form, level and date for a new fuel poverty target in spring 2014, linked to a new fuel poverty strategy for England. We will also publish analysis to support the formulation of the new target, including a consideration of the major role that existing policies, such as the Energy Company Obligation, will play in achieving it.
1 Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-poverty-a-framework-for-future-action
Energy Supply
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what definition his Department uses for a Lower Super Output Area. [186516]
Michael Fallon: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) definition of a Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA) is used. The definition can be found on the ONS website:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/beginner-s-guide/census/super-output-areas--soas-/index.html
Energy: Wales
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of average energy bills in Wales in each year since 2010. [185790]
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Gregory Barker: Estimates of average energy bills for Public Electricity Supply (PES) regions are shown in tables 2.2.3 and 2.3.3 of DECC's publication Quarterly Energy Prices (QEP). Regional bill estimates are available by PES region only. The two PES regions covering Wales are Merseyside and North Wales, and South Wales. These bills assume fixed annual consumption levels per household of 3,300kWh for electricity and 18,000kWh for gas. The bills provided are averaged across all methods of payment and expressed in cash terms.
Bill estimates are also produced for England and Wales combined, and can be found in tables 2.2.2 and 2.3.2 of QEP. All tables mentioned are available at the following web link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/annual-domestic-energy-price-statistics
Fracking
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department has to monitor methane emissions from shale gas extraction sites. [186166]
Michael Fallon: The recent report by Professor David Mackay and Dr Tim Stone—‘Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Shale Gas Extraction and Use’—recommended that shale gas production on the UK should be accompanied by careful monitoring and inspection of greenhouse gas emissions relating to shale gas production and exploration. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), will be responding shortly to the report and the recommendations. In addition the Environment Agency already includes conditions within mining waste permits to require operators to monitor methane emissions.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many inspections have taken place by the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive of drill sites operated by Cuadrilla resources at (a) Preese Hall, (b) Balcombe and (c) Becconsall in each year of activity on each site. [186167]
Michael Fallon: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) uses a range of techniques to regulate shale gas work activities throughout the life cycle of a well, including engaging with well operators at the well design stage, assessing well notifications before operations start, reviewing operators' weekly reports to ensure work on the well is progressing safely to plan, and conducting targeted on-site inspections informed by these activities.
At Preese Hall, HSE has assessed operational issues on four occasions between June 2010 and March 2012:
‘notification to drill’;
‘hydraulic fracture’;
‘drill suspension plugs’; and
‘calliper casing’.
There was also a site inspection of the hydraulic fracture operations. At Beconsall, one assessment of a ‘notification to drill and suspend’ took place in July 2011. At Balcombe, there were two assessments: notification to ‘drill and suspend’ in April 2013; and ‘to test’ in
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August 2013. In addition, all weekly drilling activity reports and material changes to submitted notifications at all three sites have been inspected.
The Environment Agency (EA) has visited Preese Hall 16 times: 13 visits in 2011 and three visits in 2012. Balcombe was visited four times for compliance reasons in 2013. Six additional visits were made in 2013 for water sampling, noise pollution and water pollution. In addition, Becconsall was visited six times: four visits in 2011 and two visits in 2012.
Both the EA and HSE are also committed to jointly visiting all shale gas sites, during the current exploratory phase of shale gas development.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effect of methane leakage from shale gas extraction on the UK's greenhouse gas inventory. [186170]
Michael Fallon: The inventory provides detailed estimates of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions measured during the applicable year. As the shale gas industry is in the early stages of development, it is not reported in the inventory. Once the industry starts exploration and production, the associated GHG emissions will be reported in the UK GHG Inventory.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change What estimate the Government have made of the costs of regulation of the shale gas industry during the (a) exploration and (b) commercial extraction stages. [186171]
Michael Fallon: The Government are encouraging the safe and environmentally sound exploration of shale gas to determine its potential. The UK has a robust regulatory regime for exploration and the relevant regulators consider they have the resources required at this stage of the industry's development. We continuously look to improve the regulatory regime including the assessment of new requirements at a future production stage.
Mr Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) UK, (b) European and (c) other international energy companies have applied for licences to explore for shale gas in the UK in each of the last three years. [186361]
Michael Fallon: Petroleum licences issued by DECC are not specific to shale gas but provide exclusivity in relation to exploration for and production of all types of hydrocarbons.
DECC periodically invites applications for licences in competitive rounds. The last onshore round was in 2008, and no applications have been invited or received for onshore licences in any of the last three years. Subject to consideration of the results of a public consultation presently in progress on the strategic environmental assessment, we plan to invite new applications later this year in a 14th round of onshore licensing.
Fuel Poverty
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment his Department has made of the number of fuel poor households in the private rented sector qualifying for
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installations under
(a)
the Affordable Warmth Obligation,
(b)
the Carbon Saving Communities Obligation and
(c)
the Carbon Obligation elements of the supplier-funded Energy Company Obligation since the scheme went live in January 2013 in (i) Great Britain, (ii) England and (iii) each of the other constituent parts of the UK; [185409]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the total number of fuel poor households who will receive energy efficiency measures installed (a) under the supplier funded Energy Company Obligation, (b) the Carbon Saving Communities Obligation and (c) the Carbon Obligation elements up to (i) 2015 and (ii) 2017 in each constituent part of Great Britain; [185418]
(3) what estimate his Department has made of the number of fuel poor households benefiting from energy efficiency measures installed under the (a) Affordable Warmth Obligation, (b) Carbon Saving Communities Obligation and (c) Carbon Obligation elements of the supplier-funded Energy Company Obligation in (i) Great Britain and (ii) each constituent part of the UK since the scheme went live in January 2013. [185477]
Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty, as a devolved matter, is defined differently across the constituent parts of Great Britain and the UK, and targeting fuel poor households through supplier-led energy efficiency policies necessarily requires a balance between pin-pointing only those households that are fuel poor with practical delivery challenges.
As a result, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) uses the receipt of certain benefits or living in a deprived area as proxies for low income and vulnerable households at risk of fuel poverty.
Estimates of the number of these types of households that are eligible for support through ECO is published in the final Green Deal and ECO Impact Assessment which is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/42984/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf
We will be consulting on many aspects of ECO in the near future. The proposals set out in this consultation will affect not only the estimated number of households eligible under the Carbon Saving Communities Obligation (CSCO) but also the amount of households estimated to benefit from any aspect of ECO in both 2015 and 2017. Therefore further details on these issues will be available once this consultation has been published.
DECC has published statistical information on: (a) the provisional number of ECO measures by ECO obligation by parliamentary constituency, up to 30 September 2013, and (b) the provisional number of households in receipt of ECO measures by tenure and ECO obligation, up to 30 September 2013. Please see tables 1.10b and 1.11b, respectively, of the latest quarterly Statistical Release:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-september-2013
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of how many households have been removed from fuel poverty as a result of the supplier-funded Energy Company Obligation in (a)
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the UK,
(b)
England and
(c)
each of the devolved nations to date; and what projections his Department has made of the number of households that will be removed from fuel poverty as a result of that obligation in each of the next four years. [186047]
Gregory Barker: The Department has not made a full assessment of how many households have been removed from fuel poverty as a result of the actions to date under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). However we do know that at least 260,000 low income and vulnerable households, and households living in deprived areas, have received support through ECO to reduce their energy bills. More information on the current delivery of ECO is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-statistics
The design of ECO is due to be consulted on in the near term. As part of this process we will be carefully considering what impact ECO, and any of the proposed changes set out in the consultation, will have on fuel poverty over the policy's lifetime.
Fuel Poverty: Dementia
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the number of people with dementia living in fuel poverty. [186366]
Gregory Barker: In July last year, DECC announced its intention to adopt the Low Income High Costs (LIHC) indicator to measure fuel poverty, based on the recommendations from Professor Hills' independent review.
Statistics on the number of people with dementia living in fuel poverty are not collected and so are not available. The number of households in fuel poverty under the LIHC definition where someone has a long-term illness or a disability is 835,000, which is 12.9% of households in this group.
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to provide assistance to dementia patients who are living in fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement. [186369]
Gregory Barker: This winter the warm home discount has provided an automatic discount on energy bills of £135 to over 1.1 million of the most vulnerable pensioners. The automatic nature of this payment means those vulnerable people who cannot easily claim assistance, such as those living with dementia, do not lose out.
The Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) national partnerships team works with over 4,400 customer representative organisations, both nationally and locally, to provide a wide range of advice and support for pensioners. Where customers are unable to conduct their own affairs DWP have systems in place to allow an appointee to interact with DWP on the customers’ behalf.
Help with energy costs is also provided to older people, including those with dementia, through the winter fuel payment and cold weather payments.
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Green Deal Scheme
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Green Deal assessments have been completed to date; and how many such assessments were for heat pumps as qualifying technology that had already been installed. [186371]
Gregory Barker: There were 129,842 Green Deal assessments lodged in Great Britain up to the end of December 2013, as reported in the following Official Statistics release:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-monthly-statistics-january-2014
From 20 May last year, it has been a requirement for those claiming support under the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme to first undertake a Green Deal assessment. Under the extension of Phase 2 of the RHPP (which commenced on 1 April 2013), 1,192 heat pumps have been installed, as at the end of December 2013.
We intend to introduce the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for the domestic sector from this spring.
Nuclear Power
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many incidents there have been of staff of nuclear power facilities being (a) disciplined and (b) dismissed for inappropriate behaviour in each of the last three years; and what the nature of each such incident was. [186244]
Michael Fallon: The Data Protection Act does not allow us to disclose individual cases. The general reason for dismissal would be breach of employment contract or failure to follow Company Policy and Procedures. The following table outlines the number of staff disciplined and dismissed in the last three years.
| (a) Disciplined | (b) Dismissed | |
Nuclear Power
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many incidents there have been of staff at nuclear facilities using illegal drugs in each of the last three years. [186245]
Michael Fallon: The site licensed companies (SLCs), as part of their safe site stewardship, are required to comply to report to ONR the possession, misuse or true positive testing for unlawful substances or prescription drugs. It is for each individual SLC to devise its own policy and demonstrate compliance with the regulatory requirement. Any incidents are reported and dealt with appropriately by the SLC.
Renewable Energy
Stephen Barclay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of any duplication between
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accreditation that applies to installers of renewable technology under the Micro Generation certification scheme and installation of technology under the Green Deal; and if he will estimate the cost to businesses of any such duplication. [186372]
Gregory Barker: An installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) who wishes to install microgeneration measures under the Green Deal does not have to start the accreditation process from scratch. They must also gain certification against MCS standard (MCS 023) which outlines additional requirements for MCS installers to become Green Deal authorised.
If a MCS installer also wishes to install Green Deal measures outside those covered by the MCS, then they will need to be certified against the relevant parts of the Green Deal installer standard (PAS 2030).
Sellafield
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the elevated levels of radiation detected at Sellafield on 31 January 2014. [186256]
Michael Fallon:
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is responsible for regulating the nuclear sector. I am advised by the ONR that the increased radiation
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was due to naturally occurring radon arising from construction activities at the Sellafield site. The increase in activity was extremely small and within normal fluctuations in background levels of radiation that would be routinely expected within the parameters of the approved safety case. It was detected on this occasion because of the sensitivity of the detectors. ONR is continuing its investigation as to whether recent maintenance has affected the performance of the detectors as part of their normal routine inspection activities. ONR was satisfied that Sellafield Ltd acted in an appropriate manner throughout the event.
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the economic cost was of running Sellafield with only essential staff on 31 January 2014. [186257]
Michael Fallon: The NDA is currently awaiting notification from Sellafield Ltd of any financial implications attributable to the reduced staffing levels on the Sellafield site as a result of an investigation into apparent raised levels of radiation detected by one on-site air monitor on 31 January 2014. All currently operational plants on the Sellafield site remained operational during this investigation. The site entered weekend working patterns as usual on 31 January 2014 and was returned to normal staffing levels on 3 February 2014.