Sandymoor School

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 223W, on Sandymoor school, what funding will be allocated to Sandymoor Free School in the 2014-15 financial year. [192123]

Mr Timpson: The complete funding allocation for Sandymoor Free School for the 2014/15 academic year will be finalised by the end of March. Funding allocation data for all open academies and free schools will be published by the Education Funding Agency in the autumn.

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Schools

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make an assessment of the relative educational outcomes in Hull and Surrey local authority areas; and what assessment he has made of how the extra funding for schools announced on 13 March 2014 will address such differences. [191973]

Mr Laws: The Department for Education regularly publishes information on the educational outcomes of schools. The information is on the Department's website and can be found at the following address:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/

Our aim is to move towards a fairer and more transparent funding system that supports better quality education across the country. The current funding system is unfair, out of date and little more than a postcode lottery. We will allocate £350 million to increase the per-pupil budgets of our least fairly funded local areas in 2015-16. This reform will mean that in 2015-16 every local area will attract a minimum level of funding for each of its pupils and schools, making the distribution of funding to local areas fairer while ensuring that no area receives a cut to its per-pupil budget.

Currently, the local authority of Surrey receives £4,096 of funding per-pupil, the tenth lowest in the country. Under our proposals, this is likely to rise to around £4,282. The City of Kingston upon Hull local authority currently receives £4,719 of funding per-pupil. Under our proposals, this is not likely to change.

Secondary Education

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education by which criteria the Education Funding Agency will prioritise the allocation of capital resources to secondary schools; and if he will make a statement. [192054]

Mr Laws: On 18 December, the Department for Education announced £2.35 billion additional funding to help local authorities to create the new school places that will be needed by September 2017. The Department uses the same methodology for allocating basic need funding for primary and secondary places. The allocations are based on the data provided by local authorities, and reflect the higher costs of providing a secondary school place. Basic need allocations are not ring-fenced, giving local authorities the freedom to decide how best to spend the funding to create primary or secondary places based on local need.

The 2014-15 maintenance allocations for local authorities and schools announced on 24 January were calculated using pupil numbers from the January 2013 school census. The allocations include a weighting to reflect the higher maintenance costs of secondary schools. The Department is currently collecting up to date information on the condition of school buildings through a comprehensive survey, which is due to be completed this summer. It is our intention that the survey results will be used to inform the allocation of maintenance funding from 2015-16.

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Teachers: Training

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which contractors were awarded the contract by the National College for Teaching and Leadership for professional skills tests for initial teacher training entrants. [192144]

Mr Laws: There were no new contracts awarded by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) for the delivery of the professional skills test for initial teacher training entrants. The numeracy and literacy tests for prospective teachers were developed from 2009 onwards, under two contracts let by the Training and Development Agency for Schools, which this Government abolished.

One contract with BTL Group Ltd was for test development and one contract with Pearson VUE was for test delivery. The Department is currently in the process of appointing a new contractor via the applicable Government Procurement framework agreement.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received on the professional skills test for initial teacher training entrants. [192145]

Mr Laws: The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has recently received representation from the Million + Group, a think-tank, in regard to the professional skills test for initial teacher training entrants and its potential impact on undergraduates. This representation was received prior to the ministerial statement issued by myself, on the scoring issues identified by the Standards and Testing Agency.

There have been further representations by individuals in response to the reforms of the Professional Skills Tests for prospective teachers which came into effect from September 2012. Representations have been in regard to the limit on the number of resits allowed and the consequences of failing either of the literacy or numeracy tests for the third time. Candidates who fail either test for the third time are unable to take the test for 24 months from the date of the second resit.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how the applicants of the contracts for the professional skills test for ITT entrants will be assessed; and how often Ministers have received reports relating to the quality or otherwise of the contractors. [192184]

Mr Laws: The Department for Education is in the process of appointing a new contractor via the applicable Government Procurement framework agreement.

This Government's decision to bring the Training and Development Agency for Schools's functions within the Department has brought greater scrutiny, increased accountability and helped unearth the errors I explained to the House in my statement of 6 March 2014, Official Report, columns 52-3WS.

Teachers: Veterans

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding has been allocated to the Troops to Teachers programme to date. [192171]

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Mr Laws: As stated in the original tender documentation, the Department for Education has allocated up to £10 million to the Troops to Teachers programme over 24 months.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many service leavers (a) applied to and (b) were accepted on initial teacher training in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10, (iii) 2010-11, (iv) 2011-12, (v) 2012-13 and (vi) the current academic year to date. [192173]

Mr Laws: The Department for Education does not hold this information prior to March 2011.

Between March 2011 and 10 April 2013, 322 service leavers applied to initial teacher training, of whom 132 were accepted.

Trade Union Officials

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department provided for staff to carry out trade union activities in each of the last three years; and how many days staff spent on those activities in those years. [190482]

Elizabeth Truss: In May 2013 we implemented a new facility time agreement which saw the departmental trade union representatives' facility time reduced by 50% and the withdrawal of paid facility time for trade union activities.

The following table provides records held on funding to carry out trade union duties and activities and number of days spent on these in each of the last three years:

The Department for Education introduced robust monitoring of staffing costs for trade union duties in November 2012. Prior to this date, records were collated by trade union branch chairs.

The rise in the number of days from 2011-12 and 2012-13 was due to the increase in work force numbers and office locations as a result of executive agencies becoming part of the Department for Education in April 2012. The figures for 2012 onwards are therefore not comparable with the figures for the previous years.

World War I: Anniversaries

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will meet the Never Such Innocence campaign to discuss educational material relating to the commemoration of the First World War. [191989]

Elizabeth Truss: I have asked officials from my Department to meet the organisers of the ‘Never Such Innocence’ campaign.

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Health

Abortion

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many ground E abortions for chromosomal abnormalities other than trisomies 21, 18 and 13 were diagnosed by (a) amniocentesis, (b) ultrasound, (c) chronic villus sampling and (d) other diagnostic tests in each of the last 10 years; what other methods of diagnosis were listed under heading (d), other; and how many such diagnoses which did not result in abortion were recorded in the same period; [191458]

(2) how many ground E abortions for trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) were diagnosed by (a) amniocentesis, (b) ultrasound, (c) chronic villus sampling and (d) other diagnostic tests in each of the last 10 years; what other methods of diagnosis were listed under heading (d); and how many such diagnoses which did not result in abortion were recorded in the same period. [191459]

Jane Ellison: This information cannot be provided.

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the reasons for the differences in the statistics gathered by his Department and the Wolfson Institute on the number of abortions carried out in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 for (i) Down's syndrome, (ii) Edwards' syndrome and (iii) Patau syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [191460]

Jane Ellison: Some analysis has been undertaken for 2011 and we are now repeating this for 2012, to compare the trends over time.

Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many diagnoses of trisomy 21 leading to a ground E abortion were diagnosed by (a) amniocentesis, (b) ultrasound, (c) chorionic villus sampling and (d) other diagnostic tests in each of the last 10 years; what those other methods of diagnosis were; and how many diagnoses of that condition, which did not result in abortion, were recorded in that period; [191546]

(2) how many diagnoses of trisomy 18 leading to a ground E abortion were diagnosed by (a) amniocentesis, (b) ultrasound, (c) chorionic villus sampling and (d) other diagnostic tests in each of the last 10 years; what those other methods of diagnosis were; and how many diagnoses of that condition, which did not result in abortion, were recorded in that period. [191547]

Jane Ellison: This information cannot be provided.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what standards of data collection are required of Clinical Commissioning Groups in respect of abortion services delivered in the independent sector. [191548]

Jane Ellison: Data requirements are for individual clinical commissioning groups to agree as part of the local commissioning process.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury of 4 March 2014, Official Report, column 766W, on abortion, how many abortion

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notification forms which initially offered no information on the method of diagnosis for a ground E termination were returned to practitioners for completion following the decision to return incomplete forms in 2010; how many of those notification forms were subsequently returned completed; and how many such completed forms identified the method of diagnosis as

(a)

amniocentesis,

(b)

ultrasound,

(c)

chorionic villus sampling and

(d)

other. [191670]

Jane Ellison: This information cannot be provided.

Brain: Injuries

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with medical authorities on the use of electrical current to treat brain injuries; [191461]

(2) what his Department's policy is on the use of electrical current as a medical treatment in the NHS. [191462]

Jane Ellison: Ministers have had no discussions with medical authorities on the use of electrical current to treat brain injuries.

There are a wide range of applications on the use of electricity as part of medical treatment in the national health service. Examples of these can include:

deep brain stimulation in the treatment of some movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia and tremor;

using percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to treat difficult-to-treat neuropathic pain; and

irreversible electroporation for the treatment of liver, pancreatic, renal, and lung cancers.

It is the responsibility of a treating clinician to use their clinical judgement, supported by relevant guidance/when discussing appropriate treatments with their patient, taking into account safety, and clinical and cost effectiveness.

Brain: Medical Treatments

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department offers to patients requiring deep brain stimulation treatment, in cases where extra funding is required. [191793]

Norman Lamb: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used to treat a wide range of conditions. For movement disorders (Parkinson's Disease, dystonia and tremor), DBS provides significant therapeutic benefits. In April 2013, NHS England published the commissioning policy, “Clinical Commissioning Policy: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in Movement Disorders” This document sets out the criteria that need to be met for a patient with one of these three disorders to receive treatment at a centre in the United Kingdom, funded by NHS England. A copy of the policy can be found at:

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/d03-p-b.pdf

For other conditions, there are significant gaps in the evidence and questions that need to be addressed by further research. In April 2013, NHS England published the policy statement, “Clinical Commissioning Policy Statement: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Indications Except Movement Disorders”. This sets out the commissioning position that the level of evidence does

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not support routine funding of DBS on the basis of clinical effectiveness for coma, depression, pain and Tourette's Syndrome. A copy of the policy statement can be found at:

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/d03-ps-b.pdf

On behalf of their patients, clinicians are able to make an individual funding request (IFR) to NHS England for specialised treatment that is not routinely commissioned by NHS England. In making such an application for funding, they must make a case of clinical exceptionality. This must demonstrate that the patient is significantly clinically different to, and likely to gain more clinical benefits than, patients with a condition and at a stage of progression for which the treatment is not routinely available.

Further information about the procedures followed for managing IFR applications is available on NHS England's website at:

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cp-03.pdf

Breast Cancer

Dr McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the report by Breast Cancer Campaign entitled Finding the cures, improving the care, published on 11 March 2014, what assessment he has made of claims in that report that patients are being failed by insensitive NHS doctors and nurses. [191884]

Jane Ellison: The Breast Cancer Campaign report, ‘Finding the cures, improving the care’, seeks to use the results of the 2011-12 and 2013 National Cancer Patient Experience Surveys (NCPES), as well as other data sources, to assess how well trusts are meeting certain aspects of the Breast Cancer Quality Standard, published by the National institute for Health and Care Excellence in 2011.

The National reports of the NCPES show patients with breast cancer report the most positive experience of care. In the 2013 survey report, 88% of breast cancer patients said they were told they had cancer in sensitive way compared to 84% for patients with ‘all cancers'. For this question, breast cancer patients are the joint highest scoring group alongside patients with skin cancer.

To drive improvement in cancer patient experience, NHS England is working with high performing trusts in the NCPES to identify best practice that can be shared and developed into toolkits and working with trusts with poorer scores to review how they use insights gained from the survey to develop service improvement plans. The national report of the NCPES 2013 can be found at the following link:

http://www.quality-health.co.uk/resources/surveys/national-cancer-experience-survey/2013-national-cancer-patient-experience-survey-reports/301-2013-national-cancer-patient-experience-survey-programme-national-report/file

Cervical Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Avastin form of the drug bevacizumab will be made available through the NHS for the treatment of cervical cancer. [191463]

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Norman Lamb: Avastin (bevacizumab) is not currently licensed for use in the treatment of cervical cancer and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not appraised Avastin for this indication.

In the absence of NICE guidance on a specific drug for a particular condition, it is for national health service commissioners to make funding decisions based on an assessment of the available evidence.

Where a drug is not routinely funded by the NHS, patients in England may be able to access it through the Cancer Drugs Fund. NHS England is responsible for administering the Fund and its national Cancer Drugs Fund clinical panel added Avastin for the first line treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, in combination with paclitaxel and either cisplatin or carboplatin, to its national cohort policies list in February 2014. Further information can be obtained from NHS England's website at:

www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/

Clinical Audit

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of doctors and nurses participated in clinical audit in each of the last five years; [192120]

(2) what proportion of NHS funding has been spent on clinical audit in each of the last five years. [192121]

Jane Ellison: Information regarding either the total proportion of national health service funding that has been spent on clinical audits, or the number of clinicians, including doctors and nurses, who participated in clinical audits, in each of the last five years, is not collected.

The majority of clinical audit activity in the NHS is locally undertaken by individual healthcare providers.

However, a small number of national clinical audits covering some of most common conditions are commissioned and managed on behalf of NHS England by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership. In addition, there are also four Clinical Outcome Review Programmes.

In 2012-13, expenditure on national clinical audits, the Clinical Outcomes Review Programme and a range of supporting activities totalled £14.6 million for the full financial year.

Cystic Fibrosis

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the allocation of donor lungs to cystic fibrosis patients in England; and what steps he is taking to ensure the allocation of donor lungs is based on need and not location. [191929]

Jane Ellison: The current lung allocation system, including those to cystic fibrosis patients, is monitored closely to ensure there is equity for patients across the United Kingdom. The most recent analysis showed no statistically significant differences in allocation across the UK lung transplant centres. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) continues to consider practical steps within the current allocation system which could improve patient outcomes.

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Lung allocation policy is developed by the Cardiothoracic Organs Advisory Group. It is presently reviewing the current approach focusing on equity and better outcomes for patients. Any recommendations to change allocation policy will be considered by NHSBT, who will check to ensure that they meet with the aims of the allocation system and that they have the support of transplant stakeholders before making any changes.

Empty Property

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by (a) his Department and (b) any Executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies of his Department in the current financial year. [191810]

Dr Poulter: Estimates of the empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by the Department are £42,021 and for Executive agencies/non-departmental public bodies £17,073 in the current financial year.

Epilepsy

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will request the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to carry out a consultation with patients and professionals on the effect of switching between brands of anti-epileptic drugs; [191970]

(2) what representations he has received on the effects of switching between different versions of levetiracetam and other anti-epileptic drugs; [191971]

(3) what steps the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency took to consult with patients before issuing new guidance on switching between different manufacturers' versions of anti-epileptic drugs. [191974]

Norman Lamb: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance on the risk of switching between formulations of an anti-epileptic drug (AED) provides guidance to help prescribers and patients to decide whether and when it is necessary to ensure that the patient continues to receive the same formulation of an AED. It is a move from the established regulatory position for generic medicines that they are interchangeable with the innovator product because they have been shown to be bioequivalent to them. It acknowledges concerns of patients about this group of products when switching between different manufacturers' AEDs. The main reason for these concerns is the potentially serious consequences of loss of control of their condition.

The advice does not affect national health service prescribing policy. Regardless of the category of drug (which is based primarily on the scientific evidence) the advice is clear that doctors may wish to maintain continuity of supply of any AED to meet the needs or anxiety of a particular patient. For these reasons, and because the advice was informed by previous reports from patients and health care professionals, no further consultation was conducted.

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Since publication of the advice in November 2013, the MHRA has received representation from Epilepsy Action against the designation of the lowest risk category of products which the MHRA has termed products ‘unlikely to be of concern' on formulation switching. This category includes levetiracetam. The agency has also received requests for further information about the advice and seen correspondence from the United Kingdom Chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy in which they emphasise the importance of views of patients and carers in the prescribing decision. The MHRA has also met with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Epilepsy to discuss the advice. That meeting included representation from Epilepsy Action.

MHRA will continue to monitor the safety of these products including reports of any problems associated with switching between different manufacturers' products. The advice will be reviewed after 12 months, but at any time, if the strength of emerging evidence supports it, then re-categorising a particular drug substance will be considered.

To facilitate continuity of supply of products prescribed generically, the MHRA has written to manufacturers setting out product naming and labelling requirements.

Exercise

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of physical activity programmes to address the needs of people with painful conditions such as arthritis. [191426]

Norman Lamb: The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a range of guidance on pain and pain management. This guidance represents evidence-based best practice and provides a clear description of what high-quality health and social care services look like, so that organisations can improve quality and achieve excellence.

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Guideline CG79, published by NICE in 2009, states people with rheumatoid arthritis should have access to specialist physiotherapy, with periodic review, to:

improve general fitness and encourage regular exercise; and

learn exercises for joint flexibility, muscle strength and managing other functional impairments.

NICE has also published Clinical Guidance on Low Back Pain, CG88. The guidance includes a recommendation to ‘advise people with low back pain that staying physically active is likely to be beneficial’ and highlights as a key priority for implementation a recommendation to clinicians to consider offering a structured exercise programme tailored to the individual.

The Department expects clinical commissioning groups to take into account any relevant NICE guidance as they design services to meet the needs of patients.

Female Genital Mutilation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what services are given in support of NHS nurses reporting cases of female genital mutilation. [191991]

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Jane Ellison: The Government published the guidance “Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines: Female Genital Mutilation” February 2011, which provides advice to health professionals on when they should report cases under section 47 of the 1989 Children Act.

Guidance is also available from various professional bodies, for example, the General Medical Council and the Royal College of Midwives. In addition, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children female genital mutilation (FGM) helpline, co-funded by the Home Office, is a resource for health professionals and young people with concerns about safeguarding issues.

The Department is also working with NHS England, Health Education England and the Royal Colleges to develop materials and training to support NHS staff, including nurses, to better identify and support girls at risk of FGM. Further announcements on this work will be made in due course.

Food Network

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the chair of the food network of the responsibility deal has received (a) paid employment, (b) funding for research and (c) hospitality from the food industry. [192170]

Jane Ellison: The Department secures the services of the chair of the Responsibility Deal Food Network through a contract for service with Oxford university as her employer. The terms and conditions of the contract state that the contractor must declare any conflict of interest. None have been declared.

Professor Jebb, chair of the network, does not receive any personal remuneration from the food industry. She is a member of the Medical Advisory Board for an equipment manufacturer and receives a fee for nutrition articles for a magazine. When commencing her role as chair of the food network and while employed by the Medical Research Council, her research team received funding for a scientific project from WeightWatchers. This project has been completed and the results published.

She is also co-investigator on two research projects in which weight management companies (WeightWatchers, Slimming World and Rosemary Conley) provide funding in kind through the provision of weight management services to participants in the trials. One study also receives additional support from WeightWatchers for the analysis of blood samples.

Arrangements for declaring hospitality are a matter for her employer.

Health and Care Professions Council

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been received about the Health and Care Professions Council or its predecessor in the last five years. [191561]

Dr Poulter: The information is not collected.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), formerly known as the Health Professions Council, is an independent body accountable to Parliament. Its decision-making and processes are overseen by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) who undertake an annual performance review.

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The PSA's latest review 2012-13 stated that the HCPC has maintained its performance as an effective regulator across each of its regulatory functions. This review was reported to Parliament and to the Devolved Administrations and can be followed up by further consideration by Parliament. For example, the HCPC was subject to further review by the Health Select Committee in January 2014.

Health Professions

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alert notices have been issued in respect of healthcare professionals in each of the last five years. [192122]

Dr Poulter: Prior to 1 April 2013, strategic health authorities (SHAs) in England had responsibility for issuing Healthcare Professionals Alert Notices (HPANs) and they were directed to send a copy to the National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS). Since 1 April 2013, NCAS has been a part of the NHS Litigation Authority (NHS LA) and is now responsible for issuing and reviewing HPANs. The following table sets out data extracted from the information about HPANs held by the NHS LA. The table is categorised by calendar year from 2009-13 and shows the number of notifications of HPANs issued that NCAS received from SHAs in England:

Health Services: Older People

Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many elderly people have received help with (a) low, (b) moderate, (c) substantial and (d) critical needs in each month since January 2010. [191567]

Norman Lamb: We are informed by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre that it collects data annually from councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) on numbers of people receiving social services in each year.

The data are not broken down by level of assessed need and are only available for complete years. The table shows numbers of older people-aged 65 and over-receiving services provided or commissioned by CASSRs for the years 2009-10 to 2012-13.

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Health Visitors

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the potential change in the number of health visitors working with children as a result of the transfer of funding for health visitors from the NHS to local authorities in 2015. [191911]

Dr Poulter: The Department, NHS England, Public Health England and the Local Government Association are working closely together to develop a clear process to ensure an effective and safe transfer of commissioning of children's 0 to 5 public health services, including health visiting services, to local authorities by 1 October 2015. No specific assessment has been made of the potential change in the number of health visitors in the years after commissioning has transferred to local authorities. Health Education England (HEE), in its December 2013 publication, ‘Investing in People for Health and Healthcare: Workforce Plan for England Proposed Education and Training Commissions for 2014/15’, has set out its approach to training health visitors in the longer term, stating:

“The job of HEE this year and in future years is to maintain the Health Visitor workforce at these new historically high levels.”

Hospitals: Inspections

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers the Care Quality Commission has to carry out spot checks of all wards of a hospital without seeking the permission of the relevant commissioner beforehand. [192040]

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.

Under section 60 of the 2008 Act, the CQC has the power to inspect providers of a regulated activity, including hospitals. CQC is not required to seek any permission (including commissioners) before exercising these powers.

Medical Records: Databases

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who currently manages the GP dataset; what commercial companies are involved in its management; and where each server on which data are stored is located. [191576]

Dr Poulter: The first collection of data from general practitioner surgeries under care.data will not begin until autumn 2014. When the data have been extracted from general practice systems, the Health and Social Care Information Centre will have responsibility for managing the processing of the data. All extracted data will be processed and stored on servers located in England.

Medical Treatments

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many stenting procedures in the (a) iliac, (b) femoral and (c) anterior arteries below the knee have taken place in each NHS trust in the latest year for which figures are available. [191447]

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Jane Ellison: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

We have provided a count of finished consultant episodes with a main or secondary procedure of stenting in the iliac, femoral and anterior arteries below the knee, by provider trust, for the period 2012-13.

It is not possible to specify anterior arteries “below the knee”. Therefore we have provided information on anterior arteries which are included in the “below the knee” area, though this is not exclusive to and does not include all possible “below the knee” anterior arteries.

It should be noted that a single record can contain more than one procedure and so may appear in more than one group.

In addition, these data should not be described as a count of people, as the same person may have been treated on more than one occasion.

To protect patient confidentiality, figures between one and five have been replaced with ‘*’ (an asterisk). Where it was still possible to identify figures from the total, additional figures have been replaced with ‘*’.

Reference should be made to the footnotes when interpreting the data.

Mental Health Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffering with mental health problems were treated using cognitive behavioural therapy in the UK in 2013. [191448]

Norman Lamb: The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme is one of the means by which people can access talking therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). We do not hold data centrally on the numbers of people accessing these therapies outside of the IAPT programme.

However, the number of attended^1,2 IAPT appointments with a recorded therapy type of ‘cognitive behavioural therapy’ or ‘computerised cognitive behavioural therapy’ (CCBT) is as follows:

Mental Health Services: Children

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to ensure that children who need mental health interventions are placed in facilities as close to their homes as possible. [191994]

Norman Lamb: Our aim is to support children and young people with mental health problems wherever possible in the community in which they live. Admission to hospital should be a last resort for a young person. If a child requires in-patient care the decision as to where

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they are placed will depend on what is available and what facilities are needed based on an assessment of their clinical needs.

NHS England is responsible for the commissioning of Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Tier 4, Specialised Services, are for children and adolescents with the most serious of needs who require high levels of support.

They are undertaking a rapid review of Tier 4 services across the country which will help inform decisions about how such services are to be provided and delivered in the future. The review is due to report later this month.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the inclusion of indicators in the Public Health Outcomes Framework on physical activity levels among people with (a) back pain, (b) osteoarthritis and (c) other painful musculoskeletal conditions. [191423]

Jane Ellison: While there is an indicator in the Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) on physical activity levels, there are no indicators in the PHOF specifically on physical activity levels among people with back pain, osteoarthritis and other painful musculoskeletal conditions.

The Department will not add new indicators to the PHOF until 2016 to provide local authorities with stability in prioritising and commissioning public health interventions. The current PHOF will be reviewed in late 2015.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated by each local authority to (a) prevent the onset of musculoskeletal conditions and (b) mitigate the effects of such conditions. [191424]

Jane Ellison: Upper tier and unitary local authorities in England have a duty to take appropriate steps to improve the health of their local populations. The Department has allocated £5.46 billion over two years, 2013-14 and 2014-15, to local authorities to fund the discharge of their public health duties. There are a limited number of mandated services that local authorities have a duty to commission or to provide. However, for the most part local authorities have discretion to invest the public health budget to meet local needs, including services to prevent the onset or mitigate the effects of musculoskeletal conditions, if that is a local priority based on population needs.

Public Health England recognises the burden of disease in England through musculoskeletal disease (MSK) and is working across the life course to promote the healthy behaviours which reduce the risk of MSK through increasing physical activity, improving diet arid nutrition and reducing obesity.

NHS England

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with NHS England on that body's policy for payment of senior staff after leaving NHS jobs for a period of secondment. [191975]

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Jane Ellison: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has not held discussions with NHS England on its secondment policy. It is for NHS England and the receiving organisation to agree the terms of any secondment and the associated remuneration arrangements.

NHS England has advised that secondments for very senior staff are decided by its Remuneration Committee on a case by case basis.

NHS: Data Protection

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many serious data breaches the NHS has registered in each year since 2010. [191560]

Dr Poulter: A serious data breach is a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 and involves information about identifiable or potentially identifiable individuals. Where data are extremely sensitive this may be information about a single identifiable individual, however, even where no confidential clinical information is involved an incident involving fifty individuals would still be classed as serious. Examples of different data breaches range from a ward handover sheet left on a bus, a wrongly addressed letter, a stolen diary, an error resulting in data being put on a website, a deliberate and unlawful act. Responsibility for serious data breaches rests with the organisation that registers the breach. It is also the responsibility of individual organisations to ensure they have sufficient arrangements in place to guard against serious data breaches.

Prior to June 2013, details of serious data breaches were reported via various different resource criteria and accurate figures are not available. A new reporting tool for registering serious data breaches was introduced in June 2013 to remedy this situation. In the period from 1 June 2013 to 14 March 2014, 269 serious data breaches have been registered, the majority of them involving small numbers of individuals and resulting from theft or error:

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to contribute to the consultation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council on its proposals to increase its compulsory annual fee. [191764]

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Dr Poulter: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is an independent body and it is therefore for the NMC Council to determine the level of the annual fee it charges for registration. The NMC advises that no decision has been made. Any proposed increase would be subject to public consultation where the NMC's case would be scrutinised. The Department does not usually contribute to such consultations but all professional regulators, including the NMC, are aware of the Department's position on registration fees. In February 2011, the Government published ‘Enabling Excellence’, which states that we would not expect registration fees to increase beyond their current levels, unless there is a clear and robust business case that any increase is essential to ensure the exercise of statutory duties.

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the Nursing and Midwifery Council's proposal to raise nurse registration fees. [191765]

Dr Poulter: Since 1 January 2014, the Department has received a number of representations about the level of the annual fee charged by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for registration and whether this will be raised in future. As at 14 March 2014, these representations included six items of correspondence: four from Members of Parliament, one from the Royal College of Nursing and one from a member of the public. The Department has received four related parliamentary questions (PQs), including two PQs tabled by the hon. Member. The Department has also responded to an e-petition, created on 5 February 2014, opposing an increase in the NMC's registration fee.

Organs: Donors

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider introducing a national lung allocation system based on need and not location. [191577]

Jane Ellison: The current lung allocation system is monitored closely to ensure there is equity for patients across the United Kingdom. The most recent analysis showed no statistically significant differences across the UK lung transplant centres.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) continues to consider practical steps within the current allocation system which could improve patient outcomes.

Lung allocation policy is developed by the Cardiothoracic Organs Advisory Group. It is presently reviewing the current approach focusing on equity and better outcomes for patients.

Any recommendations to change allocation policy will be considered by NHSBT, which will check to ensure that they meet with the aims of the allocation system and that they have the support of transplant stakeholders before making any changes.

Orthopaedics

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many lower limb amputations procedures took place through the NHS in each NHS trust in each of the last five years. [191446]

Jane Ellison: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

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PA Consulting Group

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the contract between the NHS and PA Consulting is due to end. [191221]

Dr Poulter: The data sharing agreement with PA Consulting is due to end on 30 November 2015.

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2014, Official Report, column 196W, on Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, for what reasons his Department considers that the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme does not affect the operation of Government accounting and borrowing rules; to which organisations his Department has communicated this; whether he has discussed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the possibility of allowing an exemption to Government accounting and borrowing rules in this instance; and if he will make a statement. [191833]

Norman Lamb: The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) provides for payments to be made from scheme members to the Department on the basis of an agreed forecast of branded medicines spend growth, in order to pay for expected spend above the agreed growth limits. Future payments will be adjusted in the light of actual outturn in order to keep the spend which is controlled by the PPRS within the agreed growth limit.

The PPRS, which is a public document, does not cover the onward financial flows of the payments to national health service commissioners, which are subject to the Government accounting and budgeting rules in the normal way. The Department has discussed these financial flows with NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

There have been and will continue to be discussions within and across Government about the PPRS agreement, including how it is ensuring that patients benefit from the scheme.

Respite Care

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to local authorities on the provision of respite care to severely disabled children and adults. [191977]

Norman Lamb: Since April 2011, all local authorities have been required to provide a variety of short breaks services for disabled children, providing much-needed respite for their parents and carers. Regulations introduced in October 2011 further require local authorities to publish a Short Breaks Duty Statement, describing what short breaks services are available in their area and how they can be accessed. Authorities must develop these statements in consultation with disabled young people and their families and must review them regularly to ensure that they remain responsive to local needs.

The Department provided £400 million to the national health service over four years from 2011 for carers to have breaks from their caring responsibilities. In the 2013 Spending Round, we announced the £3.8 billion Better Care Fund to promote better integration between health and care services, in 2015-16.

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Guidance to Health and Wellbeing Boards, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities in taking forward next steps on the Better Care Fund has been issued as part of the NHS England planning guidance. This guidance makes clear that future funding of breaks for adult carers for 2015-16 will be included in the Better Care Fund.

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities currently planning to close homes offering respite care to severely disabled children and adults. [191978]

Norman Lamb: The Department has not made any assessment of the number of local authorities planning to close homes offering respite care to disabled adults. Responsibility for such services for children rests with the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove).

Local authorities have a duty to meet peoples' eligible needs for care. They are free to decide whether to do so directly, via their own services, or through contracting with independent providers. The decision to close a local authority care home is taken by the local authority itself.

In considering changes to the extent of their direct provision of residential care, local authorities must take full account of the welfare and wishes of residents and staff of the homes concerned and the needs and wishes of the local population. They must also act legally. The Department is concerned that any decision to close a home should be handled as sensitively and appropriately as possible. In such a situation, it is essential that proper arrangements are made for the safe and satisfactory transfer of residents to other suitable homes.

Adequate time should be allowed for the process, so that residents and their relatives can make decisions and arrangements in a way that minimises stress. Local authorities have a statutory duty to reassess the needs of residents of a home which closes and must arrange suitable alternative accommodation for those who are assessed as needing residential care.

Salt: Children

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce salt consumption by children. [191563]

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Jane Ellison: Work to reduce salt intakes, including amongst children, has been a key area of work of the Public Health Responsibility Deal (RD) since its launch in March 2011. Two sets of new and challenging targets for levels of salt in a wide range of foods were issued through the RD on 7 March. This includes those foods commonly consumed by children both in and out of the home. Work is now under way to engage with businesses to adopt and work towards these targets.

The Change4Life programme is targeted at families and gives information on the benefits of reducing salt intakes, and easy ways to do this, through advertising, published materials and its website. Together these actions will help to enable people to lead healthier lifestyles and make sure that children develop healthy eating habits, including a lower salt consumption.

Vaccination

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a joint PHE-JCVI-DH-NICE working group to examine how the impact of vaccination programmes could best be assessed has been established and has yet met. [191706]

Jane Ellison: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation at its February 2014 meeting agreed the terms of reference of the PHE-JCVI-DH-NICE working group and arrangements for the establishment of the group are under way. The working group is yet to meet.

Defence

Capita

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) length and (b) value is of each contract his Department currently holds with Capita. [191618]

Mr Dunne: Since January 2011, as part of this Government's commitment to increase transparency, central Government Departments have been required to publish information about contracts they award on Contracts Finder:

www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/

Details of contracts with Capita which commenced prior to January 2011 or have not been published on the Contracts Finder are in the following table:

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Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2014, Official Report, column 13W, on defence: procurement, if he will (a) place in the Library and (b) publish on his Department's website the breakdown by UK region of his Department's expenditure with small and medium-sized enterprises. [183162]

Mr Dunne: The level of direct Ministry of Defence expenditure placed with small and medium-sized enterprises in each of the English regions and other constituent parts of the UK in each of the last three financial years will be placed in the Library of the House.

We currently have no plans to publish regional expenditure statistics on the gov.uk website.

Dounreay

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reasons representatives of his Department did not mention the incident at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment in January 2012 in any of their oral or written reports to the Dounreay Stakeholder Group in 2012 and 2013; [191599]

(2) whether he instructed his officials not to make public the problem with the reactor cooling system at Dounreay Naval Reactor Test Establishment at the Dounreay Stakeholder Group meetings of 19 January, 25 April, 18 July and 7 November 2012; [191603]

(3) for what reasons the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator did not mention the incident at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment in January 2012 in (a) his quarterly reports to the Dounreay Stakeholder Group and (b) his 2012 annual report. [191607]

Mr Dunne: The issue with the reactor at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment at Dounreay has been classed as a Level 0 event on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) meaning that it is ‘below scale’ and has no safety significance.

Level 0 events are not routinely made public and are not routinely reported. That has been the practice of successive Governments, and it is the practice throughout the civil and military nuclear sectors.

Routine discharges from NRTE have remained well within the limits approved by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Discharge information is published annually as part of the ‘Radioactivity in Food and the Environment’ publication.

If there had been any safety risk the Dounreay Stakeholder Group would have been informed.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department first became aware of the increase in discharges of noble gases from the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment as a result of the incident in January 2012. [191600]

Mr Dunne: Routine discharges of noble gases from the Naval Reactor Test Establishment are a normal result of the process of sampling cooling water from the reactor plant.

Following the detection of low levels of radioactivity in the cooling water in January 2012, the frequency of sampling was increased, necessarily leading to an increase in controlled discharges of noble gases in 2012, but still well within approved limits. In accordance with the requirement to reduce risk As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP), and following acceptance by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator, modifications to site procedures and equipment since then have reduced discharges to levels that are lower than they were before 2012.

Routine discharges from NRTE have remained well within the limits approved by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Discharge information is published annually as part of the ‘Radioactivity in Food and the Environment’ publication.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether his Department has measured the dimensions of the fracture in the cladding of the fuel core of the reactor in the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment; [191601]

(2) whether his Department has identified the exact location of the fracture in the cladding of the fuel core of the reactor in the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment. [191608]

Mr Dunne: Trials and analysis undertaken to characterise the changes in performance of the cladding has allowed it to be localised to a small area of the cladding that surrounds one fuel element within the core of the reactor. Precise physical location and measurement will not be possible until reactor operations have concluded and the core has been removed for detailed examination. No leak from the sealed reactor unit occurred at any time.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish and place in the Library a copy of the advice from the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator on the incident at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment in January 2012 and its implications for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme. [191606]

Mr Dunne: Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) written advice on the issue with the reactor at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment has been limited to letters to the operators regarding regulatory hold points and permissions to operate.

I am arranging for copies of the letters to be placed in the Library of the House, redacted as necessary to withhold information whose release would prejudice national security, the defence of the UK or international relations.

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Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons (a) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (b) the Office for Nuclear Regulation were told to keep the information regarding the problem with the reactor cooling system at Dounreay Naval Reactor Test Establishment on a need to know basis for security reasons. [191609]

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister or official, at what level within his Department, decided to advise the (a) Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and (b) Office for Nuclear Regulation that information relating to the January 2012 incident at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment had national security implications and should be treated on a need-to-know basis. [192000]

Mr Dunne: Information on the design and operation of naval reactor plant is highly classified as it would allow deductions to be made about the operational capability and performance of Royal Navy submarines. As for all classified material, it is subject to strict controls and is only shared on a need to know basis, including within the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MOD and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on matters relating to radioactive substances includes provisions that enable SEPA to carry out its regulatory role effectively while ensuring that classified information is properly protected.

Similarly there is a General Agreement between MOD and the Health and Safety Executive covering the Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

All classified information shared with SEPA and the ONR on the issue with the reactor at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment was provided under the auspices of these agreements.

No direction was given to SEPA to withhold information from Scottish Ministers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a lessons-learnt exercise has been carried out following the discovery of problems with reactor cooling systems at the Dounreay Naval Reactor Test Establishment; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report from any such exercise. [191610]

Mr Dunne: The reactor at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE) is a prototype, one of the main purposes of which is to allow lessons to be learned.

One aim of ongoing operations at the NRTE, and of the subsequent examination of the reactor core, is to understand better the cause of the issue with the reactor. This will allow appropriate decisions to be taken and lessons learned as necessary.

In addition, as the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announced on 6 March 2014, Official Report, column 1081, the MOD chief scientific adviser will review again the evidence on which the decision not to operate a test reactor in future was based. The Secretary of State for Defence will inform the House of the outcome of that review in due course.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice was given to Ministers by (a) the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator, (b) the Head of

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Nuclear Propulsion and

(c)

the Naval Superintendent, Vulcan relating to potential risks to submarine safety following the discovery of problems with reactor cooling systems at the Dounreay Naval Reactor Test Establishment; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the relevant correspondence. [191611]

Mr Dunne: The views of a wide range of experts, including the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator, the Head of Nuclear Propulsion and the Naval Superintendant Vulcan were incorporated into overall advice to Ministers.

Discussions have also been held with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEP A), in line with the Memorandum of Agreement between the Ministry of Defence and SEPA.

Advice to Ministers on this subject is being withheld as its release would prejudice national security, the defence of the UK, international relations and the formulation of Government policy.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) in which periods the reactor at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment was shut down between 1 January 2012 and 11 March 2014; [191612]

(2) how many days the reactor at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment was shut down between 1 January 2012 and 6 March 2014. [191615]

Mr Dunne: Following the detection of low levels of radioactivity in the reactor cooling water in January 2012, the reactor at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE) was shut down as a precaution. Reactor operations restarted in November 2012 following investigations, a series of trials and discussion with the relevant regulators including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Reactor operations have since continued, other than during periods of routine maintenance, which are a normal part of the safe operation of the site.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long (a) HMS Westminster, (b) HMS Brocklesby and (c) HMS Daring will be stationed in Gibraltar. [191471]

Mr Francois: The Royal Navy's permanent presence in Gibraltar is maintained by the Gibraltar Squadron, consisting of HMS Scimitar and HMS Sabre. HMS Westminster, HMS Brocklesby and HMS Daring are not stationed in Gibraltar, but have recently passed through and conducted some training.

HMS Vanguard

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of the fuel core which will be loaded onto HMS Vanguard in the refuelling announced on 6 March 2014. [191675]

Mr Dunne: The additional cost of refuelling Vanguard is estimated to be about £120 million. Precise costs, including of the reactor core itself, will be subject to the successful outcome of commercial negotiations. I am withholding further details as to release them would prejudice commercial interests.

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Joint Exercises

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assets and how many personnel are taking part in Exercise Saber Strike; what the cost to the public purse is of the exercise; and what assets and how many personnel took part in each of the last five Saber Strike exercises. [191598]

Mr Francois: Exercise Saber Strike is a long-standing security cooperation exercise led by the United States army in Europe. The exercise is primarily focused on the Baltic States. The United Kingdom first participated in this exercise in 2013.

Around 40 UK military personnel took part in this exercise in 2013 at a cost of around £23,000 for food, accommodation and movement.

Around 140 UK military personnel are expected to participate in Exercise Saber Strike 2014 at an estimated cost of around £84,000 for food, accommodation and movement.

Logistic Commodities and Services

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many meetings (a) civil servants, (b) consultants and (c) Ministers of his Department have had on the Logistical Commodities Services Transformation Programme with (i) Telford and Wrekin Council and (ii) Cherwell District Council; [192055]

(2) what the overall consultancy budget is for the delivery of the Logistical Commodities Services Transformation Programme; and how much of that budget has been spent to date; [192056]

(3) how many (a) civil servants and (b) consultants are working on an in-house solution for the Logistical Commodities Services Transformation Programme; and where they are located; [192057]

(4) how many (a) civil servants and (b) consultants are working on the Logistical Commodities Services Transformation Programme; [192058]

(5) what the timetable is for (a) each stage and (b) the final completion of the Logistical Commodities Services Transformation Programme. [192059]

Mr Dunne: The Logistic Commodities and Services Transformation project (LCS(T)) is currently in its Assessment Phase. Invitations to Negotiate were issued to two external bidders in December 2013 and it is expected that negotiations with these bidders will be completed in the autumn of this year followed by project approval in December 2014. It is our intention to decide on the future location of Ministry of Defence (MOD) logistics activity before March 2015.

The Defence Equipment and Support LCS(T) project team, located at MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol and MOD Ensleigh, Bath, draws on 78 civil servants (of which 34 are manpower substitutes) and seven military officers; of these, 36 civil servants (of which 17 are manpower substitutes) and six military officers are involved in the development of the in-house solution.

External assistance for the LCS(T) project is contracted on the basis of man days provided. As at 28 February 2014, £6.1 million has been spent.

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Since May 2013 the MOD has held 10 meetings with Telford and Wrekin council. Similarly, there have been nine meetings with Cherwell district council.

MOD Ministers have had no meetings with either council. It would not be appropriate to do so while LCS(T) is still in its Assessment Phase.

Military Aircraft

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the (a) serial number and (b) date of entry into service is for each (i) C-17A Globemaster, (ii) Hercules C1/C3 (K), (iii) C4/C5 (J), (iv) Tristar and (v) VC10 airframe; [191418]

(2) what the (a) serial number and (b) date of entry into service is for each (i) BAE 125, (ii) BAE 146, (iii) Agusta and (iv) Islander BN2T CC Mk2 airframe; [191419]

(3) what the date of entry into service is for each (a) Griffin HT1, (b) Hawk T2, (c) Hawk T1, (d) King Air, (e) Tucano, (f) Tutor T Mark 1, (g) Squirrel HT1, (h) Vigilant T1 and (i) Viking T1 airframe; [191421]

(4) what the (a) serial number and (b) date of entry into service is for each (i) Typhoon, (ii) Tornado GR4 and (iii) Sentinel R1 airframe. [191422]

Mr Dunne: I am placing into the Library of the House the requested information for the following fleets:

C-17A Globemaster

Hercules C4/C5 (J)

TriStar

BAE 125

BAE 146

Vigilant T1

Viking T1

Typhoon

Tornado GR4.

Information for the following fleets is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost:

Hawk T2

Hawk-T1

Tucano

Sentinel R1

Islander BN2T CC Mk 2.

The following fleets are contractor-owned and the information requested is not held by the Ministry of Defence:

Agusta A109E

Griffin HT1

King Air

Tutor T1

Squirrel HT1

The Hercules C1/C3(K) and VC10 fleets have been withdrawn from service.

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the date of entry into service is for each (a) Chinook, (b) Griffin HAR2, (c) Puma, (d) Puma HC2, (e) Merlin and (f) Sea King airframe. [191420]

Mr Dunne: The entry into service dates (in-service dates) for the aircraft, split by marks, are:

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NATO

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which NATO member states have sent maritime patrol aircraft to (a) RAF Lossiemouth and (b) RAF Leuchars since September 2013; which aircraft were so sent; and what the purpose was of each visit. [191596]

Mr Francois: Canada, France and Germany have sent maritime patrol aircraft to RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Leuchars since September 2013, either as part of joint exercises or for refuelling. The aircraft sent included CP-140 Aurora, Atlantique 2 and P-3C Orion.

Navy: Deployment

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vessels were (a) intercepted and (b) boarded by the Royal Navy in UK territorial waters in each year since 2011. [191613]

Mr Francois: The Royal Navy only centrally records the number of boardings undertaken in UK Territorial Waters by the Fishery Protection Squadron. This information is provided in the following table:

Royal Navy units board other vessels in accordance with Safety of Life at Sea conventions and while aiding the Civil Authorities, but the details of such incidents are not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations were conducted to establish the safety of reactors on board the Royal Navy's nuclear powered submarines following the discovery of problems with reactor cooling systems at the Dounreay Naval Reactor Test Establishment;

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which submarines were investigated; on what dates investigations

(a)

commenced and

(b)

were concluded; and whether any implications for reactor safety were identified for any vessel following such investigations. [191614]

Mr Dunne: There are long-established procedures for carrying out routine sampling and analysis of reactor cooling water on the UK’s nuclear submarines. These procedures have been reviewed, including a review of historical records, to confirm their continued effectiveness.

A similar issue to that in the reactor at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment has never been detected in an operational submarine. We are confident that if one did occur, we would detect it straight away.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his statement of 6 March 2014, Official Report, columns 1077-9, on nuclear submarines, how much of the additional £150 million investment announced on 6 March 2014 is for (a) Devonport and (b) Raynesway; [191672]

(2) what work will be carried out at (a) Devonport and (b) Raynesway as a result of the £150 million investment. [191673]

Mr Dunne: The total cost of the investment needed to keep open the option of refuelling HMS Victorious is still being scoped, but is expected to be of the order of £150 million. That work will include investment in the refuelling facilities at Devonport Dockyard and in the reactor core production capability at the Rolls-Royce facility in Derby.

Precise costs cannot be calculated until the scope of work has been agreed, and will then be subject to commercial negotiations with the relevant suppliers.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any restrictions have been placed on the operation of reactors onboard Royal Navy submarines as a result of the incident at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment in January 2012. [191674]

Mr Dunne: It is MOD policy not to comment on submarine operations.

A similar issue to that in the reactor at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment has never been detected in an operational submarine.

RAF Croughton

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there is a NATO communications installation at RAF Croughton. [191666]

Mr Francois: RAF Croughton does not host any NATO units although the base does provide some support to units within NATO.

Trident

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what financial contribution would be requested from the Welsh Government in relocation costs if Trident were moved to the Cleddau in the event of Scottish independence; [191692]

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(2) what estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) timescale on relocating Trident to the Cleddau in the event of Scottish independence; [191693]

(3) what representations he has received from the Welsh Government on the protocols required between the UK and Welsh Governments pertaining to environmental protection in the Cleddau estuary should Trident be moved from its current base in Scotland; [191695]

(4) what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on relocating Trident to the Cleddau in the event of Scottish independence. [191696]

Dr Murrison: The UK Government's position is clear: Scotland benefits from being part of the UK and the UK benefits from having Scotland within it. The UK is not making plans for Scottish independence and is not making plans to move the nuclear deterrent or other submarines from Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde. HM Naval Base Clyde is the largest employment site in Scotland, with around 6,700 military and civilian jobs

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now, increasing to around 8,200 by 2022 when it becomes home to all of the Royal Navy's submarines. We have not received any official representations from the Welsh Government nor had discussions with them regarding the basing in Wales of the nuclear deterrent.

Uranium

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions his Department has had with its US counterpart on revisions to the future demand for highly enriched uranium for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme; [191602]

(2) what revisions his Department has made to the projected future demand for highly enriched uranium for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme. [191605]

Mr Dunne: Information on the UK's requirements for highly enriched uranium is being withheld as its release would prejudice national security, the defence of the UK and international relations.