Food: EU Action

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Food Standards Agency has carried out any research on the European Commission's published proposals to change EU Regulation 882/2004 governing official controls in the food and agriculture industries. [194261]

Jane Ellison: On 9 October 2013 the Food Standards Agency published a draft impact assessment on the proposals to change EU Regulation 882/2004 as part of a formal 12-week consultation. The impact assessment was produced in collaboration with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other Government Departments following a programme of events and meetings with stakeholders throughout the United Kingdom agri-food chain to understand the potential implications of the proposals for consumers, the enforcement community and industry.

The impact assessment is being updated as a result of additional data and evidence generated by the consultation and will be kept updated as the proposals develop during negotiations.

General Practitioners

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers clinical commissioning groups have to reduce missed GP appointments; and if he will make a statement. [193603]

Jane Ellison: General practitioners are independent contractors who work under contracts for NHS England to provide NHS services. It is the responsibility of individual practices to minimise missed appointments. Additionally, the NHS constitution emphasises patients’ responsibilities, stating that patients

“should keep appointments or cancel within reasonable time”.

Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential effect of proposed changes in the Immigration Bill on the role of GPs and on the level of public trust in GPs; and if he will make a statement. [193635]

Jane Ellison: There are no proposals in the Immigration Bill to change the role of any national health service staff including general practitioners. The Immigration Bill health clauses set out the Government's intention to introduce a health surcharge as part of the visa process for those coming here for an extended period. Those that pay the surcharge will be able to access the NHS in a similar way to British residents.

Health: Screening

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that local authorities in England pursue a continuous improvement in the proportion of the eligible population offered and taking up NHS health checks. [194103]

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) is committed to helping local government improve the uptake and impact of the programme. In the last 12 months PHE has supported local delivery and continuous improvement in offers and uptake by progressing action against the recommendations set out in the National Health Service Health Check Implementation Review and Action Plan.

This activity has included sharing knowledge and resources through the programme's national website and networks; delivering a national conference attended by over 400 delegates; and supporting local government to transition the findings from our behavioural insight work into practice. PHE has recently introduced a national quality improvement framework, which will support local areas to focus on improving uptake and outcomes.

In the coming year PHE will support local activity to improve offers, uptake and the quality and consistency of delivery through the development of a sector-led improvement programme. The launch of new branding and a marketing toolkit that enables local leads to tailor information to their local population will further contribute to improving uptake. PHE is also partnering NHS Choices to develop a new public-facing web presence for the programme to help improve the public's awareness of and engagement with the programme.

Hospitals: Industrial Health and Safety

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on health and safety in NHS hospitals. [903440]

Dr Poulter: The Department works closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure that NHS services are made available to patients, visitors and staff

1 Apr 2014 : Column 571W

in a safe environment. The Department has been working with the HSE and the Care Quality Commission to ensure that the actions of the two regulators are co-ordinated in holding providers of health and adult social care to account for failings to deliver acceptable care, in line with the Government's commitments set out in the response to the Francis Inquiry “Hard Truths: The journey to putting patients first”.

Infant Mortality

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what outcomes he expects to be achieved over the next 12 months as a result of steps taken to reduce the level of stillbirth and infant mortality rates. [194122]

Dr Poulter: We have made reducing infant mortality an area of improvement for the national health service in the NHS Outcomes Framework. Reducing infant mortality is also highlighted as an outcome indicator in the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

The Department is currently working in partnership with Sands (the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity) and a range of key organisations, including NHS England, Public Health England, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, to take forward a stillbirth prevention work programme.

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics show that:

In 2012 the stillbirth rate fell to 4.8 stillbirths per 1,000 live and stillbirths. This compares to a rate of 5.2 in 2011 and is the lowest rate recorded in England since the definition of stillbirth changed in 1993.

Infant mortality rates have decreased over time in England, with 5.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2002 compared with 4.0 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2012. There has been a decline in infant mortality rate in England compared to the previous year (4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, 2011).

Livestock: Diseases

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of parasitic lung worms have been identified at official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency since 1 April 2012. [194194]

Jane Ellison: The following table states how many instances of parasitic lung worms have been identified during official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency since April 2012.

The figure provided is for cattle only. Parasitic lung worm is not recorded under an individual category in other species.

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of the cystic stage (C Bovis) of the human tapeworm Taenia Saginata have been identified at official post mortem inspection

1 Apr 2014 : Column 572W

and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency since 1 April 2012. [194195]

Jane Ellison: The following table states how many instances of the cystic stage (C Bovis) of the human tapeworm Taenia Saginata have been identified during official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency since April 2012.

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of (a) Cysticercus Tenuicollis (adult tapeworm - Taenia Hydatigena), (b) Cysticercus Ovis (adult tapeworm - Taenia Ovis), (c) Hydatid Cysts (adult tapeworm - Echinococcus Granulosus), (d) Generalised (cysts identified in multiple parts of the animal including the musculature the consumer would define as meat) and (e) Cysticercus Ovis have been identified at official post-mortem inspections and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency since 1 April 2012. [194196][Official Report, 14 May 2014, Vol. 580, c. 6MC.]

Jane Ellison: The following number of instances have been identified at official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) since April 2012:

Some conditions are not recorded by the FSA. The list of conditions for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry were created following expert working group workshops for each species over the last five years. Members of the workshops included stakeholders from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Animal Health, EBLEX, BPEX, private veterinarians, industry vets, FSA and the Association of Meat Inspectors.

The data for sheep, goats, deer and horses are from April 2012 to December 2013 and for all other species from April 2012 to March 2014.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 573W

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of (a) pneumonia, (b) septic pneumonia, (c) Pericarditis, (d) Septic Pericarditis, (e) Peritonitis, (f) septic peritonitis, (g) Oedema, (h) Emaciation, (i) Bruising or trauma, (j) Abscesses in offal, (k) Abscesses in carcases, (l) Pyaemia, (m) animals with septicaemia, (n) Animals with tumours, (o) Hydronephrosis, (p) Nephritis and septic nephritis, (q) Lymphadenitis, (r) Tuberculosis, (s) Erysipelas in pigs, (t) Steatosis, (u) Actinobacillous and (v) Actinomycosus in red meat animals have been identified at official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for an on behalf of the FSA since 1 April 2012. [194202][Official Report, 9 April 2014, Vol. 579, c. 4MC.]

Jane Ellison: The following number of conditions have been identified in red meat animals at official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) since April 2012:

Some conditions are not recorded by the FSA. The list of conditions for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry were created following expert working group workshops for each species over the last five years. Members of the workshops included stakeholders from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Animal Health, EBLEX, BPEX, private veterinarians, industry vets, FSA and the Association of Meat Inspectors.

The data for sheep, goats, deer and horses are from April 2012 to December 2013, for all other species from April 2012 to March 2014.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of (a) faecal contamination, (b) cellulitis, (c) dermatitis, (d) ascites, (e) salpingitiss, (f) egg impaction, (g) peritonis, (h) pericarditis,

1 Apr 2014 : Column 574W

(i)

pericarditis,

(j)

foot infections or problems,

(k)

arthritis and joint problems,

(l)

septicaemia and fever,

(m)

tumours,

(n)

air sacculitis,

(o)

Marek's disease,

(p)

white muscular disease and

(q)

Aspergillosis have been identified at post mortem inspection of poultry and prevented from entering the food chain 1 April 2012. [194203]

Jane Ellison: The following number of conditions have been identified in poultry at official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) since April 2012:

Some conditions are not recorded by the FSA. The list of conditions for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry were created following expert working group workshops for each species over the last five years. Members of the workshops included stakeholders from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Animal Health, EBLEX, BPEX, private veterinarians, industry vets, FSA and the Association of Meat Inspectors.

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times lesions on livers caused by the intermediate stage of the parasitic roundworm ascaris suum identified in pigs at official post mortem inspection have been prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for or on behalf of the Food Standards Agency since 1 April 2012. [194265]

Jane Ellison: The following table states how many times lesions on livers caused by the intermediate stage of the parasitic roundworm ascaris suum have been identified during official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency since April 2012:

1 Apr 2014 : Column 575W

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times the liver fluke fasciola hepatica identified at official post mortem inspection has been prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency performing thorough meat inspection since 1 April 2012. [194266]

Jane Ellison: The following table states how many times the liver fluke fasciola hepatica have been identified during official post mortem inspection and prevented from entering the food chain by officials working for and on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) since April 2012:

The data for sheep, goats, deer and horses are from April 2012 to December 2013 and for all other species from April 2012 to March 2014.

Liver fluke is a common parasitic disease of both cattle and sheep in the United Kingdom, caused by the parasite Fasciola hepatica, and is estimated to cost the cattle industry £23 million annually (source: National Animal Disease Information Service). In cattle, infection is more commonly encountered in beef cows grazing poor wet pasture but disease can be seen in dairy cattle especially after summering cattle, most likely bulling heifers, away from home on infested pastures.

Where this condition is seen in liver from cattle or sheep presented for slaughter, results are fed back to the farmers as part of the FSA's collection and communication of inspection results, allowing farmers to organise treatment of their herds against liver fluke, and improve future yield. The figure for April 2010 to April 2012 has been included for reference.

Maternity Services: Immigrants

Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that pregnant women resident in the UK will continue to have free access to NHS maternity services regardless of their immigration status. [193634]

Jane Ellison: Currently, only women who are resident in the United Kingdom on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being, or otherwise exempt from charges under regulations such as asylum seekers and refugees, are entitled to have free access to national health service maternity services. Women resident here without permission who are not exempt from charge are chargeable for maternity services. However, guidance to the NHS is clear that no woman should be refused maternity care on the basis of whether she has paid in advance or not. The NHS will seek to recover charges after the services have been provided where possible.

Under proposals in the current Immigration Bill, non-European economic area nationals subject to immigration control who are applying to reside in the

1 Apr 2014 : Column 576W

UK for more than six months would be required to pay a health surcharge as a contribution to the costs of their health care and would not be granted entry if they did not do so, unless exempt from this requirement. They would then be able to access the NHS on the same basis as an ordinary resident, including free access to maternity services.

The Government responded on 30 December 2013 to the consultation “Sustaining services, ensuring fairness: a consultation on migrant access and financial contribution to NHS provision in England”, and confirmed that those not subject to the surcharge, i.e. short-term visitors coming to the UK for less than six months and those here illegally, will continue to be charged for maternity services unless an exemption from charge category applies.

Medical Equipment

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what stoma care products were prescribed in each NHS Hospital Trust and Primary Care Trust in England in each of the last five years by (a) product and (b) manufacturer. [193610]

Norman Lamb: In terms of national health service trusts, the information requested is not held centrally as such products are not provided by hospital pharmacy departments. In terms of primary care trusts, information is held but due to the volume of information requested, estimated at over three million records, and technical problems with extracting this, it could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sponsorship arrangements are in place between manufacturers of stoma care products and individual NHS trusts; and how many such arrangements were in place in each of the last five years. [193680]

Norman Lamb: The Department is aware that there are sponsorship arrangements in place between individual national health service trusts and manufacturers of stoma products, in particular to support the employment of specialist stoma nurses. The Department does not collect information on which NHS trusts have these arrangements or the details of them.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to ensure that all NHS trusts are providing the full range of mental health interventions recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. [194104]

Norman Lamb: Mental health and well-being is a priority for this Government. The Mandate to NHS England makes clear that “everyone who needs it should have timely access to evidence based services”.

The Health and Social Care Act (2012) places a duty on NHS England to have regard to NICE Quality Standards. Clinical commissioning groups should have regard to them in planning and delivering services, as part of a general duty to secure a continuous improvement in quality.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 577W

We are investing over £400 million to give thousands of people, in all areas of the country, access to NICE-approved psychological therapies. This will involve extending and ensuring more open access to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programmes, including for children and young people, for those out of work, and for older people. The IAPT programme is fundamental to the success of our drive to improve mental health services.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whom he has appointed to undertake the NHS England Review into consultant-led obstetric maternity services at Stafford Hospital; and what timetable applies for (a) the final report and (b) decision by the Government. [193707]

Jane Ellison: The next step in ensuring sustainability for the local health economy in Staffordshire is the development of fully aligned five-year plans. NHS England, NHS Trust Development Authority and Monitor have jointly commissioned intensive support for both commissioners and providers. The planning process will conclude this summer.

NHS England intends subsequently to commission the review of obstetric services. A lead reviewer and review panel will be appointed, both of whom will be independent of NHS England and will not have been involved in the Trust Special Administrator process. NHS England has not yet determined the timetable for the review.

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written statement of 26 February 2014, Official Report, columns 21-3WS, on Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, (1) what his assessment is of the clinical services changes which can occur ahead of the NHS England Report and Government decision; [193708]

(2) how long it will take for the University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS) NHS Trust to complete all contractual commitments, including transfer of undertakings from Staffordshire Hospital to UHNS; [193712]

(3) what the latest date is for the review to report acceptance of the Trust Special Administrator recommendations consistent with achieving University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust responsibilities for appropriate Stafford Hospital services by his deadline of Autumn 2014 as specified in the statement on Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Special Administration of 26 February 2014. [193713]

Jane Ellison: In their final report, the Trust Special Administrators recommended that Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust is dissolved as soon as possible. At this point, Stafford Hospital will be transferred to University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust (UHNS).

All parties are committed to completing the dissolution and transfer as soon as possible. However, the timetable will be driven by practical considerations and has not yet been finalised.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 578W

Once services have been transferred, it will be for UNHS, working with local commissioners, to determine how to implement changes to services. This timetable will be driven by a range of practical issues and the need to ensure continued provision of safe services for patients.

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what extra provision is being provided by (a) University Hospital of North Staffordshire and (b) other hospitals to enhance services at the Trust Special Administrator-run Mid Staffordshire Hospital Trust pending the outcome of the NHS England Review; and what the extra cost is of such provision; [193709]

(2) what assessment he has made of the (a) financial viability and (b) medical safety of the Trust Special Administrator-provided services at Stafford Hospital pending the competition of the NHS England Review; and if he will make a statement. [193710]

Dr Poulter: The services currently provided at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (MSFT) are clinically safe. However, as set out in the Trust Special Administrators' draft and final reports, not all services are clinically or financially sustainable in the long term.

We understand that University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust is providing support to services at MSFT, including to the Accident and Emergency Department and through the provision of nursing staff, subject to local discussions.

However, the Department does not hold detailed information on the day to day operation of services at MSFT. We have therefore written to the Trust Special Administrators at MSFT, informing them of the hon. Member's query. They will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in respect of the situation following his acceptance in full of the Trust Special Administrator for Mid Staffordshire Hospital Trust's recommendation and additional decisions to instigate a review of consultant-led maternity services at Stafford. [193711]

Dr Poulter: The Secretary of State’s acceptance of the Trust Special Administrators’ proposals for Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust was an important step towards ending the long period of uncertainty experienced by the Trust.

The Secretary of State has asked that local stakeholders work together to implement the proposed changes. This includes supporting the University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust in the transfer of Stafford Hospital, and the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust with the transfer of Cannock Chase Hospital.

We are not aware of any representations specifically regarding continuing uncertainty following the Secretary of State’s decision.

Multiple Sclerosis

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individual funding requests for Fampridine have been made to NHS England since April 2013; and how many such requests have been approved. [193572]

1 Apr 2014 : Column 579W

Norman Lamb: NHS England has informed us that this information is not currently available. NHS England is improving its data collection mechanisms and aims for this information to be available in the future.

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what calculations were used to assess the costs and benefits of using Fampridine to treat multiple sclerosis patients. [193573]

Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not issued any guidance on the use of fampridine. NICE is currently updating its clinical guideline on the management of multiple sclerosis in primary and secondary care. The updated guideline will include recommendations on the pharmacological management of mobility with fampridine.

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost to the (a) NHS and (b) economy of people with multiple sclerosis who suffer from deteriorating spasticity. [193575]

Norman Lamb: While data are available regarding annual national health service spend on neurological conditions as a whole, spending in relation to patients with multiple sclerosis suffering from deteriorating spasticity cannot be identified. Similarly, while some cost estimates of the wider impact of long-term conditions on parts of the economy are available, these data do not identify the group of patients concerned.

NHS: Pay

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what pay rise NHS employees on incremental schemes will receive if they are already at the top of their banding levels. [194188]

Dr Poulter: Staff on incremental schemes who, on 31 March 2014, are on the top of their pay scale will receive a non-consolidated payment equivalent to 1% of basic salary, payable in monthly instalments with effect from 1 April 2014.

NHS: Redundancy

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Gateshead, (d) the North East and (e) the UK have been made redundant in each year since 2005. [193546]

Dr Poulter: In the context of a national health service work force of almost 1.2 million, the numbers of NHS staff made redundant in four of the geographical areas since 2008-09 is provided in the following table.

Information is not available for NHS staff made redundant in the Jarrow constituency as NHS organisations do not specifically cover that area.

Information has been extracted from the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Because ESR was not fully introduced until April 2008 it is not possible to provide figures before 2008-09. ESR includes data for the NHS in England only, not the United Kingdom.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 580W

NHS: Re-employment

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many National Health Service staff in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Gateshead, (d) the North East and (e) the UK who have been made redundant since May 2010 have been re-employed by an NHS organisation on (i) a permanent basis and (ii) a fixed-term contract basis. [193528]

Dr Poulter: In the context of a national health service work force of almost 1.2 million, the number of NHS staff made redundant since May 2010 and subsequently re-employed, up until December 2013, by NHS organisations in the geographical areas specified is estimated in the following table.

Information is not available for NHS staff made redundant and re-employed by NHS organisations in the Jarrow constituency as NHS organisations do not specifically cover that area.

Information has been extracted from the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) which includes data for the NHS in England only, not the United Kingdom.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 581W

Parkinson's Disease

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission national guidance on ensuring Parkinson's disease patients do not miss doses of their medication in hospital. [193605]

Norman Lamb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 272W, in which it was explained that there is a range of existing relevant guidance available, covering England. In addition, recently the Department has issued a Care Quality Commission (CQC) consultation document, ‘Introducing Fundamental Standards: Consultation on proposals to change CQC registration regulations’. Page 24 of this document states that there should be sufficient quantities of suitably accessible equipment and medicines to ensure the safety of service users and to meet their assessed needs. Page 25 refers to taking appropriate steps for the proper and safe management of medicines. Also, at annex D reference is made to people getting prescribed medicines at the right time and the right dose. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library and is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/274715/Introducing_Fundamental _Standards_-_a_Consultation.pdf

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives are in place to train health professionals on the importance of providing people with Parkinson's disease medication on time while they are in hospital. [194192]

Dr Poulter: Timely delivery of medication is an issue that will be considered by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the professional bodies as part of their work on medicines optimisation.

In addition, there is other guidance available, such as that produced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society,

1 Apr 2014 : Column 582W

‘Professional standards for hospital pharmacy services; optimising patient outcomes from medicines’.

Health Education England will work with stakeholders to influence training curricula as appropriate, although the content and standard of clinical training is ultimately the responsibility of the professional bodies.

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to ensure there is a quick and easy way for a patient with Parkinson's disease to lodge a complaint against a hospital trust should they not receive their medicine on time during their stay. [194193]

Dr Poulter: The Government accept the findings by the right hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) and Professor Tricia Hart in “A Review of the NHS Hospitals Complaints System – Putting Patients Back in the Picture” that:

vulnerable people find the complaints system complicated and hard to navigate; and

there is a low level of public awareness of the NHS Complaints Advocacy Service.

We want to see every trust make clear to every patient from their first encounter with the hospital:

how they can complain to the hospital when things go wrong;

who they can turn to for independent local support if they want it, and where to contact them;

that they have the right to go to the Ombudsman if they remain dissatisfied, and how to contact them; and

details of how to contact their local HealthWatch.

To support this work, the Department has set up a Complaints Programme Board. This was established in December 2013 to bring together a range of partners across the care system to implement actions that will lead to improvements in complaints handling and assist member organisations (for example, the Care Quality Commission) to deal with poor care.

Public Health England

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the (a) fixed costs and (b) annual running costs of Public Health England. [194105]

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) does not currently budget or report on the split between fixed and non-fixed costs. The following table shows the budget for last year and this year, split between day to day activity (net operating expenditure), that spent on vaccines and countermeasures, and the local authority (LA) grant, which is paid to LAs to exercise their public health duties.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed at Public Health England. [194107]

1 Apr 2014 : Column 583W

Jane Ellison: As at 31 January 2014 Public Health England employed 5,389 staff (5060,1 whole time equivalents).

Skin Cancer

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the views of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the survival benefit of dacabazine as a first line treatment for advanced melanoma; and if he will make a statement. [193951]

Norman Lamb: We have made no such assessment.

Attorney-General

Counterfeit Manufacturing: Money

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 40W, how many offences charged under section 14(1) and 22 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 reached a first hearing in magistrates court in each year since 2008. [194028]

The Solicitor-General: The number of offences charged under section 14(1) and 22 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 that reached a first hearing in magistrates courts in each year since 2008 are:

Female Genital Mutilation

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to ensure that victims of female genital mutilation whose cases go to trial have access to the full range of support and special measures that are available to victims of other sexual offences. [193653]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognises that appropriate support is vital to ensure that victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) are able to give their evidence effectively in court. The CPS legal guidance advises prosecutors that in all cases of FGM they must ensure that the complainant is aware of the special measures that can be applied for at court, and that applications are made in time. For all child witnesses there is a presumption that they will give their evidence in chief by recorded interview and any further evidence by live link unless the court is satisfied that this will not improve the quality of the child's evidence. Adult victims of FGM are also eligible for special measures on the grounds that they are likely to

1 Apr 2014 : Column 584W

be intimidated witnesses in relation to testifying at court. However, it is a matter for the court to grant the application.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General if he will make it his policy to introduce the option of anonymity for victims of female genital mutilation in court trials. [193654]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service recognises that more needs to be done to encourage victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) to come forward. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has said that the introduction of anonymity for victims of FGM should be considered to encourage more victims to come forward as, given the very personal nature of the offence, very few do so. However, any change of law on anonymity is a matter for the Ministry of Justice.

Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions and for what offences each Crown Prosecution Service business area has recommended that an offence be taken into consideration instead of charged separately in each of the last three years and in 2013-14 to date. [192878]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records of the number of occasions, and for what offence(s), it has recommended that an offence is suitable to be taken into consideration. To obtain details would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General for how many cases the Serious Fraud Office has sought additional funding from the Exchequer in the last two years; and on how many occasions such funding was granted (a) in part and (b) in full. [193705]

The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has sought additional funding in relation to three cases in the last two years, and this was granted in full on each occasion.

Some additional funding has also been provided in relation to other matters as set out in the recent report of the Justice Committee on the SFO's supplementary estimate for 2013-14.

Service Prosecuting Authority

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General when the next inspection of the Service Prosecuting Authority is planned by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. [193655]

The Solicitor-General: There are currently no plans for HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate to carry out an inspection of the Service Prosecuting Authority.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 585W

Energy and Climate Change

Argentina

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) direct and (b) indirect bilateral funding arrangements his Department has with governmental or non-governmental projects and bodies in Argentina. [193646]

Gregory Barker: The Department does not at present provide bilateral funding to Argentina.

Energy: Prices

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will urge energy providers to offer unconditional price freezes. [194025]

Michael Fallon: Pricing decisions are a matter for energy suppliers. I welcome any steps by suppliers to keep energy bills down.

Nuclear Power: Security

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps the Government plan to take to deliver the commitments on nuclear security contained in paragraph 27 of the Hague Nuclear Security summit communiqué held in the Hague on 24 and 25 March 2014. [193687]

Michael Fallon: Safety and security are top priorities for the Government and there is a robust security framework in place for the civil nuclear industry. We seek continuous improvement in line with internationally established principles. The UK has a strong and effective independent regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), which ensures compliance with the requirements placed on duty holders by the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (as amended) and the performance-based National Objectives, Requirements and Model Standards (NORMS). There is extensive engagement between the Government, ONR and duty holders. The full set of UK commitments made at the Nuclear Security summit which go towards meeting paragraph 27 of the summit’s communiqué can be found at the following link:

https://www.nss2014.com/sites/default/files/documents/140321_uk_national_statement_on_commitments.pdf

Plutonium

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps the Government plan to take to deliver the commitments on nuclear security contained in paragraph 21 of the Hague Nuclear Security summit communiqué of the Nuclear Security summit held in the Hague on 24 and 25 March 2014 to keep the national stockpile of separated plutonium to the minimum level. [193688]

Michael Fallon: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has published strategies for the management of spent Magnox and oxide fuel; it is from these spent fuels that plutonium is separated. These strategies are aligned with UK Government policy and their implementation is expected to see cessation of reprocessing in Magnox and THORP facilities during this decade.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 586W

With respect to Magnox fuel, the intent is to reprocess all of it. Only a finite amount of Magnox fuel remains, which limits the amount of further separated plutonium that could be produced from reprocessing. Reprocessing is the only approved process for managing this metal fuel.

With respect to oxide fuel management, an NDA paper sets out the strategy which is to complete the reprocessing contracts in THORP, as far as is reasonably practicable, and place the remaining fuel and any future arisings into interim storage pending disposal. The paper can be found at:

http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/Oxide-Fuels-Preferred-Options-June-2012.pdf

Both these strategies see the amount of plutonium separated in the future being limited in line with national requirements.

Trade Unions

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision. [194038]

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), reviewed the situation on 23 January 2014.

Scotland

All-Party Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department’s policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups. [193564]

David Mundell: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 300W.

Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband: South West

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what targets have been set for the rollout of superfast broadband in Devon and Somerset; and whether Broadband Delivery UK has met those targets. [193602]

Mr Vaizey: The Government have allocated £54.72 million to support improvements to superfast broadband coverage in Devon and Somerset as part of their commitment to ensure 95% of the UK has access to superfast broadband by 2017. They have not set specific coverage target for individual projects. In addition, the recently published Ofcom European Broadband Scorecard shows that the UK now has the best broadband among the major economies in Europe, a year ahead of target.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 587W

Northern Ireland

All-Party Groups

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what her Department's policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups. [193563]

Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 300W.

Working Hours

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of employees in her Department of what (a) Civil Service pay grade and (b) gender work (i) reduced hours, (ii) flexi-time, (iii) from home, (iv) a compressed working week, (v) job share, (vi) term-time only and (vii) part-time. [193970]

Mrs Villiers: The figures for staff in my Department falling under these work patterns by grade and gender are as follows:

(i) Zero;

(ii) Flexi-time is granted under local arrangements between line managers and their staff and the details are not held centrally;

(iii) None of the staff in my Department work from home on a full time basis;

(iv) Band A 9% male;

(v) No one in my Department job shares;

(vi) Band B (SEO) 8% female;

(vii) Figures for part time working in my Department are given as follows:

Business, Innovation and Skills

Barclays

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the policy of Barclays on the use of tax havens. [193463]

Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.

I am unable to comment on the tax affairs of individual companies.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 588W

Transport

Cycleways

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost per mile of building cycle lanes; and what steps he is taking to reduce this cost in rural areas. [194267]

Mr Goodwill: The Department does not estimate the cost per mile of building cycle lanes. Cycling infrastructure varies in design and cost due to the location and scheme design. The provision of cycling facilities is a matter for local authorities and as such they are best placed to determine the spend per mile for building cycle lanes. The Department does provide best practice information in cycle infrastructure design through its publication “Cycle infrastructure Design” (Local Transport Note 2/08). The Department encourages local authorities, in both urban and rural areas, to obtain best value in the provision of highways infrastructure.

Driver and Vehicle Agency

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure people who are currently employed by the Driver and Vehicle Agency receive training to enable them to take up local posts in other Government departments and public bodies.. [193762]

Stephen Hammond: Department for Transport officials are working with those in Northern Ireland to support any Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) staff who might need to learn new skills to secure alternative employment. An initial meeting has taken place to discuss the details. Officials will continue to work together to ensure appropriate support is given to staff at the DVA during the transition period.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will update the business case for High Speed 2 to reflect the fact that there will be no link with High Speed 1. [194270]

Mr Goodwill: We will continue to revise and update the economic case for HS2 as new project milestones are reached, such as decisions on the preferred route for Phase 2, to ensure it is based on the best available evidence and latest understanding of the project, including taking account of the decision to remove the existing proposals for the HS1-HS2 link from the scheme.

Northern Rail

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) net franchise payment, (b) revenue support sum and (c) net subsidy are for the 22-month direct award of the northern franchise to Northern Rail Ltd. [194113]

Stephen Hammond: For the 22-month Northern franchise direct award there is no revenue support mechanism and there is a £632.7 million contracted subsidy over the full period of the franchise.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 589W

Railway Stations

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to announce which stations will receive (a) access for all funding and (b) national station improvement programme funding between 2014 and 2019. [194262]

Stephen Hammond: We plan to announce the stations that will receive Access for All funding in April.

The responsibility for deciding which stations will benefit from the next phase of the National Stations Improvement Programme rests with the industry Local Delivery Groups (LDGs) and not the Department.

The LDGs are in the process of developing their plans and will in due course be able to confirm which schemes they are progressing.

Railway Stations: Kent

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by his Department on platform lengthening on the Integrated Kent Franchise routes in each year since 2000, by station. [194264]

Stephen Hammond: It is Network Rail who has funded and delivered the platform lengthening on the Integrated Kent Franchise routes. The Department has no detailed information on individual station costs.

Railways: Tickets

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with Transport for London on the South East Flexible Ticketing scheme. [194128]

Stephen Hammond: As a key delivery partner for the South East Flexible Ticketing (SEFT) programme, Transport for London is a signatory to the SEFT Memorandum of Understanding and has membership of the SEFT Programme Board. This is intended to ensure that its extensive experience of developing smart ticketing in London is fully utilised in delivering the SEFT programme.

TfL has therefore been fully involved in all significant discussions on the strategic direction, design and delivery of SEFT. Significant work has also been carried out with it to ensure that the scheme will interoperate properly with its existing infrastructure in central London, including system testing.

Rescue Services

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assets he has designated for search and rescue under section 2.5 of Annex 12 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation; and where each such asset is located. [194243]

Stephen Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 2 September 2013, Official Report, column 153W.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 590W

Road Traffic

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to relieve congestion on roads. [193669]

Mr Goodwill: This Government are committed to investing in infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion. This means spending £24 billion on strategic roads over this and the next Parliament, and accelerating the pace of delivery so that people affected see a difference more quickly.

This includes a £500 million programme of pinch point schemes specifically targeted at tackling congestion on both the strategic and local road network, and a further £800 million being invested in 25 local major road schemes.

We have previously announced £183.5 million for road repairs following the severe weather this winter and in the recent Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced a further £200 million funding for pothole repairs. Of this, £168 million will assist councils in England, with the remaining £32 million allocated to the devolved Administrations.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent on repairing potholes in (a) Harlow and (b) Essex since 2004. [193871]

Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport provides capital funding to local highway authorities, including Essex county council, from the local highways maintenance capital block grant. Harlow falls within Essex county council's area of responsibility and therefore we do not allocate any funds directly to the borough council for road maintenance.

Since 2004 the Department has allocated the following amounts to Essex for highway maintenance:

The Department also allocated additional funding to authorities to help repair roads damaged by various weather events and this included a further £2.116 million to Essex county council in 2010-11 and £5.301 million in March 2011. More recently the Department for Transport has agreed to allocate over £2.7 million due to the severe wet weather the country has encountered.

A £200 million Pothole Fund was announced in the Budget on 19 March 2014. From this, £168 million is being made available to councils in England through a bidding exercise. Further details on the fund will be made available in the coming weeks.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 591W

Local authorities are also able to use revenue funding allocated by the Department for Communities and Local Government through the Revenue Support Grant for maintaining their local highways. Neither capital nor revenue highways maintenance funding is ring-fenced and it is for local highway authorities to decide upon their spending priorities across the whole range of services they provide.

The Department for Transport does not centrally hold information on what proportion of this funding is spent by Essex county council on repairing potholes.

Southeastern

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he expects all peak services provided by Southeastern to be formed of 12-car trains. [194263]

Stephen Hammond: We do not expect all peak services provided by Southeastern to be formed of 12-car trains as demand on some routes does not require this level of capacity provision. It is for the train operating company running the service to best match its rolling stock with passenger demand.

Through the Government’s Rail Investment Strategy, we are investing in additional capacity across the country, for where it is most needed.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 592W

Trade Unions

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision. [194047]

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport is undertaking a review.

Working Hours

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of employees in his Department of what (a) Civil Service pay grade and (b) gender work (i) reduced hours, (ii) flexi-time, (iii) from home, (iv) a compressed working week, (v) job share, (vi) term-time only and (vii) part-time. [193973]

Stephen Hammond: The total number of employees in the Department and its agencies split by gender is as follows:

Female—6,924

Male—9,768

The following tables provide the information requested. Where numbers are 5 or less, we have withheld the precise number on grounds of confidentiality in line with the Data Protection Act.

1 Apr 2014 : Column 593W

1 Apr 2014 : Column 594W

1 Apr 2014 : Column 595W

1 Apr 2014 : Column 596W