Electorate

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department has taken to improve registration rates and voter turnout of (a) visually impaired voters and (b) voters with learning difficulties. [197554]

Greg Clark: Electoral law requires returning officers to take account of the needs of people with disabilities by making polling stations and voting accessible.

In June 2014, the Government will be introducing an online facility for registration which will support further accessibility options for those with particular needs. User testing of paper forms has allowed their design to take into account the requirements of those with disabilities.

The Cabinet Office has also funded the Royal Mencap Society to create educational resources for people with a learning disability and to develop a model for one-to-one support for families, carers and others to encourage and enable registering to vote.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria he will use to assess local enterprise partnerships strategic economic plans for funding under the Local Growth Deal. [197626]

Greg Clark: The criteria the Government will be using to assess Strategic Economic Plans and bids for the Local Growth Fund were published in July 2013 and are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/growth-deals-initial-guidance-for-local-enterprise-partnerships

Official Hospitality

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on hospitality by his office in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [197932]

The Deputy Prime Minister: The information requested is not held centrally.

Opinion Polls

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent by his office on polling or public opinion research exercises in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and what the purpose of polling was in each such case and what was polled. [197972]

The Deputy Prime Minister: My office has not commissioned polling or public opinion research.

12 May 2014 : Column 366W

Education

Academies

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools had academy status in England and Wales at the latest date for which figures are available. [197775]

Mr Timpson: The information requested can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development

Education in Wales is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many local authority schools have become academies since 2010. [197850]

Mr Timpson: As of 1 May 2014, 3,688 local authority schools have become academies since 2010.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how much his Department has paid in legal fees since 2010 on the transfer of title deeds of a local authority schools becoming academies; [197853]

(2) how many title deeds of local authority schools have been transferred to academies operated by private companies since 2010; [197851]

(3) what the average value is of the title deed of a local authority school that becomes an academy. [197852]

Mr Timpson: When community schools convert to academies, the freehold is retained by the local authority and a lease is granted to the academy trust.

There are strict rules protecting publicly-funded land used by academies, regardless of who holds the freehold. This is set out in published guidance, which is available at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-of-school-playing-fields-and-public-land-advice

A copy of the guidance has been placed in the House Library.

The Department for Education does not hold information about the average value of land used for academies, or about the legal costs associated with establishing leasehold or freehold arrangements.

Academies are run by academy trusts, which are charities limited by guarantee—academies are not operated by private companies.

Children: Databases

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information-sharing systems his Department recommends agencies to use in respect of sharing information regarding vulnerable children and children at risk. [198098]

Mr Timpson: The Government believe it is for local areas to determine the most appropriate way to record and share information to meet local needs.

12 May 2014 : Column 367W

Children: Day Care

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of the 20 per cent most disadvantaged two year olds who are currently taking up their free childcare place. [197433]

Elizabeth Truss: In February 2014, local authorities reported that around 103,000 two-year-olds were already accessing a funded early learning place. Of these, around 95,000 were from the 20% most disadvantaged cohort, which represents 73%.

Custody

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that fathers have appropriate access to or custody of their children following separation or divorce in cases where there is no risk to the child. [197515]

Mr Timpson: The Government recognise that a father’s role in his child’s life is a very important one and legislation in the Children and Families Act 2014 reflects the importance of children having a continuing relationship with both of their parents following family separation, as long as it is safe and in the child’s best interests.

We are also strengthening the way in which breaches of child arrangement orders are handled. Cases which are breached within the first 12 months of an order being made will in future return to court quickly and, wherever possible, to the judge who made the original order. Courts will also be able to make full use of powers to direct a parent who is in breach of an order to participate in an activity, for example a parenting programme, to address their behaviour.

Families: Advisory Services

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2014, Official Report, column 411W, on families: advisory services, how many couples were eligible for the relationship support trial (a) overall and (b) in each pilot area; how many couples took part in each such trial area; and what the underspend in the project has been spent on. [197313]

Mr Timpson: Information about this trial is available in the Evaluation report, which can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/262849/DFE-_RR311.pdf

The underspend on the allocated budget for the trial has been used to meet other priorities.

Financial Services: Curriculum

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to include financial capability education in the national curriculum; and what guidance his Department has issued on such education. [198136]

12 May 2014 : Column 368W

Elizabeth Truss: The new mathematics curriculum will ensure that all young people leave school with an understanding of the mathematics skills needed for personal finance.

For the first time financial literacy will also be a compulsory part of citizenship for 11 to 16-year-olds from September 2014. Pupils will learn the importance of budgeting, sound management of money, credit and debt, as well as understanding of different financial services and products.

The new programmes of study for mathematics and citizenship make it clear what pupils should learn, including developing their use of formal mathematical knowledge to interpret and solve problems, including financial mathematics.

Free Schools

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the average length of time between an application for free school status being made and a successful applicant school opening; and what plans he has to reduce the time taken. [198056]

Mr Timpson: In cases where there is no existing school, the average length of time between an application for a free school being made and a brand new school opening is approximately 18 months. There are instances where a free school is able to open in a shorter amount of time, for example, in the case of an existing independent school that wants to join the state sector.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many applications for free school status from applicants which already have premises have been refused; [198077]

(2) how many applications for free school status for which the Church of England has agreed to provide school premises have been (a) approved and (b) rejected. [198038]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education does not hold the information in the form requested.

Whether applicants already have premises for their proposed school, and who provides those premises, are not, on their own, material factors in the decision to approve or reject a free school application. Rather, that decision is based principally on an assessment of the need for the school, the strength of the applicants' education plans and their ability to deliver a school that is financially viable and likely to be judged “good” or “outstanding” by Ofsted.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to give free schools more flexibility on requirements relating to (a) the involvement of volunteers and (b) provision of flexi-school places. [198080]

Mr Timpson: Volunteers in free schools, like maintained schools, can work alongside paid staff members to offer a range of skills and experience that can enhance pupils’ learning. We encourage skilled members of the community to take up a range of voluntary roles in schools from being governors to listening to children read. The

12 May 2014 : Column 369W

Government have reformed child protection policies to remove bureaucracy and enable managers to use their judgment about the checks and supervision required for each individual depending on their circumstances.

The free school programme encourages innovation and the decision to offer flexi-school places or how to deploy volunteers is one for individual head teachers. However, the free school criteria require all applicants to meet rigorous standards, including demonstrating how they would ensure a high quality education for every pupil and outlining a sustainable staffing structure.

Local Safeguarding Children Boards

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department provides for Local Safeguarding Children Boards. [197635]

Mr Timpson: Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) are funded by contributions from the local authority, primary care trust, police and other agencies, with the largest contribution coming from the local authority. It is important that agencies work together to agree budgets locally and prioritise spending in response to local needs and issues.

The Department for Education provided the Association of Independent LSCB Chairs with funding of £240,000 between September 2012 and March 2014 to support the leadership of LSCBs in ensuring the effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements. We will provide it with a further £130,000 in this financial year as it moves towards self-sustainability.

Pupil Exclusions: Bullying

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his Department's policy to record the number of pupils who are (a) suspended and (b) expelled for cyber-bullying. [197778]

Elizabeth Truss: We have no plans to collect specific data on the number of pupils receiving fixed period exclusions or permanent exclusions for cyber-bullying.

The Department for Education does not distinguish between different forms of bullying. The Department already collects data on exclusions for bullying, which would include cyber-bullying, as set out in the reply given to the hon. Member on 28 April 2014, Official Report, column 558W, on pupil exclusions: bullying.

Respite Care

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which organisations have received how much funding from his Department aimed at supporting access to short breaks and respite provision for children, young people and their families experiencing all types of disadvantage in each of the last five financial years. [197809]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education does not directly fund organisations to deliver short breaks and respite services for disadvantaged children, young people and their families; this is done at local authority level.

12 May 2014 : Column 370W

In the case of disabled children and young people however, the Department for Education has made available to local authorities £800 million to invest in short breaks services between April 2011 and March 2015, through unringfenced grants. In 2011-12 and 2012-13, an additional £40 million of capital funding per annum was made available to local authorities to invest in short breaks equipment and infrastructure, also in unringfenced grants. It has been for local authorities to decide how to use this funding to provide the short breaks provision for disabled children that is needed locally and to support access to it.

While the Department does not directly fund providers of short breaks for disabled children, it has funded a number of organisations over the last five financial years to help increase access to such provision and to improve its quality.

A table setting out details of the funding has been placed in the House Library.

Sixth Form Education

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his Department will publish guidance for sixth-form colleges that wish to convert to become 16 to 19 academies. [198073]

Mr Timpson: Sixth-form colleges are classified as private sector institutions and already benefit from the freedoms that academies enjoy. For this reason, the Department for Education has no plans to publish guidance for sixth-form colleges that wish to convert to become 16 to 19 academies.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the recent study by City University, London and the Nuffield Foundation of deaf children in the education system; and if he will make a statement. [198139]

Mr Timpson: The Department for Education has not made an assessment of the recent study by City University, London and the Nuffield Foundation of deaf children in the education system. The study helpfully considers ways and strategies to assist teachers identify reading problems and dyslexia for deaf children. It is for schools and professionals working with deaf children to consider the significance of the findings and how it informs their practice in identifying and supporting children with hearing loss.

Through the Children and Families Act 2014, the Government aim to improve support for children with special educational needs and disability (SEND) including deaf children. It also includes support for teachers and other school staff to gain the knowledge and skills to support pupils with SEN and disabilities.

The new SEND Code of Practice due to come into force in September, will set out clear guidance for schools on the process for appropriate identification, assessment, monitoring and securing further support for all children and young people with SEN and disabilities, including those with sensory impairments.

12 May 2014 : Column 371W

Cabinet Office

Brighton

Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will bring forward proposals to relocate (a) staff and (b) offices of his Department to Brighton; and if he will make a statement. [197450]

Mr Maude: Staffing is kept under review, but I have no plans to move Cabinet Office staff to Brighton.

Carpets

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was spent by the Department on purchasing or maintaining carpets in buildings owned by his Department in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [197875]

Mr Maude: Information requested is not held centrally.

Christmas

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was spent by (a) his Department and (b) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on Christmas decorations in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14. [197975]

Mr Maude: Nothing.

Civil Servants: Pay

Mr Chope: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what basis the Government calculate entitlement to holiday pay for civil servants. [198115]

Mr Maude: This is a matter delegated to individual Civil Service Departments and agencies under the Civil Service Management Code (CSMC).

Colorectal Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people (a) under 45, (b) between 45 and 60, (c) over 60 and (d) in total have been diagnosed with bowel cancer in each of the last five years. [197944]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Caron Walker:

On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people (a) under 45, (b) between 45 and 60, (c) over 60 and (d) in total have been diagnosed with bowel cancer in each of the last five years. [197944]

The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2011. Table 1 provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of colorectal cancer, for the years 2007 to 2011, for ages (a) 0 to 44 years, (b) 45 to 60 years, (c) 61 years and above and (d) all ages.

The latest published figures on cancer incidence for England are available on the ONS website:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/cancer-statistics-registrations--england--series-mb1-/index.html

12 May 2014 : Column 372W

Table 1: Number of newly diagnosed cases of colorectal cancer1,2, England3, 2007-11
Age group20072008200920102011

0-44

858

898

909

907

1,039

45-60

4,798

4,784

4,779

4,909

5,133

61+

25,902

26,964

27,559

27,713

27,872

All ages

31,558

32,646

33,247

33,529

34,044

1 Colorectal cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (1CD-10) codes. 2 Cancer incidence figures are based on newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year. 3 Figures are based on boundaries as of February 2014 and exclude non-residents. Source: Office for National Statistics.

Credit Unions

Mike Kane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Government Departments offer payroll deduction for staff wishing to save with a credit union. [197849]

Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 65W.

Death

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the biggest cause of preventable premature deaths in people up to the age of 60 years old. [197910]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2014:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the biggest cause of preventable premature deaths in people up to the age of 60 years old. [197910]

In 2012 (the latest year available), the leading cause of preventable premature death in England and Wales for persons up to the age of 60 was ischaemic heart disease. The total number of deaths from this cause for males and females combined was 5,735.

Figures for avoidable mortality in England and Wales are published annually on the ONS website at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/avoidable-mortality-in-england-and-wales/index.html

Trends in mortality by causes considered preventable (preventable mortality) or amenable to healthcare (amenable mortality), which are subsets of total avoidable mortality are also presented.

Death: Weather

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many people died from cold-related causes in the winter of (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; [198092]

(2) how many people died from heat-related causes in the summer of (a) 2012 and (b) 2013. [198095]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

12 May 2014 : Column 373W

Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2014:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking the Secretary of State for Health:

1. How many people have died from cold-related causes in the winter of (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 (198092)

2. How many people died from heat-related causes in the summer of (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 (198095).

There are no official definitions of ‘cold-related’ and ‘heat-related’ causes of death.

National Statistics estimates of excess winter deaths are calculated annually, and are based on the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July).

Table 1 provides the number of excess winter deaths that occurred in England and Wales from 2008/9 to 2012/13 (the latest figures available). Figures on the number of excess winter deaths in the winter of 2013-14 will be available in November 2014.

The majority of excess winter deaths are from respiratory and circulatory diseases, but it is not possible to say whether these deaths were specifically cold-related.

More information on excess winter mortality and the causes contributing to excess winter deaths can be found in the excess winter mortality bulletin:

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health2/excess-winter-mortality-in-england-and-wales/index.html

In addition, Public Health England use ONS death registration data to monitor excess weekly mortality. More information on this can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/229819/Excess_winter_mortality_2012.pdf

Estimates of the excess deaths during a summer heat wave are only calculated when temperatures remain abnormally high over a sustained period. The most severe heat wave of recent times occurred in August 2003, and was associated with significant excess mortality. Summer 2012 was relatively cool, though high temperatures occurred on 19 August in the East and South East of England. There were several days in July 2013 when high temperatures triggered a health heat wave alert in one or more regions. However, analysis by Public Health England showed that no significant excess in weekly all-cause mortality was seen during the heat wave periods in 2012 and 2013. Public Health England publish a heat wave plan containing further details on heat wave alert thresholds:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/201039/Heatwave-Main_Plan-2013.pdf

Table 1: Excess winter deaths, England and Wales, deaths occurring in 2008-09 to 2012-131, 2, 3 ,4
Persons (number)
 Excess winter deaths (EWD)EWD Index5

2008-09

36,450

23.7

2009-10

25,810

16.8

2010-11

26,080

16.9

2011-12

24,200

15.5

2012-13

31,100

19.6

1 Estimates of excess winter deaths are based on the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). 2 Figures are based on deaths occurring in each month. 3 Figures for 2008-09 to 2011-12 are final, figures for 2012-13 are provisional. Final figures are rounded to the nearest 10, provisional figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 4 Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. 5 The excess winter mortality index is calculated as the excess winter deaths divided by the average non-winter deaths, expressed as a percentage.

12 May 2014 : Column 374W

Disciplinary Proceedings

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff who were suspended remained on his Department’s payroll in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and on what date the official suspension commenced in each such case. [197874]

Mr Maude: In line with the practice of previous Administrations, exact numbers are not usually disclosed to protect individual privacy when numbers are five or fewer.

No staff in my Department were suspended and remained on payroll in 2012-13.

Five or fewer civil servants in my Department were suspended on full pay in the year 2013-14.

Domestic Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the proportion of the (a) male and (b) female population who have experienced (i) all partner abuse and (ii) violent partner abuse aged (A) 16 to 19, (B) 20 to 24, (C) 25 to 34, (D) 35 to 44, (E) 45 to 54, (F) 55 to 59 and (G) over 59 years old. [197804]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Caron Walker:

On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate has been made of the proportion of the (a) male and (b) female population who have experienced (i) all partner abuse and (ii) violent partner abuse aged (A) 16 to 19, (B) 20 to 24, (C) 25 to 34, (D) 35 to 44, (E) 45 to 54, (F) 55 to 59 and (G) over 59 years old.

Estimates of the proportion of adults resident in households who experience partner abuse are produced from the Crime Survey for England and Wales. The survey definition of partner abuse includes emotional or financial abuse, threats or use of physical force against the person by a current or former partner.

These estimates are sourced from a module that is completed in private by the respondent and this section of the survey is only asked of adults aged 16 to 59. Therefore, figures are not available for those over 59 years old. A measure of violent partner abuse is not available; however, respondents are asked whether they experienced threats to hurt the respondent, or someone close to them, or force.

Table 1 provides the proportion of adults aged 16 to 59 who were victims of partner abuse in the year ending March 2013 (the latest year available), by age and sex.

Percentage of adults aged 16 to 59 who were victims of partner abuse in the last year, by age and sex, 2012-13 CSEW, England and Wales, adults aged 16 to 59
Percentage victims once or more
 Any partner abuse1Partner abuse threats or force (non-sexual)Unweighted base2
 MenWomenMenWomenMenWomen

16-19

3.6

7.2

1.3

2.8

259

245

20-24

5.2

9.2

3.2

4.5

339

438

25-34

3.7

5.7

1.5

2.8

924

1248

35-44

2.6

4.9

1.1

2.4

1,070

1,400

45-54

2.4

3.4

1.2

1.4

1,197

1,340

12 May 2014 : Column 375W

55-59

1.5

2.2

0.4

0.7

542

605

1 Any partner abuse includes stalking and sexual offences. 2 Unweighted base refers to the number of people interviewed in the specified group. Bases given are for any partner abuse; bases for other measures will be similar. Source: Crime Survey for England and Wales, Office for National Statistics.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the electoral registration rate was in each year since 1997 in the 100 parliamentary constituencies which have had the largest decrease in the number of electors on the register from the date of the local boundary review to the present. [197935]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Caron Walker, dated May 2014:

On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the electoral registration rate was in each year since 1997 in the 100 parliamentary constituencies which have had the largest decrease in the number of electors on the register from the date of the local boundary review to the present (197935).

ONS does not hold the data required to answer this question.

Local boundary reviews are undertaken by the four Boundary Commissions for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The latest full review, the Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster Constituencies, was completed in 2005 in Scotland, 2006 in Wales and 2007 in England and Northern Ireland. As there is no UK consistent date for local boundary reviews it is not possible to calculate the 100 parliamentary constituencies with the largest decrease in electors between the date of the local boundary review and the present time.

Additionally, as the new constituencies for England, Wales and Northern Ireland did not come into force until the May 2010 General Election, ONS did not collect electoral data for all of these constituencies until 2009 and therefore cannot supply electoral registration rates for years prior to that date for these areas.

A further issue relates to the calculation of the electoral registration rate. ONS can only provide an approximation of this figure calculated from the number of people who were registered to vote in parliamentary elections as a percentage of the estimated resident population aged 18 and over. The latest date for which this approximation can be produced is 2012. The latest electoral statistics are for 2013; however the 2013 population estimates required for the denominator are not due to be published until June 2014.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 7 June 2010, Official Report, columns 75-76W, on electoral register, what his most recent estimate is of the electoral registration rate for each region of the UK. [197950]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

12 May 2014 : Column 376W

Letter from Caron Walker, dated May 2014:

On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the most recent estimate is of the electoral registration rate for each region of the UK (197950).

Table 1 shows the number of people who were registered to vote in parliamentary elections as a percentage of the estimated resident population aged 18 and over, for the regions of England and UK constituent countries in 2012. This is the latest year for which both electoral statistics and population data are available.

This percentage is the nearest approximation to the percentage registered to vote that can be provided but is not an electoral registration rate. This is because the estimated resident population is not the same as the population who are eligible to vote. The population eligible to vote in parliamentary elections includes British Citizens or qualifying Commonwealth citizens resident overseas (who are not included in the UK resident population) and excludes foreign citizens from outside the British Commonwealth and Republic of Ireland resident within the UK (who are included in the estimated resident population).

In addition, figures for the registered electorate may be inflated because people who have more than one address may register in more than one place (e.g. students may register at parental and term-time addresses) and electoral registration officers vary in how quickly they remove people from the registers after they have moved away from an area or died. This can affect the comparability of figures across parliamentary constituencies and potentially regions.

Table 1: Number of persons registered to vote as a percentage of resident population aged 18 and over for the regions of England and UK constituent countries, 2012
Area Percentage rate

England

 

91

   
 

North East

95

 

North West

94

 

Yorkshire and the Humber

92

 

East Midlands

93

 

West Midlands

94

 

East

93

 

London

81

 

South East

92

 

South West

94

   

Wales

 

93

   

Scotland

 

92

   

Northern Ireland

 

88

Notes: 1. The rates have been calculated using the mid-2012 population estimates of those aged 18 and over, and the number of people registered to vote (excluding attainers aged under 18) in parliamentary elections on 1 December 2012. 2. The UK electoral statistics are for 1 December 2012 and were published on 28 February 2013. They are available on the ONS website at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/electoral-statistics-for-uk/2012/index.html 3. The latest UK population estimates are for 30 June 2012 and were published on 8 August 2013. They are available on the ONS website at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/population-estimates-for-uk--england-and-wales--scotland-and-northern-ireland/mid-2011-and-mid-2012/index.html Source: 1. Office for National Statistics. 2. National Records of Scotland. 3. Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

12 May 2014 : Column 377W

Health Services

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) his Department and (b) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister spent on a wellbeing strategy in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14. [197979]

Mr Maude: The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.

In 2010 the Office for National Statistics established a Measuring National Wellbeing Programme to look at wellbeing across the UK. The Cabinet Office is supporting this with a wellbeing policy programme across Government.

The costs of the programme are met from existing departmental budgets. Details on staffing are published through my Department’s organogram, on gov.uk

ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how much was spent on providing (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers, (c) senior civil servants and (d) all other officials in his Department with (i) iPhones and (ii) iPads in (A) 2012-13 and (B) 2013-14; [197973]

(2) what assessment his Department has made of (a) digital and (b) Agile skill in (i) his Department and (ii) other Government Departments; and if he will make it his policy to report on digital skills in departmental reporting plans; [198053]

(3) how much was spent maintaining his Department's official website in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; [197977]

(4) how much has been spent on the Digital Services Framework in each month to date; and what proportion of such spending was with small and medium-sized enterprises; [198052]

(5) how many Agile coach positions there are in his Department; and how many such posts are filled by (a) permanent and (b) contract staff. [198054]

Mr Hurd: At the time of the last general election this country was spending more than almost any other country in the developed world on ICT but the quality of the services and technology offered to civil servants and to the public was hardly impressive. Departments were—and in many cases are—burdened with legacy IT equipment which is not appropriate for a modern workplace. In addition there was a long-standing shortage of digital skills.

After the general election, the Cabinet Office launched the new Government Digital Service to support Departments in digitising public services and to redesign our online offering to the public.

Prior to August 2010, £27,000 was spent on hosting the Cabinet Office site (as well as other agency sites). In August of that year, we switched to using cloud-based services. For 2012-13, £2,623 was spent maintaining the Cabinet Office website. In February 2013 Cabinet Office joined gov.uk. The creation of gov.uk saved £42 million in 2012-13 and £50 million estimated savings for 2013-14 for gov.uk from closing down Directgov and BusinessLink.

The Capabilities Plan, which is refreshed annually, reports on digital skills across the civil service. The Cabinet Office publishes Quarterly Progress Reports

12 May 2014 : Column 378W

against the Government Digital Strategy which covers digital capability, as does the Government Digital Strategy 2013 Annual Report. All of these are readily available online.

Prior to 2010 agile methods were not required. The Government Digital by Default Service Standard requires new or redesigned digital services to be developed using agile methods. Compliance is ensured through cross-Government IT spending controls. Prior to the last general election there was no cross-Government IT spending controls. These helped saved £500 million for taxpayers in 2012-13 alone, contributing to an unprecedented £10 billion of efficiency savings in that year. All of this could have been initiated prior to 2010. There are currently five agile coach positions in Cabinet Office.

Prior to the last general election there was no central monitoring of spend with SMEs. Various bureaucratic procurement practices militated against SMEs and resulted in a playing field which was biased against SMEs. The Digital Services framework went live in November 2013. 83% of the suppliers are SMEs. Of the nine competitions so far awarded five have gone to SMEs—this is 30% by value.

Under an IT contract signed in 2009, Cabinet Office staff IT costs around £7,000 per user per annum. We want staff to have IT equipment which actually suits their needs to allow everyone to work effectively and drive up productivity. As part of that we will consider giving staff equipment including tablets and mobile devices when there is an appropriate business need. For further details I refer the hon. Member to HC Deb, 7 March 2013, c1140W.

Infant Mortality

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment has been made of the effect of inequality on child mortality rates in the UK. [197750]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Caron Walker, dated May 2014:

On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the effect of inequality on child mortality rates in the UK. [197750]

There are a number of ways that an assessment of the effect of inequality on child mortality rates could be undertaken. Previous analyses include investigations of differences in infant mortality by (1) the socioeconomic status of the parents, (2) an area-based indicator of deprivation, (3) a combination of both, also taking other factors that impact on child mortality into account, such as birth weight and multiplicity.

Table 1 provides the number of infant deaths and the infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births by the most advantaged National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) of the parents for infant deaths occurring in England and Wales in 2012 (the latest year available). Comparable figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are not readily available.

Table 2 provides the number of deaths of children aged between one and 15 years by the most advantaged NS-SEC of the parents for deaths occurring in 2012 (the latest year available). Rates cannot be calculated because figures for child populations by NS-SEC are not readily available. Comparable figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are not readily available.

12 May 2014 : Column 379W

Child mortality rates by area deprivation are not readily available, so could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the results of a multivariate analysis of infant death in England and Wales in 2005–06, with a focus on socio-economic status and deprivation are available on the ONS website at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/hsq/health-statistics-quarterly/no--42--summer-2009/index.html

Figures for child mortality in England and Wales are published annually on the ONS website at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/child-mortality-statistics--childhood--infant-and-perinatal/index.html

Table 1: Number of infant deaths and infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births by parents’ national statistics socio-economic classification, England and Wales, deaths occurring in 2012
Numbers and rate per 1,000 live births
  NumberRate

All

 

2,857

3.9

1.1

Large employers and higher managerial occupations

34

1.4

1.2

Higher professional occupations

241

2.3

2

Lower managerial and professional occupations

467

2.3

3

Intermediate occupations

203

2.3

4

Small employers and own account workers

308

4.8

5

Lower supervisory and technical occupations

255

4.7

6

Semi-routine occupations

393

5.0

7

Routine occupations

405

7.5

8-9

Never worked or long term unemployed, or not classified elsewhere

199

3.4

Notes: 1. Figures include the deaths of non-residents. 2. Infant deaths are deaths under one year. 3. Figures are on deaths occurring, rather than registered in each calendar year. 4. The breakdowns of socio-economic classification do not add to the 'all figures'—see section 2.13 in Child Mortality Statistics Metadata for details: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/child-mortality-statistics-metadata--january-2014.pdf 5. Due to the small number of deaths in category 8 (Never worked or long term unemployed), the totals for categories 8 and 9 (Not classified elsewhere) have been combined. Source: Office for National Statistics.
Table 2: Number of deaths of children between one and 15 years by national statistics socio-economic classification, England and Wales, deaths occurring in 2012
Number
NS-SEC Deaths

All

 

882

1.1

Large employers and higher managerial occupations

28

1.2

Higher professional occupations

91

2

Lower managerial and professional occupations

178

3

Intermediate occupations

72

4

Small employers and own account workers

107

5

Lower supervisory and technical occupations

42

6

Semi-routine occupations

145

7

Routine occupations

68

8-9

Never worked or long term unemployed, or not classified elsewhere

151

Notes: 1. Figures include the deaths of non-residents. 2. Children are defined as those aged over one year and less than 16 years. 3. Figures are on deaths occurring, rather than registered in each calendar year. 4. Due to the small number of deaths in category 8 (Never worked or long term unemployed), the totals for categories 8 and 9 (Not classified elsewhere) have been combined. Source: Office for National Statistics

12 May 2014 : Column 380W

Job Creation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new jobs have been created in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 in (i) Barnsley Central constituency, (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iii) England. [198130]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2014:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new jobs have been created in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 in (i) Barnsley central constituency, (ii) Yorkshire and The Humber and (iii) England. (198130)

Information regarding the number of new jobs created is not available. As an alternative, estimates relating to the net changes in the number of people in employment have been provided. The ONS compiles Labour Market Statistics for areas below the UK following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions using the Annual Population Survey (APS).

Table 1 shows the number and net change of people in employment resident in the requested geographies. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the period January 2013 to December 2013 and the 12 month periods ending in December in each year since 2010.

As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table.

National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Table 1: Number of people in employment and change on previous period
Thousand
 Barnsley CentralYorkshire and the HumberEngland
12 months ending December:LevelChange on yearLevelChange on yearLevelChange on year

2010

36

2,407

24,303

2011

36

0

2,396

-12

24,392

88

2012

37

1

2,442

47

24,712

321

20131

***37

0

*2,485

43

*25,093

381

1 Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality following. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≤ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey

Legal Costs

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what legal fees have been paid by his Department in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and for what purpose payment was made in each case. [197982]

12 May 2014 : Column 381W

Mr Maude: My Department publishes details of spend over £25,000 on gov.uk.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many quangos have been abolished since 2010; and if he will make a statement. [197456]

Mr Hurd: The Government have already reduced the number of public bodies by more than 280 and 185 bodies have been abolished.

This is the largest restructuring of public bodies in a generation, making the landscape smaller, more accountable and transparent, and offering better value for money to the public.

Official Hospitality

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was spent by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on tea and biscuits in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [197980]

Mr Maude: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minster is an integral part of my Department.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Police: Public Opinion

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the level of public satisfaction in relation to the police when dealing with reports of (a) burglaries, (b) theft, (c) fraud, (d) non-domestic violence and (e) sexual offences. [197803]

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2014:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about levels of public satisfaction in relation to the police when dealing with reports of (a) burglaries; (b) theft; (c) fraud; (d) non-domestic violence; and (e) sexual offences.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales collects data on victim satisfaction with the police, for incidents experienced by adults aged 16 and over in the 12 months prior to the interview, that have been dealt with by the police. Latest data for the year ending December 2013 indicate that 81% of victims of burglary were satisfied with the police handling of the matter; 78% of victims of theft offences were satisfied; and 67% of victims of non-domestic violent offences were satisfied.

Latest available Crime Survey for England and Wales data on victim satisfaction with the police, for incidents of serious sexual assaults experienced since the age of 16 relate to those interviewed in the year ending March 2012. These indicate that 63% of victims aged 16 to 59 of serious sexual assault thought that the police had been helpful in their handling of the matter. These estimates are sourced from a self-completion module of the survey that is completed in private by the respondent and is only asked every other year of adults aged 16 to 59. Data are not available for all sexual offences.

In respect of the data on serious sexual assaults, when comparing with other crime types, it is possible that there may be a difference in levels of satisfaction reported by respondents that is attributable to the different modes of response provided; face-to-face interview or self-completion. Caution should therefore be applied when making such comparisons.

12 May 2014 : Column 382W

The Crime Survey for England and Wales does not collect information on victim satisfaction with the police in relation to incidents of fraud.

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many away days his Department held in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and (i) what cost was incurred and (ii) who was in attendance at each such day. [197976]

Mr Maude: The information requested is not held centrally.

Visual Impairment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance his Department has given across Government on steps to improve communications with the visually impaired. [197585]

Mr Hurd: I refer the hon. Member to the Office for Disability Issues’ publication, Fulfilling Potential. The Cabinet Office’s Government Digital Service is working with Departments to digitise public services. Our assisted digital approach will ensure that these services serve the needs of all users, including people with a visual impairment.

Women’s Business Council

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times Ministers have met the Women's Business Council flexible working champion John Timpson in the last three years. [197741]

Mr Maude: Details of external ministerial meetings are published at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications

Written Questions: Government Responses

Hilary Benn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to answer question 196793, tabled on 25 April 2014 for answer on 29 April 2014. [197922]

Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 4W. This was answered within the set timescale.

Defence

Al-Sweady Public Inquiry

17. Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of the Al-Sweady public inquiry. [903959]

Mr Philip Hammond: The Al-Sweady inquiry has cost the public purse £28.4 million to 31 March 2014. The potential cost of the inquiry to its completion is £31.1 million.

12 May 2014 : Column 383W

This includes costs for inquiry personnel, all legal and professional services, including paralegals, legal investigators, translation services, costs of the inquiry hearing rooms and associated utilities, IT, and expenses incurred in obtaining witness evidence.

Scotland

22. Mr Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects on the defence and security of Scotland of being part of the UK. [903964]

Dr Murrison: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Devon (Mel Stride) and my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Steve Brine).

Afghanistan

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds from the defence budget are allocated for mental health care for veterans returning from Afghanistan. [196184]

Anna Soubry: Mental health care and support is provided for all serving armed forces personnel, both regulars and reserve, and resources are not specifically designated for a particular operation. Because of the many ways in which mental health care is provided and funded, it is not possible to provide a cost figure that covers all the numerous care streams, which may include treatment by GPs in primary care facilities, out-patient treatment in military Departments of Community Mental Health, and in-patient care in specialist NHS units.

Responsibility for the delivery of health care to ex-service personnel rests with the NHS and devolved Administrations. As part of the Government’s 2011 mental health strategy, No Health Without Mental Health, over £7 million in additional funding has been made available over four years to help ensure that ex-service personnel with mental health problems also get the very best care.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase the number of Apache helicopter pilots for deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. [197958]

Mr Francois: The final deployment of Apache helicopters to Helmand has sufficient pilots and crews to undertake the required tasks.

Sufficient personnel will continue to be trained to ensure future tasks can be met.

Armed Forces

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the findings of the Armed Forces & Society survey produced by Lord Ashcroft. [197613]

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence was grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Ashcroft for conducting what proved to be a very useful survey of the attitudes of the public and the armed forces towards each other. While there were many positive findings, of particular concern

12 May 2014 : Column 384W

was the perception among a majority of the public that veterans would have physical or mental problems as a result of service. Lord Ashcroft described this as “not only untrue, but damaging”.

The 2012 survey provided valuable insight into the relationship between the armed forces and the nation they serve. This relationship is at the heart of the Armed Forces Covenant, which we published in May 2011. A great deal has been achieved through this mechanism in the last few years across a wide range of areas, including health care, accommodation, education, and welfare.

We will go on looking at what more we can do for our armed forces, their families, and veterans, to ensure that they continue to receive the recognition they deserve, and if necessary, whatever help they may require.

Armed Forces Covenant

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the projects supported by the Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) fund since its inception; and how much funding has been given to each of those projects. [198149]

Anna Soubry: The £35 million LIBOR fund has now closed with the majority of the money being allocated in support of a total of 97 projects. A copy of the document detailing those projects and the funding they have received is as follows. A small sum is being held back for contingency purposes.

Armed Forces Covenant LIBOR Fund—Successful projects

The importance of the covenant to the Government was highlighted by the decision of the Chancellor to transfer £35 million from fines levied on the banks for attempting to manipulate LIBOR to the MOD for use in supporting the armed forces community.

The aim of the fund is to support the two principles of the Armed Forces Covenant:

that members of the armed forces community should not face disadvantage in comparison to other citizens;

that special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

Over three tranches of LIBOR funding 97 successful projects have received a total of nearly £35 million to support their work. A summary of the successful bids can be found in this spreadsheet.

LIBOR fund value£35,000,000.00Number of projectsNumber of unique orgs

Tranche One agreed bids

£7,229,900.00

16

12

Tranche Two agreed bids

£15,539,869.53

57

54

Tranche Three agreed bids

£12,083,910.89

24

21

Total spend

£34,853,680.42

97

81

Armed Forces: Cadets

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel were in the Army Cadets in Northern Ireland on 1 January 2014. [197992]

12 May 2014 : Column 385W

Anna Soubry: On 1 January 2014 there were 1,422 members of the Army Cadet Force and 598 members of the Army Combined Cadet Force in Northern Ireland.

In addition there were 397 adult volunteers.

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel were in the Sea Cadets in Northern Ireland on 1 January 2014. [197993]

Anna Soubry: On 1 January 2014 there were 257 Sea Cadets in Northern Ireland, 22 of whom were Royal Marine Cadets.

In addition there were 157 adult volunteers.

Bomb Disposal: Shoeburyness

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that East Beach in Shoeburyness is surveyed for any unexploded ordnance and that remedial works are carried out as a matter of urgency; [198009]

(2) what estimate he has made of (a) the economic effect on and (b) changes in tourism revenue in Southend as a result of the closure of East Beach in Shoeburyness for his Department to survey for unexploded ordnance; [198006]

(3) what the timescale is for his Department to (a) survey East Beach in Shoeburyness for unexploded ordnance and (b) carry out remedial works; [198007]

(4) how long his Department expects East Beach in Shoeburyness to be closed. [198008]

Anna Soubry: East Beach is managed by Southend-on-Sea borough council under a licence agreement with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The decision to close the beach was made by the council and it will be for it to determine when to re-open it. As such, no estimates have been made by the MOD about the economic effect of the council’s decision to the local economy.

A MOD survey of East Beach will assist in the formulation of a risk management plan that will focus mitigation work on those areas of the beach at greatest risk. It is too early to say what mitigation work will be required, when it will be carried out, and how long it will take to complete.

Chief of Defence Materiel

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the current contract for the post of Chief of Defence Materiel ends; and if he will make it his policy that the post of Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support be no longer merged with this post at that time. [197331]

Mr Dunne: The post of Chief of Defence Materiel has been merged with that of Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support and therefore no longer exists as a separate post. A competition will be held for the Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support in late 2014 in time for the current incumbent's contract end date on 3 January 2015.

12 May 2014 : Column 386W

Defence Equipment and Support

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to question 187339 of 11 February 2014, where each vacancy is located; and what the role of each position is. [188564]

Mr Dunne: Safety-Critical posts are fielded across the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation in a number of areas. The role of these posts is defined in DE&S policy as having specified safety-related, decision-making responsibilities and accountabilities, and must be filled by people competent to make such decisions. Should a post become vacant, priority is given to recruitment action. Until the vacancy is filled, the post responsibilities are either transferred to other competent people or, to ensure safety, related activities cease.

Safety-Critical post data are reviewed on a monthly basis and as at 1 April 2014 there were 97 vacant Safety-Critical posts in DE&S out of a total of 1,321. The number of Safety-Critical posts and vacancies will change regularly to reflect project requirements and as the result of staff turnover. Current vacancies are located as follows:

DE&S organisational domainDE&S operating centreTotal number of Safety-Critical postsNumber of vacant Safety-Critical posts

Maritime

Ships

210

11

 

Subs

156

6

 

Naval Authority Group

47

9

    

Air

Air Support

199

20

 

Combat Air

216

16

    

Land

Land Equipment

114

6

 

Weapons

154

12

 

Joint Support Chain/Inventory Management

13

1

 

Logistics Commodities and Services

14

1

    

Joint

Helicopters

161

11

 

ISTAR

29

3

    

Corporate

HR

3

0

 

Tech

4

0

 

Finance

1

1

Total

 

1,321

97

Employment Agencies

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which five companies were used most often to provide temporary workers for his Department in the last financial year; and how much in agency fees was paid to each of them. [195549]

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence uses a process called “manpower substitution” to engage temporary staff at agreed fixed rates on a national basis through a number of contracts. Manpower substitutes are employed

12 May 2014 : Column 387W

for up to 11 months to fill vacant, funded posts. The majority are brought in to fill medical and dental requirements at military medical centres to cover for military positions that are vacant due to deployment into operational theatre. This enables the medical services to continue to provide the best possible care to members of the armed forces.

The five companies most frequently used by the Ministry of Defence in financial year 2013-14 to provide temporary workers, and the associated fees paid to each, are presented in the following table:

CompanyType of workerNumber of Temporary WorkersFees Paid (£ million)

HoneyBee

Medical and Dental

790

3.46

CastleRock Ltd

Medical and Dental

490

2.61

Capita Resourcing

Interim Professionals

320

2.07

Hayes

Medical and Dental

190

0.59

Reed

Clerical and Admin

160

0.11

The figures provided for Capita Resourcing cover the period from April 2013 to March 2014. All other data cover the period April 2013 to February 2014. Data are extracted from the MOD’s centralised Manpower Substitution Service database and do not include any localised arrangements that individual Top Level Budget holders may have with other companies.

Joint Forces Command

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current establishment is of Joint Forces Command. [197195]

Anna Soubry: There are around 11,000 members of the armed forces and around 7,150 UK based civil servants and locally employed civilians in Joint Forces Command.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who authorises the public release of photographs of aircraft that are intercepted during Quick Reaction Alert flights. [197166]

Mr Francois: Photographs are routinely taken during Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) interceptions. There is strong public and media interest in the RAF Quick Reaction Alert deterrent capability. MOD policy is to release a limited amount of non-sensitive information on QRA launches, sometimes including photographs. This provides the public with strong examples of how the RAF is able to respond to this kind of incident. It also provides public awareness of the RAF’s ability to defend the UK through the effectiveness of its air defences and to maintain the full deterrence value of the QRA mission. Media inquiries regarding QRA launches also often include requests for photographs.

Consequently, RAF Operations Staff in coordination with MOD officials, including the MOD Directorate of Media and Communications, will occasionally consider these photographs for public release.

12 May 2014 : Column 388W

Photographs of a recent QRA mission were released on 25 April 2014. The previous release of photographs of intercepted aircraft from a recent mission was in March 2010; additionally for other QRA information releases in the last three years, MOD has utilised stock images from the Defence Image Library.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions (a) photographs have been taken of intercepted aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert flights and (b) such photographs have been released to the public in each of the last three years. [197167]

Mr Francois: Photographs are routinely taken during Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) interceptions. There is strong public and media interest in the RAF Quick Reaction Alert deterrent capability. MOD policy is to release a limited amount of non-sensitive information on QRA launches, sometimes including photographs. This provides the public with strong examples of how the RAF is able to respond to this kind of incident. It also provides public awareness of the RAF’s ability to defend the UK through the effectiveness of its air defences and to maintain the full deterrence value of the QRA mission. Media enquiries regarding QRA launches also often include requests for photographs.

Consequently, RAF Operations Staff in coordination with MOD officials, including the MOD Directorate of Media and Communications, will occasionally consider these photographs for public release.

Photographs of a recent QRA mission were released on 25 April 2014. The previous release of photographs of intercepted aircraft from a recent mission was in March 2010; additionally for other QRA information releases in the last three years, MOD has utilised stock images from the Defence Image Library.

Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects Ministers of his Department to visit Northern Ireland establishments between now and the General Election in 2015. [197918]

Anna Soubry: There are, at present, no planned visits by Ministry of Defence Ministers to establishments in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Defence intends that his previously planned visit of 20 March 2014 to Northern Ireland, which had to be postponed, will be rescheduled.

Nuclear Reactors

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear-qualified suitably qualified and experienced personnel have been required by his Department in each of the last three years; and how many such posts were vacant in each such year in each location. [188387]

Mr Dunne: The following tables summarise the number of civilian nuclear suitably qualified and experienced personnel (NSQEP) posts and the number of NSQEP vacancies by location:

12 May 2014 : Column 389W

Number
 2011-12 (as at 31 March 2012)2012-13 (as at 31 March 2013)2013-14 (as at 31 March 2014)

Requirement for NSQEP personnel

532

532

562

Number of vacant NSQEP posts

29

53

70

    

Location of vacant posts

   

Abbey Wood, Bristol

21

48

63

Clyde

3

2

2

Portsmouth

1

0

1

Devonport, Plymouth

3

2

3

12 May 2014 : Column 390W

Barrow-in-Furness

1

1

1

A recruitment programme has recently been undertaken to fill the existing vacancies, most of which fall within the level 1 (awareness) category, and posts are now being filled. None of the existing vacancies are in posts categorised as safety critical, and the vacancies have not impacted upon the Department’s ability to deliver the Defence Nuclear Programme safely.

The following table summarises the number of military nuclear suitably qualified and experienced personnel (NSQEP) posts and the number of NSQEP vacancies by location:

Number
 2011-12 (as at 1 January 2012)2012-13 (as at 1 February 2013)2013-14 (as at 1 February 2014)
 OfficersRatingsOfficersRatingsOfficersRatings

Requirement for NSQEP personnel

266

856

238

808

244

804

Number of vacant NSQEP posts

19

105

12

68

16

79

       

Location of vacant posts

      

Abbey Wood, Bristol

7

1

1

0

4

0

Clyde

1

41

1

20

2

22

Portsmouth

0

8

0

1

0

3

Devonport, Plymouth

1

7

1

2

1

2

London

0

0

0

0

0

0

Barrow-in-Furness

0

2

0

3

1

0

Sea—Disposal

3

13

0

8

1

2

Sea—Sea Training

3

0

1

2

2

0

Sea—Build and Upkeep

1

6

1

0

0

6

Sea—SSN and SSBN (Upkeep)

2

3

2

9

4

10

Sea—Platform

1

24

5

23

1

34

None of the existing vacancies are in posts categorised as safety critical. No submarine would go to sea without the required complement of NSQEP, and the vacancies have not impacted upon the Department’s ability to deliver the Defence Nuclear Programme safely.

VE Day: Anniversaries

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of VE Day in 2015. [198123]

Anna Soubry: The 70th Anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day will have significant resonance in the UK and the allied nations. No specific plans have yet been developed, but this is something that we will be turning our attention to in the coming months.

Veterans

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans (a) were and (b) were not contacted by the Veterans Information Service one year after their departure from the armed forces in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013. [197754]

Anna Soubry: The number of veterans who were contacted/not contacted by the Veterans Information Service in 2012 and 2013 is:

 1201222013

Contacted

19,445

6,178

Not Contacted

3,544

951

1 From May 2012 until December 2012. 2 From January 2013 until March 2013. (Contact is initiated one year after discharge.)

This information is not available by year prior to May 2012. However, I can confirm that 56,653 veterans discharged between 1 September 2009 and 30 April 2012 have been contacted and 5,996 have not.

Veterans: Mortgages

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans have bought a house through the Forces Help to Buy Scheme since its establishment in April 2014. [197753]

Anna Soubry: The Forces Help to Buy Scheme launched on 1 April 2014 is designed to assist members of the armed forces in purchasing a home. The scheme is for serving personnel, but those being made redundant will be eligible.

12 May 2014 : Column 391W

For details on the support available to veterans, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2014, Official Report, column 442W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor (Adam Afriyie).

War Pensions: Mesothelioma

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been awarded a war disablement pension for mesothelioma since 1996. [197843]

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 7 May 2014, Official Report, columns 165-166W. The Ministry of Defence is unable to provide the number of individuals awarded a war disablement pension (WDP) for mesothelioma since 1996 in the time scale requested. However, as at 31 March 2013, 50 individuals were in receipt of a WDP for a recorded condition of mesothelioma.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will answer question 188564 tabled on 13 February 2014 for answer on 24 February 2014, and question 188387 tabled on 12 February 2014 for answer on 26 February 2014. [197346]

Mr Dunne: I responded to the hon. Member today.

Health

Abortion

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints about abortion clinics were made to the Care Quality Commission in the last 12 months. [197439]

Jane Ellison: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Responsibility for investigating specific complaints about providers lies with other bodies; however the Care Quality Commission uses comments and correspondence from the public to inform its inspection and other regulatory functions.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answers of 12 March 2014, Official Report, column 238W, on abortion, and 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 31W, on abortion, if he will make it his policy that his Department collects data on the number of (a) neonatal deaths following a legal termination of pregnancy, (b) foetuses that show signs of life following an attempted termination and (c) such foetuses registered as live births; and if he will make a statement. [197462]

Jane Ellison: The Department has no plans to collect these data.

12 May 2014 : Column 392W

Ambulance Services

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much each ambulance trust in England underspent or overspent their budget in each year since 2010. [198048]

Jane Ellison: National health service trusts and foundation trusts do not receive funding directly from the Department of Health and therefore do not have budgets against which they underspend. They are semi-autonomous organisations whose income derives from the provision of services to NHS England and clinical commissioning groups, through what might be described as trading activity.

The NHS trust and foundation trust regime has similarities to the regime for Government Trading Funds, where expenditure for Government activity is met from income from third parties, rather than direct funding from resources voted to the Department.

The equivalent ‘underspend’ would be where the trust spends less than the income it receives as a result of its activity. This is referred to as a ‘surplus’.

The following table summarises the year-end surpluses for each NHS ambulance trust in the financial year 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13.

£000
 2009-102010-112011-122012-13

Isle of Wight NHS Trust1

543

East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

2,016

467

2,409

30

East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

757

2,364

3,121

4,175

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

1,425

1,002

2,751

262

North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust2

4,736

3,120

2,312

2,340

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

1,041

2,065

1,558

2,707

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust3

602

1,383

2,049

1,560

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust4

1,130

3,153

3,486

3,055

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust5

511

890

1,645

36,934

West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

255

99

925

5,797

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust

518

237

428

2,223

1 Isle of Wight NHS Trust established April 2012. 2 North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust—FT status established November 2011. 2009-10 to 2011-12 figures—as NHS Trust. 3 South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust—FT status established March 2012. 2009-10 to 2011-12 figures—as NHS Trust. 4 South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust—FT status established March 2011. 2009-10 to 2010-11—as NHS Trust. 5 South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust—FT status established March 2011. 2009-10 to 2010-11—as NHS Trust.