Written Answers to Questions
Monday 7 July 2014
Prime Minister
Abortion
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Prime Minister whether it is the Government's policy that decisions in Parliament relating to abortion should be subject to a free vote; and if he will instruct that the Department for International Development's practice paper, Safe and unsafe abortion, published in July 2011, should not be regarded as an expression of the Government's policy until its contents have been approved by the House in a free vote. [203468]
The Prime Minister: Issues on matters of conscience have, by tradition, been the subject of a free vote in the House of Commons. Issues relating to abortion in other countries are determined by respective Governments.
Cabinet Office
Apprentices
Robert Halfon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many apprentices have been employed by contractors and sub-contractors to his Department in each year since 2010-11; and what proportion such apprentices make up of the workforce of those contractors and sub-contractors. [203861]
Mr Maude: The information requested is not held centrally.
Average Earnings
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the median gross weekly wage of employees in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England in each of the last five years. [203599]
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 July 2014:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of the median gross weekly wage of employees in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England in each of the last five years (203599).
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. Weekly levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose earnings for the survey pay period were not affected by absence. Figures relate to employee jobs, which are defined as those held by employees and not the self-employed.
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The following tables show estimates of median gross weekly earnings for all and full-time employees in Coventry North East constituency, Coventry, the West Midlands and England from April 2009 to April 2013, the latest period for which results are available.
| Median gross weekly earnings for all and full-time employees1, April 2009 to 2013 | ||||
| £ | ||||
| All employees | ||||
| Year (April) | Coventry North East constituency | Coventry | West Midlands | England |
| £ | ||||
| Full-time employees | ||||
| Year (April) | Coventry North East constituency | Coventry | West Midlands | England |
| 1 Employee jobs are defined as those held by employees and not the self-employed. Figures relate to employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay period was not affected by absence. ASHE is based on a 1% sample of jobs taken from HM Revenue and Customs' Pay As You Earn (PAYE) records. Consequently, individuals with more than one job may appear in the sample more than once. 2 2011 results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2000. 3 2011 results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2010. 4 Estimates for years prior to 2011 are based on SOC 2000 and estimates for years after 2011 are based on SOC 2010. Figures are only considered to be directly comparable if they are based on the same SOC. Guide to quality: The coefficient of variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure; the smaller the CV, the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV. For example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the true population average to be within the range 180 to 220. All figures in the above tables have a CV of less than or equal to 5% except where indicated, as defined in the following key. Key: * CV > 5% and <= 10% Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics | ||||
Civil Servants: Recruitment
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many places are available annually on the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme; [203137]
(2) which Government Departments do not participate in the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme; [203063]
(3) how many new graduate Fast Streamers were allocated places in each department in each year since 2010. [203195]
Mr Maude: The pilot cohort of 100 Fast Track Apprentices began their apprenticeships in September 2013. Eight Government Departments across England participated in the pilot cohort:
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Cabinet Office
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Crown Prosecution Service
Department for Education
Department for Work and Pensions
HM Revenue and Customs
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Justice
Cohort 2 will begin in September 2014 and will place 200 apprentices across Departments and Agencies across England, including:
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Cabinet Office
Crown Prosecution Service
Department for Education
Department for Work and Pensions
HM Revenue and Customs
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Justice
Civil Service Employee Policy
Civil Service Resourcing
Civil Service Learning
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Transport
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Communities and Local Government
UK Trade & Investment, part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Treasury Solicitor's Department
Insolvency Service
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary
Crown Commercial Service
The Government plan to continue to grow this programme and expand it to other Departments.
Annual Reports published by the Cabinet Office indicating the number of candidates recommended for appointment to the Graduate (now Generalist) Fast Stream are available at
www.gov.uk
A table showing the numbers recommended for appointment to the scheme for the period 2010-2012, distributed by Department, has been placed in the Library of the House. Data for 2013 are not yet available.
Civil Servants: Vetting
Steve McCabe: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the difference is between standard security checks and developed vetting carried out in respect of officials employed in the civil service; how many officials in No. 10 Downing street have been subject to (a) standard security clearance and (b) developed vetting; and what limitations are placed on officials in No. 10 Downing street who have not undergone developed vetting. [203199]
Mr Maude: Details of the national security vetting policy and process are set out in the document HMG Personnel Security Controls, available from the House of Commons Library or online at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmg-personnel-security-controls
It has been the policy of successive governments not to comment on staff subject to national security vetting.
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Employment
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many people have been employed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months; [203560]
(2) what the unemployment rate in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK was in each of the last 12 months; [203589]
(3) how many women have been unemployed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months; [203590]
(4) how many men have been unemployed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months; [203591]
(5) how many people have been unemployed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months; [203592]
(6) how many men have been employed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months; [203593]
(7) how many women have been employed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months. [203594]
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 July 2014:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary questions asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people have been employed in (a) Jarrow Constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months (203560); what the unemployment rate in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK was in each of the last 12 months (203589); how many women have been unemployed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months (203590); how many men have been unemployed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months. (203591); how many people have been unemployed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months (203592); how many men have been employed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months (203593); how many women have been employed in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last 12 months. (203594)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles labour market statistics for areas smaller than the UK from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions which is not available on a monthly basis.
Table 1 shows the number of men, women and people who were unemployed according to survey responses from the APS for the 12 month period April 2013 to March 2014, the latest available period, and resident in the requested geographies, along with the unemployment rate for people. The estimate for people in South Tyneside is calculated from a statistical model covering the same period.
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Table 2 shows the number of men, women and people who were employed according to survey responses from the APS for the 12 month period April 2013 to March 2014, the latest available period, and resident in the requested geographies.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a certain level of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates of the levels is included on the tables.
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: Number1 of unemployed people and unemployment rate, April 2013 to March 2014 | ||||
| Level (Thousand) | Percentage | |||
| Men | Women | Total | Rate | |
| 1 Coefficients of Variation have been calculated as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. 2 Estimates of the unemployment level and rate for people in local authorities is calculated from a statistical model derived from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and the Claimant Count. This is different to the estimates for the individual sexes which are from the APS. 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 Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 ≤ CV < 5 Estimates are considered precise. ** 5 ≤ CV < 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise. *** 10 ≤ CV < 20 Estimates are considered acceptable. **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes. Source: Annual Population Survey/Model-based estimates of unemployment. | ||||
| Table 2: Number1 of employed people, April 2013 to March 2014 | |||
| Thousand | |||
| Men | Women | Total | |
| 1 Coefficients of Variation have been calculated as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. 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 Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 ≤ CV < 5 Estimates are considered precise. ** 5 ≤ CV < 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise. *** 10 ≤ CV < 20 Estimates are considered acceptable. **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes. Source: Annual Population Survey. | |||
Members: Correspondence
Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of ministerial replies sent to hon. Members in electronic form only; [203285]
(2) if he will estimate the total number of ministerial replies from his Department to hon. Members in a parliamentary session; and what proportion of such replies are sent (a) by letter and (b) by email. [203298]
Mr Maude: I refer my hon. Friend to my written statement of 13 May 2014, Official Report, column 17WS. Information on the number of responses sent via e-mail or letter is not held.
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The Cabinet Office encourages all Departments to communicate with hon. Members via electronic mail where appropriate. Guidance on handling correspondence from Members of Parliament, Peers, MEPs and Members of devolved Administrations will be updated in due course.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61196/guide-handling-gov-correspondence.pdf
Older Workers
Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many people over 50-years-old are employed in each region and constituent part of the UK; and what proportion of people aged over 50-years-old living in the region and constituent part do they represent in each such case; [203349]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, columns 679W-80W, on unemployment: older workers, how many and what proportion of people over 50 had been out of work for over a year in each region and constituent part of the UK in each year since 1994. [203496]
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 July 2014:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people over 50 years old are employed in each region and constituent part of the UK; and what proportion of people aged over 50 years old living in the region and constituent part do they represent in each such case (203349) and; pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, columns 679W-80W, on unemployment: older workers, how many and what proportion of people over 50 had been out of work for over a year in each region and constituent part of the UK in each year since 1994. (203496)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles estimates of the number people in employment by age and unemployment by age and duration for areas smaller than the UK from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
Table 1 shows the number and percentage of people aged 50 and over who were in employment according to survey responses from the APS for the 12 month period April 2013 to March 2014, the latest available period.
Table 2 shows the number and percentage of people aged 50 and over who were unemployed for 12 months or more according to survey responses from the APS for the 12 month period April 2013 to March 2014, the latest available period, and for the 12 month periods ending December from 2004 to 2013. UK estimates have also been provided from the APS for comparison purposes as these estimates are not directly comparable to the UK estimates provided in the answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, columns 679W-80W, on unemployment: older workers, from the Labour Force Survey. Estimates prior to these periods are not available.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a certain level of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates of the levels is included on the tables.
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
A copy of the tables will be placed in the Library of the House.
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| Table 1: Number and percentage of people aged 50 and over in employment, April 2013 to March 2014 | ||
| Number1 (Thousand) | Percentage | |
| 1 Coefficients of Variation have been calculated as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality as follows. 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 Coefficient of Variation (CV) ( %) Statistical Robustness * 0 ≤ CV < 5 Estimates are considered precise. ** 5 ≤ CV < 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise. *** 10 ≤ CV < 20 Estimates are considered acceptable. **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes Source: Annual Population Survey | ||
Part-time Employment: Ashfield
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes there have been in the number of (a) female and (b) male part time workers in Ashfield constituency in each year since May 2010. [203810]
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 July 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 what changes there have been in the number of (a) female and (b) male part time workers in Ashfield constituency in each year since May 2010. (203810)
The ONS compiles Labour Market Statistics for areas below the UK following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions using the Annual Population Survey (APS).
Unfortunately, due to small sample sizes, estimates of part time working are not available for this parliamentary constituency.
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
Pay
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which organisations collect subscriptions through the employers' payroll service in his Department and its agencies. [203099]
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Mr Maude: In the last 12 months, the following organisations have collected subscriptions through my Department and its agencies payroll services:
Amicus
Beneden Healthcare Society
Charity for Civil Servants
Charities Aid Foundation
Charities Trust
Civil Service Club
Civil Service Sports Council
Forester Health
HAS Individual (Simply Health)
Leeds Hospital Fund
Medicash
PCS Union
Prospect Union
AXA Sun-Life
Public Sector: Procurement
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make it his policy to bar (a) G4S, (b) Serco and (c) any company under investigation for serious fraud from bidding for government contracts to deliver public services; and if he will make a statement. [203972]
Mr Maude: Under the Public Contracts Regulations (2006) contracting authorities can exclude companies from public contracts where they have been convicted of certain criminal offences including conspiracy, corruption, bribery and fraud.
For further information, I refer the hon. Member to the written statements I laid before the House on 30 January 2014, Official Report, column 39WS, and 9 April 2014, Official Report, column 11WS.
Social Security Benefits: Ashfield
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what changes there have been in the claimant count for women in Ashfield constituency aged 25 and over claiming for over 24 months since May 2010; [203808]
(2) what changes there have been in the claimant count for women in Ashfield constituency aged between 18 and 24 years claiming for over 12 months since May 2010; [203809]
(3) what changes there have been in the claimant count for women aged 25 years and over claiming for over 24 months since May 2010; [203813]
(4) what changes there have been in the claimant count for women aged between 18 and 24 years claiming for over 12 months since May 2010. [203814]
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 July 2014:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes there have been in the claimant count for women in Ashfield aged 25 and over claiming for over 24 months since May 2010. (203808); what changes there have been in the claimant count for women in
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Ashfield aged between 18 and 24 years claiming for over 12 months since May 2010. (203809); what changes there have been in the claimant count for women aged 25 years and over claiming for over 24 months since May 2010. (203813); what changes there have been in the claimant count for women aged between 18 and 24 years claiming for over 12 months since May 2010. (203814)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) from the JobcentrePlus Administrative system.
Table 1 shows the number and net change in numbers of women claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for the requested age and duration categories, in Ashfield constituency and the UK, between May 2010 and May 2014, the latest period available.
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: Number1 of women claiming jobseeker’s allowance by age and duration in Ashfield constituency and the UK | ||||
| Aged 25 years and over claiming for over 24 months | Aged 18 to 24 years claiming for over 12 months | |||
| Ashfield constituency | UK | Ashfield constituency | UK | |
| 1. Data rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative System | ||||
Teenage Pregnancy
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many teenage pregnancies there have been in each ward in the last year for which figures are available. [203734]
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 July 2014:
As 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 teenage pregnancies there have been in each ward in the last year for which figures are available. [203734].
Due to the sensitive nature of conception data and the risk of identifying individuals, ONS does not publish teenage pregnancy figures for individual wards. However, ward level, three-year aggregated, conception statistics are made available to authorised individuals and organisations under data access procedures jointly approved by ONS and the Department of Health.
Figures for conceptions in England and Wales, including for women under the age of 18, are published annually on the ONS website at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/conception-statistics--england-and-wales/index.html
Women and Equalities
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Philip Davies: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities with reference to the answer of 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 575W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission, when she plans to place the requested information on the Dignity at Work conferences in the Libraries of both Houses. [202776]
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Mrs Grant: Information on the Dignity at Work conferences is in the process of being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Gender: Equality
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities how much the Government have spent on the “Think, Act, Report” initiative. [203666]
Jo Swinson: “Think, Act, Report” was launched in September 2011. On average it has had two full-time equivalent staff working on it since then, comprising one team leader (Grade 7) and one senior executive officer. Around £5,000 has been spent on events and publications to support the initiative. Significant support in kind has been received from supporting businesses and other organisations, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, CIPD, CMI, Opportunity Now, and others. More than 200 companies are now supporting “Think, Act, Report”, collectively employing over 2 million people.
Northern Ireland
Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, columns 51-52W, on the Bloody Sunday Tribunal of Inquiry, what the amount was of the invoice for the hosting of the website for the Saville Inquiry; and what the totals were for any previous such invoices for that service since 2010. [203166]
Mrs Villiers: The invoice referred to in my previous answer was for £80 excluding VAT. The Northern Ireland Office paid a total of £7,900 excluding VAT for hosting and management of the Saville Inquiry website and domain name. These costs ran between 31 August 2010 and 31 March 2013, at which point the contract was terminated.
Economic Situation
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to publish the annual update on implementation of the Government's economic pact with the Northern Ireland Executive, Building a Prosperous and United Community. [203462]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my written statement of 3 July 2014, Official Report, columns 64-65WS .
Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the effect of introducing the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme in Northern Ireland. [203348]
Mrs Villiers: “Building a Prosperous and United Community: One Year On” reported that the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme delivered increased funding of £5.1 million in 2013-14, bringing the total Northern Ireland funding from the scheme to £36.1 million.
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The Joint Ministerial Task Force on Banking and Access to Finance, which I chair, will continue to monitor the impact of UK-wide interventions in Northern Ireland.
Prerogative of Mercy
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the answer of 13 May 2014, Official Report, column 521W, on Prerogative of Mercy, what progress has been made on the review of historical records relating to the use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy between 1987 and 1997. [201918]
Mrs Villiers: We continue to seek information on the use of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy (RPM) for the years 1987 to 1997 from Departments where relevant material might be held.
An overall review of departmental records and information procedures is ongoing and will include an external review of records and information procedures.
Culture, Media and Sport
Architecture and the Built Environment Review
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when his Department plans to publish its response to the findings of the Farrell review of architecture and the built environment. [R] [202982]
Mr Vaizey: The Department is grateful to Sir Terry Farrell for undertaking this review, but does not intend to publish a formal response to it. Instead it looks to industry, under the leadership of the RIBA, to respond to the challenges identified by the review, supported—where appropriate—by Government. I continue to meet Terry Farrell on a regular basis to discuss how to take work forward.
Arts: Finance
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the regional distribution is of Arts Council England's Catalyst funds. [203580]
Mr Vaizey: The £100 million Catalyst programme is supporting the culture and heritage sector’s efforts to strengthen their fundraising expertise and build long-term financial resilience across the country.
Regional breakdown of grants awarded by the Arts Council England:
| Catalyst: Building Fundraising Capacity, Catalyst: Capacity Building and Match Funding and Transforming Arts Fundraising. amount committed: | ||
| Region | £ | % |
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| Catalyst: Endowments. Amount awarded at offer stage-distribution of funds depends on fundraising level | ||
| Region | £ | % |
Broadband
Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure that superfast broadband is available for temporary construction sites as well as completed dwellings. [203028]
Mr Vaizey: Property developers and communications providers recognise the importance of superfast broadband provision in new builds, and that consumers’ expectation is that these services will be available on the day they move in. DCMS, with the Department for Communities and Local Government, is working with house builders and communications providers to ensure that newly built residential properties have access to fixed line superfast broadband. For temporary construction sites, where it is not possible to provide fixed line services because of time constraints, wireless and satellite options are available.
Commonwealth Games
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will hold discussions with the Sports Ministers of the devolved Administrations to ensure that following the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth games immediate preparations will begin to ensure greater participation by people in all four constituent parts of the UK in the run-up to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth games. [203703]
Mrs Grant: We are committed to making sure that the investment and enthusiasm unlocked by not only the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth games, but also of course the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, translate into a clear legacy of more sport being played by more people of all ages and abilities from across the UK for many years to come. I am happy to discuss this ambition with the Sports Ministers of the devolved Administrations at any time.
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Direct Selling
Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to limit the number of nuisance telephone calls being received by members of the public. [203497]
Mr Vaizey: Tackling nuisance calls is a priority issue for the Department and we are pursuing a range of options for reform, which consists of both legislative and non-legislative measures. We believe these will help in our efforts to make a significant difference in our fight against such calls. On 30 March 2014, we published our Nuisance Calls Action Plan that set out proposals, including legislation, which will enable Ofcom to share information more easily with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The order was debated in the House on 26 June and approved, and will become effective shortly after it is made. Also, we will shortly consult to lower the legal threshold, and will better enable ICO to take enforcement action against organisations that breach the rules, including those that currently manage to avoid penalties being issued to them.
Further details about our action plan can be viewed at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nuisance-calls-action-plan-unveiled
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) whether he has sought legal advice on Facebook's experiment on users' emotions in 2012; [203579]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of UK citizens subject to Facebook's experiment on users' emotions in 2012; [203576]
(3) what discussions he has had with Facebook about the experiment they conducted on users to influence their emotions in 2012; [203577]
(4) what discussions he has had with the US Administration about Facebook's experiment on users' emotions in 2012. [203578]
Mr Vaizey: Neither the Secretary of State nor I have sought specific legal advice on the recent research carried out by Facebook. In the first instance, I believe it is a matter for the Information Commissioner's Office to determine whether UK data protection laws have been breached.
Neither have we made any estimate of the number of UK citizens that may have been subject to the research recently published by Facebook, nor had discussions with Facebook or the US Administration about this. I have received a briefing paper from Facebook regarding this research, ahead of giving evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry on social media data.
Film: Foreign Investment in UK
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the amount of foreign direct investment into the UK film industry in each year from 1997 to 2009. [203623]
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Mr Vaizey: The Department does not hold data on the amount of foreign direct investment into the UK film industry in each year from 1997 to 2009. The amount spent in the UK on the production of inward investment films is shown in the following table, which also includes investment from UK production companies in those films. No information is held on the amount of foreign investment in other parts of the industry (for example, foreign investors in cinemas or distribution companies).
| £ million | |
The data are published and available in the BFI Statistical Yearbook, which can be found online at:
http://www.bfi.org.uk/education-research/film-industry-statistics-research/statistical-yearbook.
Football: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding the Football Foundation has provided to amateur clubs in York in each year since 2000. [202839]
Mrs Grant: The information is as follows:
| £ | |
| Source: Football Foundation. | |
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding the Football Youth Development Programme has provided to York City FC to date. [202840]
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Mrs Grant: Between 1998 and 2006 Sport England invested £556,163 in York City FC for the Football Youth Development programme. No funding has been requested since 2006.
Mobile Phones
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy that no mobile infrastructure projects will be undertaken without first fully investigating the not spot data for the relevant area. [203024]
Mr Vaizey: The planning for the Mobile Infrastructure Project was based on data originally provided by the mobile network operators and compiled by Ofcom in 2010. The operators have since made changes to their networks, going through a process of consolidating and sharing sites, and this has had an impact on the locations of not spots. Ofcom updated the not spot data for 2014 with information from the mobile network operators.
Mobile Phones: Hertfordshire
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 125W, on mobile phones: Herefordshire, what tests Ofcom carried out and on what dates to establish whether there is mobile reception in Fownhope. [202976]
Mr Vaizey: The not spot data was updated by Ofcom with information from the mobile network operators. The operators submitted updated information on where they have coverage, as predicted by desktop planning tools, in March 2014. Ofcom did not carry out on the ground tests for all 34,000 not spots across the UK containing premises, as to do so would be prohibitively expensive. In areas where coverage is thought to be marginal, or there is uncertainty over coverage, DCMS officials have commissioned drive testing to check the level of coverage.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 125W, on mobile phones: Herefordshire, for what reason it was decided to proceed with the planning process for Fownhope mast before checking Ofcom’s latest not spot data. [203020]
Mr Vaizey: No planning application was made for the Fownhope mast site. The Mobile Infrastructure Project is working to tight time scales and Arqiva, our delivery partner for the Mobile Infrastructure Project, has been working to engage local communities and give early notice of where planning applications will be made.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 125W, on mobile phones: Herefordshire, if he will take steps to review the accuracy of the report by Ofcom that there is mobile reception in Fownhope. [203021]
7 July 2014 : Column 16W
Mr Vaizey: The report from Ofcom shows that there are some ‘not spot’ areas in Fownhope which have no coverage. However the number of not spots has reduced to a level where the Mobile Infrastructure Project can no longer go forward with plans for a mast. In areas where there is uncertainty over coverage, DCMS officials have commissioned drive testing to check the level of coverage.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 124W, on mobile phones, whether any other proposed masts in Herefordshire will be withdrawn following changes in not spot data. [203023]
Mr Vaizey: DCMS officials and Arqiva, delivery partner for the Mobile Infrastructure Project, are incorporating changes in the not spot data into the project's planning. Once this planning is finalised any changes will be communicated to planning authorities.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 125W, on mobile phones: Herefordshire, what the strength is of the mobile reception that is provided in Fownhope. [203025]
Mr Vaizey: The nature of mobile reception means that the strength of signal received by a handset varies over a set area, and is affected by local geography, even by buildings or trees. It is also affected by the handset used, as not all mobile phones are equal in their ability to pick up a signal.
The Mobile Infrastructure Project’s planning assesses signal at a level of Neg 86 dBm. The Project can intervene in areas where there is no mobile coverage, at this level, from any operator, and where the cost of the build of a mast considered alongside the numbers of premises that would benefit from the additional coverage provides value for money.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 125W, on mobile phones: Herefordshire, which mobile network operators provide reception in Fownhope. [203026]
Mr Vaizey: We do not hold this information. The mobile network operators provide coverage checkers which can give an indication of possible coverage by postcode.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 125W, on mobile phones: Herefordshire, when the not spot data held by Ofcom was updated for 2014. [203027]
Mr Vaizey: The not spot data was updated by Ofcom in March 2014 with information from the mobile network operators.
7 July 2014 : Column 17W
National Railway Museum
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visits there were to the National Railway Museum in each year since 2008-09. [202838]
Mr Vaizey: The number of visits to museums and galleries sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport since 2004-05 is published on Gov.uk
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/museums-and-galleries-monthly-visits
The number of visits to the National Railway Museum in each year since 2008-09 is as follows:
| Number | |
Pay
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which organisations collect subscriptions through the employers' payroll service in his Department and its agencies. [203101]
Mrs Grant: The organisations that collect subscriptions through Department for Culture, Media and Sport are:
PCS Union
First Division Association
Forester/Westfield Contributions
Benevolent Fund
Civil Service Sports Council
H.S.A Crown Plan
GAYE
Sun Life Assurance
We do not hold information on subscriptions collected through payrolls of agencies.
Sports: Yorkshire and the Humber
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on sport in (a) the Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) the City of York local authority area in each year since 2004-05. [202837]
Mrs Grant: Figures in the tables show Sport England direct investment only. The figures do not include additional money being spent on grass-roots sports by national governing bodies and other national partners in which Sport England is investing £493 million between 2013 and 2017 to get more people playing sport across England.
| Yorkshire and the Humber since 2004-05 | |
| Financial year | Total (£) |
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(b) The City of York local authority area.
| York local authority area since 2004-05 | |
| Financial year | Total (£) |
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) Government spending and (b) lottery funding has been spent on sport in (A) the Yorkshire and the Humber and (B) York Unitary Authority in each year since 2008-09. [202841]
Mrs Grant: Figures in the tables show Sport England direct investment only. The figures do not include additional money being spent on grassroots sports by national governing bodies and other national partners in which Sport England is investing £493 million between 2013-17 to get more people playing sport across England.
| Exchequer funding in Yorkshire and the Humber since 2008-09 | |
| Fin Year | Total |
| Exchequer funding in York local authority area since 2008-09 | |
| Fin Year | Total |
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| Lottery funding in Yorkshire and the Humber since 2008/9 | |
| Fin Year | Total |
| Lottery funding in York local authority area since 2008/9 | |
| Fin Year | Total |
Television: Licensing
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to review the terms of the requirements to purchase a television licence to better account for changes in viewing habits. [203167]
Mr Vaizey: BBC Charter Review is the point at which Government can consider any aspects of the BBC. Charter Review will not begin within this Parliament.
Tourism: Marketing
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the level of funding for the GREAT Britain campaign has changed over the past 10 years. [203029]
Mrs Grant: The GREAT Britain campaign was established in 2011. It showcases the very best of what this country has to offer. The campaign is currently active in over 140 countries around the world and aims to deliver significant and long-term increases in trade, tourism, education and inward investment in support of our prosperity and growth agenda. Detailed evaluation of available results shows that the campaign is making a significant economic and reputational impact, with measurable returns to date significantly exceeding the cost of the campaign.
| Government funding for GREAT Britain campaign | |
| £ million | |
| 1 Development and launch costs covered two financial years. | |
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Health
Abortion
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received requesting the Government to intervene to require the British Pregnancy Advisory Service to remove advice on its website which alleges that gender-selective abortion is not illegal; and if he will make a statement. [202913]
Jane Ellison: There has been one request for intervention by the Government to require the British Pregnancy Advisory Service to remove the advice from its website.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the British Medical Association’s press release of 27 May 2014 entitled “Abortion guidance ignores gender complexity”; and if he will make a statement. [202949]
Jane Ellison: We have noted the views of the British Medical Association on this issue.
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many admissions there were for alcohol-related illnesses in (a) York, (b) north Yorkshire and York primary care trust area and (c) England in 2008-09 and in each year since. [202896]
Jane Ellison: The following tables contain the sum of the estimated alcohol attributable fractions (AAFs) for admissions for patients in (a) York (b) north Yorkshire and York primary care trust (PCT) area and (c) England over for the year 2008-09 to 2012-13.
It should be noted that these figures are not a count of people and represent an estimated number of admissions that were attributable to alcohol.
AAFs are based on the proportion of a given diagnosis or injury that is estimated to be attributed to alcohol. Some diagnoses or injuries will, by definition, be wholly attributable to alcohol and have an AAF of one, others will only be partly attributable to alcohol and have an AAF greater than zero, but less than one. Diagnoses or injuries that are not attributable at all to alcohol will have an AAF of zero.
These figures are derived by summing all AAFs for the relevant admissions and should therefore only be interpreted as an estimate of the number of admissions that can be attributed to alcohol.
In addition, partially AAFs are not applicable to children aged under 16 years, therefore figures for this age group relate only to wholly attributable admissions.
The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care—Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2014 report manually implemented new methodology against the 2012-13 data in their report. However, no change to the underlying hospital episode statistics (HES) data has been currently made.
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| Sum of partially and wholly alcohol attributable fractions1 for finished admission episodes (FAEs)2 for patients for York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, North Yorkshire and York PCT of treatment and England for 2008-09 to 2012-133 | |||
| York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust | |||
| Sum of wholly alcohol attributable fractions (FAEs)1 | Sum of partially alcohol attributable fractions (FAEs)1 | Total | |
| North Yorkshire and York PCT | |||
| Sum of wholly alcohol attributable fractions (FAEs)1 | Sum of partially alcohol attributable fractions (FAEs)1 | Total | |
| England | |||
| Sum of wholly alcohol attributable fractions (FAEs)1 | Sum of partially alcohol attributable fractions (FAEs)1 | Total | |
| 1 Alcohol-related admissions: The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses, determining the proportion of a wide range of diseases and injuries that can be partly attributed to alcohol as well as those that are, by definition, wholly attributable to alcohol. Further information on these proportions can be found at: www.nwph.net/nwpho/publications/AlcoholAttributableFractions.pdf The AAF is set to 1 (100%) where the admission is considered to be entirely due to alcohol, e.g. in the case of alcoholic liver disease—these records are described as wholly alcohol attributable. The AAF is set to a value greater than 0 but less than 1 according to the NWPHO definition, e.g. the alcohol fraction of an admission with a primary diagnosis of C00—malignant neoplasm of lip, where the patient is male and between 65 and 74 is 0.44—these records are described as partly alcohol attributable. These wholly and partly AAFs can be aggregated to supply an estimate of activity which can be considered wholly or partly attributable to alcohol. Partly AAFs are not applicable to children under 16. Therefore figures for this age group relate only to wholly-attributable admissions, where the attributable fraction is one. 2Finished admissions episodes: A FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. 3Assessing growth through time (admitted patient care): HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Note: Activity in English National Health Service Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care. | |||
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Autism
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many adults with autism accessed care and support under the Fair Access to Care Standards eligibility criteria in Cambridge constituency in each year since 2010; [203256]
(2) how many adults with autism in England receive support because they have been identified by a local authority as being at risk of abuse or neglect. [203257]
Norman Lamb: The Health and Social Care Information Centre does not collect any data on the number of adults with autism accessing care and support under the Fair Access to Care Services eligibility criteria.
The Care Act 2014 clarifies and strengthens local authorities’ responsibilities towards people who are at risk of abuse or neglect. It places adult safeguarding on a statutory basis for the first time. Information on how many adults with autism in England who receive support because they have been identified by a local authority as being at risk of abuse or neglect is not held centrally.
Baby Care Units
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS England hospitals offer free breast pumps to enable mothers to express breast milk for babies in neonatal care. [203452]
Dr Poulter: The provision of free breast pumps is a matter for individual national health service trusts. Data on the provision of free breast pumps are not collected centrally.
Care Homes
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the proposals by Scope, HST and the Guinness Partnership to close residential care homes that serve people with physical impairments and learning difficulties. [203143]
Norman Lamb: The Department is aware that some providers of residential care for disabled people are reviewing their services and consulting with users of services and their families.
The Department appreciates that some service users and their families may be concerned and would encourage them to engage fully with the consultation process and ensure their views are taken into account.
The Government believe that people who wish and who are able to live in their communities should be given the support they need to do so. Service users whose care is provided or arranged by their local council can be assured that they will be supported to exercise their choice regarding where they receive services.
The new Care Act, which will come into force in 2015, will give local authorities a core duty to promote their local market in care provision, with a particular focus on ensuring diversity, quality and sustainability which, importantly, will mean there should be sufficient high quality services available to meet the needs of individuals in their local area.
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Clinical Commissioning Groups
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what services currently commissioned by NHS England will be commissioned by clinical commissioning groups following the implementation of the recommendations in Prescribed Specialised Services Commissioning Intentions 2014-15 and 2015-16; [202952]
(2) what resources will be transferred from NHS England to clinical commissioning groups following the implementation of the recommendations in Prescribed Specialised Services Commissioning Intentions 2014-15 and 2015-16. [202951]
Jane Ellison: NHS England has advised that there have been no changes to the scope of specialised services directly commissioned by NHS England in 2014-15, in order to provide a period of stability following the major changes in 2013-14. There has, therefore, been no transfer of resources to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in 2014-15, for any changes in commissioning responsibility.
The Manual for Prescribed Specialised Services 2013/14 describes the prescribed specialised services and sets out which elements of services are commissioned directly by NHS England, and which elements are commissioned by CCGs.
The Prescribed Specialised Services Commissioning Intentions 2014-15 and 2015-16 document sets out the firm plans for 2014-15 and the direction for 2015-16. There will be a new set of commissioning intentions for 2015-16 to take account of the new environment and to firm up the plans for next year.
The development of the commissioning intentions for 2015-16 is included in the work of the specialised commissioning taskforce and will be progressed over the next few months ready for publication in the autumn. The taskforce work streams also include actions relating to the future portfolio of services to be commissioned by NHS England and CCGs, and possible future commissioning models. This work will be further progressed over the summer and will inform the 2015-16 commissioning intentions.
NHS England advises that it is yet to be determined whether or not there will be changes to the scope of specialised services directly commissioned by NHS England in 2015-16 or whether any additional resources will be transferred between NHS England and CCGs.
Clinical Commissioning Groups: Yorkshire and the Humber
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding per capita NHS England has allocated to each clinical commissioning group in Yorkshire and the Humber for 2014-15. [203697]
Dr Poulter: NHS England has responsibility for clinical commissioning group (CCG) allocations. The decisions that NHS England made in December 2013 mean that, over the next two years, every CCG will receive real terms funding growth.
The funding per capita NHS England has allocated to each CCG in Yorkshire and the Humber for 2014-15 is shown in the following table.
7 July 2014 : Column 24W
| CCG allocations for 2014-15 | |
| Clinical commissioning group | Allocation per head 2014-15 (£) |
A copy of the detailed CCG allocations for 2014-15 and 2015-16, published by NHS England on 20 December 2013, has already been placed in the Library, and is also available at:
www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/ccg-allocation-big-table-v2.pdf
Coeliac Disease
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people of each gender, age bracket and household income bracket had diagnosed coeliac disease in England in the most recent year for which figures are available; [R] [203850]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the potential long-term costs to the NHS in England of un-managed (a) coeliac disease and (b) other nutritional disorders; [R] [203846]
(3) if his Department will establish a national register of people with coeliac disease in England. [R] [203849]
Norman Lamb: Annual incidence data concerning the number of people diagnosed with coeliac disease in England are not collected and there are no plans to establish a national register for people in England with this condition. However, the clinical guideline ‘Coeliac disease: Recognition and assessment of coeliac disease’, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellences 2009, estimates that coeliac disease may be present in up to one in 100 of the population.
No estimate has been made of the potential long-term costs to the national health service in England of un-managed coeliac disease and other nutritional disorders.
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Competition
Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Monitor spent on working with and supporting the Competition and Markets Authority on competition-related issues in 2013-14; and how much it projects it will spend on that work in 2014-15. [203207]
Jane Ellison: The information requested is not available. The cost of this activity is not disaggregated in Monitor’s internal reporting systems.
Consent to Medical Treatment
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his policy is on signatories of medical consent forms having access to the carbon copy of the form; [203254]
(2) what his policy is on medical consent forms being amended after they have been signed. [203255]
Jane Ellison: It is a general legal and ethical principle that valid consent must be obtained from an individual before starting a treatment or physical intervention. For consent to be valid it must be given voluntarily by an appropriately informed person who has the capacity to consent to the intervention in question.
It is the responsibility of the doctors undertaking the treatment or investigation to ensure that they (or someone they delegate) obtain valid consent and that the key elements of their discussion with the patient, including any specific requests by the patient, are properly recorded in a person’s medical record or in a consent form. This might include a request for a copy of a consent form.
Professional guidance from the General Medical Council “Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together”available at:
www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/consent_ guidance_index.asp
makes clear that doctors should explain the scope of decisions to be made. They should also discuss and agree with the patient how decisions will be made about whether to change the investigation or treatment plan and that doctors must not exceed the scope of the authority given by the patient. Thus changes to a person’s consent form after it has been signed, without their knowledge, may invalidate the consent.
Other sources of guidance for health care professionals on obtaining consent include the Department’s “Reference guide to consent for examination or treatment (Second Edition):”
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/138296/dh_103653__1_.pdf
and the British Medical Association’s consent toolkit:
http://bma.org.uk/practical-support-at-work/ethics/consent
Dental Services
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients there are on orthodontic treatment waiting lists in each primary care trust area in England. [203273]
Dr Poulter: The information requested is not held centrally.
7 July 2014 : Column 26W
Consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times are collected separately for 18 treatment functions (divisions of clinical work based on main specialty). These treatment functions are listed in the National Health Service Data Dictionary at:
www.datadictionary.nhs.uk/data_dictionary/data_field_notes/t/tr/treatment_function_code_(referral_to_treatment_period) _de.asp?shownav=1
Referral to treatment waiting times for all other treatment functions, including orthodontics, are not reported individually.
Primary care trusts were abolished on 31 March 2013 as part of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, and their functions taken over by clinical commissioning groups.
Dental Services: North Yorkshire
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on NHS general dental services in North Yorkshire in 2008-09 and in each year since. [202898]
Dr Poulter: The information is not available in the format requested.
The total amount spent on general dental services and personal dental services contracts by the former North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) for 2008-09 to 2012-13 is shown in the following table:
| General and Personal Dental Services | £000 |
| Notes: 1. General dental services cannot be separately identified in the published figures. The total gross expenditure for general dental service and personal dental service contracts is categorised between either independent contractor led contracts or on salaried led services provided by the PCT. 2. Contractor led contracts are all primary care dental services commissioned from practitioners or corporate bodies where payments are processed on the PCT's behalf by the Dental Services division of the NHS Business Services Authority. Salaried led services include the cost of any dental or support staff directly employed by the PCT and personal dental services or PCT dental services that are directly managed by PCTs or commissioned from other national health service trusts either within or outside their area. Source: NHS Summarisation schedules | |
Drugs: Rehabilitation
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people being prescribed methadone or other opioid substitutes had their prescription reduced in 2013-14. [203391]
Jane Ellison: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Eyesight: Testing
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received eye tests on the NHS in each of the last five years. [203219]
7 July 2014 : Column 27W
Dr Poulter: The following table shows the number of national health service sight tests for persons in England from 2008-09 to 2012-13. This information has been extracted from the report, General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England, Year ending 31 March 2013.
| Number of NHS sight tests in England | |
This report, published 18 July 2013, can be accessed here:
www.hscic.gov.uk/article/2021A/Website-Search?productid =12003&q=general+ophthalmic+services++activity+statistics +2013&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1&area=both#top