3 Sep 2014 : Column 237W

Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 3 September 2014

Health

Babies

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a register of babies naturally born before 24 weeks’ gestation. [206929]

Dr Poulter: All live births in England and Wales must be registered, regardless of gestational age. Data on live births by gestation are collected by the Office for National Statistics and published annually (as part of the statistical bulletin on gestation-specific infant mortality in England and Wales).

There are no current plans to establish a separate register of babies born before 24 weeks’ gestation.

Breast Cancer

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to reduce the number of avoidable deaths from breast cancer and to improve survival rates for that disease. [207436]

Jane Ellison: Achieving earlier diagnosis of cancer is key to our ambition to save an additional 5,000 lives per year by 2014-15 and improve cancer outcomes and survival, including for breast cancer. ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’, published in January 2011, set out the Government’s ambition to close the gap in survival outcomes by 2014-15 and the strategy is backed with more than £750 million over this spending review period (four years), including more than £450 million to achieve early diagnosis.

Specifically on breast cancer, following successful local and regional pilots, a national breast cancer campaign targeting women aged 70-plus years plus ran in England only from 3 February to 16 March 2014. The campaign included television, press, direct mail and out-of-home media advertising and the key message was: ‘1 in 3 women who get breast cancer are over 70, so don’t assume you’re past it.’ The campaign was targeted at women over 70 as breast cancer survival is lower in this group than in younger women. In addition, as part of a major trial, we are extending the breast screening programme to women aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 73.

The Be Clear on Cancer campaign on breast cancer in women over 70 has been successful in raising awareness of symptoms. Since this time last year, the number of patients seen by a specialist for investigation of unusual breast symptoms has risen by almost 20%.

Buildings

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review his departmental estate in order to reduce costs; and if he will make a statement. [206689]

3 Sep 2014 : Column 238W

Dr Poulter: The departmental estate has been undergoing significant rationalisation and cost reduction. In summary, the Department and its arm’s length bodies have reduced our estates and facilities’ costs from £183.1 million in 2009-10 to £121.7 million in 2012-13.

The latest State of the Estate report (SofTE) reports annually on progress made during the year in improving the efficiency of the Government’s Civil Estate. This is available online at:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/state-of-the-estate

The Department’s Property Delivery Plan, refreshed annually, sets out how the Department will continue to reduce its estate and costs beyond 2015. This plan is due to be reviewed at the end of 2014.

Continuing Care

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress clinical commissioning groups have made in (a) processing retrospective continuing care claims and (b) the payment of compensation to affected families; [207531]

(2) what support his Department is giving to clinical commissioning groups to process retrospective continuing care claims. [207458]

Norman Lamb: NHS England is aware of the issues regarding the management by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) of these cases. NHS England is developing a plan to identify CCGs where further support may be required, including the development of local action plans. The Department will continue to work closely with NHS England to understand and support the progress of these cases and to seek assurance that they are being dealt with as quickly as possible.

Dental Services

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of NHS dentistry contracts that were in place between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014; and what the (a) name and (b) location was of each provider; [206851]

(2) what area is covered by each NHS dentistry contract commissioned between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014; what the start and finish dates are of each contract area; what the value of each contract is; and how many units of dental activity were (a) contracted to be completed and (b) completed between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014 under each contract. [206876]

Dr Poulter: A table has been placed in the Library which sets out the number of dental contracts reported to the NHS Business Services Authority as in place between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014, the name of the contract holder and the area in which the contract is held. The table includes start and, where applicable, finish dates. It also shows the contract value, commissioned and completed units of dental activity and units of orthodontic activity.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 239W

Electronic Cigarettes

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the definition of e-cigarettes as tobacco products under the terms of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. [207464]

Jane Ellison: Electronic cigarettes are not defined as tobacco products under the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The regulation of e-cigarettes is, however, scheduled for discussion at the sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on 13 to 18 October 2014.

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to announce the implementation of industry standards for those e-cigarettes regulated as consumer products; [207465]

(2) what steps he is taking to implement stronger checks to ensure no rogue batches of e-cigarettes and liquid are reaching the UK. [207463]

Jane Ellison: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 2 September 2014, Official Report, columns 185-86W.

Fetal Death

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were naturally stillborn before 24 weeks' gestation in each of the last five years. [206755]

Dr Poulter: Information on the number of pregnancy losses before 24 weeks’ gestation is not collected centrally.

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received on changing the law relating to designation of babies born before 24 weeks' gestation as stillborn; [206760]

(2) what representations he has received about the establishment of a register of babies stillborn before 24 weeks' gestation. [206761]

Dr Poulter: A search of the Department’s Ministerial correspondence database has identified eight items of correspondence received since 1 July 2013 about the law relating to the designation and registration of pregnancy losses before 24 weeks’ gestation. This is a minimum figure which represents correspondence received by the Department’s Ministerial correspondence unit only.

Since 1 July 2013, two written parliamentary questions have been received about the law relating to the designation and registration of pregnancy losses before 24 weeks’ gestation.

I met my hon. Friend the Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) in April 2014 to discuss the Registration of Stillbirths Bill 2013-14, a private Member’s (ten minute rule) Bill. The Bill was also raised by several hon. Members in a Westminster Hall debate about stillbirth and infant mortality on 26 March 2014.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 240W

General Practitioners

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many GP surgeries which receive income from the minimum price income guarantee are in areas which are high on the deprivation index; [207477]

(2) what the cost to the public purse is of freezing the withdrawal of the minimum price income guarantee from GP practices which receive it as of 1 August 2014. [207478]

Dr Poulter: Of the 2,824 practices that receive minimum practice income guarantee (MPIG) payments, around 15% of these (411 practices) are ranked in the upper 20% of areas on the index of multiple deprivation.

The freezing of the withdrawal of the MPIG could cost up to £11 million in 2014-15. This is because the ‘global sum’ payments—into which the reductions in MPIG are added for all practices—have already been set for the year.

This estimated cost would be for 2014-15 only and assumes that any additional costs would only be for part of the year, ie from 1 August.

Health Services: Older People

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2014, Official Report, columns 766-67W on NHS: funding, if he will estimate the cost of the challenge posed by the pressures of an ageing population and the cost of new investment. [206873]

Dr Poulter: In its Fiscal Sustainability Reports—the latest of which was published on 10 July 2014—the Office for Budget Responsibility publishes estimates of long-term public spending, including health care, up to 2063-64. These estimates incorporate a number of assumptions, including the impact of expected demographic change.

Hospitals: Parking

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average amount a full-time NHS worker spends on car parking on NHS sites each year. [206831]

Dr Poulter: Estimates of the average amount a full- time national health service worker spends on car parking on NHS sites each year are not made centrally. NHS organisations make decisions on the provision and charging for car parking locally for patients, visitors and staff.

Medicine: Teachers

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to create an effective national mechanism for payment for the academic development of medical teachers. [207442]

Dr Poulter: From 1 April 2013, central funding for education and training is provided by the Department to Health Education England (HEE) to fund its responsibilities for managing the delivery of education and training for the health care system.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 241W

HEE receives funding via the National Institute for Health Research to support individuals in specialist training to undertake academic training and become the researchers and educators of the future. For 2014-15 this funding supports 1,206 posts.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the current safe staff-to-patient ratio on elderly and dementia wards in the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS trust. [207012]

Dr Poulter: This information is not collected centrally.

Local national health service trusts decide how many staff they employ, and make these decisions based on the needs of their patients and local communities.

While the right staffing levels are vital for good patient care, minimum staffing numbers and ratios cannot take account of local circumstances, skill mix or case mix.

One of the roles for the Chief Inspector of Hospitals is to take action if hospitals are found to be compromising patient care by not having the right number of staff on wards.

Motor Neurone Disease

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much funding his Department has allocated to research into motor neurone disease in each of last 10 years; [206942]

(2) what recent discussions he has had with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in Scotland on funding for research into motor neurone disease. [206931]

Dr Poulter: Prior to the establishment of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in April 2006, the main part of the Department's total health research expenditure was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From April 2006 to March 2009, transitional research funding was allocated to these organisations at reducing levels. The organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on national priority areas but do not provide details of spend on research into specific diseases, including motor neurone disease (MND).

Expenditure on MND research by the NIHR from 2009-10 through research programmes, research centres and units, and research fellowships is shown in the following table.

Total spend by the NIHR on MND research is higher than this because expenditure by the NIHR Clinical

3 Sep 2014 : Column 242W

Research Network (CRN) on this topic cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.

The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has had no discussions on funding for MND research with the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.

NHS: Training

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether payments mechanisms to medical schools in the form of SIFT funding are resulting in general practices being underpaid. [207441]

Dr Poulter: Responsibility for the Service Increment for Teaching funding for clinical placements for undergraduate medical and dental students was transferred to Health Education England (HEE) from April 2013. Current rates for hospitals are subject to a national tariff, and those for general practices are subject to historical local agreement.

The Department and HEE are reviewing the funding for medical placements in GP practices. Until this review concludes, no changes are being planned to the funding of these placements.

Nurses

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical nurse specialists are employed by each health trust in England. [206737]

Dr Poulter: Information on the number of clinical nurse specialists employed by each health trust in England is only available centrally for those working in cancer, diabetes and trauma. This is available through the National Peer Review Programme, which is a quality assurance programme managed by NHS England for the National Health Service. However, the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The Government have supported the development of a range of specialist roles within nursing. It is for local NHS organisations with their knowledge of the health care needs of their local population to invest in training for specialist skills and to deploy specialist nurses. Specialist nurses provide invaluable support for patients and their families. They are able to provide specialist treatment and advice and act as a gateway to other members of the multidisciplinary team, which improves care and outcomes.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has spent on permanent nursing staff in each year since 2010; [206982]

(2) how much Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has spent on hiring temporary nursing staff in each year since 2010. [206981]

Dr Poulter: Information is not available in the format requested.

The amounts spent by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust on nursing, midwifery and health visiting for NHS and non-NHS staff are shown in the following table.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 243W

3 Sep 2014 : Column 244W

Paramedical Staff

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paramedics were working in each ambulance service in England in each month since May 2010. [207054]

Dr Poulter: The number of paramedics working in each ambulance service in England in each month since May 2010 is in the following table:

3 Sep 2014 : Column 245W

3 Sep 2014 : Column 246W

3 Sep 2014 : Column 247W

3 Sep 2014 : Column 248W

3 Sep 2014 : Column 249W

3 Sep 2014 : Column 250W

Parkinson's Disease

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many incidents of medication errors involving hospital patients with Parkinson's disease have been reported since the joint patient safety alert on steps to improve data reporting quality was issued by NHS England and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in March 2014; [206600]

(2) with reference to the National Patient Safety Agency rapid response report on reducing harm from omitted and delayed medicines in hospital, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that hospitals in England and Wales are able to supply Parkinson's disease medications to patients in a timely way. [206629]

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that, between 20 March 2014 and 21 July 2014, 617 incidents in general, acute or community hospitals or mental health facilities involving Parkinson’s disease and medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease were reported through the National Reporting and Learning System.

Improving services for people with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions is a key priority for NHS England. Its strategic clinical networks have a specific focus on patients with neurological problems, such as Parkinson’s disease. NHS trusts and care homes in England should have policies and procedures in place to ensure that people with Parkinson’s disease receive their medicines when they are required to take them to control their illness and symptoms.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 251W

NHS England has recently launched a medication ‘safety thermometer’ that enables health and care organisations to measure aspects of medication safety on a regular basis for improvement purposes. This will enable hospitals to track their progress in reducing the number of omitted doses of medicines, including of those used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department's Complaints Programme Board has taken to improve the handling of complaints by people with Parkinson's disease who do not receive their medication on time in hospital or a care home. [206743]

Dr Poulter: The Complaints Programme Board is made up of partners across the health and care system working together to improve complaint handling for the benefit of patients, and to deliver specific commitments related to this in the Government's Hard Truths report. It is important that patients understand how to complain about their care or treatment if they wish to. For that reason, we will shortly publish a simple guide describing how to complain so whatever health condition a patient has, or whatever they want to complain about, they can do so easily and find the right support to help them if they need it.

Post-natal Depression

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women had post-natal depression in the UK in each of the last five years. [206801]

Dr Poulter: We do not hold data on the number of women suffering from post-natal depression centrally.

Post-natal depression encompasses a range of diagnoses from anxiety and depression to the more severe puerperal psychosis, with symptoms occurring a few weeks or months after birth. Post-natal depression may be diagnosed by different health professionals such as midwives, health visitors or general practitioners seeing women in different settings and using different information systems.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to support women with post-natal depression in the UK. [206802]

Dr Poulter: Health Education England (HEE) has committed to ensure that we have the right knowledge and training available so that we can be skilled in how we look after women’s mental as well as physical health. The HEE Mandate includes an objective that there will be specialist staff available for every birthing unit by 2017.

The Department has funded the Institute of Health Visiting to train a network of 375 perinatal mental health visitor champions, and has also introduced three interactive e-learning modules. This new resource will help health visitors in the detection and management of perinatal depression and other maternal mental health conditions.

The Mandate from the Government to NHS England includes an objective for NHS England to work with partner organisations to reduce the incidence and impact of post-natal depression through earlier diagnosis, and better intervention and support.

The NHS Mandate also includes an objective that every woman has a named midwife who is responsible for ensuring she has personalised care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and during the post-natal period.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 252W

This will help clinicians to identify perinatal mental health problems as early as possible and to give women the support they need.

To achieve this we have increased the number of midwives by over 1,700 and the number of health visitors by over 2,000 since May 2010. In addition, a record 6,000 midwifery students are currently in training and we are committed to having an extra 4,200 health visitors by 2015.

Poultry Meat: Northern Ireland

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent reports he has received of food contamination at chicken abattoirs in Northern Ireland; [207468]

(2) if he will ask the Food Standards Agency to assess the level of food contamination at chicken abattoirs in Northern Ireland. [207147]

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for meat hygiene official controls in poultry abattoirs across the United Kingdom (UK). The FSA advises there are six poultry abattoirs in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Veterinary Service (DARD VS) delivers meat hygiene official controls in poultry abattoirs on behalf of the FSA in Northern Ireland. DARD VS veterinary officials carry out these controls in the areas of ante-mortem inspection, post-mortem inspection, sampling and regular verification audits of the abattoirs.

Post-mortem inspection is carried out by qualified poultry meat inspectors or plant inspection assistants working under the direct supervision of the official veterinarian (OV). The OV is responsible for verifying on a daily basis that the post-mortem inspection is carried out in accordance with food law. Part of the post-mortem inspection includes examination of the carcase and offal for visible contamination.

DARD VS official veterinarians also conduct regular audits of approved establishments to verify that food business operators are complying with food law requirements.

Five of the poultry abattoirs have an audit category of ‘broadly compliant’ and one abattoir has an audit category of ‘not broadly compliant’ as of July 2014. Where an abattoir is not broadly compliant DARD VS takes action to improve compliance.

The outcomes of audit for FSA approved poultry abattoirs for Northern Ireland are published at:

www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/meat/audit

It is the responsibility of food business operators to comply with food law and ensure the food they produce is safe to eat.

The FSA in the UK is committed to reducing Campylobacter contamination in poultry at retail sale. A UK survey commenced in February 2014 and includes samples from NI. The results are published at:

www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2014/9279/campylobacter-survey

The first set of results was published in August 2014.

Pregnant Women: Screening

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what diseases are routinely screened for in antenatal screening in NHS hospitals; [206738]

3 Sep 2014 : Column 253W

(2) how much the NHS spent on antenatal screening in the last year; [206739]

(3) what steps his Department is taking to (a) widen NHS antenatal screening to cover more diseases and (b) offer the option of further screening to more women. [206741]

Dr Poulter: The UK National Screening Committee provides advice to Ministers on screening issues. It will continue to keep all antenatal screening programmes under review and will advise further when appropriate.

All pregnant women are offered screening for thalassaemia, hepatitis B, HIV, rubella susceptibility and syphilis. A test for sickle cell is offered if the fetus is identified of being at higher risk of this condition.

All pregnant women are also offered ultrasound scans during their pregnancy. This screening identifies Down’s syndrome, and major structural anomalies such as anencephaly, open spina bifida, cleft lip, diaphragmatic hernia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, serious cardiac abnormalities, bilateral renal agenesis, lethal skeletal dyslasia, Edwards’ syndrome (Trisomy 18) and Patau’s syndrome (Trisomy 13).

To obtain how much the National Health Service has spent on antenatal screening in the last year would be a disproportionate cost.

Prescription Drugs

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on making it easier for licence medication drugs to be used for off-patent treatments. [207483]

George Freeman: Prescribers should always consider using a licensed medicine within the terms of its licenses as the first option. Where this approach does not meet the clinical needs of a patient, clinicians can prescribe a licensed medicine outside the terms of its licence. Information to support clinical decisions on the use of medicines outside their licensed indications is available from sources such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the British National Formulary.

School Milk

Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that rural, remote and small settings will continue to receive milk under the Nursery Milk Scheme. [206967]

Dr Poulter: Next Steps for Nursery Milk, published on 27 March, set out the Government’s plans to modernise the Nursery Milk Scheme. Ensuring supply to all eligible child care settings will be a key consideration for the Department in developing the modernised scheme.

Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Independent Review

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's impact assessment relating to the consultation into standardised tobacco packaging in a wider range of languages. [207457]

3 Sep 2014 : Column 254W

Jane Ellison: It is not Government practice to translate impact assessments. The consultation document itself was translated into several languages to raise awareness and to facilitate the response from a wide range of relevant stakeholders.

Telephone Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what timetable his Department plans to phase out use of telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0845, 0844 and 0843 in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance on customer service lines published in December 2013 and (b) 03 and 08, where the 03 is the primary number under a dual numbering system. [207452]

Dr Poulter: The Department will comply with the Cabinet Office timetable and guidelines regarding the use of non-geographical 0845, 0844 and 0843 numbers and treat the use of the 03 prefix as a default policy position for the provision of core public services.

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training and guidance on the Ebola virus has been issued to staff at airports and ports in Northern Ireland. [207466]

Jane Ellison: Advice for United Kingdom Border Force staff with regard to Ebola virus was developed by Public Health England and circulated by the Border Force to all UK ports, including those in Northern Ireland.

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on precautionary measures to protect against the spread of the Ebola virus. [207467]

Jane Ellison: The Department holds regular meetings involving officials from all of the devolved Administrations in which they discuss current emergency preparedness issues. There are also meetings convened by Public Health England to ensure that all preparations are co-ordinated. Over the last few weeks, these discussions have included the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa; including United Kingdom readiness in the event that cases arrive in one of our countries.

Treasury

Aggregates Levy: Northern Ireland

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the European Commission to make a decision on the Aggregate Levy Credits scheme. [207469]

Priti Patel: On 7 August 2014, the European Commission released a short summary of its decision on the Aggregates Levy Credit scheme. The full decision will be released by the commission in the coming weeks once commercially sensitive information has been redacted.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 255W

Hotels: VAT

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to reduce VAT to 5% on hotel rooms. [207515]

Mr Gauke: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 11 February 2014, Official Report, columns 212-14WH.

Revenue and Customs

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria were used to determine the location of new posts within the HM Revenue and Customs Debt Management directorate. [207480]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs' Debt Management and Banking directorate has looked at existing capacity across its locations, specific functional requirements and IT infrastructure and used the availability of people and management to determine locations.

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the work of the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Debt Management directorate can be carried out at any (a) HMRC office and (b) HMRC office currently used for the work of the Personal Tax Operations directorate. [207482]

Mr Gauke: Wherever possible, HM Revenue and Customs aims to fill vacancies in the locations where its existing functions are already based. This is to ensure that suitable accommodation and IT is available and appropriate management to support new employees is in place on site.

Revenue and Customs: Glasgow

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will confirm why HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff currently employed in the Personal Tax Operations directorate office in Glasgow and who wish to be transferred to HMRC Debt Management directorate are not allowed to continue to work in HMRC Glasgow offices. [207481]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Debt Management and Banking directorate is recruiting staff in locations across the country where it has specific functional requirements and the IT infrastructure to support the work.

It has posts immediately available in East Kilbride and Cumbernauld. These jobs have been made available to all staff on fixed-term appointments nationwide, including those currently working in Glasgow. Some of these members of staff have applied for jobs in East Kilbride and Cumbernauld. HMRC is continuing to look at options for the remaining staff within the Personal Tax line of business who want to continue their employment with HMRC.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 256W

Attorney-General

EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Attorney-General how many new EU directives and regulations have been transposed into UK law by the Law Officers' Departments since May 2010. [207252]

The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers' Departments have not transposed any EU directives or regulations into UK law since May 2010.

Fraud

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Attorney-General how many Shawcross exercises have been conducted in relation to the SFO's investigations in the last two years. [207315]

The Solicitor-General: None.

Police: Surveillance

Helen Goodman: To ask the Attorney-General what reasons the Crown Prosecution Service gave for its decision not to prosecute undercover police officers accused of starting sexual relationships with environmental activists. [207455]

The Attorney-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will review any cases referred to it by the police in accordance with the two-stage test that is set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Where there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest, such cases will be prosecuted.

The CPS has been working with officers conducting the Operation Herne investigation into the conduct of a number of officers.

On 21 August 2014 the Crown Prosecution Service issued a statement containing the reasons it gave for not prosecuting officers considered under Operation Aubusson, a subset of Operation Herne which is available at:

http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/charging_decision_concerning_mps_special_demonstration_squad/

Prosecutions

Sir Edward Garnier: To ask the Attorney-General who the non-police prosecuting agencies are in England and Wales; and what each body's status and powers in law are as a prosecutor. [207545]

The Solicitor-General: Where an offence does not specify a particular prosecutor, any person has the right to institute criminal proceedings and conduct a prosecution. This applies whether the person is acting in a purely personal capacity or in the course of his duties for a local authority, Government Department, business enterprise or other organisation. However, the vast majority of non-police prosecutions are conducted by the following public authorities. Due to the right of any legal person to institute criminal proceedings, this is not an exhaustive list:

Crown Prosecution Service (“CPS”):

Established by the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, the CPS is a non-ministerial Government department, operating under the superintendence of the Attorney-

3 Sep 2014 : Column 257W

General. In addition to prosecuting cases investigated by the police, the CPS prosecutes cases referred to it by DEFRA, Home Office immigration officials, HMRC, the National Crime Agency, the DWP, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the Department for Health, the Food Standards Agency and the Child Maintenance Group.

Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”):

The SFO and its powers were created by the Criminal Justice Act 1987 (as amended). It is an independent Government department, operating under the superintendence of the Attorney-General. Its purpose is to investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute those who commit serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption, pursuing them and others for the proceeds of their crime.

Service Prosecuting Authority (“SPA”):

The SPA was formed by the Armed Forces Act 2006 on 1 January 2009. The role of the SPA is to review cases referred to it by the Service Police or Chain of Command and to prosecute appropriate cases at Courts Martial or the Service Civilian Court.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (“BIS”):

The functions of the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform were transferred to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by order in 2009. BIS is the lead criminal enforcement agency for insolvency related fraud and associated corporate misconduct. It is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of offences on behalf of the Secretary of State under the insolvency and companies regimes, including bankruptcy offences and fraudulent trading.

Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”):

The CMA is an independent non-ministerial department. It was established by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 and took over many of the functions of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) together with those of the Competition Commission. In particular, under the Enterprise Act 2002, the CMA has the power to investigate and prosecute individuals for the cartel offence contrary to section 188 of that Act. The CMA also investigates and prosecutes offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008.

Companies House (“CA”):

CA is an Executive agency of BIS and has responsibility for prosecuting offences of failing to file annual accounts and annual returns under the Companies Act 1985 (as amended).

Gambling Commission (“GC”):

The GC was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial gambling in Great Britain. It is an independent non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The GC has the power to investigate and prosecute offences under the Gambling Act 2005.

Environment Agency (“EA”):

The EA is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by DEFRA. Established in 1996 by the Environment Act 1995, it investigates and prosecutes environmental offences contained in both primary and secondary legislation.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 258W

Food Standards Agency (“FSA”):

Established by the Food Standards Act 1999, the FSA is a non-ministerial Government department with the objective of protecting public health in relation to food. It investigates and prosecutes food safety and food hygiene offences that are contained in both primary and secondary legislation. Offences relating to animal welfare in abattoirs are prosecuted by the CPS.

Health and Safety Executive (“HSE”):

Established by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA), the HSE aims to protect the health, safety and welfare of people at work, and to safeguard others, mainly members of the public, who may be exposed to risks from the way work is carried out. This includes investigating and prosecuting offences under the HSWA and associated regulations.

Office of the Rail Regulator (“ORR”):

The ORR is a non-ministerial Government department. Established on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, the ORR enforces health and safety law in relation to railways and prosecutes under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA), the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011, the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010 and the Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (“DVLA”):

The DVLA is an Executive agency sponsored by the Department for Transport and prosecutes offences contained in the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 and associated regulations on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport.

Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (“DVSA”):

The DVSA is an Executive agency sponsored by the Department for Transport and aims to improve road safety in the UK. It prosecutes under a range of primary and secondary legislation in relation to vehicle standards.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency (“MCA”):

The MCA is a UK Executive agency sponsored by the Department for Transport. Its objectives are to prevent the loss of lives at sea and to implement British and international maritime law and safety policy. It investigates and prosecutes health and safety offences and offences contained in the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and associated regulations.

Local Authorities (“LAs”):

LAs prosecute a broad range of offences from housing benefit fraud to trading standards and food hygiene offences.

Business, Innovation and Skills

EU External Trade: USA

Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the UK's policy is on EU negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and what consultation his Department has had with the devolved Administrations in formulating this policy. [206552]

Matthew Hancock: Securing significant progress on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations is a top priority for the Government’s

3 Sep 2014 : Column 259W

trade agenda. We are pushing for a broad agreement that eliminates the vast majority of tariffs on trade between the two markets and reduces other unnecessary barriers to trade.

Ministers in the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive, through regular Joint Ministerial Committee meetings, have an opportunity to input into the UK position, where appropriate, and Ministers have been kept abreast of developments. Officials from the devolved Administrations are also invited to frequent cross-Whitehall meetings on TTIP, and are in regular contact with trade policy officials in Whitehall.

EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times the UK has lost EU infraction proceedings since May 2010 which relate to matters that fall within his Department's responsibility. [206648]

Matthew Hancock: Since May 2010 the UK has not lost any EU infraction proceedings falling within the responsibility of BIS.

Private Education

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has for increasing the role of private colleges in the provision of further and higher education; and if he will make a statement. [207047]

Greg Clark: In September 2014 the Department will invite both new and existing alternative providers to apply to have new courses designated so that their students may have access for student support in the 2015/16 academic year. There will also be an additional opportunity for providers to apply in February 2015. For the 2015/16 academic year we will allow student numbers at high quality alternative providers to be freed from student number controls in a similar manner as for HEFCE-funded provision, but we will continue to retain a control on numbers at higher risk provision.

Students: Disadvantaged

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to widen access to and inclusion in further and higher education for mature, disadvantaged and other harder to reach students. [207045]

Greg Clark: This Government have been very clear about the importance of widening participation and improving fair access in higher education—all those with the ability should have access to higher education, irrespective of family income.

In April we published the new ‘National strategy for access and student success’. It will help to ensure that all those with the potential to benefit from higher education have equal opportunity to participate and succeed. Our reforms and new funding methodology have ensured that institutions are investing significantly in widening student access to higher education. Through their access agreements with the Office for Fair Access, institutions plan by 2018/19 to increase their spending

3 Sep 2014 : Column 260W

on outreach, student success and student financial support measures to £735 million, up from £444 million in 2011/12.

Similarly, it is important that young people and adults from disadvantaged groups are able to access good quality further education and skills training to help them to find employment, participate in their local community and lead a more independent life.

We provide ‘Learning Support' funding to colleges and providers to help people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. We support unemployed people into work by funding units and qualifications in vocational skills, and we fully fund all adults to achieve their first English and maths GCSE. We contribute £210 million a year to support non-formal Community Learning, attracting disadvantaged groups and mature learners who have had very few previous opportunities to engage in education.

Telephone Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills under what timetable his Department plans to phase out use of telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0845, 0844 and 0843 in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance on customer service lines published in December 2013 and (b) 03 and 08, where 03 is the primary number under a dual numbering system. [207450]

Jo Swinson: All of the Department’s 0845, 0844 and 0843 numbers have now been replaced with 03 numbers and the 08 numbers will cease to be operational by the end of 2014. Telephone lines with dual numbering will also revert to the 03 number at the same time.

Public Accounts Commission

Television

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how much the Public Accounts Commission spent on televisions in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date. [207145]

Sir Edward Leigh: The Public Accounts Commission is a statutory committee with no operational functions. It has spent no money on televisions in 2013 or 2014.

Cabinet Office

Billing

Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the value is of duplicate supplier payments identified by his Department since 2010; and what proportion of such payments has since been recovered in each of the last two financial years. [205966]

Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office identified duplicate payments worth £77,164 through the 2011-12 to 2012-13 payments review. All of the duplicate payments identified were recovered.

EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times the UK has lost EU infraction proceedings since May 2010 which relate to matters that fall within his Department's responsibility. [206650]

3 Sep 2014 : Column 261W

Mr Maude: Since May 2010 the UK has not lost any EU infraction proceedings falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Office.

Government Departments: Data Protection

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government are taking to ensure the protection of personal data held by private companies operating Government-shared services. [207435]

Mr Maude: As with all outsourcing arrangements, security and information assurance measures are being implemented in line with the Government’s Information Assurance Standards, Good Practice Guides the Government Security Policy Framework and the Data Protection Act 1998. These Government security requirements were introduced under the previous Government and applied to outsourcing then. All shared services data will be handled, processed and transmitted in accordance with these security requirements, taking into consideration clients’ security policies.

Government Departments: Procurement

Meg Hillier: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of central Government procurement spend was with small and medium-sized enterprises on 21 August 2014. [207479]

Mr Maude: Overall Government spend with SMEs has increased from £3 billion in 2009-10 to £4.5 billion in 2012-13, putting us on track to deliver our aspiration of awarding 25% of central Government business to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by 2015. Figures for 2013-14 will be published in the autumn.

Public Sector: Business Interests

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the Business Appointment Rules for public servants relate to (a) appointments in (i) NGOs, (ii) charities and (iii) other non-commercial organisations and (b) unpaid positions. [207503]

Mr Maude: The Business Appointment Rules apply to those people employed in civil service, the diplomatic service and members of the armed services, whether the employment is paid or unpaid.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Bahrain

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the Foreign Affairs Committee's recommendation in the Fifth Report of Session 2013-14, The UK's Relations with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, HC 88, paragraph 214, that Bahrain should be designated as a country of concern if no significant progress had been made by the start of 2014. [207489]

3 Sep 2014 : Column 262W

Mr Ellwood: Bahrain is a country case study in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's human rights report, and as such we continue to monitor the human rights situation there and issue a biannual update. Bahrain's designation as a country case study in the 2013 FCO Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy strikes an appropriate balance between the undoubted progress made in some areas and our continuing concerns in others. We will review all countries with human rights issues in our preparation for the 2014 Annual Report, which will be published in early 2015. Bahrain is making substantial progress in respect of political reforms and will continue to receive our support.

Business: Human Rights

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which HM embassies and high commissions have a designated contact for the strategy for supporting human rights defenders working on issues related to business and human rights. [207472]

Mr Lidington: Our network of diplomatic posts provides support for human rights defenders on a full range of human rights issues, including business and human rights.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which companies (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) HM embassies and high commissions have discussed the UK Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in the last year. [207473]

Mr Lidington: We regularly raise business and human rights and the UK National Action Plan with a range of UK companies, trade associations and other relevant bodies at ministerial and official level, both in the UK and through our global network of diplomatic posts.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in the last year on the (a) conduct, planning and composition of ministerial-led trade delegations and (b) operations overseas of British businesses. [207474]

Mr Lidington: Following the publication of the National Action Plan (NAP), we have ensured that all trade delegations are briefed on business and human rights and that companies are made aware of relevant human rights risks and challenges relating to all markets. We have re-launched the Overseas Business Risk website to help companies mitigate business risk and seek to ensure, in accordance with the aims of the NAP, that the operations of all UK businesses, wherever they operate, respect their responsibilities for human rights.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to improve access to remedies for victims of human rights abuses involving UK business operating overseas. [207475]

3 Sep 2014 : Column 263W

Mr Lidington: We are committed to improving access to remedy within the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and we are also in close contact with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). This will be one of the themes for this year's United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights. We are also working on implementing our National Action Plan (NAP), which includes supporting projects on access to remedy through the Human Rights and Democracy Programme Fund (HRDPF) and advising companies on establishing or participating in grievance mechanisms, and will keep the UK provision of remedy under review.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department has provided to help UK businesses uphold their responsibilities to international human rights in the last year. [207476]

Mr Lidington: The Government continue to provide support and help to British companies worldwide. We have re-launched the Overseas Business Risk website to inform companies so that they may mitigate business risk in exports and investment overseas; issued guidance to all embassies and high commissions on how to conduct business and human rights overseas; worked with the financial sector to support focus on human rights reporting and increased transparency for investors; and we are due to launch guidance for the ICT sector on human rights risks related to cyber exports.

Israel

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a ban on the sales of UK arms to Israel. [207521]

Mr Ellwood: We do not believe that imposing a blanket arms embargo on Israel would promote progress in the Middle East Peace Process. All countries, including Israel, have a legitimate right to self-defence, and the right to defend their citizens from attack. In doing so, it is vital that all actions are proportionate, in line with international humanitarian law, and are calibrated to avoid civilian casualties. Defence and security exports support states' legitimate right to self-defence, security and law and order. The UK has one of the most robust licensing systems in the world.

Middle East

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the UK abstained from voting on the motion entitled, Ensuring respect for international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem at the 21st Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council. [207437]

Mr Ellwood: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), issued a press release on 23 July stating that:

“Today's UN Human Rights Council resolution will not help achieve a lasting ceasefire. It is fundamentally unbalanced and will complicate the process by introducing unnecessary new mechanisms.

3 Sep 2014 : Column 264W

The UK could not support this resolution, but recognising the strength of feeling about the loss of life and the desire by a large number of members of the Council to express that feeling in a resolution, the UK joined other EU nations in abstaining in the vote.”

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the proposals for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. [207522]

Mr Ellwood: As I said in my statement of Tuesday 26 August welcoming the ceasefire agreement:

“I welcome the agreement by all parties to a ceasefire. I pay tribute to the Government of Egypt for their work to secure this important step. The ceasefire provides a critical and welcome window of opportunity for reaching a comprehensive agreement, that tackles the underlying causes of the conflict.

These discussions are not easy, but there is no viable alternative. The international community stands ready to assist.”

Qatar

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to address the treatment of workers in Qatar during the construction of World Cup 2022 venues. [905123]

Mr Ellwood: I raised our concerns with the Qatari authorities on 24 July. We welcome the serious manner in which the Qatari Government are responding to concerns and fully support Qatar’s intention to reform the current labour law. We are encouraging the Government of Qatar to put forward a timetable for passing and implementing the proposed legislation and stand ready to support these efforts where we can.

Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has have with Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy on the safety and well-being of migrant workers preparing that country for the 2022 World Cup. [905136]

Mr Ellwood: We have raised our concerns about the safety and well-being of migrant workers with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy at ministerial and ambassadorial level. We welcome the serious manner in which the Qatari Government are responding to concerns and fully support Qatar's intention to reform the current labour law. We are encouraging the Government of Qatar to put forward a timetable for passing and implementing the proposed legislation and stand ready to support these efforts where we can.

Communities and Local Government

Billing

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value is of duplicate supplier payments identified by his Department since 2010; and what proportion of such payments has since been recovered in each of the last two financial years. [205967]

3 Sep 2014 : Column 265W

Kris Hopkins: In my Department's publication “50 ways to save”, we asserted that councils could save money by conducting audits of potential duplicate payments and reforming accounts payable processes. This was based on research by Experian of both local and central Government bodies.

In the answer by the then Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Brandon Lewis) of 5 November 2013, Official Report, column 145W, it was noted how our Department had itself undertaken such best practice, and had duly recovered £61,301 of taxpayers' money from 20 duplicate payments for the period May 2010 to October 2013, apart from a sum of £257 which was not recoverable from three payments. A further £32,000 was recovered from historic duplicate payments made between 2006 and 2009. I would also note there were £7,018 of duplicate payments from January to April 2010.

Since that answer, our ongoing internal processes have identified a further £7,492 from four transactions from November 2013 to March 2014, all of which have been recovered thanks to our strengthened checks.

We have previously commissioned business analytics and information services firm PRGX to carry out a full spend-recovery audit on our accounts payable system and help us further improve and reform administrative practices. PRGX’s audit report has subsequently noted that 99.999% of the transaction value reviewed was processed correctly, and that:

“DCLG have been effective in limiting supplier overpayments. The low rate of errors identified by the audit and statement request process indicates the current processes and controls continue to limit supplier overpayments.”

This sizeable saving endorses what we said in “50 ways to save”: regularly checking for duplicate payments and putting systematic checks in place is a common-sense way of saving taxpayers' money in both local and central Government.