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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Work and Pensions

Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he and Ministers in his Department have had with Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the proposed reform of apprenticeships; what effect those discussions will have on his Department's projects and the work of their supply chain; and whether officials in his Department sit on programme boards managing the reform. [208214]

Mr Harper: The Secretary of State or his Ministers have not had any specific discussions with Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills solely about the proposed reform of apprenticeships. Neither are any of the Department's officials sitting on programme boards managing the reform.

Employment: Hearing Impairment

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what guidance his Department issues on the funding and allocation of support for deaf people in work; [207823]

(2) what financial support his Department provides to deaf people in work while they await a decision on their Access to Work budget; [207838]

(3) what communication support his Department provides for deaf people who are (a) in work or (b) actively seeking work; [207839]

(4) what additional support his Department makes available for deaf people whose Access to Work budgets do not cover the support they require to carry out their work. [207913]

Mr Harper: Access to Work provides practical and financial support with the additional costs faced by individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job. The support provided is tailored to individuals needs and can include travel to work, support workers, and specialist aids and equipment. Access to Work does not replace the duty an employer has under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments. Instead it provides support that is over and above that which is a reasonable adjustment. Access to Work can pay for communication support workers and British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters where these are required to enable deaf people to work.

Access to Work is delivered by Jobcentre Plus in accordance with Department for Work and Pensions Access to Work guidance. The amount of help an individual may receive from Access to Work depends on their individual needs and personal circumstances. The award will also vary depending on how long they have

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been employed, what support they need, the size of the employer and whether they are self-employed.

The Department does not provide alternative financial support for communication for deaf people who are in work.

Where necessary, the Department can provide British Sign Language interpreters and in some cases other non-spoken language interpreters to enable deaf people to communicate with our staff and to participate in job interviews. Where it is appropriate and where they are able to do so, deaf people and people with hearing impairments can utilise lip reading in face-to-face communications. The Department also provides induction loops and text phones. Our staff can also communicate by e-mail or through a representative, with the claimant’s permission.

Flexible Support Fund

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on the Flexible Support Fund in each region of the UK in each year since it was introduced. [208077]

Mr Harper: Expenditure on Flexible Support Fund (FSF) since it was introduced in each year is shown in the following table.

The FSF expenditure is only captured at a national level, not across UK regions, this information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the recorded primary medical condition of incapacity benefits reassessment claimants, where the outcome of the assessment was Fit for Work, were in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [207639]

Mr Harper: The information requested on incapacity benefits reassessments is shown in the following table:

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Independent Living Fund

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to retain the Independent Living Fund and continue access for new claimants. [207893]

Mr Harper: On 6 March 2014 the Government announced that the Independent Living Fund (ILF) would close in June 2015 with responsibility and funding transferred to local authorities in England and the devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales. Funding for Northern Ireland is already a matter for the Northern Ireland administration which is currently consulting on the best way to support users living there. The ILF has been closed to new applications since 2010.

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the performance of the Independent Living Fund. [207894]

Mr Harper: There is a legislative requirement for the Independent Living Fund Annual Report and Accounts to be laid by the Secretary of State before Parliament each year. The report is published on GOV.UK:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-living-fund-annual-report-and-accounts-2013-to-2014

Jobcentre Plus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the security of staff at Jobcentre Plus offices. [208359]

Steve Webb: The Department keeps security arrangements under constant review, amending these in the light of prevailing circumstances, and taking account of advice from the relevant security authorities. Beyond this, for obvious reasons, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

New Enterprise Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many businesses have been created with help from the New Enterprise Allowance; and how many of those businesses have sustained operations for more than 52 weeks. [208044]

Mr Harper [holding answer 8 September 2014]: Latest statistics show that since the launch of New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) in 2011 to the end of March 2014, there were 46,000 NEA weekly allowance claims. The weekly allowance is payable when the participant closes their claim to benefits and commences trading which is a proxy measure for business starts created by the scheme.

We do not have data on the numbers of NEA businesses trading for 52 weeks. However, an analysis of the benefit status of NEA participants, published in 2013, highlighted that of 3,000 people who took part in the scheme in the first year, 78% had remained off benefit continuously for 52 weeks after claiming the NEA weekly allowance.

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Personal Independence Payment

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when a decision will be made on the application made in November 2013 by Mrs Staltmeier of Christchurch for a personal independence payment. [208252]

Mr Harper: The Department cannot respond to the House of Commons with regards to a specific case. I will write to my hon. Friend.

Poverty Truth Commission

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department has had with the Poverty Truth Commission. [208356]

Mr Harper: Ministers and officials continuously engage with a wide range of organisations to help shape and inform policies.

Checking whether any member of staff from across the Department for Work and Pensions has held any discussions with the Poverty Truth Commission would involve disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the current level of the benefit cap; and if he will make a statement. [208147]

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by the Minister for Employment which was provided to the hon. Member for North West Leicestershire (Andrew Bridgen), on 1 September 2014, Official Report, column 41W.

Social Security Benefits: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit sanctions on the grounds of (a) not actively seeking employment, (b) refusal of employment, (c) failure to attend a mandatory interview, (d) failure to participate in work-related activity and (e) non-compliance with a jobseeker’s direction were received by claimants in (i) Denton and Reddish constituency, (ii) Tameside local authority and (iii) Stockport local authority between (A) April 2011 and March 2012 and (B) April 2013 and March 2014. [207769]

Mr Harper: The available information as requested is shown in the table below.

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Telecommunications: Disability

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to ensure that it communicates with deafblind people in

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accessible ways, including information about preferred means of communication and sending information in the formats requested by deafblind claimants. [207976]

Mr Harper: DWP provides support to all claimants and customers who have specific communication needs in order to allow them full access to our services. DWP can provide British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters or other communicator support, which includes Deafblind Communicators, to customers or claimants who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. The Department’s staff also undertake diversity and equality learning to raise awareness and help them understand the issues faced by disabled claimants, including those who are deaf or hearing impaired, and provide individual support as required.

Requests for information to be provided in an alternative format are tailored to the personal needs of the individual and will depend on which benefit is being claimed or which service is being used. The support offered by DWP includes a variety of communication methods: face to face contact on our premises; home visits; telephony; online services; and written communications in alternative formats such as Braille. DWP staff can also communicate by e-mail or through a claimant’s representative or intermediary. A request for an alternative format from an individual will be detailed on the customer’s record of the appropriate benefit system to ensure requests are carried out.

This Department is committed to continuously improving claimant access to benefits and services. DWP officials are currently reviewing the processes we have in place for providing information in alternative formats to see what improvements can be made.

Training

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent per head on training staff of his Department in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14. [208357]

Steve Webb: The Department is fully committed to the development of its staff by investing in learning to create a highly skilled, motivated and flexible workforce. The Department fully supports the Civil Service Reform Plan commitment to provide at least five days a year investment in learning and development for all Civil Servants. Further learning activity has been generated by the DWP Annual Skills Review, the development of a departmental Capability Plan and an increased training requirement necessary to support the DWP Welfare Reform agenda.

The departmental spend per head is shown below and has been calculated by dividing the total annual spend for DWP by the staff in post figure for the years in question.

(a) 2010-11—£110.40

(b) 2011-12—£85.27

(c) 2012-13—£58.80

(d) 2013-14—£91.32

Welfare State: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions his Department has had discussions with the Social

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Development Department in Northern Ireland on the implementation of the welfare reforms in Northern Ireland. [208058]

Mr Harper: Northern Ireland is responsible for its own social security, pensions and child support systems. Therefore, the enactment and implementation of the welfare reforms in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive. However, I can confirm that my officials and I continue to work closely with the Social Development Department.

Welfare State: Reform

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in the implementation of his overall welfare reforms in the last six months; and what progress he expects to be made in the next six months. [207879]

Mr Harper [holding answer 5 September 2014]: This Government has made significant progress in implementing the most far-reaching programme of welfare reforms for a generation. We have

Launched Universal Credit, the biggest change to the welfare system in a generation, in April 2013. Currently operating in 38 areas. It will be available in 90—or one in eight—of the country's jobcentres by the end of the year.

Rolled out the household ‘Benefit Cap’, which ensures families do not receive more benefits than the average family earns. In total, more than 42,000 households had their benefits capped by March 2014. Almost 6,000 households who have had their benefits capped have moved into work. The policy is expected to save £110 million in 2014/15.

Returned fairness to housing benefit by ‘stopping paying housing benefit for spare rooms’. The policy is already saving taxpayers over £1 million a day.

‘Auto enrolled 3.6 million people into a workplace pension’—saving for the first time or saving more for retirement.

Launched the ‘Child Maintenance Service’ to replace the failing Child Support Agency, introducing it first in December 2012 for parents of four or more children, in July 2013 for parents of two or more children, and since November 2013 to all separated parents.

Brought how claimants find work into the 21^st century by launching ‘Universal Jobmatch’, rather than just leaving jobseekers to manage with old-fashioned job boards and vacancy printouts.

Implemented the ‘Work Programme’—the biggest single payment by results employment programme Britain has ever seen—which has helped around 300,000 long-term unemployed off benefits and into sustained work—more than previous schemes.

Introduced the ‘Claimant Commitment’ in all British jobcentres, spelling out what we expect from jobseekers when they search for work, resetting the relationship between benefit claimants and Jobcentre Plus help.

Started the phased introduction of ‘Personal Independence Payment’ on time and on budget in April last year.

Rolled out the biggest ever campaign to help disabled people into work—‘Disability Confident’—breaking down barriers and boosting employers confidence and dispelling myths.

We are implementing these major reforms in a careful and gradual way, testing and learning as we move forward. This is the right approach. All this while we have cut DWP costs by £2 billion a year compared to 2009-10. In total, our welfare reforms are set to save £50 billion over this Parliament.

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Work Capability Assessments

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what process is in place for the transition from Atos to another provider for work capability assessments; how will this be communicated to employment and support allowance claimants; and if he will make a statement. [207649]

Mr Harper: The Department will work very closely with the new provider and Atos during the transition period to ensure a smooth and effective handover of services, including the staff and infrastructure that will move from Atos to the new provider. The process for claimants will remain the same during the transition and so claimants should continue to attend their assessments. We are considering the communications to claimants as part of the transition plan.

Treasury

Business: Taxation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small and medium-sized businesses have been subject to an HM Revenue and Customs tax review in each of the last three years; and in how many cases such a review has revealed significant errors in the accounts of such a business. [207832]

Mr Gauke: The information requested is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not use the term ‘tax review’ as such our management information systems do not record this information. Compliance interventions in respect of Small and Medium Enterprises are carried out across a range of HMRC Directorates and can relate to any tax regime.

HMRC do not use the term ‘significant error’ as such our management information systems do not record this information.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs tax reviews of large companies have revealed instances of significant evasion in each of the last three years. [207833]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is active in assessing and tackling the risks of evasion, avoidance and error among large businesses. HMRC's Large Business directorate supports work to tackle fraud within supply chains, as well as monitoring the behaviour of large businesses themselves.

Precise numbers giving the information in the form requested is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Child Benefit

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the saving to the public purse will be from the removal of child benefit for households where one parent earns £50,000; and what estimate he has made of the increase in administration costs arising from such a policy. [207461]

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Mr Gauke: The estimated annual fiscal saving as a result of the high income child benefit charge has been published by HM Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility at fiscal events.

The administrative costs of the high income child benefit charge were included in the National Audit Office 20/12-13 HMRC Standard Report:

http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/10174-001_HMRC_Standard-report.pdf

Listed Buildings: VAT

Dr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the money accrued to the public purse through VAT paid on the repair and maintenance of protected buildings. [207896]

Mr Gauke: No estimate has been made. Data is not available on the VAT paid on repairs and maintenance to protected buildings as this is not itemised separately on VAT returns.

Dr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the money accrued to the public purse through VAT paid on approved alterations to protected buildings in each of the last five years. [207897]

Mr Gauke: Data is not available on the VAT paid on approved alterations to protected buildings as this is not itemised separately on VAT returns.

Mobile Phones

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, reported in The Sunday Times on 31 August 2014, what provision will be made in the autumn statement 2014 to double the funding for tackling mobile blackspots; and what criteria will be used to decide which locations will benefit from that funding. [208163]

Danny Alexander: The Government are taking action to improve mobile coverage across the UK. For example, the Mobile Infrastructure Project, first announced in October 2011, provides £150 million for the building of additional mobile phone masts to provide coverage in areas which are poorly served.

The Chancellor has announced that autumn statement this year will be on 3 December. Full details of autumn statement announcements will be announced at that time.

National Savings and Investments

Mr Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people are employed in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) each Scottish parliamentary constituency by sub-contractors or agencies working on behalf of National Savings and Investments; [206752]

(2) how many people are employed by National Savings and Investments in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) each Scottish parliamentary constituency. [206753]

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Andrea Leadsom: National Savings and Investments employ 165 people, of whom eight work in Scotland. National Savings and Investment’s (NS&I) operational services are provided by Atos, with 1,528 FTE (Full Time Equivalent) people employed across the UK as of 13 August. Of these, 1,074 FTE are permanent staff, 430 FTE are agency staff (varied on demand) and 24 FTE are IT contractors from SOPRA. At present NS&I and Atos work at one office in Scotland at Cowglen (Constituency: Glasgow South) but will be moving to two new offices: Capella (Constituency: Glasgow Central) and Orbital (Constituencies: East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) in the near future.

The building at Cowglen is much larger than the current headcount of staff requires according to Government space standards. Our two new sites will provide for the anticipated future needs of NS&I operations in Glasgow.

With the introduction of the ‘Savings bonds for the 65s and over’ in January 2015 there will be a temporary increase in the number of staff to handle peak demand. Exact numbers are yet to be finalised and are still under discussion but some of these will be based in Glasgow Capella and Orbital.

The headcount and geographical breakdown as of 13 August 2014 is as follows:

Objects in Lieu of Tax

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value of works of art accepted in lieu of inheritance tax was in each of the last five years. [207429]

Mr Vaizey: As the Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy I have been asked to reply.

The total value of items accepted under the Acceptance-in-Lieu Scheme for the last five years is as follows:

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Oil: Excise Duties

Simon Hart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much has been disbursed to oil supply companies for the repayment of duty on petrol subject to vapour recovery since January 2013; [207842]

(2) how many Excise Payment Security Systems have been approved for retail petrol filling stations in 2014; [207843]

(3) whether the Excise Payment Security System has been approved for use by individual retail petrol filling stations; and if he will make a statement. [207850]

Priti Patel: Oil companies account for the repayment of duty on petrol subject to the vapour recovery process in their monthly duty return, so there is no disbursement by HMRC to these companies.

Eligibility for the Excise Payment Security System does not apply to or exclude particular sectors; criteria are published by HMRC, and apply to all applicants. I can confirm that EPSS approval has been granted to petrol retailers in 2014.

Thames Tideway Tunnel

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the full burden of (a) demand, (b) construction and (c) availability risk for the Thames Tideway Tunnel project has been transferred from the Government to Thames Tideway Tunnel Limited; and what the effect of each such transfer has been on the UK national balance sheet under the guidance given in ESA 95 Manual Chapters VI.4 and VI.5. [208368]

Danny Alexander: The Thames Tideway Tunnel is a private sector project. The Government have never been responsible for ‘the full burden’ of the project referred to in the question. Until 5 June, Thames Water Utilities Ltd had full responsibility for the project.

On 5 June, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs tabled a Written Ministerial Statement informing the House that the Government had Specified the Thames Tideway Tunnel project, in accordance with the Water Industry (Specified Infrastructure Projects) (English Undertakers) Regulations 2013. He also issued a Preparatory Work Notice for Thames Water Utilities Ltd requiring or permitting it to do certain preparatory work in relation to the Tunnel project.

The full statement is available here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140605/wmstext/140605m0001.htm#14060532000008

The full notices issued on 5 June, together with the reasons for exercising these powers are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thames-tideway-tunnel-project-specification-and-preparatory-work-notices

Specifying the project means that, other than those works described in the Preparatory Work Notice, Thames Water Utilities Ltd is prevented from undertaking the infrastructure project and is instead required to put it out to tender, by running a competitive procurement for an infrastructure provider which will finance and deliver the Tunnel that is separate from Thames Water.

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The Government are confident that both the project and the infrastructure provider will be classified to the private sector, and will not impact the public balance sheet.

Health

Aspirin

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with professional medical bodies on the implications for the NHS of research on the effects of taking aspirin on the likelihood of heart attacks. [207836]

Jane Ellison: There have been no discussions between the Secretary of State for Health and professional medical bodies regarding the implications for the National Health Service of research on the effects of taking aspirin on the likelihood of heart attacks.

In England, the current consensus is that low dose aspirin is not recommended purely for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Dialysis Machines

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect that proposed changes to tariffs for Renal Dialysis in Monitor's 2015-16 National Tariff Payments System: Engagement on national prices consultation would have on health outcomes for kidney patients. [207813]

Jane Ellison: In July 2014, Monitor and NHS England published the 2015-16 NHS National Tariff Payment System 2015-16: Engagement documents, and subsequently began a process of engagement with the sector on draft proposals. Draft national prices were also published, seeking feedback from relevant stakeholders.

Monitor and NHS England are currently reviewing the feedback received for the draft relative prices and carrying out further discussions about kidney dialysis with stakeholders including patient representative groups such as the National Kidney Federation. Monitor and NHS England are also seeking views from the sector via the National Tariff Advisory Group regarding the proposed prices.

Under section 118 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, Monitor is required to consult on the methodology used when deciding and setting national prices for National Health Service commissioned health care services. Monitor is also obliged to assess the expected financial impact on trusts of the draft proposals in accordance with section 69 of the 2012 Act. The Consultation Notice (section 118) is expected to be published in late-October along with a full financial impact assessment. The consultation period will be 28 days to allow for the sector, including patient groups, to respond.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with patients' groups on changes to tariffs for Renal Dialysis in Monitor's 2015-16 National Tariff Payments System: Engagement on national prices consultation. [207814]

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Jane Ellison: As part of Monitor’s and NHS England’s engagement plan for the Tariff Payments System: Engagement on national prices consultation, Monitor spoke to patient representative groups and charity representative groups, including the National Kidney Federation, British Kidney Association, Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity and the Renal Association. Monitor has since arranged follow up discussions with these patient groups to discuss their feedback.

The consultation process is designed to enable Monitor and NHS England to review the draft prices, suggested within the consultation, in light of feedback received. Monitor will continue to be in contact with these specialist renal groups prior to the publication of the final national prices, due October 2014, which will vary from the draft relative prices published in July 2014.

Disease Control

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the decrease in incidence of (a) HIV, (b) tuberculosis and (c) malaria continues. [207835]

Jane Ellison: The Public Health Outcome Framework includes an indicator on reducing late human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis which promotes access to testing. The Department funds the Terrence Higgins Trust to deliver the HIV Prevention England programme and this targets gay men and African communities who are at greatest risk of acquiring HIV.

Following a period of multi-stakeholder consultation, Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England are jointly launching the Collaborative Tuberculosis Strategy for England, 2015 to 2020 in September 2014. This strategy brings together best practice in clinical care, social support and public health to strengthen tuberculosis (TB) control, leading to halving of TB incidence by 2025, to reduce health inequalities, and ultimately eliminate TB as a public health problem in England.

Reducing the incidence of reported malaria in the UK relies on improving the uptake of preventive measures by at risk travellers. To support this, the PHE Advisory Committee for Malaria Prevention in Travellers (ACMP) produces annual national guidelines for malaria prevention in travellers from the UK which is available on the PHE website at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/malaria-prevention-guidelines-for-travellers-from-the-uk

These guidelines form the basis for malaria prevention advice given to health professionals advising travellers by the PHE-commissioned National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and the PHE Malaria Reference Laboratory. A PHE malaria advice leaflet is also available for patients, in English and four south Asian languages at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/malaria-information-for-people-travelling-overseas

The largest proportion of malaria cases reported in the UK is in at-risk ethnic groups resident in London. The PHE London Malaria Group is working with local community groups to increase their awareness of the risk of malaria and of the need to protect their health on visits to affected countries.

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Food: Crime

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written statement of 4 September 2014, on the Elliott Review, when the Food Crime Unit will be operational. [208360]

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises that the Food Crime Unit will be operational and the first phase will incorporate a well-developed intelligence capability by the end of 2014.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written statement of 4 September 2014, on the Elliott Review, how many staff at each grade will be (a) recruited and (b) seconded to the Food Crime Unit. [208362]

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises that it has already reorganised existing teams that deal with food incidents, fraud and intelligence to form the core of the new unit and is recruiting a small number of additional permanent and seconded staff to support this. This is likely to include seconded police officers and other experts, as appropriate. The exact mix of background and skills has not been finalised.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written statement of 4 September 2014, on Elliott Review, how many police officers will work in the Food Crime Unit. [208364]

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that the Food Crime Unit is likely to include seconded police officers and other experts, as appropriate. The exact mix of background and skills has not been finalised. In addition to officers working within the Unit, the FSA will continue to work with an extensive network of law enforcement partners (including the police and Local Authorities) to access and draw on intelligence to task investigations and to build links internationally.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written statement of 4 September 2014, on Elliott Review, what budget the Food Crime Unit will be allocated for (a) setting up and (b) operating in financial years (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16. [208365]

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that the set up and operating costs will be resourced from the FSA's operating budget. The FSA has committed to a review of likely future needs after two years. The Elliott report estimates that the Food Crime Unit will cost between £2-4 million per year. It is too early to predict exact costs at this stage.

General Dental Council

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 2 September 2014, Official Report, on the General Dental Council, if (a) his Department and (b) the Professional Standards Authority For Health and Social Care will publish its review of the business case for the increase in years charged by the General Dental Council; and if similar reviews will be published of the Care Quality Commission increase in fees to dental professionals. [R] [208258]

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Dr Poulter: The business case referred to in the answer given on 2 September 2014, Official Report, column 203W, is the General Dental Council’s (GDC) consultation document setting out the GDC’s rationale for the proposed fee rise. The consultation closed on 4 September 2014 and the document is available at:

www.gdc-uk.org/GDCcalendar/Consultations/Pages/Consultation-on-the-Annual-Retention-Fee-(ARF)-Level-for-2015.aspx

The GDC is an independent body and therefore neither the Department nor The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care as a formal role in reviewing the GDC’s case. However, in my role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health, on 3 September 2014 I met with the GDC where this issue was discussed.

Each year the Care Quality Commission (CQC) consults on its proposed fee structure for the following year. The CQC intends to publish a consultation on its proposed fee structure for 2015-16 and draft impact assessment in the next month. The final impact assessment will be published in 2015. These documents will be available on the CQC’s website. Following consultation, the CQC will present its proposals to my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

General Practitioners

Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices (a) closed and (b) opened in (i) England, (ii) Greater London and (iii) Enfield in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [207684]

Dr Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre collect information on the number of practices opened and closed, which is contained in the following table.

It is important to note that these figures also include practice mergers and takeovers and do not provide an accurate representation of activity or service provision. In many cases, practices listed in these figures as having closed, will have in fact merged and will continue to see patients. In addition, in this time period the definition of general practice has changed to become a more stringent classification.

Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients (a) were invited to participate in and (b) responded to the recent GP patient survey. [208254]

Dr Poulter: The survey was sent to 2.63 million patients. There was a 34% response rate to the survey, with 903,357 surveys being returned.

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Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department will publish the results of the GP patient survey conducted on behalf of NHS England by Ipsos MORI. [208255]

Dr Poulter: The latest GP Patient Survey (GPPS) results were published on 3 July 2014 and can be found on the GPPS website:

https://gp-patient.co.uk/

The data included in the July publication was collected in two waves during July to September 2013 and January to March 2014.

Health Professions: Training

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the efficacy of Return to Practice courses by healthcare providers to address workforce supply needs and alleviate the need for the recruitment of health professional staff from overseas. [207816]

Dr Poulter: Working in concert with National Health Service healthcare providers, Health Education England (HEE) is leading a programme of work to encourage nurses to return to practice. This work includes ensuring that the education programmes being commissioned are effective and meet the needs of patients and the NHS. All programmes are validated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. In addition, HEE has developed a checklist of the elements required for an effective programme. Local Education Training Boards are working with Universities to review their programmes against this checklist.

Health Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to make stakeholders aware of its 2015/16 National Tariff Payments System: Engagement on national prices consultation. [207815]

Jane Ellison: The National Tariff Payments System: Engagement on national prices consultation ran from 18 July to 15 August 2014. To engage stakeholders with the consultation, Monitor and NHS England undertook the following activity:

the consultation was published on Monitor and NHS England’s website;

the consultation was sent to commissioners via NHS England’s July bulletin;

to seek feedback, Monitor directly emailed the sector announcing the consultation, this included; patient groups, commissioners, care providers, professional organisations, clinical groups and other relevant national bodies;

Monitor and NHS England held workshops in Birmingham, Leeds and London, covering acute and mental health care;

Monitor and NHS England held a selection of webinars, providing an opportunity for participants to ask questions;

Monitor carried out social media work, via Twitter and LinkedIn, interacting with Monitor’s digital content relating to the consultation and engagement work; and

a press release by Monitor and NHS England was issued to all national and healthcare trade broadcast, print and online media outlets resulting in coverage in Health Service Journal, National Health Executive and Commissioning Review. Approximately 500 responses to the consultation were received. Monitor and NHS England are also having further conversations with a number of those who have provided feedback.

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Health Services: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the reconfiguration of health services in Worcestershire and its effects on Alexandra Hospital, Redditch. [207986]

Jane Ellison: The reconfiguration of local health services is a matter for the local national health service as they are best placed to know the needs of local people and how to deliver them in the best interests of patients.

Hearing Aids

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the policy of the NHS is on providing hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. [207818]

Norman Lamb: The provision of hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss is a matter for local commissioners and the level of provision is based on the needs of the local population.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged over 50 were on NHS hospital waiting lists for in-patient treatment on the latest date for which figures are available. [207898]

Jane Ellison: The information is not collected in the format requested. Consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times are collected and published each month and include information on the number of patients who are waiting to start treatment at the end of the month. However, these data do not include information on either the age of these patients or whether their treatment will involve inpatient treatment. Latest data shows 3.1 million patients were waiting to start treatment at the end of June 2014.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will adopt the latest Inflammatory Bowel Disease Standards Group standards for the care of patients with the condition. [207822]

Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides the National Health Service and social care providers with advice on delivering effective healthcare. NICE has published guidelines on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), set out in, Crohn’s disease: Management in adults, children and young people, published in October 2012 and, Ulcerative colitis: Management in adults, children and young people, published in June 2013. NHS England expects local commissioners and providers to consider the latest evidence and guidance when planning services for patients with all conditions, including IBD.

NICE is currently developing a Quality Standard for IBD, covering both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and invited submissions to its development group from key stakeholders as part of this process. Quality Standards are important in setting out to patients, the public,

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commissioners and providers the key elements of a high quality service in a particular area of care. The IBD Standards Group made a submission to the development group which drew on its new standards of care, published in October 2013. The Quality Standard is due to be published later this month.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will fund the provision of a minimum of 1.5 specialist irritable bowel syndrome nurses per 250,000 people. [207847]

Norman Lamb: The Government have no plans to fund the provision of specialist nurses for irritable bowel syndrome. Through the Mandate, we have asked NHS England to deliver continued improvements in relation to the experience of care, including long term conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. Local healthcare organisations, with their knowledge of the people they serve, are best placed to plan and employ a workforce based on clinical need and sound evidence.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently developing a quality standard for irritable bowel syndrome. This is due to be published in September 2014. NHS England expects clinical commissioning groups to take into account the needs of their population and for service providers to be fully aware of the new guidance and to examine the performance of their organisation and assess improvement in standards of care they provide for people with irritable bowel syndrome.

Medical Treatments

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate (a) his Department and (b) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have made of the savings to the NHS which have resulted from NICE rejecting treatments for routine use on the NHS; if he will list for each medicine which NICE has rejected for use on the NHS in the last four years the estimated cost saving which resulted from that decision; and if he will make a statement. [207914]

George Freeman: Neither the Department nor the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have made any such estimate.

NICE publishes costing templates to help support implementation of positive technology appraisal recommendations, but does not prepare information on the possible financial impact on the national health service where a treatment is not recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance.

Medicine: Education

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of places for medical students to undertake training in GP practices. [208308]

Dr Poulter: Health Education England (HEE) is the special health authority established by the Government to promote high quality education and training for the

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current and future National Health Service workforce backed by a near £5 billion annual budget.

HEE have advised that responsibility for the development and organisation of placements for undergraduate medical students rests with individual medical schools, including those placements in GP practices. These are all negotiated locally to ensure high quality education programmes. HEE supports moves to increase opportunities for more students and trainees to obtain experience in GP practices.

Additionally, HEE has been mandated to ensure that 50% of trainees completing foundation level training enter GP training programmes by 2016.

Members: Correspondence

Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will arrange for a reply to be sent to the letter concerning a constituent sent by the hon. Member for Walsall North to the Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group on 7 July 2014, which was sent on to NHS England Patient Experience Team in West Bromwich; and if he will inquire into the reasons for the time taken to send a substantive reply to that letter. [208177]

Jane Ellison: NHS England has advised a reply to the hon. Member’s letter of 7 July 2014 was issued on 8 September 2014.

NHS England has also advised the NHS Central Midlands Commissioning Support Unit has sought consent from the hon. Member’s constituent to investigate the concerns regarding the level of care received; they are awaiting a response.

Prescription Drugs

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Eddisbury of 8 July 2014, Official Report, column 237W, on medical treatments, which appraisals conducted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the last four years resulted in a recommendation to use a medicine on the NHS and specified criteria for starting and stopping treatment with that medicine; which starting and stopping criteria were applied in each case; for what conditions each such treatment was recommended in each case; what the estimated eligible patient population was for each recommended treatment; and if he will make a statement. [207916]

George Freeman: Information about technology appraisals where the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has included criteria for starting and stopping treatment with the medicine appraised can be found within each published technology appraisal on NICE’s website at:

www.nice.org.uk

NICE has advised that collating the information requested would incur disproportionate cost.

Radiography

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the challenges experienced by NHS hospitals in recruiting consultant radiologists. [207830]

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Dr Poulter: The Department has set up Health Education England (HEE) to deliver a better health and health care work force for England. It is responsible for the education, training and recruiting for values of doctors.

HEE is responsible for ensuring a secure work force supply, i.e. balance against demand and not a growth or reduction in the national health service work force.

HEE published its national work force plan for England on 17 December 2013 which increased training places for clinical radiology by 1.3% to a planned level of 1067. The plan forecasts that this level will be sufficient to grow the consultant work force by 23% in 2020.

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of radiologists in training. [207854]

Dr Poulter: Post-graduate training for radiologists in England is commissioned locally by the 13 Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs) of Health Education England (HEE). HEE conducts a twice yearly stock-take of its LETBs seeking the number of radiologists in training. The last data available (April 2014) shows 952 individuals in radiology training at the time of the survey.

Smoke and Chimney Gases

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the quantum of premature death in the UK caused by the emission of wood smoke; and whether he plans to publish that information. [207855]

Jane Ellison: Figures for premature death in the United Kingdom caused by the emission of wood smoke are not calculated and the Department has no plans to do so.

The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) has considered the wider issue of the potency of particulate matter from different sources in causing adverse effects on health. This work included consideration of evidence on biomass combustion. COMEAP’s current view (as published in reports in 2009 and 2010) is that particulate matter measured as PM2.5 is the most appropriate measure of air pollution for estimating the impact on mortality of long-term exposure to air pollution in the UK. COMEAP believes that the available evidence does not make it possible to distinguish with confidence between the effects of the different components of the ambient air pollution mixture, nor of different sources.

COMEAP’s reports are available at:

www.comeap.org.uk/documents/reports

Wood smoke is a small contributor to the overall level of PM2.5, which is mainly related to traffic and industry emissions.

Varicose Veins

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) 30 to 40, (b) 41 to 60 and (c) over 60 have been diagnosed with varicose veins in each of the last three years. [207837]

Jane Ellison: This information in not available in the format requested.

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In the table we have provided information concerning the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs)¹ with a primary diagnosis² of varicose veins³ for the years 2010-11 to 2012-13⁴ for patients aged (a) 30 to 40, (b) 41 to 60 and (c) over 60.

This is not a count of people as the same person may have had more than one episode of care within the same time period. We are not able to identify newly diagnosed cases, and have reported on hospital activity where the patient is receiving treatment for this condition. Additionally, this data only includes hospitalised cases and does not include those treated in primary care.

¹A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period.

²The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 7 prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.

³Codes used to identify varicose veins include varicose veins of lower extremities, oesophageal varices, varicose veins of other sites, varicose veins of lower extremity in pregnancy, and genital varices in pregnancy.

⁴HES 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.

Culture, Media and Sport

Arts

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of (a) directors or senior managers and (b) trustees of the National portfolio organisations for 2015-18 are of BAME background. [208256]

Mr Vaizey: Of the 670 successful organisations for the National Portfolio 2015-18, 11.7% of management staff confirmed in their applications that they were from a BAME background. Information of this nature on trustees is not requested as part of the NPO applications but ACE are looking at this for future applications.

Correspondence

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he has any plans to increase the number of replies within his Department’s working day standard; and if he will make a statement. [206484]

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Mrs Grant: This year, to date, the Department has replied to 90% of letters from hon. Members within the 20 working day standard. We aim to improve still further during the remainder of the year.

EU Law

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times the UK has lost EU infraction proceedings since May 2010 which relate to matters that fall within his Department’s responsibility. [206652]

Mrs Grant: There have not been any instances where the UK has lost infraction proceedings since May 2010 which relate to matters falling within DCMS’ responsibilities.

Football

Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to improve supporter involvement with football clubs. [208170]

Mrs Grant: I continue to press the football authorities to better engage with their fans and have been encouraged by the introduction of a designated Supporter Liaison Officer into each of the Premier League and Football League clubs.

A proposal from Supporters Direct for an expert group on supporter ownership in football is under consideration by Government and the football authorities, including terms of reference and timeframes of any resulting work in the area.

Football: Qatar

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he met the Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy; and what plans he has for future meetings. [208222]

Mrs Grant: I have not met the Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and do not currently have any plans for future meetings. However, the UK looks to maintain and build on its strong relations with Qatar.

Museums and Galleries

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of (a) directors or senior managers and (b) trustees of the Major Partner Museums 2015-18 are women. [208257]

Mr Vaizey: Of the 21 Major Partner Museums 2015-18, 57.1% of directors are female. Of the senior management, management committees, boards and governing bodies or councils of these museums, 33.4% are female, of the 55.9% who disclosed this information. Information of this nature on trustees is not requested as part of the application process but Arts Council England are looking at this for future applications.

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Pay

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the (a) highest and (b) lowest full-time equivalent salary paid by (i) his Department and (ii) its public bodies was in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12, (C) 2012-13, (D) 2013-14 and (E) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [208304]

Mrs Grant: The following table shows the lowest and highest full-time equivalent salaries paid to DCMS employees in each year specified. The highest salary is shown in bands of £5,000, in-line with the Department’s annual disclosure of senior salaries through its annual accounts and reports. The 2014-15 figures are shown as at 1 September, 2014.

DCMS does not hold this information in relation to its public bodies.

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease: West Africa

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will have discussions with UEFA and FIFA on the Ebola infection risk arising from the decision to stage the Ivory Coast versus Sierra Leone football match on 6 September 2014. [208060]

Mrs Grant: I have not had discussions with FIFA or UEFA on this matter, however, I am assured by the Premier League that UK based Premier League players taking part in this fixture took advice from their individual club doctors. We understand that none of the players and staff of the Sierra Leone team had entered Sierra Leone in the 21 days up to the fixture as requested by the Ivory Coast and this was viewed to be an effective a quarantine measure.

The Department of Health advised that the risk of Ebola infection at a football match is considered low. Exit screening measures, including body temperature measurement when leaving affected countries, are in place.

Energy and Climate Change

Domestic Visits

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 618W, on official visits, what domestic visits he and his predecessor have made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was. [208298]

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Amber Rudd: Previous and present Secretaries of State carry out official visits to different parts of the UK as part of their role, both for departmental business and for broader Government business such as regional Cabinet meetings. The destinations of regional visits are in the public domain at the time of the visit, but the Department does not keep a central log of such visits.

Members: Correspondence

Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 28 July 2014 to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Climate Change concerning the early closure of the Green Deal Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Fund. [208178]

Amber Rudd: A reply to the hon. Member was sent on 8 September 2014.

Nuclear Power

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution of 4 September 2014 by the Minister for Business and Enterprise, on sustainable energy, what the evidential basis is for the statement that nuclear power is zero-carbon energy. [208325]

Matthew Hancock: The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that the life cycle emissions associated with the generation of electricity from nuclear power groups are virtually zero-carbon with no direct CO2 emissions and less than 1% of the life-cycle CO2 emissions of natural gas or any other fossil fuel.

Television

Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on the purchase of televisions in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date. [207213]

Amber Rudd: The Department has no recorded expenditure on the purchase of televisions in either year.

Attorney-General

Members: Correspondence

Mr Chope: To ask the Attorney-General when he passed the letter from the hon. Member for Christchurch about Mrs Kirkhope of Ferndown to the Chief Constable for Hampshire; and what steps has been taken as a result of that letter. [208253]

The Attorney-General: Our records suggest that a copy of the letter should have been posted to the Chief Constable of Hampshire on 3 April. However, no record exists of whether it was received or not by his office. My office has since been in contact with Hampshire police about the matter and they have now received a copy of the letter and will be taking it forward.

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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Biofuels

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the level of biomass power generation in the UK located in (a) urban areas and (b) areas of above average atmospheric pollution; and if her Department will publish that information. [207821]

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA only holds information for biomass generation in England. Power-generating stations that burn only biomass are located in: Brigg, Lincolnshire; Ely, Cambridgeshire; Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire; Selby, North Yorkshire; Sleaford, Lincolnshire; Snetterton, Norfolk; and Telford, Shropshire. There are power generating stations that co-fire biomass with other fuels such as gas or coal, but the proportion of biomass burning in these is very low.

DEFRA assesses air quality through a combination of fixed monitoring and modelling, and data are freely available on our website. While it is not straightforward to define “above average air pollution”, pollution levels can be found at:

uk-air.defra.gov.uk/interactive-map

by locating the nearest monitoring station and looking at the latest and historical data for that site. Modelled data are presented on a GIS map at:

uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/gis-mapping

Locations can be searched and overlays are displayed for different pollutants.

Cetaceans: Faroe Islands

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with the government of Denmark about hunting cetaceans in the Faroe Islands. [208168]

George Eustice: The UK continues to raise its opposition to the Faroese cetacean hunts at every appropriate opportunity.

Most recently, in May 2014, the UK Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) wrote to the Danish and Faroese governments to reiterate our concerns over the welfare and sustainability of their hunts. Prior to this, the UK ambassador to Denmark visited the Faroe Islands in April 2014 and raised the issue in a meeting with the Prime Minister and officials from their Fisheries Ministry.

Dogs

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions there have been in England and Wales in the last five years for failure to comply with the collar and tag requirements in the Control of Dogs Order 1992. [207820]

George Eustice: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates court for offences under the Control of Dogs Order 1992 in England and Wales from 2009 to 2013 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.

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Data have been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database.

Domestic Visits

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2014, Official Report, columns 626-7W, on official visits, what domestic visits she and her predecessor have made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was. [208297]

Dan Rogerson: Information on Ministers’ meetings with external organisations is published quarterly on the Gov.uk site. This reflects the Government’s commitment to transparency. However, we cannot identify without incurring disproportionate cost every visit over the period for all Ministers.

Relevant transparency reports can be found as follows:

1 January to 31 March 2013:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/212312/defra-min-transparency-1213-q4.pdf

There has been a delay in publishing transparency data for 1 January to 31 March 2014. We expect them to be available shortly.

1 April to 30 June 2013:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246396/Ministerial_expenses_-_1_April_to_30_June_2013.pdf

1 July to 30 September 2013:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/265462/Ministers_Quarterly_return_July_to_September_2013.pdf

1 October to 31 December 2013:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/320333/Ministerial_Quarterly_Transparency_information_-_October_to_December_2013.pdf

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Food: Crime

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her written statement of 4 September 2014, on the Elliott Review, what extra resources (a) her Department and (b) the Government will provide to the Food Standards Agency for the establishment and operation of the Food Crime Unit in financial year (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16. [208361]

George Eustice: Professor Elliott estimates that the Food Crime Unit will cost between £2 million and £4 million per year. The costs of a unit this size will be met within the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) existing budgets, however it is too early to predict exact figures.

No other budgets within the FSA will be cut and their core remit will remain food safety and consumer protection. Instead the FSA has used a recent restructuring exercise to bring together skills in intelligence and investigation and redirect them to resource the new Unit. The FSA is also bolstering its analytical and intelligence capability through recruitment and secondments from other agencies.

The FSA has committed to review likely future needs after two years. At this point there will also be further consideration of budgetary implications.