Thursday Volume 576 27 February 2014 No. 127

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Thursday 27 February 2014

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2014 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 387 27 FEBRUARY 2014 388

homes, and that these targeted measures have the potential House of Commons greatly to reduce energy costs in such difficult-to-reach houses? Thursday 27 February 2014 Mr Davey: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. As a The House met at half-past Nine o’clock result of our changes, we believe that more ECO measures will help more households. The fact that we have managed to ensure that the affordable warmth and carbon-saving PRAYERS community obligation aspects of the ECO will be extended at the existing rate for two more years is extremely good news for our efforts on fuel poverty. [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Mr Mike Weir (Angus) (SNP): Last month, in answer to a question from me, the Minister of State, Department Oral Answers to Questions of Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker), said that he would speak to the energy companies about the fact ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE that under the affordable warmth aspect of ECO, as run by them, off-grid gas boilers are not available. Has any progress been made on that, and will the Secretary of The Secretary of State was asked— State take action to end that discrimination? Energy Company Obligation Mr Davey: We have listened to several representations 1. Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab): on that and other areas. We will shortly publish the What recent assessment he has made of the effects consultation document on the ECO, to which the hon. of changes to the energy company obligation on Gentleman might want to respond formally, as well as consumers. [902723] our fuel poverty strategy, which will cover some of the The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change issues that he raises. (Mr Edward Davey): We will shortly be consulting on changes to the energy company obligation. We are Mr Speaker: I call Emma Reynolds. aware of a number of ECO-funded solid wall insulation projects that are not going forward, but we have been Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op): encouraged by the large number of households that Thank you, Mr Speaker— have already benefited from ECO measures, which is now estimated at nearly 450,000 properties at the end of Mr Speaker: Order. He does not look like her and she December 2013. Moreover, thanks to the package of does not look like him; I apologise to the hon. Gentleman. changes that I announced on 2 December 2013, which More specifically, I apologise to the hon. Lady. included the proposed ECO changes, consumers across the UK are set to see their energy bills reduced this year by an average of £50. Jonathan Reynolds: This time last year, work under the affordable warmth component of the ECO—the Lilian Greenwood: The Secretary of State already element that helps low-income households—was trading knows the devastating impact that his changes are on the brokerage at between 25p and 30p in the pound. having on thousands of residents in Clifton in my Today it is trading at just 6p, which means that a constituency who live in hard-to-treat homes, but what maximum of £840 is available for each job, whereas last hope can he offer to the 12 local youngsters who, after year £3,500 would have been available. Given that the completing their initial training, were due to start year-long Government’s figures on the boiler scrappage scheme apprenticeships in installing solid wall insulation when show that 96% of boiler replacements cost more than his change of policy put their futures and hundreds £1,000, what assurances can the Secretary of State give more green jobs on hold? that such work is being done legitimately, safely and responsibly, or even at all? Mr Davey: I am sure that the hon. Lady welcomes the many ECO measures in her constituency. The ECO Mr Davey: It is certainly being done in great numbers, measures that we announced in December prolong the and we can contrast the situation with that under the programme for two more years and have a particular Warm Front scheme that the previous Government focus on fuel poverty, which I would hope that she introduced. In 2010-11, about 80,000 households received welcomes. We will announce quite soon our proposals help under that scheme at a cost of £366 million, but in on incentives for people who want to invest in green the first year of affordable warmth, 130,000 households deal measures, through which I am sure she will see real benefited at a cost of £350 million. benefits for solid wall. The hon. Lady—the hon. Gentleman; I am making Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): I the same mistake as you, Mr Speaker, so I do not know welcome the news that the energy company obligation what it is about the hon. Gentleman today. However, I scheme will offer targeted support to low-income am surprised that he complains about costs coming households until at least March 2017. Does my right down, because I would have thought that he would hon. Friend agree that it is often the poorest families welcome that. He knows that there is regulation to who live in the worst insulated and hardest-to-heat ensure that standards are met. 389 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 390

Energy Efficiency Gregory Barker: We should celebrate foreign investment in the UK and welcome the fact that the UK, particularly 2. Gemma Doyle (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab/Co-op): under the coalition Government, is becoming a world What steps he is taking to help households improve centre for inward investment. We are seeing investment their energy efficiency. [902724] in the green energy sector reach record highs—more than £30 billion since the coalition came into government The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate —and seeing the amount of clean energy that we are Change (Gregory Barker): More than 450,000 homes generating take us up the European league table from received energy efficiency improvements in 2013 as a the miserable second from bottom place that we used to result of the coalition’s pioneering energy company occupy under the last Government. obligation and green deal measures. We expect that figure to grow substantially in 2014 and that the green Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con): One of the deal market will continue to expand. groups most deserving of benefit, from the warm home scheme in particular, are those who live in park homes, Gemma Doyle: I hear what the Minister says, but of which we have many in North Wiltshire. Due to the more than 7 million homes in the UK are without curious anomaly that electricity payers have to match adequate loft insulation and more than 5 million are exactly the people listed in the Department for Work without cavity wall insulation, so will he explain why and Pensions, they are not eligible for the warm home the number of households getting help through Government discount. Will the Minister find some way of getting programmes fell last year by more than 90%? around this anomaly, so that these deserving people, who live in their own homes, many of which are the Gregory Barker: It is slightly misleading to talk about coldest that could possibly be imagined, benefit from 7 million lofts with inadequate loft insulation. They the scheme? may not have the full amount of insulation, but the amount that they lack varies significantly. Gregory Barker: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his tenacity in raising this issue. He is right. Park home Caroline Flint (Don Valley) (Lab): So it is inadequate. owners and occupants have traditionally had a very poor deal compared with other consumers. We do not Gregory Barker: So it is inadequate. We now need to have the full answer yet, but I am determined to try to move on, not just to simple measures such as loft improve their lot, and I will be happy to meet him to try insulation, but to a much broader holistic approach to to iron out some of these quite difficult problems where home insulation—whole house retrofits. They are more people do not own the meter. There must be more that complex and more expensive, but they also cannot be we can do. done just with subsidy. The Labour party has to make a choice. Do Labour Members want to force up consumer Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): A staggering bills giving ever more subsidy to a small number of amount of electricity is used and several large power people, or do they want to work with us to create a stations kept running simply to power electronic devices genuine new market where people are incentivised to such as televisions and computers that are left on standby. pay for themselves? What can the Minister do, perhaps with other Departments, to try to tackle the problem of electronic devices having Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): The green deal has to be left on? the potential to revolutionise energy efficiency, but we all need to understand how we can ensure that our Gregory Barker: My hon. Friend asks a good question. constituents link into it. What is my right hon. Friend Such electronic devices are largely covered by EU-wide doing to ensure that the green deal is as straightforward product standards rather than just domestic initiatives. and efficient as possible, and that as many people as Innovation is the key, and that is what we want to spur. possible in north Oxfordshire can benefit from it? DECC has an innovation fund, and if my hon. Friend has some suggestions, I would be happy to hear them. Gregory Barker: During the past few months we have certainly been taking advantage of the fact that we now Mr Speaker: I do not wish to be unkind, but the have the green deal up and running, and we have been Minister does perambulate in a mildly eccentric fashion. improving the experience of the green deal, both for the If he feels that he can face the House in answering consumer and the supply chain. We have now had more questions, that would be greatly to the advantage of than 145,000 assessments by the green deal, and we both the hon. Gentleman and the House. know that it is getting high levels of customer satisfaction and that more than 80% of people who have had an Energy Prices assessment are moving on to install measures. 3. Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Since What recent assessment he has made of the prices the privatisation of the public utilities, in Yorkshire charged by the six largest energy companies. [902725] the gas is now owned by the Germans, electricity by the Chinese and water by the Singaporeans. Should not the The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change six major energy companies be driving this bid? We (MrEdwardDavey):We announced in the annual energy know that the Government are really lacking in green statement that Ofgem would work with the Office of energy and the green deal. Why cannot the Minister Fair Trading and the new Competition and Markets galvanise the six energy companies, or should I ask Authority to deliver the first annual competition assessment Mrs Merkel this morning? in late March, early April. These independent competition 391 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 392 authorities have set out the remit for this assessment. Mr Davey: I accept that we need to look at the They have said that they will look at prices, as well as electricity generating market. One of the reasons we profits and other relevant matters. support Ofgem’s proposals, which this week it was I recently wrote to those competition authorities, announced will go forward on 31 March, is that they drawing to their attention three specific matters that will contest the vertical integration model for the first have received little attention in the energy price debate time. Again, it is this Government who are challenging but which I consider are of strategic importance, including the structures we inherited from the previous Government. profits, prices and market share in the domestic gas We are allowing the competition authorities and regulators supply market. It is for the regulators to decide what to take that contest forward, but the Labour party is steps they now wish to take in light of all the evidence. saying that it must be against the consumer interest, yet it has no real evidence for that. Diana Johnson: Given that 31,000 winter deaths were caused by the cold during last winter and that there will Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): Does the Secretary be further rises in energy bills this year, why does the of State agree that the high prices we see are not purely coalition give a higher priority to maintaining the energy the result of the oligopoly set up by the previous cartel’s 77% increase in profits and shareholder dividends Government, and that policy and energy mix are also than to the lives of vulnerable people? important? To that extent, has he compared prices in Germany with those in the UK? Mr Davey: We do not; I am afraid that the hon. Lady is wrong on many counts. First, the structure she describes Mr Davey: There are a number of international as a cartel was created by the previous Government. comparisons on that basis, and the UK performs very The big six were created during the consolidation under well, by and large, particularly on post-tax analysis of Labour, so they are Labour’s big six. It is under this domestic gas and electricity prices. But we should not coalition Government that we have seen a massive be complacent; we should do everything we can to help increase in the number of entrants to the market; we customers and businesses with high energy bills. now have 20 independent suppliers taking on Labour’s big six. That is good competition that will help people. Community Energy Secondly, we take winter deaths extremely seriously. If she looks at the data, she will see that winter deaths 4. Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): What steps have gone up and down over a period of years and that he is taking to develop community energy. [902726] the highest figure over the past decade was actually when the Leader of the Opposition was doing my job. The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate The reason they go up and down is that they are related Change (Gregory Barker): This year the coalition launched not simply to energy costs, but to health matters such as the UK’s first ever Government community energy flu epidemics. We need to ensure that we have a cross- strategy. That marks a profound step change for the Government approach to tackling winter deaths, which energy sector and includes a series of ambitious new is what we are doing. measures. To take that agenda forward, the Department is setting up a dedicated community energy delivery Simon Wright (Norwich South) (LD): I am grateful unit. to the Secretary of State for visiting Norwich recently to listen to my constituents about energy bills and for Duncan Hames: Those are wide-ranging plans that attacking the high profits made by suppliers on gas have been long in gestation. I am sure that the Minister bills. Will he explain the analysis that led him to send a is as keen as I am to take specific steps to help clean our letter to Ofgem and the CMA concerning prices and energy supply and sustain local communities. What profits in the supply of domestic gas? specific measures in the plan will enable local communities to take a lead in developing renewable energy in their Mr Davey: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his area? sterling work in this area. When Ofgem published segmental accounts in November, combined with figures on market Gregory Barker: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s share and other data, we saw for the first time a four-year long-standing interest in campaigning for renewable time series showing some real concerns. It was that energy. Let me assure him that there is a great deal of analysis that led me to write to the competition authorities, meat in the community energy strategy.We are establishing drawing their attention to the problems in the domestic a £10 million urban community energy fund, providing gas supply market, which were never raised by the seed funding for a one-stop-shop information resource, Labour party. launching a £100,000 community energy saving competition, and setting up an industry-led taskforce to achieve Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): The Secretary greater shared ownership of onshore renewables. Altogether, of State knows that the big six were set up in the way it is a bold vision with a plan for delivery. they were because, after the introduction of the new electricity trading arrangements and then the British Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test) (Lab): The electricity trading and transmission arrangements, that Minister will be aware that a number of community-based spread competition in the market. However, Which? has combined heat and power schemes that were proceeding now said that vertical integration has skewed the market, exactly on the basis set out in the strategy paper he penalised new entrants and impaired competition. Does mentioned have now collapsed thanks to the changes in he not accept that Which? is right and that the Opposition the energy company obligation that his Department are absolutely right to seek to break up that vertical announced recently. Does he intend to take steps to use integration? the resources he has mentioned, as set out in the community 393 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 394 energy strategy, to help retrieve those schemes? If not, Gregory Barker: I am aware of the comparison that what message does he think will be sent on the future of my hon. Friend makes. However, the fact is that we have the community energy strategy as a whole? an extraordinary requirement for new investment thanks to the dearth of investment, and long-term investment, Gregory Barker: We certainly want to see more CHP, that we saw under 13 years of Labour. We are now and we now have a dedicated resource in the Department playing catch-up. We require over £100 billion to go supporting it. This comes back to the point I made into our energy sector to secure our supplies, and I am earlier. Labour Members have to decide: are they going afraid that that money has to come from somewhere. to stand up for endless subsidy or support us in driving Fuel Poverty down the cost of consumer bills? They cannot have it both ways. 6. Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the incidence of fuel Energy Companies: Charges poverty in rural off-gas grid areas; and what steps he is taking to tackle such fuel poverty. [902728] 5. Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con): What steps he has taken to investigate the practice of The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate energy companies having higher charges for non-direct Change (Gregory Barker): One in five of the fuel-poor debit customers. [902727] does not have access to mains gas, and the majority of those households are in rural areas. We are determined to increase the delivery of energy efficiency improvements The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate to the rural fuel-poor and to achieve far more for rural Change (Gregory Barker): Energy companies are required areas than previous schemes. We are actively taking under the terms of their licence to ensure that any forward a number of initiatives to deliver on that. differences in charges to consumers between different payment methods reflect only the differing costs to the Damian Hinds: There are an estimated 10,000 off-grid supplier of that particular form of payment. Ofgem is homes in East Hampshire. I know that the Minister is looking at payment differentials, including higher charges personally committed to tackling rural fuel poverty for customers who choose not to pay by direct debit, in where it appears, but what is being done on a practical its competition assessment, which will be published this basis, including on encouraging off-peak buying and spring. ensuring that the code of practice is upheld?

Rehman Chishti: About 1 million people do not have Gregory Barker: I know this is an issue about which a bank account. What steps are the Government taking my hon. Friend feels particularly strongly, so I am to help those who do not have a bank account and happy to confirm to him that we are taking real steps. I therefore find it impossible to pay by direct debit? will shortly be meeting the biggest seven energy suppliers to discuss improving the delivery of ECO measures, Gregory Barker: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for specifically to off-gas and rural homes. We are also raising this important issue. The coalition is absolutely consulting on increasing the number of rural low income committed to improving access to financial services for homes eligible for ECO and incentivising the delivery of the vulnerable, particularly the fuel-poor. As recommended measures to off-gas grid, low income and vulnerable by the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards, households. And— the Government are seeking a voluntary industry agreement on renewed minimum standards for basic bank accounts. Mr Speaker: It is always useful to have the abridged In addition, we have committed nearly £2 million over rather than the “War and Peace” version, but we are this year to develop the big energy saving network to grateful to the Minister nevertheless. ensure that the most vulnerable are getting the best deals they can. Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway) (Lab): In many of the rural communities that are finding it so Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab): Is not the sluggishness difficult because of fuel poverty, those who get the of Ofgem in tackling this discrimination yet further winter fuel payment would love to receive it earlier. Is evidence that it is no longer fit for purpose? the Minister prepared to meet a delegation of the all-party group on off-gas grid led by his hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk Coastal (Dr Coffey) to discuss Gregory Barker: No, it is not. This is an ongoing this matter? situation. Ofgem has looked at the issue, but it is not something that one can look at once and then discard. Gregory Barker: This has been raised with me and I That may be Labour’s approach, but we are maintaining understand the work that the all-party parliamentary long-term vigilance to make sure that the consumer is group is doing on it. I am sympathetic to the point that looked after on an ongoing basis, month in, month out. is made, but there are practical problems and costs to It is very important that they will now have the additional doing as the hon. Gentleman suggests. But I am not benefit of a referral to the competition test. unsympathetic to him and, of course, I would be happy to meet. Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): Will my right hon. Friend look at some of the work of Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op): Ofgem, and how it allows price rises in the energy sector Over half the people in this country who are in fuel that are way above inflation whereas Ofwat takes a poverty live in solid wall properties, and a significant much tougher line as regards water customers? number of those are people living off-grid in rural 395 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 396 communities. Again, the changes announced to ECO in Cornwall and the south-west and the Scottish marine the autumn statement mean that no more than 25,000 solid energy park in the waters of the Pentland firth is a clear wall insulation jobs a year will be done, whereas a few demonstration of how, together, we are much greater years ago 80,000 jobs a year were being done. If the than the sum of our parts. Minister really intends to tackle fuel poverty in off-grid areas, how can he do so without an adequate solid wall Andrew George (St Ives) (LD): Following the Minister’s insulation industry? last reply, he will be aware that the UK is the global leader in wave energy, especially in relation to the wave Gregory Barker: I am afraid the hon. Gentleman is park project off the north Cornwall coast. What can he scaremongering slightly about the solid wall insulation say to ensure that we retain that position, bearing in industry. The figures he referred to are the de minimis; mind that research and development in this field is they are not the maximum. There are other ways in measured in decades? which we will be installing solid wall insulation, not least working with our cash-back. I am surprised he did Gregory Barker: My hon. Friend is right. We are not mention the cash-back, as we are now offering up to leading the global race in wave and tidal energy, and we £4,000 for solid wall insulation under the roll-out of the are seeing increased inward investment into the UK by green deal. This has been very warmly welcomed by the major international firms that want to be part of the industry, including the National Insulation Association, development of the UK marine sector. The marine so perhaps he could join us in supporting the supply energy park in the south-west has a key part to play in chain and talking up this market, rather than acting as a that. I am delighted with the positive news about Wave little bit of an Eeyore. Hub and the berths there, and we can look for more positive news as a result of the substantial resource that Tidal Energy this Government have put into the sector.

7. Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Con): Smart Meters What steps he is taking to promote investment in tidal energy. [902730] 8. Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) (Lab): The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate What recent progress has been made in the roll-out of Change (Gregory Barker): The coalition Government smart meters; and if he will make a statement. [902731] recognise the huge potential for tidal energy in the UK, and have put unprecedented resource and effort into The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate supporting the UK marine energy sector as a whole. Change (Michael Fallon): Good progress is being made. This week in Belfast I chaired a meeting of the Marine The first technical specifications have been confirmed Energy Programme Board, which regularly brings together and some energy suppliers are installing smart meters all the major companies and entrepreneurs in this exciting already, although most consumers will be offered smart sector in which the UK leads the world. meters from next year. We are on track to complete the national roll-out to 30 million premises by 2020. Eric Ollerenshaw: Given the regularity, the predictability and, as we have seen lately, the strength of the tides Graham Stringer: Since the original Mott MacDonald round these islands, is it not about time we had something assessment of smart meters, their cost has doubled. It is like a national policy statement on tidal energy to get also estimated that half the meters already installed will investment going in what could be a very important have to be removed before 2020. Are we not heading for sector? another IT disaster?

Gregory Barker: I fully share my hon. Friend’s enthusiasm Michael Fallon: Absolutely not. I am a little surprised for tidal technology. It has huge potential in UK waters at the hon. Gentleman’s criticism, given that his colleague and my hon. Friend is right, as usual. A national policy the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne statement is the next logical step for the industry, once it (John Healey) told this House on 23 April 2012 that our can demonstrate that it can deploy at scale commercially plan and economically, ideally above 50 MW.I am determined “has a number of world-first features.”—[Official Report, 23 April to work closely with the sector to make that happen. 2012; Vol. 543, c. 782.]

Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ European Green Capital 2015 Co-op): I am sure that like me, the Minister would welcome a decision by the Scottish Government this week to grant £2 million to a tidal power global engineering 9. Charlotte Leslie (Bristol North West) (Con): What hub in Edinburgh. Following the decisions about carbon steps his Department is taking to support the city of capture and storage this week and earlier grants from Bristol in its role as European green capital 2015. DECC for wave energy in my constituency, does the [902732] Minister agree that the interests of the Scottish renewables industry are best served by the two Governments working The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate together, with unlimited access to the UK-wide market, Change (Michael Fallon): I congratulate Bristol on rather than any separation between the two countries? being named European green capital 2015. Ministerial colleagues across Whitehall are working to explore what Gregory Barker: Absolutely. Undoubtedly we are better support we can provide to the city. The Minister for together, and the fact that we are seeing increased cities, the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, my right hon. co-operation between the UK marine energy park in Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), 397 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 398 will shortly be hosting a business round-table with the Energy Prices mayor of Bristol to discuss the role the Government can play. 11. Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): What recent assessment he has made of rises in energy prices. Charlotte Leslie: Bristol is a hub of green technology [902734] and growth and thoroughly deserves its title. However, it is also a city that has very bad traffic congestion The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change problems, leading to carbon emissions. Will the Minister (Mr Edward Davey): Energy prices have been rising in lend his support—possibly working with other Departments the UK and many other European countries for nearly —to make sure that the European green capital award a decade, largely driven by the rise in global gas prices, provides the impetus for a railway revolution in Bristol itself driven by forces such as high economic growth in and the Henbury loop line in my constituency? Asia and higher demand for gas in Japan post-Fukushima. The other main causes of the rise in energy prices Michael Fallon: My hon. Friend is a powerful champion seen in the UK have been the need to fund the investments of the Henbury loop. It is for the West of England needed in new generation, including low carbon, and Partnership to identify that particular rail scheme as a new transmission and distribution networks, as old priority in its strategic economic plan. If it does so, it power stations and networks need replacing. Although may be considered for funding under the local growth we cannot control price pressures from global markets, fund. and although we have to make vital investments to keep the lights on, we are doing everything we can to help people and businesses struggling with this decade of Household Energy Bills energy price rises.

Alison McGovern: Further to the exchanges earlier in 10. Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab): What steps this sitting, I am still a little confused about the he is taking to help households with their energy bills. Government’s position. Will the Secretary of State support [902733] Labour’s plan to break the dominance of the big six and require them to sell into a pool, which could have a The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change real effect on energy prices? (Mr Edward Davey): Energy bills are a real concern, so we are helping households with them in three ways: Mr Davey: The hon. Lady is right to say that there are direct financial help, energy efficiency measures and issues, because the previous Government created the increased competition. Direct financial help includes big six. We have acted from day one to put pressure on the warm home discount, the winter fuel allowance and them. cold weather payments. Energy efficiency measures are On the hon. Lady’s last point about selling into a delivered in a variety of ways, but especially through the pool, let me explain the Labour party’s policy, because energy company obligation and the green deal. Our it is already out of date. Because of measures that we relentless focus on increasing competition ranges from and Ofgem have taken, next-day trading has increased Ofgem’s retail market review to our focus on new suppliers dramatically to more than 50% of electricity. That is and making switching quicker and easier. equivalent to a pool. From talking to independent generators competing with the big six, we know that Huw Irranca-Davies: In July 2012, off-grid fuel was they are not interested in increasing that more; they are selling for as low as 56p per litre, but by December the interested in forward markets, because that provides price was as much as 65p per litre, so a pensioner couple greater liquidity to enable them to compete. That is with an average 1,800-litre tank of oil in their garden what Ofgem announced this week. I am afraid that could have saved £150 if they had bought in July. To put Labour, as always, is completely behind the curve. it another way: their winter fuel payment was half wiped out by December. Will the Secretary of State Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con): On reducing bring forward early payment of winter fuel payments energy prices further, Ofgem estimates that about £1 billion for pensioners on off-grid energy? could be saved by reducing peak energy. What sort of strategies of demand-side response are the Government Mr Davey: We have been working extremely hard and looking at? the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks Mr Davey: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise (Michael Fallon) in particular has been leading the that issue, because there are some really cost-effective work to promote the “buy early” campaign so that and good wins to be had. That is why we introduced the consumers can buy oil when it is available at a lower electricity demand reduction strategy in the Energy Act price. Moreover, we have a six-monthly round-table 2013. We will have a pilot—we expect it to go forward with the industry to make sure we are doing everything later this year—which will be the first ever electricity we can. demand reduction project in this country. The hon. Gentleman asked about winter fuel payments and he will know that they are a matter for the Secretary Off-grid Homes: Fuel Bills of State for Work and Pensions. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions and other 12. Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): What support his Departments on the fuel poverty strategy, and that issue Department is giving to off-grid homes to reduce their and others will be dealt with as part of those discussions. fuel bills. [902735] 399 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 400

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Michael Fallon: That is a quite unacceptable delay. Change (Michael Fallon): This winter’s “Buy oil early” Any charge should be reimbursed if the meter is found campaign, co-ordinated by my Department, was launched to have been inaccurate. I will take up the matter with by the industry in September. We have worked with the company and it needs to resolve it rapidly. industry to provide consumer guidance on how to form oil buying clubs, which allow savings through bulk Extreme Weather Events buying. I will review its progress at the next ministerial round table in May. The launch of the domestic renewable 14. Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) (LD): What recent heat incentive this spring will also provide payments to assessment he has made of the effects of climate promote a switch to renewable forms of home heating. change on the frequency of extreme weather events. Jeremy Lefroy: I very much welcome what my right [902737] hon. Friend says. As several colleagues have already mentioned this morning, the cost of heating oil for The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change off-grid homes is a major concern. Will he give us more (Mr Edward Davey): The science is clear: we are already details of the domestic renewable heat incentive scheme, seeing some effects of man-made climate change and particularly in respect of domestic biomass boilers? the future threat from climate change is great, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister confirmed in the Michael Fallon: The domestic renewable heat incentive House yesterday. scheme is designed to drive forward the uptake of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change renewable heat technologies, such as biomass boilers. published its fifth assessment last September, which We published details of that scheme last July, and we covered the relationship between climate change and intend it to be open for applications this spring. It is extreme weather events. It stated: targeted at, but not limited to, homes that are off the “Extreme precipitation events over most of the mid-latitude gas grid, because those without mains gas have the most land masses and over wet tropical regions will very likely become potential to save on fuel bills and to decrease their more intense and more frequent by the end of this century”. carbon emissions. It also stated: “It is very likely that heat waves will occur with a higher Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South) (Lab): Surely one of frequency and duration.” the biggest problems for off-grid homes is that they are With respect to recent events, the UK Met Office’s chief not even entitled to the protection of the fairly weak scientist said that regulator, Ofgem. Regardless of who created what, will the Minister please tell us why oil customers are not “all the evidence suggests there is a link to climate change”. entitled to this most basic of regulatory protections? Mike Thornton: I welcome that response. It seems Michael Fallon: The new code that we have agreed that extreme weather events are increasingly becoming with the industry gives those customers more protection the norm. Tomorrow, I am hosting a Green Alliance than they have had in the past. We are looking at the event in Eastleigh to discuss with local businesses, operation of the code this winter, and we will review community groups and service providers how climate how effective it has been when we hold the next ministerial change will affect our area. Does the Secretary of State round table in May. agree that such inclusive local approaches are as vital as international agreement? Energy Meters Mr Davey: I do agree with that. My hon. Friend and 13. Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): What steps Eastleigh borough council are leaders in the bottom-up he is taking to ensure that energy suppliers check the approach. He will know that there are two areas that we accuracy of meters. [902736] need to tackle. First, local communities and individuals must reduce their carbon emissions to stop climate The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate change getting worse. Secondly, communities must work Change (Michael Fallon): Energy suppliers are required together to make people’s homes and communities much to investigate if a customer suspects that their energy more resilient to the climate change that has already meter is not recording consumption accurately. Under happened. Ofgem’s standards of conduct, that must be carried out in an honest, transparent and professional manner. If 21. [902746] Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green): necessary, a consumer can request that the meter be Many of us have welcome the Prime Minister’s independently tested by a meter examiner appointed by acknowledgement yesterday that climate change is the National Measurement Office. one of the greatest threats that we face. Will the Government follow through on the logic of that Martin Vickers: What the Minister has outlined does position, and will the Secretary of State now rule out not appear to have happened in the case of a customer categorically any weakening of the fourth carbon working in my constituency to whom npower recently budget? agreed to give a rebate of £2,548. He is a professional man who is well able to go through the time-consuming Mr Davey: The fourth carbon budget review is under process and to afford the £96 fee he had to pay, but the way. I will not prejudge that, and the hon. Lady should process would have been a challenge for a more vulnerable not expect me to do so. I will say that this Government customer. To add insult to injury, three months after the are leading the international climate change debate in rebate was agreed, he still has not received his refund. Europe. The 2030 energy and climate change targets, What can be done to improve this unacceptable situation? which will be discussed at the European Council in 401 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 402

March, are critical in tackling climate change. She will Bob Blackman: On privatisation, some 27 companies know that we have to work internationally to do that. were involved in the generation, supply and distribution This Government and the UK have been leading that of electricity, and of course gas. The market was set up debate. to allow new entrants, but under Labour it shrunk to the big six. What action will my right hon. Friend take Caroline Flint (Don Valley) (Lab): May I congratulate to allow new entrants to all three aspects of the market? the Secretary of State and his wife, Emily, on the birth of their daughter? I commend him for taking paternity Mr Davey: My hon. Friend is right that we saw leave, although I know only too well that he will never consolidation in the energy market under the previous have been far from the duties of his office. Government, which is when the big six were created. We The Secretary of State has criticised his Conservative have acted since day one through deregulation, which coalition partners for undermining the consensus on has enabled more independent suppliers to come to the climate change. Given that the Secretary of State for market, and through making it easier to switch to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that people simpler and easier tariffs and bills that Ofgem has should promoted. This week’s announcement in the wholesale “just accept that the climate has been changing for centuries” market will see much greater transparency in forward markets, which will reduce barriers to entry to take on and that the Minister of State, Department of Energy the electricity generation side of the big six. and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) said that he has Mr Speaker: Thomas Docherty: not here. I do not “not had time to get into the…climate change debate”, know what is going on; the fellow was here earlier and will the Secretary of State tell us whether it was them he has now beetled out of the Chamber. How very that he had in mind? Are his comments not a bit rich, unfortunate. I call Tessa Munt. given that he voted against setting a decarbonisation target? Tessa Munt (Wells) (LD): Given the complaints figures uncovered by Which? recently, which showed that the Mr Davey: I thank the right hon. Lady for her warm big six received more than 5.5 million complaints in comments about the birth of our daughter. May I 2013 alone, does the Secretary of State think the time report to the House that mother and baby are doing has come to have a full overhaul of the broken energy well? It is nice to come back to Parliament for a rest. market, starting with a full competition inquiry to When I made those comments, I was not talking increase competition after the market assessment has about my ministerial colleagues; I was talking about been completed? some voices on the Conservative Benches, particularly in the other place, who question the science of climate Mr Davey: It would be wrong of me to anticipate change, and I think that is very unhelpful. The right what the annual competition assessment will conclude. hon. Lady talks about a decarbonisation target, but it We provided evidence for that, which was the right was this Government who brought forward legislation thing to do, but it is for that independent competition on a decarbonisation target. The Labour party did not authority to decide what the problem is—that is why we have one in its manifesto and neither did the Green have asked it to do it. It is doing detailed work, and party. We took the policy forward and it is in the Energy when it has analysed the problem, it will decide what Act 2013. remedies are required.

Energy Market Competition Caroline Flint (Don Valley) (Lab): The Secretary of State asserted in answer to an oral question on 16 January that Labour’s proposals to introduce a ring 15. Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): What steps fence between generation and supply would cause “real he has taken to increase competition in the energy problems” and push up prices. The Procedure Committee market. [902738] has ruled that the Secretary of State should provide me with evidence for that claim by 26 February, which was 19. Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) yesterday. Can he tell me today what the evidence says (Lab): What steps he is taking to improve competition and whether he will publish it? in energy markets. [902744] Mr Davey: First, the annual competition assessment The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change will, of course, look at that issue in detail. As the right (Mr Edward Davey): We have taken a large number hon. Lady will know if she has read the details of of steps to increase competition in the energy market Ofgem’s wholesale market reforms, for example, there is after the consolidation under the last Government that a lot of work to suggest that it is not at all clear that created the big six. We have deregulated the market to vertical integration is bad for consumers; it may be in encourage the entry of smaller suppliers and more than some cases, but it will not be in others. The theory 20 independents are now competing with the big six on behind this is pretty clear: vertical integration was adopted retail energy. We have supported Ofgem in its reforms of so that people could hedge the risks between generation bills and tariffs to make them easier and simpler, including and supply. That can lower the cost of capital and lower through the ending of so-called dead tariffs. We have prices for consumers. also supported Ofgem’s reform of the wholesale electricity market which, as has been confirmed this week, will be Caroline Flint: The Secretary of State has asserted his introduced on 31 March this year. We are also making it own view in the House and in the media before Ofgem easier and quicker to switch. has even made its assessment, so I think my question 403 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 404 stands. Even Government Members think that the Secretary he might not be able to do that in the time allowed of State is wrong. The hon. Member for Harlow (Robert here, so will he—not just his officials—meet me Halfon) wrote on “ConservativeHome” on 18 February and representatives from Eggborough to discuss that that if companies had separate licences for generation detailed analysis as a matter of urgency? and supply, as Labour has proposed, it would “shine a light in some of the murky areas” The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation of the energy market. Apart from some of the big six, and Skills (Michael Fallon): My hon. Friend is a consistent can the Secretary of State name a single organisation champion of Eggborough and its proposed conversion. that opposes a ring fence, and will he confirm that he is He will know that I have already met him and ruling out the introduction of a ring fence while he is representatives from the company to discuss the proposal Secretary of State? for converting to biomass. We received a large number of investment projects under the intermediate regime. It Mr Davey: No, I will not do that for the simple reason was not possible, because of a limited budget, to support that we have asked the independent competition authorities them all through the taxpayer, but he will know that to look at the evidence. Unlike the right hon. Lady, I am Eggborough has a number of other options and routes not prejudging the outcome of independent competition to consider. regulators. We provide the evidence and we allow independent authorities to make judgments on that. It Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab): I am very is quite odd that the Labour party is now turning its pleased that the matter of Eggborough has been raised. back on independent competition authorities. The loss of 850 jobs at Eggborough, with thousands more in the supply chain, is very worrying. What steps Topical Questions is the Minister taking to ensure that his Government’s policies create jobs, not cost jobs, and safeguard, rather T1. [902714] Mr Mike Weir (Angus) (SNP): If he will than threaten, our energy security? make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. Michael Fallon: The jobs have not yet been lost at The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Eggborough, which is still producing power. A large (Mr Edward Davey): Since Energy questions in January number of investment projects came forward under our we have published Britain’s first ever community energy intermediate regimes involving hundreds of other jobs. strategy, which is widely welcomed by the sector. This It was not possible, within a limited budget, to accommodate week we published a review by Sir Ian Wood into our every single investment project. Eggborough has been oil industry. I have accepted Sir Ian’s recommendations, given its provisional ranking and it has other alternatives, and we intend to fast-track his proposals. I am grateful such as applying for a contract for difference under the to Sir Ian and his team for their work, which we believe enduring regime. is a game-changer in the management of our offshore oil and gas assets. Finally, we announced a second T5. [902718] Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con): carbon capture and storage project this week—the world’s The Minister will recall visiting my constituency a first ever commercial-scale gas CCS project—and CCS couple of years ago to look at a green deal project to will play a key part of our decarbonisation strategy. make houses the Lakes estate more energy efficient. Will he update me on how many families were able to Mr Weir: The CCS project is indeed most welcome; benefit from the scheme? it is a pity it did not get here some years ago. The Secretary of State mentioned the fuel poverty strategy currently under preparation. I appreciate that the winter The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate fuel allowance is for the Department for Work and Change (Gregory Barker): I cannot give my hon. Friend Pensions, but given the impact it could have on pensioners the figure off the top of my head, but what I saw in his in rural areas will he press for action to be taken to constituency, and what he has championed, is at the allow the early payment of the winter fuel allowance? forefront of what we want to see: energy efficiency measures that genuinely improve not just the fabric of Mr Davey: I say to the hon. Gentleman what I said to the building but the community, living standards and the previous questioner who raised this. We are looking the comfort of people there—as well as driving down at all these matters and we are working across energy bills. Government—with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Communities and Local Government, T2. [902715] Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) the Treasury and the Department of Health—on our (Lab): The Minister of State previously showed faux fuel strategy, because it touches on all areas of government: concern for communities that are off gas grid. Is not benefits, health services, flu jabs and a whole range of the implication of the Government’s energy policy that issues that need to be looked at. I am not going to many, many more communities will be without gas prejudge the publication of that strategy. supply if gas supplies are switched off when the energy industry is electrified? When will he tell those T3. [902716] Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) (Con): communities that they will no longer be able to have The Secretary of State stated in the Yorkshire Post gas? on 14 February that he expects Eggborough power station to remain open, even if it does not obtain his Mr Davey: I do not recognise the hon. Gentleman’s support for converting from coal to biomass. Will he analysis. The idea that the Department has taken the explain his Department’s detailed analysis, specific to decision to mandate the end of the gas network is Eggborough, that leads to that conclusion? I appreciate simply not true. 405 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 406

T6. [902719] Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): Later this how many have responded. I pay tribute to the Members morning I will take part in a meeting to assess the involved, particularly the hon. Member for Brent North progress and way forward on implementation of carbon (Barry Gardiner). capture and storage. Alstom, from my constituency, will I cannot add anything to the answer I gave earlier be taking part. Will my right hon. Friend please update about the fourth carbon budget review, which is currently the House on how the UK is leading the world in under way. When we published the fourth carbon budget, carbon capture and storage technologies? it was decided that a review would take place at this time, and I cannot prejudice its outcome. Mr Davey: Yes. The UK is extremely well placed to take forward critical low carbon technology. We have all T8. [902721] David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con): How the experience from the oil and gas offshore industry in quickly will my right hon. Friend act on the important the North sea. The North sea has some of the largest findings of the Wood review? reserves of carbon dioxide in Europe, and our universities and companies have some of the greatest engineers and Mr Davey: We have already set up an implementation scientists who are able to take forward this incredibly group in the Department, because Sir Ian Wood published low carbon opportunity for the world. an interim report and we were able to study it and make preparations. I asked Sir Ian to chair an interim advisory panel to help us with our work, and he has agreed to do T4. [902717] Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): The poorest consumers are among those who use so. We are also keen to introduce legislation during the prepayment meters. What steps are the Government next Session of Parliament to implement his ideas about taking to ensure that they are not charged more than new powers for the proposed new regulator. other customers? Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Lab): As the Secretary of State will recall, I Gregory Barker: We take this issue very seriously. We told the House back in November 2013 that the npower want to ensure that every payment method reflects the call centre in Thornaby was placing 500 jobs in jeopardy cost fairly, and that there is no gaming between the through its proposal to close the centre and relocate on different methods. The issue will form part of our its existing Sunderland site. We now know that more competition test, and we are also working on it closely than 400 members of staff have opted for voluntary with Ofgem. redundancy because npower’s promises of a relocation package and transport have not come to fruition. What T7. [902720] Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): conversations has the Secretary of State had with his CNG is a north Yorkshire success story, serving gas colleagues in the Department for Business, Innovation customers, small businesses and small corporations, and Skills with a view to mitigating the problems of the but it is anxious about entering the domestic market Thornaby workers? because of the burden of regulation, compliance costs and risk costs. Can we do any more to encourage Mr Davey: I know that BIS considers such issues very companies such as CNG to enter the domestic gas seriously, and we discuss them a great deal across market? Government. We want to ensure that support is provided in the event of large-scale redundancies, whether voluntary Mr Davey: I am interested to hear about the company or compulsory. I cannot say any more about the specific in my hon. Friend’s constituency. If he writes to me case that the hon. Gentleman has raised, but I will ask giving the details, we shall be able to look into the issue. my officials to look into it. He may also wish to send those details to the independent authorities which are conducting the competition Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): assessment. We have deregulated the energy markets to Many communities in my constituency will be interested reduce barriers to entry to the market, but we want to in the community energy initiative. How can they find do more. out more in order to promote their local generating ideas?

Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab): Will the Gregory Barker: Our Community Energy online guide Secretary of State join me in welcoming the launch is a great starter tool, opening up the world of exciting today of the fourth GLOBE international climate legislation community energy projects which are increasing daily study, which shows how many more national Governments under this coalition Government. are taking urgent action to deal with climate change? Given the importance of the climate change debate, will Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op): The German he return to the issue of the review of the fourth carbon Chancellor is visiting Parliament today. May I invite the budget? Will he recognise that if the United Kingdom Secretary of State to hold talks with her about the and Europe want to continue to take a leading role in support that her Government give to energy-intensive climate change negotiations, it makes no sense to have industries in Germany? I am sure that that support is that review now? welcomed by those industries, but it makes it increasingly difficult for energy-intensive industries in our country, Mr Davey: I do welcome the publication of the such as the steel industry, to compete. climate legislation study. The United Kingdom, including many parliamentarians throughout the House, has played Michael Fallon: We are already paying emission trading a leading role in encouraging other countries to enact system compensation—some £28 million so far—to climate change legislation, and it is encouraging to see 53 companies, including eight steel companies, nine 407 Oral Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Oral Answers 408 chemical companies and 28 paper companies. I discussed with more interconnection and work on network codes a carbon price floor compensation scheme with Vice- and sharing, is part of the answer to making Europe President Almunia in Brussels last week, and I hope more self-sufficient in its own energy and in reducing that that too will be approved next month. our dependence on fluctuating wholesale costs.

Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con): I recently met 90-year-old Norah at the Phoenix centre in Holmfirth Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): I draw attention to learn about the energy bill revolution. Does my right to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial hon. Friend agree, however, that one of the best ways of Interests—and, indeed, also in The Mail on Sunday. reducing energy bills for those facing fuel poverty is to The Secretary of State was good enough to welcome the insulate their homes? GLOBE conference today in Washington and the fourth legislative study. Will he also welcome the forest legislators Michael Fallon: I agree completely that energy efficiency initiative that is going alongside that, which is looking measures are one of the best ways of providing long-term into REDD-plus and the expansion of that work in sustainable support to the fuel-poor. I completely Latin America and Africa in particular? understand and appreciate the motives behind the energy bill revolution, although hypothecation itself may not always be the most effective way of managing public Mr Davey: First, may I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman expenditure. for the work he does on forestry and the contribution he has made? I am not aware of the details of the legislative Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab): What initiative he mentions, but it does sound very sensible. action is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that the This Government have done a huge amount to support new fuel poverty target will address the specific needs of efforts to tackle deforestation in Latin America and people affected by severe and devastating rare conditions elsewhere and I will certainly take note of what he said. such as muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular conditions?

Mr Davey: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for the Tessa Munt (Wells) (LD): Under the current business question, and that is one of the reasons why, in developing rates arrangements, businesses have very little incentive the fuel poverty strategy, we are working across to increase energy efficiency as investing in premises can Government. She is right to say some health conditions lead to higher business rates. Did the Secretary of State may require people to be at home for longer, and they see last week’s British Retail Consortium proposals for may not be of pensionable age and getting the winter modernising business rates, suggesting a scheme whereby fuel allowance. I hope we can look at that issue during energy efficiency and improvements are rewarded with the finalisation of the fuel poverty strategy. lower business rates, rather than penalised? Will he discuss these proposals with his colleagues in government? Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): With Angela Merkel’s forthcoming speech to both Houses of Parliament in mind, does the Secretary of State agree that it would be Mr Davey: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her very wise and sensible to incorporate energy more question. I did note those proposals and I thought they thoroughly into the single market, and what steps is he were very interesting. It would be unwise of me to taking to bring that about? prejudge the work that will be done on them in other Departments, including the Treasury, but the Minister Michael Fallon: I discussed these issues with the of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks German Government in Berlin yesterday and I agree (Michael Fallon), has a meeting later today to discuss with my hon. Friend that completing the internal market, the proposals with business representatives. 409 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 410

Business of the House MONDAY 10 MARCH—A general debate on an e-petition relating to stopping female genital mutilation in the UK. 10.33 am Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab): Will the Leader of Ms Eagle: I thank the Leader of the House for the House give us the business for next week? announcing the business. We have all been watching the dramatic scenes unfolding in Ukraine and, as the new The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew Cabinet is installed in Kiev ahead of May’s presidential Lansley): The business for next week will be as follows: elections, there are worrying reports of Russian troop movements on the border and ongoing signs of volatility, MONDAY 3MARCH—Estimates day (2nd allotted day). not least in Crimea. Will the Leader of the House give There will be a debate on managing flood risk, followed us his assurance that the House will be kept up to date by a debate on Government levies on energy bills. with the situation as it unfolds over the coming weeks? Further details will be given in the Official Report. Next week, we will discuss estimates and focus on the [The details are as follows: Third Report from the particular issues chosen by the Liaison Committee. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on Does the Leader of the House agree that the process for Managing Flood Risk, HC 330, and the Government dealing with estimates is arcane, obtuse and in need of response, HC 706; Eighth Report from the Energy and reform? Will he support my call for new forms of Climate Change Committee, on the Levy Control Framework: effective financial scrutiny for the House? Parliamentary oversight of the Government levies on Next Saturday is international women’s day. Will the energy bills, HC 872.] Leader of the House tell us how he plans to mark TUESDAY 4MARCH—Estimates day (3rd allotted day). the occasion? Judging by the Government’s record at There will be a debate on defence and cyber-security, the moment, I do not think we can expect too much. We followed by a debate on the private rented sector. Further have had the notorious all-male Front Bench, and we details will be given in the Official Report. have learned that the Tory manifesto will be written by [The details are as follows: Sixth Report from the five men who went to Eton and another man who went Defence Committee, Session 2012-13, on Defence and to St Paul’s. And the Defence Secretary is unable to tell Cyber-Security, HC 106, and the Government response, the difference between two women in the shadow Cabinet— HC 719; First Report from the Communities and Local and it was not me and my sister. Government Committee, on the Private Rented Sector, I am sure that everyone will wish to welcome the HC 50, and the Government response, Cm 8730.] German Chancellor’s visit to Parliament today. She is At 7pm the House will be asked to agree all outstanding certainly getting better treatment than the French President estimates. did; he was taken to a pub near the airstrip. There are many on the Tory Back Benches who will be especially WEDNESDAY 5MARCH—Proceedings on the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipations and Adjustments) interested in what the German Chancellor will say on Bill, followed by a general debate on the Francis report: the question of Britain’s relationship with the European one year on. Union. Given that the Leader of the House is a front-runner in the betting relating to the EU commissioner role that THURSDAY 6MARCH—Statement on the publication is about to become vacant, I am sure that he will take of the ninth report from the Defence Committee on his own special interest too. Future Army 2020, followed by debate on a motion relating to the security situation of women in Afghanistan, Last year, the Prime Minister was forced by his followed by a general debate on Welsh affairs. The Eurosceptic Back Benchers to announce that he was Select Committee statement and the subjects for both going to hold an in/out referendum in 2017. Last month, debates were determined by the Backbench Business however, the French President dismissed that arbitrary Committee. timetable for reforming Europe, telling us that treaty change was “not urgent” and “not a priority”. On FRIDAY 7MARCH—The House will not be sitting. Sunday, the Foreign Secretary had to admit that no The provisional business for the week commencing negotiations were currently under way on an EU treaty. 10 March will include: Is it not the reality that the Prime Minister is powerless to make good on his grand, impossible promises to the MONDAY 10 MARCH—Remaining stages of the Care Bill [Lords] (Day 1). growing band of Eurosceptics in his own party? This week, Conservative central office launched an TUESDAY 11 MARCH—Conclusion of the remaining stages of the Care Bill [Lords]. outlandish rebranding exercise, as the chairman of the party attempted to claim that it was now “the workers’ WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH—Remaining stages of the party”. So it is out with the huskies and the hoodies and Intellectual Property Bill [Lords], followed by, if necessary, in with the Bullingdon Bolsheviks. They have claimed consideration of Lords amendments. to be the most family-friendly Government ever. They THURSDAY 13 MARCH—Business to be nominated by have also claimed to be the greenest Government ever the Backbench Business Committee. and the most transparent Government ever, but their FRIDAY 14 MARCH—The House will not be sitting. claim to be the workers’ party has to be the most laughable yet. Real wages are down by an average of I should also like to inform the House that the £1,600 a year, record numbers of people are working business in Westminster Hall for 6 and 10 March will fewer hours than they would like, millionaire hedge-fund be: donors are busy writing policies to slash rights at work THURSDAY 6MARCH—A general debate on the and the Work and Pensions Secretary spent the hours contribution of women to the economy. before this latest rebrand defending zero-hours contracts. 411 Business of the House27 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 412

Will the Leader of the House arrange for a debate in part and listening to those debates and to celebrating Government time on this latest Conservative mis-selling the role of women not only in inspiring change but scandal? in leading in the economy. We have more women in The National Audit Office has this morning published employment than ever before and more women establishing a report on the Government’s supposed reorganisation jobs. Like the Prime Minister, I particularly value women of disability benefits. The report finds that the new who set up businesses and are entrepreneurs and create personal independence payments will cost three and a jobs in our economy. half times as much to administer and double the amount Talking of enterprising and impressive women, we of time to process as the disability living allowance. very much welcome Chancellor Merkel here to Parliament This Government’s incompetence is causing real hurt later this morning. I look forward to hearing her speak and distress to disabled people. This week we learned to the two Houses of Parliament, especially about how that the Department for Work and Pensions has stopped our two countries together are working in partnership employment and support allowance reassessments because to deliver a more complete single market, greater it cannot cope with the volume, and it did not even have competition and more free trade across the world. Those the guts to announce it to the House. The disastrous are things that we all value, and that are absolutely introduction of universal credit stumbles from bad to necessary not only to us but to the eurozone countries worse. Today, the Work and Pensions Secretary is trying and the European Union as a whole. to justify, in a written ministerial statement, why we are The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have set to have 400,000 more children in poverty by the next made it perfectly clear that, following the review of the election. After the criticisms made by dozens of bishops balance of competences, it is the Prime Minister who, as last week, it seems that even divine intervention cannot leader of a party, will be setting out what he is seeking prevent the incompetence at the DWP. Will the Leader to achieve through the process of renegotiation leading of the House give us a debate, in Government time, on to a referendum in this country. That is something for the growing chaos at the Department? him to do as leader of the party and as current Prime The Government tell us that they have increased Minister, but not on behalf of the Government, as flood defence spending when the national statisticians neither the renegotiation nor the referendum are the say they have not. They have an Environment Secretary policy of the coalition Government as a whole; they are who does not believe in climate change and a Deputy the policy of the Conservative party and will be presented Prime Minister who thinks that he has a right to be in in that context. Government for ever. I think this Government might be The idea of the Conservative party as the party for living in a parallel universe. workers in this country is not new—it is important but it is not new; I recall that in 1987 more trade unionists Mr Lansley: I am grateful to the shadow Leader of voted for the Conservative party than voted for the the House for her words. I entirely agree with her first Labour party. I suspect that this week, at the end of point. This House has viewed the events in Ukraine which the Labour party will get together with the trade with a degree of shock. None the less, it must be for the union bosses, many trade union members and many people of Ukraine to determine their future, and to do workers in this country who are not trade unionists will so, hopefully, in a democratic and peaceful way. Everyone recognise that the Conservative party has their interests else must give what support they can and should, while at heart. It is a party that is cutting their taxes, creating fully respecting the territorial integrity of the country. jobs and giving them a sense of security for the future. The Foreign Secretary made a statement to the House That is very important, because it is the Labour party on Monday, and he will continue to update the House that is in denial about all this. It is in denial about the as and when necessary. deficit; the shadow Chancellor, in particular, simply will not accept that the Labour Government got anything On the issue of financial scrutiny, while estimates wrong before the last election. I have to say in all days give us an opportunity to debate issues of importance kindness to the Labour party that we learnt painfully that the Liaison Committee has identified from the that if you do not understand why you lost, you stand estimates to be debated, this is less about the structure no chance of winning. of estimates days and more about the work of Select Committees. As a former member of the Health Committee, Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): As we look I recall that there was, and there continues to be, an forward to international women’s day on Saturday, may annual inquiry by the Select Committee into the expenditure we have a debate on encouraging more women into of its Department. I do not know whether that is chemistry, given that two leaders of the free world have replicated elsewhere. As the hon. Lady will know from previously been research chemists—the late, great Baroness the work being done by the Public Accounts Commission, Thatcher and, of course, our guest today in Parliament, the future strategy of the National Audit Office prioritises Chancellor Angela Merkel? the availability of its support to Select Committees to undertake work relating to the expenditure of Departments. Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend makes a very good As I have made it clear at this Dispatch Box, we in the point. I am always in awe of those who are very good at Government welcome that financial scrutiny, as we chemistry, having achieved what in those days was continue to strive to deliver the greatest possible effectiveness described as a grade 9 in O-level chemistry. Fortunately, from public expenditure. the Secretary of State for Education is planning for a I look forward to international women’s day at the grade 9 in O-levels to represent success, but in my case it end of next week and its theme of inspiring change. As I was abject failure and so I am in awe of those who have announced in the business statement, the House will abilities in chemistry. Those who excel in chemistry have opportunities to debate a range of issues of importance often have exactly the kind of analytical intellect that to women and to all of us, and I look forward to taking enables them to succeed in many other walks of life. 413 Business of the House27 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 414

Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab): Since the Mr Robert Syms (Poole) (Con): I do not like to be privatisation of the railway industry there has been an critical of the Government, but we have a lot of statements explosion of capital works costs, both in track renewals about things that have either gone wrong or allegedly and maintenance. Debt in the industry is reaching crisis gone wrong, and we do not have enough statements proportions, and as and when interest rates begin to rise about all the very good things that are going right. This that crisis will surely be precipitated. May we have a full coalition Government are doing a fantastic job, many and urgent debate on the finances of the railway industry? things are going right in the economy, and those on the Front Bench should do far more to boost this country Mr Lansley: I cannot offer an immediate debate, but and to put the optimistic case forward. the hon. Gentleman will know that the House has often recently had occasion to ask questions about the rail Mr Lansley: I accept my hon. Friend’s chastisement. I industry and, in particular, to note the scale of the will encourage my colleagues to make more statements Network Rail investment in prospect. We are talking of the character that he describes, but I point him about a £38 billion investment, which is the largest rail towards the Budget statement on 19 March, which I investment in this country since the Victorian era. It is know will be an opportunity to present to the House not just about High Speed 2—that is not even the many of the things that he and I recognise, and the largest part of it; there are schemes across the whole House should recognise, have been a success under this country, in response to the fact that the number of coalition Government. passengers on the railways has more than doubled since privatisation. Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (Lab): Will the Leader of the House arrange for the appropriate Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): Bombardier’s Minister to make a statement on the long-term future of recent contract award for Crossrail will employ 30 graduates the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and, in particular, and take on 80 apprentices from around the Derby on whether there is any intention to extend its remit into area. With next week being national apprenticeship other sectors, such as construction? week and with youth unemployment falling, will the Mr Lansley: I will of course discuss that matter with Leader of the House facilitate a debate on what further my hon. Friends. I do not know whether there is any steps this Government are taking to tackle youth plan of the kind that the hon. Gentleman describes. unemployment? However, I will discuss the matter with them and see if Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that, they can not only reply to him but inform the House, as as she is absolutely right. There is some extremely good he requests. news in her constituency and neighbouring constituencies, Tessa Munt (Wells) (LD): May we have a debate on and I am glad she is in a position to highlight that in the recent reports by Global Witness about Congolese conflict House. We are never going to be complacent about the gold being traded through Dubai and then into Switzerland, number of young people who are not entering employment. where it goes into the European supply chain? Will the That is why we are putting so much effort into Leader of the House speak to his colleagues in the apprenticeships, with 1.6 million apprenticeships planned Government to ensure that the UK supply chains are during this Parliament, which is a significant increase. robust and not vulnerable to conflict gold? That will make a very big difference to young people in accessing the jobs that are coming through. Encouragingly, Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that at the same time as we have record numbers of people in question. I will of course have that conversation with employment, we also have record numbers of vacancies, my hon. Friends at the Foreign and Commonwealth so people can be very optimistic about their prospects. Office, because we always want to do whatever we possibly can to prevent such resources—conflict gold, Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): conflict diamonds and the exploitation of mineral wealth— Council tax rises are one factor in the cost of living from feeding conflicts that are doing such immense crisis, so may we have a debate on how the coalition’s harm to the people of those countries from which those funding distribution is giving the biggest cuts to the resources come. most disadvantaged communities and is deliberately calculated so that no matter what efficiencies are found Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab): by councils such as Hull’s, they are still having to Recently I received an answer from the Department for increase council taxes and cut local services too? Business, Innovation and Skills about the number of overseas territory students studying in the United Kingdom. Mr Lansley: I am surprised that the hon. Lady should The answer refers to “the Falklands (Malvinas).” Can raise that issue because at the moment councils across we have a statement from the Government as to whether the country are taking difficult decisions while or not there is a change of policy towards Britain’s demonstrating that they can sustain, and in some cases overseas territory? improve, the public’s experience of local government services at the same time as they freeze the council tax. Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that This complaint about council tax rises comes from a question—[Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman, I mean. party which when in government saw council tax double, I spend so much time talking to him that it just seems as I know from my own constituency. Under this like he is an hon. Friend. Government, the resources being provided and the I hope the hon. Gentleman is aware there is no incentives to freeze council tax mean that hard-pressed change in the Government’s position where this matter home owners and those paying council tax are finding is concerned. It is the Falklands, it continues to be the that their local government services are not costing Falklands and its constitutional status will remain the them a great deal more, as they did in the past. same. 415 Business of the House27 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 416

Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): May we have a debate Mr Lansley: I hesitate to get into a debate with the on the proper role of Governments and shareholders in hon. Gentleman on these issues. I certainly know that, the setting of pay and bonuses in the private sector? We during the 19th century, there were many reasons why seem to be in a ridiculous situation where the Government people were appreciative of a Tory Administration who want to lecture profitable companies in which they have brought in protection for workers through the Factories no shareholding about their pay and bonuses, and yet Acts and the like. In any case, his question about they equally appear to be sitting idly by and allowing a portraits is probably a matter for the Speaker’s Advisory company in which they are a majority shareholder to Committee on Works of Art, rather than the Leader of pay more than £500 million of bonuses, despite the fact the House. that the company is costing the taxpayer more than £8 billion a year? Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Will my right hon. Friend ensure that on Tuesday evening, the House Mr Lansley: I will, of course, talk to my hon. Friends finishes its business promptly at 7 o’clock, so that we at the Business, Innovation and Skills Department. can all get home, finish our pancakes, and have an early However, I have to say to my hon. Friend that I do not night, as on Wednesday, the first day of Lent, at 7.45 am, think we are lecturing companies. We are being clear the Archbishop of Canterbury is celebrating Holy about what we regard as social responsibility, and that Communion in the Undercroft chapel? Everyone working companies have a responsibility that extends not only in the Palace of Westminster is very welcome to attend. to their shareholders and employees but to the wider society. All companies should recognise that. Where the Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend, Government have a substantial shareholding in a company, and I am sure that the House appreciates the opportunity of course we should use that shareholding similarly—in to go to the Ash Wednesday service that he advertises. I a socially responsible way. We are aiming for, and have think that there is nothing on the Order Paper at the seen, a substantial reduction in bonuses in the banking moment that would require us to extend our proceedings sector, which I know is occurring in those companies in beyond the moment of interruption at 7 o’clock on which the Government have a shareholding. Tuesday.

Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab): May we have a statement Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab): I am disappointed from the Health Secretary about the possibility of improving that I have not received a response to my question to the outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients through Abraxane? Leader of the House of two weeks ago about the European solidarity fund. In the meantime, may we Mr Lansley: I will ask my right hon. Friend the have an urgent debate on what “Money is no object” Health Secretary whether there is any opportunity to means, and whether it could apply to those waiting for update the House. A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer personal independence payment assessments? continues to be very serious. The hon. Gentleman knows that survival rates for pancreatic cancer are very low in Mr Lansley: I endeavour to secure replies for hon. comparison with those for many other cancers, on Members, but not inevitably within a fortnight; sometimes which we have made considerable progress. In the Cancer it takes a bit longer. I will endeavour to get a full reply Research UK laboratories in my constituency, I have to the hon. Lady. seen the work being done on potential routes to the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, but it is Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Con): I early days and I fear that the number of projects with speak as a genuine working-class Conservative. good lines of inquiry are still few. [Interruption.] My local health authority is making a real mess of the reorganisation of health provision in Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): The shadow Leader my constituency, so could we have a debate on health of the House says that we should have a debate on provision across South Gloucestershire, especially in which is the workers’ party. I say to my right hon. relation to Frenchay hospital, my local hospital? Friend the Leader of the House: bring it on. Perhaps we can examine the record of the Labour Government, Mr Speaker: Hon. Members should not be discourteous who drowned the country in debt, left 2.5 million people to the hon. Gentleman. I have known him for more unemployed, and abolished the 10p tax rate, and compare than 20 years, and I can testify, from personal knowledge, it with the record of this Government, who cut taxes for that he was a distinguished ice-cream salesman in Bristol. 20 million lower earners, increased apprenticeships by 1.5 million, and extended the right to buy. Mr Lansley: Thank you for that, Mr Speaker. I will, of course, ask my colleagues in the Department Mr Lansley: The workers in Harlow know who represents of Health to respond directly to my hon. Friend. I know them. from personal experience how long and difficult the issues surrounding the reconfiguration of services have Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab): May I ask been following the developments at Southmead and the our proletarian comrade, the Leader of the House of reduction of services at Frenchay. He has taken a Commons, whether, in his new capacity as a workers’ considerable interest in these issues for several years, leader, he will arrange for portraits of the Tolpuddle and rightly so, and I shall encourage my colleagues to martyrs to be displayed prominently in the House of respond to him. Commons? Is it true that Tory central office is saying that those trade unionists, who were punished and Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): May deported to Australia, were leading officials of their we have an early debate about accident and emergency local conservative association? closures? The Leader of the House has a nice flat 417 Business of the House27 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 418

[Mr Barry Sheerman] things as the Queen’s award for exports and the help that UK Trade & Investment can provide to companies constituency, whereas I have a hilly one, and threats of in my constituency such as the Malted Waffle Company, the closure of the Halifax and Huddersfield A and E which exports waffles to Dubai, and Cargo Marketing departments are serious for an area such as ours. May Services so that they can do better business abroad. we have a debate about the importance of high-quality care, not of saving £50 million? Mr Lansley: I give my congratulations to the Malted Waffle Company. I was involved in such things years Mr Lansley: My constituency is fortunate in that it ago when I was in the then Department of Trade and contains Addenbrooke’s hospital, with its fine accident Industry, so I know that the Queen’s award for exports and emergency department, but in the past year or so, is not lightly given. The award suggests that a substantial the Government have invested additional resources to achievement has been made, as was the case when the support A and E departments. Sir Bruce Keogh’s review Cambridge Satchel Company, which is in my constituency, for NHS England on the configuration of future accident secured a Queen’s award. I do not know the size of the and emergency services is not about cuts, but about Malted Waffle Company, but it is interesting and improving services and ensuring that people are able to encouraging that more medium-sized business are growing get the service they need, including specialised services, not just through the domestic market, but by developing at the right place and the right time. their export markets. A British Chambers of Commerce report on companies throughout the country that was John Glen (Salisbury) (Con): In July 2012, Sir John published about a fortnight ago showed an encouraging Holmes carried out an independent review of the national increase in companies’ confidence that they would increase defence medal for the Cabinet Office. Since then, my their export orders in the months to come. constituent, Tony Morland, has been waiting patiently for the outcome. Will the Leader of the House make Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): The Law time for a Defence Minister to report to the House on Society has a rigorous conveyancing qualification for progress so that Mr Morland will stop e-mailing me? solicitors, but some mortgage lenders now require solicitors to undertake the conveyancing qualification scheme Mr Lansley: The Government, like my hon. Friend, run by themselves and have a £5 million bond for recognise the great sacrifices made by all members negligence rather than the £2 million required by law. of the armed services past and present. He referred to May we have a debate on how lenders are adding to the Sir John Holmes, whom the Prime Minister appointed costs of conveyancing, reducing choice for consumers to carry out a review of the rules and principles governing and driving small solicitors out of conveyancing? the award of military campaign medals. The first recommendations on recognition were for those serving Mr Lansley: We are keen to ensure that consumers on the Atlantic convoys, in Bomber Command and have access to competition and choice, and hence the during the Yangtze incident, which were announced by lowest possible cost. I am not in a position to comment the Prime Minister on 19 December 2012. Sir John on the particular points that the hon. Lady makes, but I continues to work on further campaigns and the broader will talk to my hon. Friends and see whether they can policy behind the five-year and the double medalling assist her in how she might take that forward. She may rules. find that she has the opportunity to seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at some point. Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South) (Lab): May we have a debate on the role of the banks in our communities? Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con): Santander has announced that it will close 11 agency May we have an urgent statement on the Government’s branches throughout Leicestershire and Leicester, including commitment to the virtual court scheme? I have just the branch at Highfields in my constituency, which is a learned from Medway magistrates court, an excellent densely populated area of some deprivation. Many of local court, that the Ministry of Justice has not confirmed our constituents are getting fed up with how the banks funding post-31 March. It is important that it should operate. have clarity and certainty on that. I would be grateful if my right hon. Friend came back to me specifically on Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman is right that these that court. issues are difficult. Many Members will have constituents who are worried about the closure of bank branches—it Mr Lansley: Yes, I will. I will raise it directly with the is not just Santander, because Barclays has also announced Ministry of Justice. I realise that Saturday is 1 March, closures. Of course, the situation is partly the result of so time is short. My hon. Friend must be concerned that changes to the structure of the industry because of the the services in his constituency that he appreciates and use of online and telephone banking. If I may, I will ask are valued continue to be supported. I will ask my hon. my Treasury colleagues to reply to him. Determining Friends what the situation is. the structure of the banking sector as the changes I describe come into play is not a responsibility of the Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): May Government, but my colleagues will have an interest, as we have a debate on the Government’s expectations of do Members on both sides of the House. joint commissioning teams, particularly with regard to respite care? I am concerned that in Birmingham they Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): May we have seem rather unaccountable and have a suspect strategy a debate on exporting because as we rebuild our economy, that does not seem to make financial sense and could we need to sell more goods in the international marketplace? result in the closure of purpose-built facilities, such as Such a debate would help to highlight the value of such Kingswood bungalows, which are less than 15 years old. 419 Business of the House27 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 420

Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman will recall how debate on the role that apprenticeships play in tackling right from the beginning under this coalition Government our country’s skills gap? That would allow the House to we secured additional resources, notwithstanding all celebrate the work of apprentices and highlight the fact the pressures, for the provision of respite care. In the that there are still more employers who are yet to take current circumstances, looking towards the new financial on an apprentice than there are those who have. year, the better care fund, available to local authorities working with their NHS commissioners, offers £3.8 billion Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend makes some good points. across the country specifically to try to join up health Youth unemployment is lower now than it was at the and social care, in which respite care, from the point of last election, there are now vacancies and we will have view of sustaining people in care in the community 1.5 million apprenticeships over the course of this rather than frequent hospital admissions, can play a Parliament, all of which is very encouraging. I hope significant part. I encourage him to talk to his local that it is increasingly understood that apprenticeships authority about how it plans to use the better care fund are not just for those who are not capable of academic for that purpose. achievement, because increasingly they are being recognised as a viable career move for those who might have had an Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): My right hon. Friend opportunity to go to university but chose not to. I have has already referred to local government finance, but met many apprentices who started working under an may we have a debate on how councils can better apprenticeship scheme, acquired additional qualifications manage their affairs? Conservative-controlled Rugby in the fullness of time, up to and including degree borough council set its budget this week, and this qualifications, and were then extremely well equipped successful district council, working effectively as part of to move on to senior positions in the company they the two-tier system in Warwickshire, is not just freezing worked in. council tax, but going further and reducing it by Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab): Many 3%—[Interruption.]—yes, 3%, without any reduction dozens of my Clifton constituents have written to ask in services or staff redundancies. Does my right hon. me to raise their cases in this House after the Energy Friend agree that other councils should follow Rugby’s Secretary’s panicked energy company obligation changes lead and look harder to find savings? scuppered their much-needed solid wall insulation scheme, and indeed cost local jobs and apprenticeships. When Mr Lansley: I am very pleased that my hon. Friend can we have time to debate properly this Government’s has asked that question, because it might suggest that, disastrous policy, because at Energy and Climate Change presumably at their own expense, councillors in Hull, questions this morning Ministers were in utter denial following the question earlier by the hon. Member for about the impact? Kingston upon Hull North (Diana Johnson), should take a little visit to Rugby to see how it is done. The Mr Lansley: I was not here when the hon. Lady asked Government very much applaud those councils that are her question, but I will of course look at the record to doing this and we are supporting them. As I said, we are see what reply my hon. Friends gave. providing extra funding for a council tax freeze in the Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): My flood-hit next two years, which will make a total of £5.2 billion constituents are mystified at why the Government do for five successive years of council tax freezes, which not seem to be applying for EU funds that could assist will be worth up to £1,100 for the average household— them. May we have a statement to clarify the situation? further help for hard-working families from this coalition Government. Mr Lansley: That relates to the point the hon. Member for Walsall South (Valerie Vaz) made on the use of EU Steve Rotheram (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab): The Leader structural funds. I will of course ask my hon. Friends of the House will be aware of a small lobbying group about that. As my hon. Friend will recall, the Prime called the Football Supporters Federation, which wishes Minister explained at Prime Minister’s questions just to see the introduction of what it spuriously calls safe over a fortnight ago that there are issues relating to the standing areas in British football stadiums. Will he overall scale of the damage that gives rise to a claim for make time for a debate on the vexed issue of a return to EU funds. There is also a concern about the impact standing, so that the merits and considerable demerits such claims would have on the British rebate, as I of any such move can be aired? remember from the past, so taking European money in those circumstances is not necessarily a cost-free option. Mr Lansley: I am indeed aware of that important Chris Williamson (Derby North) (Lab): The point and agree that it should be debated. I cannot overwhelming majority of the British public supports promise a debate at the moment, and a BackBench the Hunting Act 2004, which abolished hunting with business debate might be better for the matter, rather dogs, yet that civilising piece of legislation, incredibly, is than one in Government time, which is limited, but I opposed by many Government Members, who want it will raise it in any case with my right hon. and hon. repealed. Can we have an assurance today from the Friends in the Department for Culture, Media and Leader of the House that any proposal to repeal the Act Sport so that they are aware of it. will be subject to a vote of the whole House, not an obscure Statutory Instrument Committee? Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): The number of apprenticeship starts in my constituency Mr Lansley: I am not aware of any circumstances in is one of the highest in the country, and the companies I which what the hon. Gentleman describes might happen. have spoken with that have taken on an apprentice have The coalition programme was clear that the intention told me about the difference it has made. Next week is was for the question of the Hunting Act to be brought national apprenticeship week, so may we please have a forward for a free vote of the whole House. 421 Business of the House27 FEBRUARY 2014 Business of the House 422

Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con): I would like will defer to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Leader of to add my voice to the calls for an urgent debate on the the House, who is serving on the Bill Committee and provision of A and E services at Huddersfield royal will have an opportunity in due course to respond to my infirmary, which is in my constituency, and Calderdale hon. Friend on this issue. royal hospital. I do not know whether the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman), who also asked about Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op): For those of us that, actually uses the HRI, but I had to use it last in a state of disbelief at the Conservative party’s claim summer when I fractured my elbow while running the to be the party of the workers, may I invite the Leader Honley 10 km race, and I was given excellent service. of the House to demonstrate this new-found commitment Please bear in mind that my constituents’ memories are by intervening in the pay deal that has been offered to scarred after the downgrading of maternity services at the staff of this House, who keep the business of this the HRI under the previous Government. House going? After four years of a freeze, they have been offered 1%, but actually it is not even 1% because Mr Lansley: I remember, not least through having they are being asked to work two more hours, so their spent time with my hon. Friend in his constituency, the hourly pay is going down. Will he intervene and sort issues that arose on the downgrading of maternity this out? services. To reiterate the point I made earlier, in that Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman may be aware that case it was far from clear how the changes that were to as a member of the House of Commons Commission I be undertaken would deliver an improved service for am one those whose responsibility it is to employ members the patients and communities served, which is what we of staff of this House. We continue to regard the staff are setting out to do as regards A and E. I cannot of this House as among its principal assets. We value comment on the circumstances in Huddersfield and what they do. The pay award that is now available to neighbouring communities, but I know what Sir Bruce them is one which we believe brings it into line, as we Keogh’s report said about the issue, because I was are statutorily obliged to do, with the pay environment involved at the outset in understanding the nature of in the civil service more generally; that is particularly the problems in A and E departments. Those problems true in relation to hours. But we also think that it is as are often caused by a large number of patients with the generous as we can make it, and I think it would be in most serious conditions being brought into A and E the interests of members of staff of this House to departments that do not necessarily have the specialist accept it. skills required to give them the most effective treatment as rapidly as possible. We need to deliver that treatment Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): In the run-up to while not limiting access for the great majority of patients the Indian elections, it appears that opponents of Narendra to A and E services in their local community. Modi will stop at nothing to smear him, including using rooms in this House to publish thoroughly scurrilous Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East reports attacking him personally. May we have a debate Cleveland) (Lab): The Prime Minister speaks highly of on the relationship between Britain and India—and in the work that food banks do in all our communities, so particular on the Indian elections—which would give will a Minister, or even the Prime Minister, explain why the Foreign Secretary an opportunity to welcome Narendra Tory MEPs voted against a £3 million fund for food Modi as the next Prime Minister of India? banks? Thankfully, the Tories lost heavily by 592 votes to 61, but even so, the Prime Minister still will not allow Mr Lansley: India is the world’s largest democracy, UK food banks to apply to that fund. Why? and the question of who should be its next Prime Minister is one for the people of that country to decide. Mr Lansley: I am not familiar with the vote in the I do not think it is one for the United Kingdom to European Parliament or with the character of the European interfere in, or even that it is proper for us in government fund. While we absolutely welcome and applaud the to debate the merits of that. That is for them to decide. work that food banks do, the hon. Gentleman will We enjoy excellent relations with politicians in India understand that with any European scheme there are from across the political spectrum and a number of issues that relate not to the desirability of the objective Indian Chief Ministers have visited the United Kingdom but to the appropriateness, on the grounds of subsidiarity, in recent years. We have very much welcomed them. of a European scheme for the purpose. Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab): With all the passion for working people demonstrated on all Benches Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): in the Chamber today, I am sure the whole House will Non-payment of television licence fees represent an want to celebrate with me the birthday of the only party estimated 12% of all magistrates’ cases, with more than ever set up to represent working people 114 years ago 190,000 cases in 2012 alone. May we have a debate on today—the Labour party. the burden on the state of prosecuting those cases? May Ministers gave cast-iron, black and white guarantees I draw my right hon. Friend’s attention to the new that the independent expert panel report on the failed clause I have submitted to the Deregulation Bill that badger culls would be produced to this Parliament would decriminalise non-payment of the television licence, before the end of February. That gives us today and making it instead a civil offence? We should end the tomorrow. Does the Leader of the House have any ludicrous situation whereby those who genuinely cannot news? pay are criminalised merely for being poor. Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman will be aware that, Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend, who has put forward an as the expert panel is an independent body, the timing amendment to the Deregulation Bill, makes a point that of the completion and submission to Ministers of its I know will interest Members of the House. If I may, I reports is ultimately a matter for that panel. 423 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 424 Disabled People) had caused an increase in suicidal intention. Does the Backbench Business hon. Gentleman agree that the implications of the policy are literally a matter of life and death? Welfare Reform (Sick and Disabled People) John McDonnell: I agree completely. The figures in Brighton are echoed around the country and have been reported for a number of years. 11.22 am We met some of the disabled campaigners this morning. John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): I beg One of them said, referring to Ministers, “Do they to move, realise that many of us feel terrorised by what the That this House calls on the Government to commission an Government are doing?” Another disabled campaigner independent cumulative assessment of the impact of changes in said to me this morning, “Can you tell them that they the welfare system on sick and disabled people, their families and call their programme fulfilling our potential, but we feel carers, drawing upon the expertise of the Work and Pensions that many of us simply won’t survive this round of cuts? Select Committee; requests that this impact assessment examine A generation is going to be lost.” The central demand of care home admissions, access to day care centres, access to the petition is straightforward: the motion is, in essence, education for people with learning difficulties, provision of universal a call for a cumulative impact assessment of all the mental health treatments, closures of Remploy factories, the Government’s contract with Atos Healthcare, IT implementation welfare changes that have been introduced by this of universal credit, human rights abuses against disabled people, Government. The argument that campaigners put forward excess deaths of welfare claimants and the disregard of medical is that if politicians and society only knew the full effect evidence in decision-making by Atos, the Department for Work of all the changes on the lives of disabled people and and Pensions and the Tribunals Service; urges the Secretary of their families, surely they would not let that happen in a State for Health and the Secretary of State for Education jointly civilised society. Let us see whether we can move hearts to launch a consultation on improving support into work for sick and change minds in this debate. and disabled people; and further calls on the Government to end with immediate effect the work capability assessment, as voted for Let us run through some of the figures. There are by the British Medical Association, to discontinue forced work 11.3 million people with a disability in the UK, 4.5 million under the threat of sanctions for people on disability benefits and of whom have a significant disability that entitles them to bring forward legislative proposals to allow a free vote on to a disability benefit such as the disability living allowance repeal of the Welfare Reform Act 2012. or the attendance allowance. The group the welfare cuts We are making history today. This is the first time in are hurting the most is the 2.7 million people with the history of this Parliament that people with disabilities disabilities who live in poverty. have secured a debate in the Chamber on an agenda of I remember the Prime Minister’s statements in 2010 their choosing, so let us pay tribute to the War on when the Government launched their austerity programme Welfare campaigners. They initiated the campaign, drafted to cut public spending. In October 2010, he said that the petition that we have before us in the form of a motion, and worked hard for a year to gather more than “it is fair that those with broader shoulders should bear a greater load”, 100,000 signatures in order to secure this debate. They are heroes and heroines who worked, many of them that the greatest burden would be placed on the better despite their disability, to ensure that this campaign was off, and that the cuts would be fair. Well, the reverse is a success. the case. MPs may speak in this debate, but it is the voice of I urge Members to read at least one of the relevant the WOW campaigners and petitioners that will be reports. In “Counting the Cuts”, Simon Duffy, the heard. What do the WOW campaigners want from this director of the Centre for Welfare Reform, explains that debate? They have said that they want a serious debate. disabled people in poverty are bearing the cuts four They want MPs, party spokespeople and Ministers to times worse than the average, while the burden on listen, and to listen well to the statements that they have people using social care is nearly six times that on the made. What do they want us to say? I have asked WOW average person. Other reports escalate the figure and petitioners what they want me and other MPs to say in say that the burden on people with disabilities is perhaps today’s debate. They said, “We want you to get across as 20 times the average. The reason for that is that disabled best you can what the welfare changes brought in over people are being hit by a combination of cuts in funding the last four years have meant to us and our families—the for social care and support and by wave after wave of stark reality.” Why do they want that? Perhaps naively, cuts—almost annually—in welfare benefits. they believe that if MPs and Ministers really knew what Let us look at the cuts in care and support. Many it is like, what disabled people are going through, they disabled people rely on local authority social care and would not stand by and let fellow human beings suffer support. By next month, £2.68 billion will have been cut and be degraded in this way. out of adult social care budgets across the country. In 2012-13, 320,000 fewer disabled people and 37,000 fewer Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green): I adults aged between 18 and 64 with physical impairments congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this important received local authority care and support than in 2005-06. debate. Ahead of the debate, the Brighton Housing The number of adults with mental health issues receiving Trust sent me some alarming data of 25 cases it had care and support has reduced by 30,000. looked at concerning claimants of employment and support allowance. All of them won their appeal and Liz Kendall (Leicester West) (Lab): Does my hon. had the decision overturned. In 72% of cases the decisions Friend agree that decent social care is about not just were overturned on the basis of a mental health condition, helping people cope with their disabilities, but helping and 32% of that sample group stated that the process them live an ordinary life that the rest of us take for 425 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 426 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Liz Kendall] the appropriate benefits to assist them. The previous Government started the process of reassessing all those granted—being able to get up, wash, dressed and fed, on incapacity benefit to see whether they could be spend time with their families and go out into the assisted back into work, and if not, to ensure that they community, as well as being able to work, if they can? had the right level of financial support. They introduced Is that not why the cuts in social care have been so the work capability assessment, and brought in Atos to devastating? implement it. That might have been well intentioned in theory, but in practice, thousands of disabled people John McDonnell: That is exactly why people feel that have been caused untold suffering, humiliation, stress the impact is so harsh. Many local authorities have and, at times, absolute despair. changed the eligibility criteria—that is the problem—to cover only those with substantial needs, which automatically Mrs Anne McGuire (Stirling) (Lab): Does my hon. Friend cuts out about 100,000 people from receiving any form recognise that the introduction of the work capability of social care whatever. assessment under our Government was phased? Part of the distress he mentions was due to the fact that the contract Chris Williamson (Derby North) (Lab): Does my was renegotiated to go for a big bang of assessments hon. Friend agree that this is very much a false economy, and reassessments of everyone on incapacity benefit. because cutting back on social care will inevitably lead to people’s conditions tending to deteriorate, meaning John McDonnell: The work capability assessment that they will need more urgent care and that many of was flawed from the start. It stemmed from the work of them will find themselves in hospital? Consequently, the the American insurance company Unum, and the so-called cost to the public purse is substantially greater as a biopsychosocial model of disability assessment. That result of this false economy and these cuts, which are so was exposed as an invention by the insurance companies devastating to disabled people. simply to avoid paying out for claims. My right hon. Friend is, however, absolutely right that Atos was brought John McDonnell: That is exactly right. There are in and then given a contract to churn through large three consequences from what is happening. First, disabled numbers of assessments very rapidly—as fast as possible. people are being forced more and more to rely and The staff employed in order to achieve that often had depend on care from their own family members, who minimal medical or professional qualifications, and their are themselves, to be frank, overstretched in providing expertise or experience was often totally unrelated to that care, especially as local authority respite care is the condition or disability of the people they assessed. now being cut back so dramatically. Startlingly, as we Assessments largely disregarded people’s previous found in a previous debate, a large number of these diagnosis, prognosis or even life expectancy. The recent carers are children caring for their parents. A year-long “Panorama”programme “Disabled or Faking It?”exposed investigation by Carers UK confirmed that carers, who the scandal of seriously ill patients—people diagnosed save this country an estimated £119 billion a year in with life-threatening conditions such as heart failure or care costs, are about to lose £1 billion in benefit cuts. end-stage emphysema—being found fit for work. The Secondly, the care needs of many disabled people are so-called descriptors, or criteria, on which assessments simply not being met. A recent inquiry by the all-party are based bear no relation to the potential employment groups on local government and on disability found available, take little account of fluctuating conditions from the evidence they took that four in 10 disabled and are particularly unresponsive to appreciating someone’s people are failing to have their basic social care needs— mental health issues. which my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester West According to all the Department for Work and Pensions (Liz Kendall) has mentioned—met. figures, the appeals roll in—on 40% of decisions—and Thirdly, as my hon. Friend has said, the withdrawal most appeals are now successful. The test has been of social care and support services is cutting many condemned by the British Medical Association and the people off from any form of social contact with the Royal College of Nursing. The report by the president outside world. Many are driven back into their homes, of the appeals tribunal to the Government denounced while others are forced out of them, losing all their the test as independence, and into residential care or even hospital “failing to coincide with reality”. care as a result. Even when someone wins their appeal, there can be a Alongside cuts to social care, there are the mounting lengthy wait before their benefits are reinstated. In one cuts in welfare benefits. Like most hon. Members, the period, 37,000 people were waiting up to a year to vast majority of disabled people whom I have met are, receive benefits after they had won their appeal. like any other employed person, desperate to work and support their family with a regular wage. For some, the Yvonne Fovargue (Makerfield) (Lab): Does my hon. tragedy is that their disability is so severe that they will Friend agree that the cuts to the legal aid system—taking never be able to work and will have to rely on welfare away the right to get legal aid for welfare benefit appeals— benefits to ensure that they do not live in poverty, while have caused additional distress to the sick and disabled others need positive and sensitive practical support to people who are seeking an appeal? help them to get back into work or to work in the first place. John McDonnell: Interestingly, all the statistics prove The system introduced during the past six years to that people who are represented win their appeal in vast support people in securing work or the appropriate numbers, while those who are not represented are suffering. benefits could not have been better designed to undermine To be frank, it is no wonder that 84% of GPs have disabled people’s ability to get into work or receive reported that patients have presented with mental health 427 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 428 Disabled People) Disabled People) problems, such as stress, anxiety and depression as a those with complex needs, but it has helped only 58 people result of undergoing or the fear of undergoing the work since 2011. The forced closure of the Remploy factories capability assessment. under this Government has taken away the opportunity For all those reasons, the BMA has called for an end of sheltered work for many thousands of disabled people. to the WCA “with immediate effect”, believing that it should be replaced with Dame Anne Begg (Aberdeen South) (Lab): I visited my local Work Choice provider the other week. I was “a rigorous and safe system that does not cause avoidable harm”. amazed to discover that everyone who was there to Such systems are used in other countries, so why can we participate was on jobseeker’s allowance. They were not not use one of them here? That is why the motion calls on a disability benefit, even though they had disabilities. for the WCA to be scrapped. I did not think that that was what Work Choice was People assessed as capable of work and put on meant to be about. employment and support allowance within the work-related group now lose their contributory ESA after 12 months. John McDonnell: That is exactly what is reported by Some 700,000 disabled people are losing a total of constituency Member after constituency Member after £4.4 billion as a result of the 12-month cut-off. There their visits. I am concerned about time, so I will press on has been a massive escalation in the use of sanctions and take no further interventions, if Members do not against people who are on ESA or jobseeker’s allowance; mind. some 900,000 people were sanctioned last year. Let me turn to the personal independence payment. Some 3.2 million disabled people receive disability living Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): Is it not allowance. DLA is not a work benefit; it is meant to ironic, at the very least, that the people who are most help with the additional costs caused by disability. It affected by the one-year cut off are those who, for allows disabled people to get by and to overcome some instance, have a working partner or small savings—the of the restrictions that are forced upon them by their very hard-working people whom the Government say disability. From April 2013, DLA was supposed to be they want to protect? replaced gradually by PIP. I urge Members to read today’s National Audit Office report that assesses the roll-out. It states: John McDonnell: People thought that they were contributing to a scheme that they would see the benefits “Backlogs have developed at each stage of the claimant process. from. They now find that they have contributed, but Both the Department and assessment providers have processed fewer claims than they expected”. that they will no longer get the benefits. That is unjust. It states that by October, One in five of the people on JSA who were sanctioned “the Department had made only 16% of the number of decisions is disabled. Sanctions mean the loss of benefits altogether it expected, over 166,000 people had started new claims for for weeks or even months. That is compounded, as my Personal Independence Payment and 92,000 claims had been hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Yvonne Fovargue) transferred to the assessment provider and not yet returned to the said, by the increasing difficulty in securing advice or Department”. advocacy to appeal or challenge sanctions. Who is the assessment provider? After the WCA debacle, it is hard to believe that the Government allowed Atos Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) to share the contract with Capita. (Lab): I wonder whether my hon. Friend is aware of the The report goes on to say: case of one of my constituents. He was receiving ESA, “Claimants face delays, and the Department is not able to tell but had a heart attack during his assessment and was them how long they are likely to wait, potentially creating distress sanctioned as a result of leaving it. I called on the and financial difficulties.” Government to hold an independent review of the It states: inappropriate use of sanctions. They committed to do so in the Work and Pensions Committee, but are now “Citizens Advice has found that claimants are concerned about paying for their care, covering housing costs and having enough reneging on that. Is that not a disgrace? money to pay for necessities such as heating, electricity and food.” John McDonnell: Members have brought forward The Demos-Scope study calculates that 600,000 people example after example like that one. We are simply will be impacted by the introduction of PIP, with a total looking for some compassion and logic in the governance loss of £2.6 billion. of the system. The Government have ignored that, Among the many eligibility changes, there have been tragically. changes to the eligibility for the mobility component. Many people report that, as a result of sanctions, That means that 148,000 people will lose out on that they are dependent on doorstep loans and are using additional benefit. It also potentially denies access to a credit cards for everyday items. Some people have fallen Motability vehicle, and we know today that many people into long-term debt. Some Members met a representative are having their Motability cars removed. The irony is of Disability UK on Monday. He described all this as a that, as a result, they cannot get to work. route into destitution for many people. Disabled people are especially vulnerable to other Disabled people who are on ESA are placed on the benefit changes, and they will be disproportionately hit Work programme and offered support from Work Choice. by the bedroom tax. Some 72% of affected households The latest figures on the success rate of the Work include someone with a disability or major health problem, programme in finding employment for disabled people and 420,000 disabled people will lose on average £14 a show that only 5.3% of them secured employment. That week in housing benefit. One in three disabled people is is a 95% failure rate. Work Choice is meant to assist refused the discretionary housing payment. Shockingly, 429 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 430 Disabled People) Disabled People) [John McDonnell] The motion before the House “calls on the Government to end with immediate effect the work local councils have rejected applications from disabled capability assessment” people living in adapted properties who are unable to and if I may, I would like to look at the WCA in some downsize. Last week, it was also revealed that the detail. £347 million local welfare assistance fund to local councils had quietly been cut by the Government. It is a simple fact of government that policies designed The Welfare Reform Act 2012 also changed the uprating to deal with the general often struggle with the specific. of benefits basis from the retail prices index to the Despite the need for a clear structured process to assess consumer prices index, costing some families receiving whether someone qualifies for a benefit, I acknowledge DLA and the carer’s allowance £80 a week. It has been that no responsible Government can approach something estimated that 142,500 disabled people will be hit by the like the WCA as if it is some sort of industrial quality benefit cap, costing £2 billion. Universal credit looms control test. This is not a question that can always be over all of this. Research by the National Association of answered with a simple yes or no because decisions Citizens Advice Bureaux estimates that 116,000 disabled taken have a clear effect on people’s lives, and reaching people could lose £40 a week; that 230,000 severely the wrong decision can be devastating. However, the disabled people who live alone or with only a young Government have not approached the test that way. carer will get between £28 and £58 less a week; and that The test was created in 2008 by the previous Labour 100,000 disabled children will lose £28 a week. Government, as incapacity benefit was designed to be What do all these figures add up to? Although the replaced by the employment and support allowance. Government have refused to undertake a cumulative The coalition Government have carried that programme assessment of the effect of all the benefit changes on forward, including the key commitment that the WCA disabled people, others have done so. The Demos-Scope testing regime needed annual review and improvement study calculated that disabled people will lose £28.3 billion for at least the first five years of its life. There have been by 2018. Dr Simon Bamber concludes that disabled four such reviews: three under Professor Harrington people in poverty, who make up 4% of the population, and the latest under Dr Paul Litchfield, which was will bear 13% of the cuts and lose £4,660 a year. People published in December. Of Professor Harrington’s using social care who make up 3% of the population cumulative 49 recommendations, 35 were accepted in will also bear 13% of the cuts, and lose £6,409 a year. full and a further 10 in principle. Of the 35 accepted, In conclusion, what do these changes mean in reality? 29 have been fully implemented and three partially They mean poverty for many. They mean not enough implemented. A further three are still in progress. Of income for someone to heat their home adequately—there the 10 accepted in principle, five have been fully are nearly 1 million disabled people now in fuel poverty. implemented, two partially implemented and three are They mean someone choosing not to eat so that their in progress. We are making progress on improving the children can do so, and their feeling shamed and humiliated WCA. by having to rely on the generosity of others and On 12 December, the evidence-based review of the support from the food bank. I urge people to look at the WCA was published. It compared the results produced website, Calum’s List. For some it is all too much and by the WCA and those of an alternative designed by a they become another in a coroner’s report whose suicide consortium of experts and disability representative is associated with the loss of benefits. Many of the organisations, with a panel of experts reviewing each disabled people I have met say the same thing. They tell case. Many cases were looked at more than once. The me they feel hounded by the media, by politicians and report makes for interesting reading and two conclusions by this Government, just for being disabled and claiming jump out: the WCA creates a much more consistent the benefits they are entitled to receive. result than the proposed alternative; and the WCA is What the War on Welfare campaigners are demanding significantly more likely to accord with the judgment today is the truth. They want a cumulative impact produced by the expert panel reviewing each case than assessment of all welfare changes, so that the truth of with the proposed alternative. their plight can be revealed. They believe—perhaps naively—that if the truth is told, no decent society The conclusions are important because they tell us would allow its most vulnerable members to be treated how the WCA should work as a whole. We know that it in this way. That is why I supported the petition and is pretty much impossible to find a single general test tabled the motion before the House, and why I will be that fits all eventualities. What we have is a system with pressing it to a vote. an appeal mechanism that clearly anticipates that the WCA, even with Department for Work and Pensions Several hon. Members rose— staff interpretation and other evidence overlaid, will Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. not always produce perfect results. That is why there There will be a six-minute time limit on Back-Bench will be a considerable number of successful appeals. speeches starting now. It will be necessary to reduce the That is exactly how the system should work, and time further if it takes longer to get through the speakers, it does. and because there are two debates today, this one must The review of WCA found that the expert panel finish promptly. judged that about 26% of all cases presented were borderline, even with full access to information. If 11.43 am that is the case, we would expect an appeal process, George Hollingbery (Meon Valley) (Con): Thank you, which after all consists of expert opinion, to alter Madam Deputy Speaker. I have prepared a shorter version some decisions. They do so at a rate that is very similar of my remarks, so I hope Members will forgive me if to the rate the panel found as borderline in the review there is not as much detail as I might like to have given. process. That should surprise nobody. 431 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 432 Disabled People) Disabled People) Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): The hon. Trust in Portsmouth and A4e in Southampton, which is Gentleman is making some interesting comments. I run by a team led by George Gallop. I hope that we can have been very concerned about the effect of the WCA all celebrate some of the results of their work. on people with mental health problems, which are Alex, aged 20, was diagnosed with attention deficit particularly badly assessed, and have taken people to hyperactivity disorder, and found it almost impossible see the Minister. Did the study look at mental health to settle down to any kind of work. A4e’s relationship issues, which are particularly hard to assess with a with Harsco, a large building services company, was single snapshot? crucial in enabling Alex to train for a certificate under the construction skills certification scheme, and to become George Hollingbery: Indeed it did. The expert panel a scaffolder. Alex said: that sat to adjudicate on every single one of those test “I felt like nobody would ever employ me. I didn’t even know cases took the advice of mental health experts. A number what 1 was doing wrong…it is the kind of job that sets you up for of mental health specialists are now provided with life and I love it. If 1 look at how my life has changed in the last specialist training in the testing regime. I think the year I can’t believe it”. figure is 30, but that is off the top of my head and it Daniel, aged 19, was homeless and unable to look maybeasmanyas60. after his young family because he suffered from depression. In the fourth report, Dr Litchfield largely endorses He was one of the first young people to enter Radian the position I outline. He says: Housing’s “proving talent” programme, delivered by A4e in Southampton. He came through the scheme, “Any ‘test’ is necessarily a trade-off of many factors and the and now has a permanent job in technical services with WCA appears to be a reasonable and pragmatic tool.” Radian. He said: There remain those who call for its abolition, but suggestions “it feels amazing to be back on track, in employment providing for what to replace it with are rarely forthcoming. No for my family and feeling good about myself.” test is ever perfect, but the WCA has been designed with Sandra, aged 45, was a proud working mum of two, considerable rigour and is subject to a process of continuous trapped in a wheelchair. Because of ill health, she was improvement. made unemployed and became dependent on employment I hope that hon. Members will forgive this slightly and support allowance. At first she resented being referred tortuous journey through the WCA, but it is very to the Work programme, but her advisers and trainers important to show just how much trouble and care has helped to motivate her, and to give her the confidence been taken to design and improve it. It is not perfect and skills that she needed in order to return to work. and it will not always produce fair and just results, but She said: that is what the appeals process is for and there to catch. “Now I think about what I can do, instead of what I can’t”. That it is necessary to have some sort of objective test to help decision makers seems to me to be undeniable. David broke his back in an accident in 1997, and Hence I cannot support the motion’s call for the abolition received incapacity benefit for more than 15 years. At of the WCA. an ESA work-focused interview in December 2012, he was asked when he had last had a good laugh and when he had last smiled. He replied that what had saved his Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab): The hon. life was a passion for his reptile collection. David and Gentleman is giving a very technical analysis of the his wife have now signed off from ESA, and have set up WCA. My constituent, Mr McArdle, who runs the their own business in a shop in Copnor road, Portsmouth, Black Triangle campaigning group, has on his website selling and boarding exotic pets. and Facebook page a whole list of human stories about To me, those are inspiring stories of people afflicted how the WCA acts in practice. I wonder whether the by disability and sickness who, with the right help from hon. Gentleman would mind looking at that after his the right people at the right time, have managed to find speech today to get some of the human side, because their way back into employment, and, in so doing, have it is not just about a technical analysis of how these rediscovered their sense of self-confidence and self-worth. things work. Of course there is much more to do and many improvements can be made to the system, but surely George Hollingbery: I hope the hon. Gentleman will those are outcomes that we should all celebrate. acknowledge that in prefacing my remarks I made it Is all rosy in the garden? Of course not. There are still clear that this cannot be a mechanistic process, like many challenges, and many changes are required. There some sort of quality control process. It has to involve are still too many people who do not find permanent the human. I acknowledge that there are many cases employment. There are many whose benefit applications where results have been, shall we say, questionable—there and assessments take far too long to process, and who is no doubt about that. Nevertheless, that it is necessary are left without an income in the meantime. As has to have such a test is, I think, undeniable: the Government already been said, the transition from disability living cannot, will-nilly, go judging entitlement to benefits allowance to personal independence payments is proving without any test of any sort. Yes, it is difficult to make to be a challenge. For all that, however, the evidence the case that I am making without sounding dry and that I see on my visits suggests that many of our fellow technocratic—I take his point absolutely. citizens are being given a new lease of life by the In the time remaining, I would like to draw the Government’s approach to welfare, and the central House’s attention to some real outcomes produced by assumption that there is nothing compassionate about— my local providers, which I hope the hon. Gentleman will take as a human face of what can be a reasonably Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. successful programme. My local providers are the Shaw The hon. Gentleman’s time is up. 433 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 434 Disabled People) Disabled People) 11.52 am longer than normal. I have a constituent who has very aggressive multiple sclerosis who is desperate for this Dame Anne Begg (Aberdeen South) (Lab): I too, pay help but who cannot get it because he does not fall tribute to the WOW campaigners not only for securing under the special measures category. more than 100,000 signatures to the petition, but for securing today’s debate. If anything could be said to The benefits I have mentioned are those that everybody illustrate the effectiveness of social media in opening up knows are specifically for disabled people and people the lives of disabled people and allowing them to connect with health problems, but there are other benefits, too, with other people throughout the country, it is an event and other changes to benefits that fall disproportionately such as this, inspired by the ability to connect with on that group. Which single group is hardest hit by the others who may be experiencing similar trials and changes to housing benefit and local housing allowance? tribulations—in this instance, at the hands of the It is disabled people and those with health problems. Department for Work and Pensions. Which single group is hardest hit by the bedroom tax? The Government say that they are not picking on Surprise, surprise, it is disabled people and those with disabled people and those with severe health problems. health problems. Which group is hardest hit by the Let us look at the evidence. The main benefits that are removal of the full council tax relief? Again, it is paid to people with disabilities and health problems are disabled people and people with health problems. That ESA, benefits paid following work capability assessments, is because all these changes fall on people of working and the new personal independence payment which will age, and the people of working age who are most likely replace the disability living allowance. Every one of to be on these benefits are people who cannot work those benefits is currently undergoing enormous changes because of a disability or a health problem. and reforms, initiated by the Welfare Reform Act 2012. Who is the hardest hit by the overall benefits cap? We know that those reforms are not going well. Only The Government said it would not be disabled people, this week, we learnt that the work capability reassessments and it probably is not them, but it is their carers, had been suspended, and that Atos, the company delivering particularly if they are family carers. Who is hardest hit them, wants to end its contract. We are hearing rumours by the social care cuts that mean that local authorities that a face-to-face work capability assessment in the are not able to provide the social care that people need? home is taking up to six months to arrange. We know Of course, it is disabled people and those with health that those who are lucky enough to receive ESA, if they problems. If universal credit ever comes in, severe are in the work-related activity group and claiming the disablement premium goes, which was paid to people contributory element, will receive the benefit for only a who are single and living alone. year. Because it is not just the obvious benefits that go to Also, as has been mentioned, the people who are in disabled people that are being cut or are in chaos or not the contributory ESA group are the ones who have working, but all these other benefits and changes that worked all their lives—who have paid their national are also affecting people who have a disability and their insurance and who thought they were paying into an families, there is an absolute need for a cumulative insurance scheme that would look after them if the impact assessment. I have been calling for a cumulative worst came to the worst and they were not able to work impact assessment for a number of years now and that any more. Interestingly therefore, it is not just those is because no one knows precisely the full force of who come from the poorest backgrounds, and whose everything that may be falling on individual families whole families have perhaps depended on benefits, who and individual households. Unless we do that cumulative are suffering under this Government—although that impact assessment, we will never know, and in the group most definitely is—but it is also people who meantime those families and households are struggling thought they had done the right thing. It is people who to makes ends meet, falling into debt and having to have done what previous Governments asked and have make the choice between eating and heating. They are worked and contributed and have done as well as they having to make choices we should not have to make in could. 21st century Britain. That is why I am very happy to The National Audit Office report published today support this debate this afternoon. shows that the roll-out of PIP seems to be in chaos as well. There are huge backlogs, and there are constituents of mine who have been waiting for over six months to 11.59 am get a determination after they have had their face-to-face Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD): I congratulate interview. the War on Welfare campaign on its petition and on Caroline Lucas: The hon. Lady is making a powerful securing this debate. I also congratulate the hon. Member point. These delays in PIP payments in particular are for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on introducing causing so much stress. Does she share my horror that, it today. Although I have not supported every detail of for example, in Brighton some front-line services have the Government’s welfare reform, I certainly support been doing their own surveys of how long people have the overall thrust of what they are doing. Under Labour, been waiting, and the advice centre in Brighton and the welfare budget had spiralled out of control and Hove found that only three of 60 clients—fewer than become unsustainable. Liberal Democrats in government 5%—have actually been assessed? Does she agree that are building a stronger economy and a fairer society so that causes massive uncertainty and stress? that everyone can get on in life. We are fully committed to enabling people with disabilities to have the same Dame Anne Begg: Yes, and it is particularly difficult opportunities and choices in life as everyone else. It is for people who have quite progressive diseases. For important to note that disabled people are moving into those with terminal illnesses, there is an attempt to get jobs at the rate of more than 100 placements every payments out quite quickly, but even then it takes working day. 435 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 436 Disabled People) Disabled People) Liz Kendall: Why does the hon. Gentleman support assessments. The limit for PIP assessments is supposed the bedroom tax, which has affected 2,300 people in to be 30 working days, but Atos is clearly failing miserably Leicester? The council has overspent the discretionary to meet that target. I was contacted recently by the Bute fund by £100,000 this year because there has been such Advice Centre in my constituency. It pointed out that it, demand for it, and it had to increase it from £212,000 and the client, have three weeks from the initial phone last year to £813,000 this year because of a tax that he call in which to complete and return the application supported. Why does he support it? form. The centre and the client have met the deadline on every occasion, but then the long wait begins. One client Mr Reid: The hon. Lady’s question is based on the who has been waiting since 2 July 2013 has heard wrong premise. I actually voted against the bedroom nothing from Atos. Two other clients on Bute have been tax. As I said in my introduction, I did not support waiting since early October. The advice centre tells me every detail of the Government’s proposals. that phone calls to the Department for Work and Pensions It is interesting to note all the opposition from Labour get a helpful response, but the DWP puts the blame on Members to everything the Government are doing. I Atos, and from Atos there is complete silence. That is look forward to hearing what the Opposition spokesperson utterly unacceptable. says about this later, because I understand that Labour Another constituent has e-mailed me to say that her do not propose to spend any more on welfare payments current employment and support allowance claim started than the Government are doing. It will therefore be last May and she submitted her medical questionnaire interesting to hear what the official Labour line is, as in July. After many months of waiting, she was eventually opposed to all the complaints that we are hearing from told by Atos that her work capability assessment would its Back Benchers. be conducted two days after her contribution-based As well as tackling the economic mess that Labour ESA ends if she is placed in the work-related activity left behind, Liberal Democrats in government have group. Such delays make complete nonsense of the blocked the excesses that a Conservative-only Government system. would have implemented. For example, we prevented It is true that any benefit awarded will be backdated the Conservatives from freezing disability benefits. Instead, but, as my constituent points out, a claimant may have they are going up by 2.7% this year. Assessment of been eligible for the support group at the time of their applications for disability benefits is an integral part of application. If their health improves over the year, they welfare reform, and this Government have improved on may be placed in the work-related activity group backdated the system left behind by Labour. Thanks to Liberal to the time of their application, yet if the assessment Democrat amendments to Labour’s Welfare Reform had been conducted quickly, they may have been placed Act 2007, the Government are required to conduct five in the support group. If the person has savings, their annual independent reviews of the work capability ESA will stop after a year, and that may well be before it assessment. In government, we are now acting on those has even started to be paid. That just makes nonsense of reviews to improve the system. Professor Harrington the system. completed the first three reviews, and found that our The long delays are very unfair to claimants, putting efforts to improve the WCA were making a difference. them under increased financial pressure and stress. Their suitability for work could be wrongly assessed as the Sheila Gilmore: For the purposes of putting the record assessment is completed such a long time after the straight, the requirement for independent assessments application was made. of employment and support allowance was in the original legislation, pre-2010. As I have said, the system looks fine in theory, and the Government have made improvements, but Atos Mr Reid: I did not catch the year that the hon. Lady has clearly completely failed. As we all know, it has mentioned. The WCA was introduced by the Labour announced that it wants to throw in the towel. The Government, and this Government have improved on it. Government must get the mess created by Atos’s abject failure sorted out as a matter of urgency, appoint a Following Professor Harrington’s reviews, the company that can do the job properly and get the Government gave Department for Work and Pensions backlog cleared as quickly as possible. People applying decision makers more flexibility to request additional for disability benefits deserve their application to be evidence, such as a letter from an applicant’s consultant. assessed speedily and accurately. The fourth independent review was completed in December 2013 by Dr Litchfield. He found that the DWP had made good progress on implementing recommendations Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab): Does the hon. from the previous reviews, which have made notable Gentleman take any responsibility for the Government improvements. However, despite all the improvements whom he supports? to the system, and having a system that looks fine in theory, we all know from our constituency work that, in Mr Reid: The hon. Gentleman should remember that practice, Atos has failed miserably to carry out the Atos was appointed by the Labour Government. It was assessment contract. Appeals have been upheld for 40% an appalling decision by the previous Labour Government, of the original decisions. That shows that there is something and this Government inherited the contract. wrong with the initial assessments and that more I support most of the Government’s welfare reforms. improvements to the assessment system must be made. They are fine in theory, but in practice, there is a huge We are all aware from our constituency case load of number of problems. Atos has failed completely. The people waiting for many months for their assessment to Government must get the mess sorted out urgently, and be carried out. That applies to assessments for personal I hope that the Minister will be able to reassure us on independence payments as well as for work capability that point today. 437 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 438 Disabled People) Disabled People) 12.7 pm Between January 2011 and November 2011, some 10,600 employment and support allowance claims ended and a Ian Mearns (Gateshead) (Lab): I am grateful to my date of death was recorded within six weeks of the hon. Friends the Members for Hayes and Harlington claim end. This Government have repeatedly refused to (John McDonnell) and for Easington (Grahame M. release updated 2013 statistics on deaths within six Morris) for securing this debate via the Backbench weeks of the end of an ESA claim, calling such requests Business Committee and for bringing to our attention for information “vexatious”. Four people a day are the fact that the WOW campaign has gathered 104,000 dying within six weeks of being declared fit for work signatures on its petition on the Directgov website. under the WCA—it is scandalous and an indictment of The fact that this motion has to be considered by this place. Some might consider this bad taste, but I am Parliament is an indictment of our political system. It is told that there was a story doing the rounds that when an issue and a cause that I brought to the House’s the bones of Richard III were discovered in Leicester, attention via a debate in Westminster Hall a little over a Atos carried out an assessment and judged him fit for year ago. I am pleased to say that it continues to receive work. It would be funny if it was not so sad. It is a sad the deserved consideration of this House as a wrong truth faced by 12,000-plus families who every year face that needs to be righted. The truth is that we do not their own personal tragedies of this nature—it is a need an independent cumulative impact assessment to reality. tell us what is going on. Every week, Members in this As if not bad enough, workfare and welfare reforms House have to deal with the devastating damage caused are of course only part of the impact; cuts to local by the so-called welfare reforms. government expenditure also have the heaviest impact In my own constituency of Gateshead, the reforms on the most vulnerable. The largest share of adult are having a profound impact on people’s lives, social care users—older people, people with physical disproportionately affecting disabled people, their carers disabilities and people with mental health problems—have and their families. The policies and their implementation to bear the brunt of reductions in social care. The are causing immeasurable anxiety and tangible human recent joint inquiry by the all-party groups on local suffering. We all know what the effects of them are. We government and on disability showed that four in 10 disabled support this motion as a means of exposing the truth, people are failing to have their basic social care needs which is that the Government are driven by one consistent met and that nearly half of disabled people say that ideological principle—a determination to protect the services are not supporting them to get out and about in privileged by demonising and attacking the poorest and the community. Three quarters of the 4,500 respondents most vulnerable in our society. to “The Tipping Point” survey said that losing some of their disability living allowance income would mean Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) (Con) rose— they would require more social care support from their local council, at a time when the councils with the Ian Mearns: I will not give way for the moment. largest numbers of chronically sick and disabled people How else can we explain the fact that of the £63.4 billion are suffering the largest cuts in grant funding from of public expenditure cuts forecast by 2015, 29% of central Government. them fall on disabled people who make up only 8% of In my youth I was actively involved in many Amnesty the population? Even worse, how else can we explain International campaigns, such as those on Chile and the fact that those with the most severe disabilities, who South Africa, and those against oppressive regimes in make up only 2% of the population, have to endure central and Latin America. I never would have imagined 15% of the cuts? In the face of that, can we continue to then that in 2014 the UK would be the subject of an regard ourselves as a civilised society? What kind of Amnesty campaign, yet at its annual general meeting in civilised society seeks to finance its deficit recovery 2013 Amnesty UK passed a resolution recognising that programme out of the suffering of the poorest and the human rights of sick and disabled people in the UK most vulnerable while managing to target tax cuts to the had been dreadfully compromised. most privileged? The convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, Thirty-one people died in the three years to October which the UK ratified in 2009, makes provisions for 2011 waiting for their appeals against the assessments access to support services, personal assistance access to which said that they were able to work. The BBC’s social protection, and poverty reduction programmes “Panorama” programme reported in July 2012 that, on for disabled people and their families. The Government’s average, 32 people died every week who the Government cold and callous welfare changes are in direct contravention had declared could be helped into work in the medium of all those stipulations. The time has come for a term. grown-up debate, to move beyond the smearing of poor, disabled and chronically sick people—demonising Grahame M. Morris (Easington) (Lab): My hon. them should stop. We need to move to a debate on Friend is making some excellent and powerful points. how we design a society where all UK citizens are Does he agree that the work capability test is not fit for supported and given opportunities to contribute. I purpose and that taking a template from an American utterly support today’s debate and I will vote in favour health care model on the descriptors is absolute nonsense? of the motion.

Ian Mearns: I am about to discuss that, and I could 12.14 pm not agree with my hon. Friend more. Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con): I am pleased to Put bluntly, this Government, the Department for have the opportunity to speak on this very important Work and Pensions and their agencies are telling us, subject, and it is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member repeatedly, that people who are dying are fit for work. for Gateshead (Ian Mearns). 439 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 440 Disabled People) Disabled People) As a member of the Work and Pensions Committee, I The personal independence payment, which is being understand that the benefit system is an extraordinarily introduced gradually to ensure that there is a responsible complex one. The system was born out of a desire to change to protect disabled people, will involve regular provide support to those who need it the most. However, assessments. This means that people will receive funding years of mismanagement, and well-intentioned but ill- that is tailored to their individual changing needs. In thought-out additions and changes, have left the actuality, this will result in the proportion of people system in a shocking mess. Listening to accounts of receiving the highest rate for both components increasing mismanagement, wrong payments and the relegation to 20%, and the proportion of people receiving at least of people who are taught that there is no role for them one component at the highest rate increasing to 56%. in the workplace has shown me that reform is not only The Government’s Work Choice programme has already important but essential. helped 9,500 people to move into employment. The new This Government’s reforms offer responsible protection enterprise allowance will support disabled people moving for those who need it the most, while supporting those into self-employment, and my hon. Friend the Member who can move back to work. First, let me say that this for Meon Valley (George Hollingbery), who is no longer Government are committed to supporting those with in his place, gave us some good examples of that. The disabilities. Here in the UK, we are committed to spending £15 million investment in the Access to Work scheme more than £40 billion a year, which is more than Italy, will ensure that small businesses do not have to bear the Germany or France spend, and is a fifth more than the costs of additional aids or equipment when taking European average. on disabled staff. This programme helps more than We have taken the strategic view that it is not enough 30,000 disabled people to gain mainstream employment, to think of disability as a singular issue. Instead, we and stay in employment, every year. have chosen to work across Departments to look at The steps taken by this Government bring back the transport, employment and social involvement. The core principles of the welfare system: to provide support Opposition enjoy flashing big figures; they go for the where it is needed; and, just as importantly, to enable headline and do not fill in the detail. Let me give them a those who can go back to work to do so. I am proud to few figures to consider while we look at the rationale. be a member of a Government who are taking logical The amount of disability living allowance underpaid steps to address the fact that each person is individual, per year is £190 million; the amount of DLA lost that conditions change over time and that each person through fraud and error between 1997 and 2010 was in Great Britain has a place in our society. £10 billion; and the amount that welfare payment increases between 1997 and 2010 cost the average hard-working 12.19 pm family per year is £3,000. These stark figures show that something has gone seriously wrong in our support Mrs Anne McGuire (Stirling) (Lab): It is a pleasure to system. follow the hon. Member for Weaver Vale (Graham Evans). This is not the first time that the House has Grahame M. Morris: I note the figures that the hon. called for an assessment of the cumulative impact of Gentleman has given, but does he recognise that in the welfare reforms on disabled people, but this time it is UK in 2009 we spent 2.9% of our GDP on disability being called for by not only disability organisations and and sickness while nine of our OECD neighbours spent the official Opposition, but by the more than 100,000 an average of 3.2% of their GDP? Far from spending people who signed the War on Welfare petition. Like more than our OECD partners, we spend less. others in this House, I encourage and congratulate the people who signed it, and who made us bring this issue to the Floor of the House. Graham Evans: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. I was talking about the current spending. I I recognise, as did my hon. Friend the Member for also point out to him that in 2009, 1 million more Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell), that this is people were in relative poverty; 500,000 more children probably an historic occasion: it is the first time that were in relative poverty; 200,000 more pensioners were disabled people have framed the agenda in this House. I in relative poverty; 150,000 more people were unemployed; hope that we can respect that, regardless of our views. 25,000 more young people were unemployed; and I recognise some of the good work that the Minister 1.3 million fewer people were in work. These figures of State, Department for Work and Pensions, the hon. show that the Government’s policies are working. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), is trying I will return to my original point. When 71% of to do, including with employers, to fulfil potential. His claimants are given indefinite awards, with no need for heart is probably—I was going to give a caveat, but I reassessment, it is no surprise that changes in conditions will not: his heart is in the right place. The difficulty that are not picked up. In fact, a third of people with an we all have is not with his heart, but with his and his impairment or a long-term health condition in one year Government’s proposals for welfare reform. report that they do not have it a year later, according to It is with sadness that I note that we are yet again the Office for National Statistics. People’s conditions asking for a cumulative impact assessment that the and needs change all the time. It is no surprise that Government should have undertaken when they introduced people feel that they have been paid off and forgotten their welfare reform package. Since then, there has been when no one takes the time to look at how their lives a pretty crude campaign of vilification of those in have changed; it is no surprise that those with deteriorating receipt of disability benefits. The Government have conditions do not receive the support that they are attempted to conflate the tiny proportion of claimants entitled to; and it is no surprise that those who have who defraud the system, with whom none of us in this conditions that are improving are not helped out of a House have any truck, with others. The hon. Member state of dependency and back into work. for Weaver Vale fell into that trap when he talked about 441 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 442 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Mrs Anne McGuire] gives the Government scope, without the need for further primary legislation, to make serious changes to terms fraud and error. Those are two completely different and interpretations relating to the benefits that we are things. The Government have conflated those attempting talking about, including PIP? With the changes that the to defraud the system with those legitimately in receipt Chancellor is promising in relation to annually managed of a range of benefits. As we all know in this House, expenditure, there will in future be more times when a that has resulted in an increase in disability hate crime. number is fixed on, and people are squeezed off benefit I also feel sadness because the Prime Minister made to reach it. the following commitment in 2010: “people who are sick, who are vulnerable, the elderly—I want you Mrs McGuire: Yes. I could not agree more with my to know that we will always look after you”. hon. Friend, and I am delighted that he has made his He even assured us that cuts would be made in a fair point. way, and that we would ask The Minister got quite agitated just now. I hope that “those on higher incomes to shoulder more of the burden than he will give us some facts and figures about the those on lower incomes.” implementation of PIP, because there has been a wall of Yet the reality is that disabled people lose nine times silence. We all know what is happening in our constituencies, more than most others, according to the Centre for but we are accused of giving anecdotal evidence; he is in Welfare Reform, and those disabled people with greater a position to give us the real evidence. needs sometimes lose up to 19 times more than other Since 2010, it obviously has not mattered what was people. said to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Opposition Members are not against welfare reform; about his welfare reforms. He has become a victim of indeed, as many have pointed out today, we started it his rhetoric and is obsessed by the idea of his legacy. We when in government. In opposition, we have offered on used to have beneficiaries of the social security system; more than one occasion to work with the Government now many people feel that they are victims of that in a consensual way to try to find a way forward. I know system. I ask the Secretary of State to put his cumulative from conversations with disabled people that they are impact assessment where his reforms are. I say to him, not against welfare reform, but they are against what “Do the assessment, and prove me and 100,000 people has happened over the past three years, because the out there totally wrong, if you have the courage.” I say welfare package fails on various counts. categorically that if he will not or cannot do that, we are The Prime Minister’s comments about looking after entitled to ask why he is still in his job. the most vulnerable run counter to the fact that the Government’s welfare package disproportionately affects 12.27 pm disabled people, who are hit simultaneously by various changes, as my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) (Con): It is a pleasure to South (Dame Anne Begg) pointed out. There is the follow the right hon. Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire). employment and support allowance, universal credit, I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington the bedroom tax, the benefit cap, the change from the (John McDonnell) on securing this debate and representing disability living allowance to the personal independence the 104,000 petitioners. The National Audit Office report payment, and the changes in social care provision that published this morning on the implementation of PIP is others have pointed out. a disappointment, but it is important to point out, at the outset, that the report talks about the implementation, I want to turn briefly to PIP, because we were told rather than the policy aims. That is important. The that it would help the most severely disabled people. If report is not a criticism of the policy aims. It makes it that had been the outcome of the policy change, perhaps very clear that it is far too early to give any view of the we could have understood it, but the Government started implications of the policy change that is being implemented with a number and framed a policy around that number. through PIP. The National Audit Office report published this morning is devastating; it shows that the Government went into a This issue and this debate are framed in the context reform of benefits that affects the most disabled in our of the idea that changes to the welfare state are being community without knowing where they were going, or undertaken in response to the need for austerity. I how they would implement the reform. According to would argue that the issue is far more important than the report, on the first day of the claims process, the that; it is very important that it is dealt with, not Government met their target, but when we get to the because of austerity but despite it, because we have a claims being passed to the assessment provider, that failing welfare system. Anybody in this Chamber who information is not recorded. The expectation is that argued that, prior to 2010, we had a system that we assessments will be completed in 42 days, but 64 days is could be proud of would be very brave indeed. It is to what is actually being delivered. Worst of all, the terminally the credit of the Government that the welfare reform ill—those who have a life expectancy of no more than agenda is being implemented not primarily to save six months—are having to wait 28 days. The Minister money, but to ensure that the system does not trap may tell me that that has changed, and I hope that it people in a way that is unproductive and unfair. has, but it seems that a sixth of those people’s total Today’s debate highlights the significant problem that lifespan will be used up while they are in the bureaucratic the Opposition have in relation to welfare reform. When morass of the PIP assessment. I spoke to Welsh Labour Members last night, I was surprised to hear that they were on a one-line Whip for Mark Durkan (Foyle) (SDLP): My right hon. Friend this debate. I am staggered by that, and I am pleased to has described the effects of the Welfare Reform Act see the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) here. 2012; is she concerned that it was cast in a way that Given that the Welsh Labour Government have produced 443 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 444 Disabled People) Disabled People) significant documents—they are not particularly impressive, were genuine about helping people back into work, they when one reads the detail—complaining about the impact would allow disabled people in Wales who need training of welfare reform in Wales, I would have expected and support to access those programmes. Labour Members from Wales to highlight their concerns in a debate as important as this one. Surprisingly, they are not here. Perhaps that is because they know full well 12.33 pm that the Labour party is committed to a zero-growth spending review. We have heard Members express a lot Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab): Just after 1970, of passionately held points of view today; it is important when I was first elected, I remember speaking in a to point out that in a zero-growth spending review, it is debate about social security with Sir Keith Joseph, the very difficult to envisage any increase in the welfare arch-right winger of the Heath days. We all believed at budget. That is a point that any honest Member should the time that he was going to hit the poor, and of be happy to make from the Opposition Benches. course—in a marginal way, compared with today—he did. However, remarkably, in the Macmillan era and My hon. Friend the Member for Meon Valley (George even the in Heath-Keith Joseph era, the welfare state Hollingbery) highlighted the fact that work capability was by and large a status quo. I have to say—I will assessments, the abolition of which the motion calls probably never say it again—that even in the Thatcher for, have been changed and reformed throughout years this chaos did not happen. She did a lot of the Government’s period in office. Most of the things—she privatised all the public utilities, smashed recommendations of Professor Harrington’s reviews have the pits and all the rest of it—but, by and large, we never been accepted, and the number of complaints coming had capability assessments or a march by 3,000 blind through my constituency office has reduced. The implication and disabled people, which was what heralded the beginning of Labour Members’ speeches is that there should be no of this coalition. work capability assessments whatsoever, although I do I had never seen such a march. I was on crutches at not think that that is Labour’s policy. Are they saying the time, having had a hip replacement, so I thought that there should or should not be some sort of work that as I qualified for the march, I had better get on it. capability assessment? If we have work capability Blind people were telling me then about what was likely assessments, as I believe that we should, any responsible to happen. I hardly believed them, but we now know the Government should obtain medical advice from experts truth about the mess that has been created for the and implement their recommendations, which is exactly people I met at the Atos headquarters last Wednesday. what the Government are doing. It was not a trade union gathering; it was a different Is the system perfect? Clearly not yet. Is it a problem gathering altogether. There were more wheelchairs than that 40% of cases are won on appeal? I take it as a there were police. Fancy speaking to a crowd of 70 to badge of pride when I win an appeal, but of course the 100 people surrounded by wheelchairs. Those people figure of 40% is too high. However, we are implementing had been crippled for years. Like my constituent, David the changes that have been recommended, and it is Cowpe, many of them had been turned down after their irresponsible to call for the abolition of any work work capability assessment, although they were too capability test because that is not in keeping with the disabled even to get out of their wheelchair without whole purpose of welfare reform—to target support at help. the poorest in society. That crowd I was speaking to was totally different The hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington talked from those at the meetings I took part in at Tower Hill, about the impact of removing the spare room subsidy—the Pentonville jail and wherever. These were disabled people so-called bedroom tax—on people with disabilities, and who wanted someone to speak up for them. There are Labour Members told us that the policy has had a many of them in the House of Commons today. We met tremendous effect in many local authorities throughout some this morning and there are loads of them—I am England. I take a keen interest in the issue and regularly told I am not supposed to refer to them—in the Public speak at length with my local authority in north Wales. Gallery, and they are different. This country is made of Figures for Conwy county borough council and money, so we are told. The Prime Minister tells us that Denbighshire county council, which are both close to money is no object—that was what he said—and that my constituency, show that the discretionary housing was what I told those people last Wednesday. I said, funding will probably not be spent in full and that rent “You know, I wish he’d say money was no object for arrears in north Wales housing associations are falling disabled people.” in two out of three cases. The statistics shows that more It really is a scandal. When I used to do the tribunals than two thirds of discretionary housing awards have for the National Union of Mineworkers, I would represent been made because of a need arising owing to factors five people and there would be probably only nine in outside welfare reform. From listening to Opposition total at a meeting in Nottingham, but we regarded that Members, one would think that every single change is as a busy day. Now, with this business of Atos, that having a huge impact, yet figures from a Labour-controlled lousy, rotten firm that is in charge—for a while anyway, local authority clearly show that that is not the case. so I am told, before it moves on to other pastures—literally The Work programme is a success. It attempts to hundreds of thousands of people are being turned treat people as individuals and is getting people back to down. When I represented people at tribunals, it used to work. However, on getting people back to work, I want be that we would have an appeal in four weeks and I to highlight a disgraceful fact. Wales has European-funded would be off to Nottingham with those miners, but projects that give people training and skills, and ensure David Cowpe had cancer and waited 10 months for an that they get closer to the workplace, yet the Welsh appeal, and he died before he had a chance. It is high Labour Government have denied any Work programme time that people understood that that is the chaos we client access to those training programmes. If Labour are living in today and got rid of this mess. 445 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 446 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Mr Dennis Skinner] For the findings of such a wide-ranging assessment to be useful they would have to be collated over a set We need to realise that this is a country with enough period, and it is too soon in the welfare reform process money to give those on millionaires’ row a tax cut of for the results to be meaningful. more than £150,000 a year. There is enough money for The second part of the motion, in calling for the Trident and all kinds of things that Governments love abolition of the work capability assessment, rather conflicts to do, but here we are with an ageing society and a lot with the element of the motion that says that we should more disabled people—what is wrong with that; we improve support for people who are not in work. The should be providing for them—and the reason they are whole purpose of the assessment is to look at the level on demonstrations like they never were before is that of disability of each individual and the impact that it they are desperate, desperate people who want us to do has on their work capability, and, where possible, to something to help them. That is what this debate is provide opportunities for them to acquire work skills really about. It is about that Atos demonstration last and get back into work and achieve independence, week when people were saying—not cheering me on, which is infinitely preferable to being benefit dependent. but asking me—“Dennis, do something about it,” and The problems with the Atos contract are well documented that is what we should be doing today. and have already been referred to. The work capability assessments are important and should continue, but Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. accuracy is essential, waiting times should not be excessive, there should be proper use of supporting medical opinion, 12.39 pm and assessors should be of a sufficient calibre to ensure Dame Angela Watkinson (Hornchurch and Upminster) that the process is carried out accurately, helpfully and (Con): Follow that, as they say. I promise not to play to properly. Standards throughout the country need to be the Gallery, but it may disappoint the hon. Member for consistent, and we need to recognise that some people Bolsover (Mr Skinner) to know that I share his poor, have lifelong conditions that will never change or improve, working-class credentials. so there is no point in their having repeat assessments. The motion has three elements. The first calls for a People with learning disabilities need extra help to cumulative impact assessment on a wide range of social get into work. A very good project in my constituency services, which would be extremely complex. The spectrum does exactly that. I am running out of time; I do not of disability alone includes those that are unchanging, know where it has all gone. Welfare reform is right in those that are progressive—there is constant change—and principle. We should support those who cannot work— those that are variable, such as multiple sclerosis and that is non-negotiable—but identify those who can and bipolar disorder, where people have peaks and troughs, should. feeling well and extremely unwell. Such an assessment would also have a wide range of contributors, including 12.45 pm local authorities—in particular social services departments Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) (Lab): This is —children and adult services, the Departments for Work one of the most important debates that we have had, and Pensions, for Communities and Local Government certainly since I have been a Member of Parliament, and for Health, care homes and charities. Collating all because it concerns 11.3 million people who are the that information would be an enormous task. most vulnerable in our society. I congratulate my hon. The hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) referred to Remploy and I want to relate a McDonnell) and those who signed the petition on securing visit that I made to a large Marks & Spencer distribution the debate, and the Backbench Business Committee centre in Castle Donington with which Remploy works on providing time for it. We know that the mark of a closely. It does not provide jobs itself, but it works in decent society is how it treats the vulnerable—the sick, partnership with Marks & Spencer, directing people the disabled, the elderly. There may be a case for reforming with a wide range of disabilities, including ex-servicemen welfare and introducing reforms, but reforms that impact who had suffered injuries, people with disabilities and most on the disabled are wrong. I will not go into the everything between those two points that could possibly statistics because they have already been referred to, but be imagined. There was a very good training element, I think it is universally accepted that the benefit cuts with each newly employed person going through the hitting the disabled mean that they are about 30% worse training centre and having their strengths and weaknesses off than other people. My mind boggles as to why we observed so that they could be placed appropriately. I should put the greatest burden of cuts on the disabled would like to see such a system replicated throughout and the unwell—the vulnerable in society. That is why the country. I welcome the opportunity to debate this matter. We must also remember carers in general, but in I want to refer in detail to the effects on deafblind particular children who care for disabled parents and people. The changes—the stress from the form filling, have duties to perform before they go to school in the the assessment and the convoluted process, and the morning, often coming home at lunchtime rather than changes in the payments—are having a tremendous taking part in school activities, and shopping on the impact on the 365,000 people who are both deaf and way home. They prepare meals and take on all the other blind. A mother of two deafblind adult sons describes domestic responsibilities. It is a huge burden for young how one of them uses the disability living allowance. children. When they come to the end of statutory She says: education, they have a big decision as to whether to go “I worry that MPs don’t understand how deafblind people on to further education and think about their future communicate and just how important communicating is to them. career or to stay at home and care for their disabled It can be very lonely and frustrating for the deafblind person and parent. They need special attention. can ultimately affect the deafblind person’s mental health. My 447 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 448 Disabled People) Disabled People) eldest son uses his DLA to pay for his 1-to-1 support; that money result of my trade union activities. I was not a shirker, gets him the life he wants. Before he had the right support, he because I wanted to work and support my young family, exhibited very difficult behaviours because he was frustrated.” but I could not get employment. She says that he could cause danger to himself and to The second experience was talking with a former others, but when he got his one-to-one support, his life Remploy worker who was about to lose his job. I completely changed. She continued: remember him telling me that he was fit to work but “My son is a sociable friendly man who is now able to take a that his face was so badly disfigured that he could not full part in everyday life and make decisions for himself, the go out in public without getting a terrible reaction. I difference is amazing! It would have been a waste of money”— remember him saying, “Mr Sheridan, where can I work? and obviously cost more— Where can I go? If I get on a bus, people will get off. If I “to place him in the secure residential accommodation.” go into a restaurant, people will walk out. So where do He is now much happier and his family is happier as I go?” The only enjoyment that man had was going out well. We must always remember that saving money at in his disabled person’s car to get some privacy. That one end might mean spending more money later and so was taken away from him. This is about treating people be a false economy. with respect and dignity. The people who conduct I also want to mention the closure of Remploy factories. the Atos assessments do not take those things into I used to visit my Remploy factory in Bolton all the consideration. time. The people there were really happy to have a job When I was unemployed and trying to look after my to go to. They wanted to work and earn a living, not to young family, I was not a shirker, as some Conservative take state benefits. The closures were very much an Members might have portrayed me. This debate shows ideological decision by the Government. There were how putting workers against the unemployed and public difficulties in the Remploy system, but they were with against private is a sinister but typical policy of the the management at the top of the hierarchy, who were coalition Government. keeping a lot of the money. The changes that were needed to make Remploy more effective should have Mr Reid: The hon. Gentleman will recall that it was a been made at the top, where money was being wasted. former shadow spokesperson from his party who used The ordinary disabled person working in the factory the word “shirker.” was not causing that waste. Rather than looking properly at how to make Remploy work better, the Government Jim Sheridan: Well, whoever said it, I was certainly managed to abolish it. As a result, many of the people not a shirker, because I was desperate for work but who worked there have ended up unemployed. They are could not get it. sitting at home, claiming state benefits and getting incredibly depressed, because—let us face it—with so I look at the Minister and must say that—I sincerely many people unemployed, their chances of getting a job hope this will not damage his career, or indeed my are negligible. reputation—as Conservatives go, he is quite a decent Lastly, I want to talk about work capability assessments man. I hazard a guess—it is no more than that—that he and Atos. Much has been said about that in Parliament. would not mind being shifted to another portfolio. My constituent, Mr Jason Froggatt, lost his job because Those on benefits are demonised, and no consideration of illness, but Atos then said that he was fit to work but is given to the circumstances behind why they are claiming. needed to do so near a toilet—that was actually in the There are some in this place and in the popular press assessment. He, his wife and their son now face losing who are obsessed with demonising people on welfare or their home because they do not have enough money. I disability benefits, which I think is unfortunate. wrote to the Secretary of State a few weeks ago about that case but am yet to receive a response. We have The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions heard many other examples of people who are very ill (Mike Penning) rose— being told that they are fit for work. Jim Sheridan: I hope I did not offend the Minister. Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. Mike Penning: The hon. Gentleman might have destroyed 12.51 pm his career by saying such nice things about me. I wanted Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (Lab): to say that he is very generous. I, too, congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell), my hon. Jim Sheridan: The Minister is safe in that regard, Friend the Member for Easington (Grahame M. Morris) because I do not hold out any hopes for career prospects. and all those responsible for securing this debate, which Welfare reform has not only encouraged the “shirker” deals with the concerns of real people out there in the myth about the sick and the disabled, but made life real world. I should clarify, for the benefit of the Opposition increasingly difficult for them. The Minister will probably Whip—his knuckles are about to explode in anticipation— say that the Government have put in place this legislation that I intend to join my hon. Friends in the Lobby this to ensure that the right people receive benefits, but it is a afternoon. tactic to divert attention from the gross abuse of power Life experiences and events change and influence our by those with money in this country. Reference has lives. I want to talk about two events in my life that already been made to the obsession with people receiving influenced my political thinking significantly. The first welfare benefits, but for those with money—the tax was being unemployed for three years, through no fault avoiders and evaders—life goes on as normal. If only a of my own, simply because I had been blacklisted as a fraction of the resources used and the time spent on 449 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 450 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Jim Sheridan] lives of sick and disabled people of the abject failure of the work capability assessment. I was told that in 2011 chasing down those on welfare benefits was diverted to over 10,000 people died within six weeks of being tackle tax avoidance and evasion, some people might placed in the work-related activity group or being found understand the rationale behind it. fit for work. Like many colleagues here today, I have had many We have known for a long time that there are major constituents come to me with various concerns about problems with the assessment process, and I am sure the proposed reforms. There are so many different that all MPs have seen constituents in their surgeries problems that it is difficult to know where to start. The about it, but to get it so very wrong so many thousands move from DLA to PIP has been a particular concern. of times frankly beggars belief. The Government need Since that move began, fewer than one in six people to take their head out of the sand and start listening to who have applied have had their claims decided. As the experiences of very sick and disabled people whose other Members have indicated, some people have died lives are being made worse by the callous disregard of before the process is complete. That reminds me of the the system. cases some years ago when people were dying after The other key issue is the roll-out of personal being diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer but while independence payments and the expected reduction in still waiting for compensation. At that time, their claim the number of eligible claimants. The Government are died with them. looking at this through the wrong end of the telescope. Inclusion Scotland has highlighted the case of the Raising the bar on eligibility will not make anyone any father of an applicant who was told that they would less sick or any less disabled; it will just make it more have wait at least 10 months for any kind of decision, difficult for them to function in society and place more and perhaps even for a first assessment. A constituent pressure on those on whom they rely for their care and of mine who is undergoing cancer treatment has been support. told that the eight-week time frame given by DWP is Several times now I have met a great group of young an unrealistic amount of time in which to process an people with learning disabilities in Fraserburgh. They application and offer an assessment slot. When my staff call themselves People First, they are very vocal, and called the MPs’ hotline, they were told that they simply they are very concerned about the impact of welfare cannot process the number of applicants as there are reform on their lives. A number of them have had not enough staff. They also say that most people who problems with Atos assessments and the benefits system have applied for PIP will not be entitled to it, even more generally. Most of them have at various times before individual cases have been looked at. If that is been on courses to improve their employability, some the mindset of the staff processing the applications, it is have done work experience placements, and some have hard to see how balanced decisions will be made. had supported employment, but the challenge is to find When people finally hear about their assessments, employers who can take them on and give them a there is not much hope. Only 15.4% of new claims have proper job. I have been working with employers and received a decision, and only 12,654 of the 220,300 people talking to social enterprises, but the number of opportunities who have made a new claim since April 2013 have been does not match the number of adults looking for work, awarded some rate of PIP. A constituent of mine got and the work capability assessment does not cut them in touch because her father had been diagnosed any slack. It is all very well to place adults with learning with lung cancer. Because there is a possibility that his difficulties in the work-related activity group, but we treatment will work, giving him a life expectancy of up need to be honest with them about the real barriers they to five years, he has not been classed as terminally ill. face in the workplace. He is not well enough to attend a medical assessment Almost all the adults I meet in this context are living and so will have to wait longer for a home visit. It at home with older parents or living in supported appears that letters from his GP, cancer doctor and accommodation with a lot of family support. Carers cancer hospital are not enough to prove the seriousness are having to attend assessments, fill out forms, and of his illness. answer questions. If people find a work placement, they Like many people in this House and outside it, I had have to get support in doing so, yet carers are also the pleasure of hearing my hon. Friend the Member for having to pick up the tab if people are sanctioned. Bolsover (Mr Skinner) explain clearly where this Research by the Scottish Government on the sanctions Government’s priorities lie. Even under Mrs Thatcher regime shows that the most vulnerable claimants are the we did not treat people like this. I wonder why, even most likely to be sanctioned, and that is very worrying. given these austere times, we are now treating people in this country in that way. In Scotland, a cumulative impact assessment has already been carried out. It shows that £4.5 billion of 12.59 pm cuts are resulting from welfare reform, but it is much harder to assess how much of that is falling directly and Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): I indirectly on disabled people. Citizens Advice Scotland congratulate the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington estimates that disabled people stand to lose £1 billion in (John McDonnell) on securing this debate. benefits payments alone, but, in a sense, that is the easy I pay special tribute to the campaigners who are bit to calculate. It is important to understand that it is with us today, particularly John McArdle and Susan not just changes to disability benefits that affect disabled Archibald, who have travelled from Scotland and who people. We debated the bedroom tax at length yesterday, have done so much over a long period for disabled and I will not dwell on that, except to repeat that 80% of people’s rights and well-being. The main thing we talked households in Scotland affected by the bedroom tax are about this morning at the breakfast meeting was the the home of a disabled person. The vast majority of ongoing Atos debacle and the consequences for the people paying the bedroom tax are disabled, so the 451 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 452 Disabled People) Disabled People) steps we have taken in Scotland to mitigate its impact Today, as a result of the campaigning work of many will primarily benefit disabled people. Similarly, the disabled people and many disabled people’s organisations, decision to mitigate the cut in council tax benefit for including Disabled People Against Cuts and the WOW over 500,000 households will be helping disabled people, petition campaign, we are debating a motion that has along with other low-income households. However, working come about as a result of the work of people campaigning disabled people—probably about half the working-age on these issues who are at the sharp end and have disabled population—are also likely to have been badly disabilities themselves. It is a huge step forward that we affected by changes to tax credits, especially if they have are able to get debates of this nature. In the previous children. Disabled people are more likely to be in part-time Parliament, before the reforms that led to the introduction or low-paid jobs and therefore more likely to depend on of the Backbench Business Committee, there would extra support, and they are likely to be worse off overall have been no way for people outside campaigning on because of changes to the tax and benefits system. issues that they know about to get their words discussed Citizenship and dignity need to be at the heart of our in this place. I therefore strongly welcome this debate. tax and benefits system. No one in this room today can I was elected in 2005. Since the general election in say with any certainty that the relative affluence that we 2010, I have seen a massive increase in the number of enjoy might not end at any time due to unforeseen people with disabilities and those who are sick contacting health problems. We do know, though, that the majority my office because of the Government’s various welfare of us will become carers at some point in our lives. In changes. I would like to focus on two constituents who that respect, we are all stakeholders in this debate, and have been in touch with me and, I think, illustrate we all want to know that there is a safety net should we routine problems of the kind that people are facing. My need it. Over recent years, that safety net has been constituent John Scott was diagnosed with cancer in the eroded to the point that it is no longer functioning. summer of 2013 and sent in his application for personal One of the most profoundly disheartening experiences independence payment soon afterwards. I raised his for me as an MP since being elected in 2010 has been the case in Parliament on 13 January, when he was waiting relentless way in which disabled and sick people have for his initial medical assessment. At that point, he had been vilified and stigmatised in the public discourse had no payment, never mind a decision in his case. about welfare reform. Those who had very little Since then, he has been in for an operation and had his responsibility for the financial collapse and subsequent bladder removed owing to the extent of his cancer, and economic problems have nevertheless had to carry the cancerous cells were found in the muscle tissue in his can. The attempt to discredit disabled people in order to prostate. He is still recovering, but to date has not justify harsh and punitive cuts in their already fairly received a medical assessment to see whether he qualifies paltry incomes is quite shameful. It appals me that the for a personal independence payment. He has therefore most disadvantaged have been asked to pick up the tab not had a payment since July last year, although he disproportionately for the profligacy of others. As we has obviously been struggling with household bills look to the future, we see further cuts of £12 billion, at and accruing arrears, and has had to carry on without least, promised in the years ahead. For disabled people any assistance. in Scotland, the choice between two very different futures Another constituent, Brian McAllister, last year had is opening up before them: one with decisions on welfare his benefits stopped and was found fit to work by Atos. made in Scotland, or one where further cuts slash their He put in an appeal and was placed in the work-related incomes even more. That choice must seem very stark activity category. He believes that he should be in the indeed. support group, as he has an inoperable back problem If this motion passes, it will be the third time this year and has also been diagnosed with brain injury and has that the Government have been defeated on a welfare-related related mental health issues. He is separated from his motion. On two previous occasions, the Government partner, but they have a child and therefore found it have ignored Parliament in this respect; perhaps today mutually beneficial that he stay in the house to supervise it will be third time lucky.The cumulative impact assessment the child while his former partner was at work. However, that the motion calls for is just the first step. I urge the the Department for Work and Pensions thought that Government to listen. they were co-habiting and sanctioned his benefits. We found out last week, of course, that one in five people in 1.5 pm receipt jobseeker’s allowance who are having their benefits Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran) (Lab): It is a sanctioned are disabled. My constituency office is pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Banff and increasingly having to deal with people who face that Buchan (Dr Whiteford), who always makes very informed problem. contributions on this subject. As a result of the fact that the DWP thought it This is the third time this week we have debated issues inappropriate that my constituent stay in the house, he to do with benefits. In all these debates, the position of moved from Largs to Dalry—there are a number of people with disabilities should be one of the major miles between them—which has put more strain on the considerations. Earlier in the week, we debated the family and, obviously, led to more child care problems. change from the retail prices index to the consumer He submitted an appeal against the decision to place prices index in the uprating of benefits. That has a big him in the work-related group and he has been waiting impact on many people with disabilities, who, in effect, four months for a decision. His paperwork was lost—which will be getting less than they would have if we had kept is quite common, as I am sure many Members are to the old system of uprating. Yesterday, as has been aware—and the case has been passed around the country. said, we discussed the bedroom tax, which is another It has been dealt with in different offices in England and policy of this Government that disproportionately impacts Scotland and he still awaits a decision. These are very on people with disabilities. normal cases, which any constituency Member will have 453 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 454 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Katy Clark] I want us to put ourselves in the shoes of the people who face these tests. After they leave the test centre, come across. There is a very high success rate when they wait for weeks and weeks—in fact, they wait for people appeal and that rate is far higher when they get months and months—for the envelope to drop through representation. the door and tell them whether they have been accepted The Government have let down some of the most for benefits or not. Can Members imagine how these vulnerable people through their changes to the welfare people, particularly those with mental health problems, system since 2010. They are also letting some people feel every morning, waiting for that envelope? down at the most vulnerable point in their lives. I People who are looking for employment and support therefore support the motion, which calls for a cumulative allowance or jobseeker’s allowance are being sanctioned impact assessment, and all those who are campaigning for different reasons. A constituent of mine was sanctioned against the attacks on the sick, the vulnerable and the by the DWP after he attended a hospital appointment disabled. because he has a severe heart condition. As a result of being sanctioned, he did not have any money to put 1.11 pm food on the table for months. It has been suggested that people have been sanctioned when they are in a coma in Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab): I want to humanise the a hospital bed in intensive care. Is that any way to treat debate somewhat. I spoke to a number of disabled ordinary human beings? The answer is, of course not. people this morning and what they had to say was amazing. Over the past couple of years or so, my Let us look at the other legislation that has been surgeries, like those of most Members present, have introduced. Just in the past few weeks, up to 50,000 people been visited by lots and lots of disabled people who in this country had to pay the bedroom tax. A lady want to discuss the benefits system. The reality is that committed suicide because of the bedroom tax and many disabled people have given up. A lady said to me then her family got a letter from this Government this morning, “Mr Lavery, do you understand what it’s saying they were sorry, but she should not have had to like to be treated like an animal?” That rocked me. Why pay because she was covered by the pre-1996 housing are disabled people being made to feel as if they are benefit regulations. being herded into a corner and treated like animals? Universal credit is a failure. It has been rolled out in That is how they feel. They do not even feel that they two or three places and is an absolute car crash, but it are counted as a statistic in life anymore, other than as is not the DWP or Members of Parliament who being an embarrassment to society. They feel as if they are suffering; it is the disabled people who rely on these are personal rejects—total outcasts from society—because benefits who are anxious and suffering as a result of they are disabled and unwell. We should not be making this Government’s absolute nonsense and chaotic people feel like that in one of the richest countries in the organisation. world. People who make ESA applications have to wait to The attack on the disabled and the vulnerable is learn whether they are in one group or the other. How relentless. Disabled people, the sick, people who have many have appealed? I believe that 40% have appealed been sick for many years and those who might have just successfully, and others are waiting to appeal. The hon. become sick or disabled in the past few years need a Member for Argyll and Bute (Mr Reid) mentioned how voice. We should not forget that it is fantastic being long they are waiting. People’s conditions change before able-bodied and well in health, but some of us are just their appeal is heard. It is utter nonsense. The way in around the corner from being poorly, disabled, sick, which we are treating these people is an absolute disgrace. unwell or perhaps terminally ill. We should not forget A lot of facts and figures have been mentioned today. that when we make decisions in this place to hammer The 11.3 million disabled people—8% of the population— the disabled and the vulnerable, because we could be next. are bearing 29% of the cuts. Those with the severest We should put ourselves in some of these people’s disabilities—2% of the population—are bearing 15% of shoes: they become ill or have been ill; they attend test them. It is an absolute outrage. after test; and they attend the Atos centres, which are To sum this up, people are dying as a result of the like the scene in “Little Britain” where “Computer says Welfare Reform Act 2012. Disabled people are being no.” There is no flexibility and they have to try to evicted from their homes and people are being forced explain their problems to somebody who is not even into the arms of unscrupulous lenders. Is this really the medically qualified. sort of country we want to leave to the next generation? This is IDS UK. Grahame M. Morris: I apologise for interrupting a very passionate speech, but is my hon. Friend aware that the Department for Work and Pensions is facing a 1.19 pm court case because of its failure to provide proper Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab): Let me start by information and support to blind and partially sighted thanking my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and people whom they are supposed to be helping to get Harlington (John McDonnell) and those who have into employment? campaigned so passionately for this debate to take place. Ian Lavery: I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. I am very much aware of the fact that there are a I want to read out a letter that was recently received number of cases proceeding through the courts, but as by one of my constituents: we have seen over the past couple of weeks the courts “Dear Miss HOLT, do not seem to be terribly in favour of the disabled or You are now approaching the end of the 1st Stage of your the disadvantaged. Intensive Job Focused Activity. We hope that all the activity or 455 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 456 Disabled People) Disabled People) training intervention completed so far has not only supported it. As my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and you to achieve your aspirations but has moved you closer to the Harlington (John McDonnell) said in the opening speech, job market. in this debate we in Parliament are giving voice to the You will shortly enter the 2nd Stage of your Intensive Job thousands of disabled people and many others throughout Focused activity. the country who are concerned about the impact of Sessions and Workshops may vary depending on the centre Government welfare policies on those with disabilities. you attend.” The letter was sent to my constituent Sheila Holt on Like many hon. Members, in preparing for this debate 30 January. I am sad to have to inform the House that I thought that the most useful thing I could do was to Sheila will not be able to attend the second stage of her highlight the experience of, and briefly quote, some intensive job-focused activity because she has been in a organisations who work daily with disabled people in coma since December. Members of her family have my constituency. The welfare rights officer at the Royal repeatedly informed the DWP and Seetec that she is not National Institute of Blind People Scotland, whose well, but those organisations have continued to harass them. Edinburgh office is in my constituency, has told me: To recap, Sheila has suffered from severe bipolar “The main issues that we are seeing in the RNIB service are long delays in the applications for PIP. So far I have only had one disorder since childhood and has regularly had traumatic decision out of 9 claims made between July and November of last experiences. She has not been in employment since she year… Clients making PIP claims are waiting 3 months and was 16, but she was pushed into the Work programme longer for medical assessments…also, if assessment has been before Christmas. She found it extremely difficult, and carried out still not getting a decision from DWP.” she was also concerned about having to pay more tax I am sure that hon. Members are aware of the report because of changes to council tax benefit. On 17 December, published today by the National Audit Office, the spending she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act, because watchdog, which has highlighted, as one would no she was struggling to cope. While in hospital, she had a doubt understand, that such experiences are not unique. heart attack, which caused her to be in coma. Now, at In its words, thousands of disabled people are facing the end of February, I can report to the House that “distress and financial difficulties”, because claims for Sheila is still in a coma, but is in a stable condition in the new personal independence payment are taking too the Floyd unit at Birch Hill hospital. Her sister and long to process. Most claimants are waiting more than family continue to visit her daily and, at their request, I three months for their cases to be decided, rather than have also visited her. the target of 71 days, while terminally ill patients are The important point is that before the election, the waiting up to a month, instead of getting a decision, as Prime Minister often toured the TV studios to talk they are meant to do, within 10 days. about “broken Britain”. I must say that if his idea of fixing broken Britain means hounding disabled people I have been told by Waverley Care, a charity that suffering from mental breakdowns and harassing their provides care and support to people living with HIV or distressed relatives, I would prefer the broken Britain hepatitis C, that as a result of the overall benefit changes, that previously existed. the case load of staff dealing with benefits has increased dramatically, especially regarding appeals. It says that My hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington an increasing number of people are going to it for help mentioned the bedroom tax that will punish disabled because they find it too daunting to deal with the people who need extra rooms for carers, and the scrapping Department for Work and Pensions. Demand has also of crisis loans on which disabled people rely. This gone up sharply for the food parcels that it distributes, Government have demonstrated that helping disabled as has demand for help from its hardship funds. Typically, people is simply not a priority. I am also concerned by it has found that people are struggling to pay for food, the continuing uncertainty about the future of the toiletries and fuel. One reason why the demand for food independent living fund. The Greater Manchester Coalition parcels has increased is that people are running out of of Disabled People has brought to my attention that at money between benefit payments, often because they least 873 people in Greater Manchester currently rely have been switched to a benefit on which they receive on it. Will the Minister tell us whether that fund will less money, but also because, in the process of being remain available for disabled people? switched from one benefit to another, there is a gap of Mr Deputy Speaker, you will not find anybody in this two to three weeks during which they do not receive any House who is more keen on welfare reform, but to make money. such reforms the right values must be in place. From what we have seen during the past three years, it is I have received similar information and reports from pretty clear that this Government cannot be trusted to HIV Scotland, and reports from Citizens Advice Scotland reform welfare fairly, and people such as Sheila Holt are again highlight that such experiences are not unique to paying the price. I want to end with a comment made by my constituency, as I am sure hon. Members would Sheila’s sister Linda, who said: understand and expect. I have spoken not only to organisations, but directly to disabled people who are “Sheila can never live a full life again”. going through those experiences daily. On the national That is a reminder that although the people of this day of demonstrations about Atos, I went along to join country will have an opportunity to get rid of this disabled people at the demonstration outside its Edinburgh Government next May, the damage that the Government headquarters, which happens to be situated in my are doing will last for decades. constituency. Like colleagues across the House, I of course hear the 1.23 pm experiences at my surgery every week of people whose Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ lives are being turned upside down by the impact of Co-op): I am grateful for the chance to speak briefly in Government welfare policies, of people who are sanctioned this debate, and I thank the hon. Members who arranged without any apparent cause and—in relation to all the 457 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 458 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Mark Lazarowicz] Caroline Lucas: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for the clarification, but, to be honest, it does not make much problems of the work capability assessment procedure, difference. In my view, benefits should be payable on the which many hon. Members have mentioned—of people basis of need, not on the basis of an arbitrary cap. It is who are rejected in spite of having the clearest medical on precisely that point that the official Opposition and I advice that they are incapable of doing the work that part company. It will be deeply disappointing if the they are expected to do. official Opposition abstain on this motion. There is a I contacted Inclusion Scotland, which represents a lot of sound and fury from Labour Members, but that wide range of organisations involved with disability must be followed through in a vote. I cannot understand issues, and I am afraid that its report just highlights the why the official Opposition would not vote for this fact that although we have so far seen chaos—as well as motion. inhumanity and, bluntly, cruelty—the way Government policies are going suggests that the worst is yet to come. Sheila Gilmore: Does the hon. Lady agree that there It highlights that the consequences of those policies, are some forms of welfare spending that we should taken together, will be incredibly damaging for so many bring down? In my view, one of those is the excessive disabled people in this country. In Scotland alone, 80,000 amount that is paid to private landlords through housing working-age disabled people will lose some or all of the benefit. I am certainly in favour of reducing that form mobility allowance to which they would otherwise have of welfare spending. Is she not? been entitled if the DLA entitlement criteria were still used, while 90,000 fewer disabled people in Scotland Caroline Lucas: I am very much in favour of that if will qualify for the assistance with their care needs and the hon. Lady wants to put it under the heading of daily living costs to which they would otherwise have welfare spending, but I am not sure that most people been entitled under the DLA eligibility criteria. would. We can argue about the precise language, but the The same experience is of course true across the official Opposition will demonstrate later this afternoon entire UK. Under this Government’s welfare reforms that they are sitting on their hands. That is a great during the past four years, we have had chaos, misery shame. and a bureaucratic nightmare, as well as a waste of money with the bedroom tax, as we are increasingly Let me make some progress, because the purpose of seeing throughout the country. The policies are my speech is not primarily to attack the official Opposition, fundamentally wrong and they need to be reversed. but to attack the Government. This afternoon, the Government have witnessed hon. Members giving case 1.29 pm after case from their own experiences of the impact of Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion) (Green): Like the welfare reforms that the Government have introduced. other Members, I pay tribute to the hon. Member for I will talk about what the figures mean for Brighton and Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) for securing Hove, and tell the House about the local advice agencies this important debate. I also pay a huge tribute to the in Brighton and Hove that came together to produce a petition proposers and supporters, and all the people powerful report on their experiences of working with ill who are watching this debate, either in person or on people and people with disabilities. Those agencies include Twitter. They will have noticed that the number of the local citizens advice bureau, Advice Brighton and Members on the Government Benches has gone up to Hove, Age UK and the Federation of Disabled People. three—it was two until a few moments ago. Sadly, that To illustrate the reality behind the figures, I will talk reflects the priority that Government Members give to about two local case studies from Macmillan that were this issue. I pay tribute in particular to Francesca Martinez, included in the report. It mentions Mr C, a 56-year-old who has done so much to bring forward the petition single man who, following cancer of the spine, lost his that we are discussing this afternoon. mobility and became confined to a wheelchair. Mr C I will focus on the work capability assessment, which was forced to stop work owing to ill health and constant was introduced by the last Administration in 2008 and pain. Macmillan made contact to start the PIP application has so very clearly failed people in need. The British process last September. To my knowledge, it is still not Medical Association’s GP committee voted unanimously resolved. At the same time, an application was made for in 2012 that, after four years, the policy had been a ESA. That application followed a similar path to the failure. It was clear when it was introduced that it was PIP application. Mr C is still being paid the assessment part of an attempt to appear to be hard on benefits and phase rate of just £71.70 a week, with no information to be clamping down. It happened at the same time as from Atos as to when it will assess him further. Four things were being made harder for lone parents, with months on, we are still counting and he is still waiting. more and more conditions being piled on. It is part of Macmillan also relayed the story of Mr J, a 32-year-old the rhetoric about the deserving poor versus the undeserving who is suffering from advanced bowel cancer and who poor that, sadly, we still hear today. came to the charity for help. It took more than 10 weeks I was disappointed that the hon. Member for Leeds for him to be assessed. His wife was acting as his West (Rachel Reeves), on taking up her post as shadow full-time carer because he was so ill. She was also Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, used the looking after their baby and young child. The report opportunity of her first interview to say that she would states: be tougher than the Tories on people on benefits. “Throughout this process both Mr and Mrs J were very anxious and suffering serious financial hardship. Mr J at this time Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): My hon. was seriously ill, vomiting day and night plus major issues re Friend the Member for Leeds West did not say that. She fatigue due to chemotherapy etc. Both also felt throughout the said that she would be tougher on welfare spending, not period that they were not believed and had been labelled scroungers on people on benefits. and benefit cheats by the DWP.” 459 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 460 Disabled People) Disabled People) The work by Advice Brighton and Hove makes it Not every death will be related to fitness for work or to clear that people who are applying for PIP—some of the stress of an unfair or wrong assessment. If a link the most vulnerable people—are being left without could be proven, there would be a case for corporate adequate finances. That is having a massive impact on manslaughter. However, Ministers cannot ignore the their physical and emotional well-being. The cases in strong likelihood that significant numbers of people are the report are dreadful, but they are no longer surprising. being assessed as fit for work by the Government when, I have multiple examples of sick and disabled constituents in reality, they are very close to death. That has to who have been awarded no points, but have then been change. assessed for benefits under the Government’s regime. The DLA regime is being tightened, even for disabled 1.37 pm children such as my five-year-old constituent who has Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): Like other cystic fibrosis and needs constant 24-hour care to prevent Members, I have supported the call for a cumulative her from falling and being a danger to herself and impact assessment and voted for it in this House. I do others. Her DLA has been cut from the higher to the not know why it is so difficult for the Government to lower rate. Just before Christmas, her parents asked for work out the impact of their policies. The people who that to be reconsidered, but it still has not happened. As are affected know what the impact is. well as the loss of essential financial support, the family Jean and Jim are in their 50s, which is a typical age have lost their eligibility for things such as the blue for illness to strike and is the age that has the highest badge. uptake of many benefits. They are losing ESA because Another of my constituents has, at last, got a date for Jim’s contributory benefits are running out. Jean has a medical assessment in March, after submitting her part-time employment. That is another reduction of application in August last year. In the meantime, funding £91 a week in their household income after they have for her electric wheelchair has been stopped. She managed already lost his earnings. They have also been affected to get funding for three months through the council’s by the bedroom tax, because they are in a two-bedroom discretionary fund, so she has not lost it yet, but she is house. They have put a lot of money into that house extremely worried about what will happen if her claim over the years. When they first applied for discretionary is not processed in time. housing payment, they were turned down because, with I hope that the House will forgive me for taking up a Jean’s earnings and Jim’s DLA, they had too much little more time, but I want to give the example of a income to be eligible, despite his clear disability. I am constituent who suffers from severe mental ill health. glad to say that that has changed, due to extra money After months of delays, which caused her extreme anxiety, being made available. and with support workers very concerned about her That is what is meant by an impact assessment. That suicidal state, an application for benefits that was submitted is the kind of interlocking effect that we are asking and in August last year has only recently been resolved. She reasonably expecting the Government to look at. has rightly been placed in the support group, which Governments should look at what is happening to means that the DWP recognises that she is definitely people. A piece of research was commissioned by the unable to work. Despite that, she was put through previous Government and published in 2011, but it has months of unnecessary anxiety. never been followed up by this Government. One very Many people feel that the system is extremely counter- worrying statistic from that research is that 43% of the productive, in the sense that it makes people who are people who had been found fit for work were neither in already ill much more ill. We hear example after example employment nor on any out-of-work benefit after a of that. I hope that the Government will not ignore year. The percentage of that cohort who were in work them. If advice agencies are getting together to assess after a year, 23%, was hardly higher than it had been these problems, it must be about time that the Government after three months, at 22%. That is a whole lot of looked at the impact of their own policies. missing people, and those are the sorts of facts and The conclusion of the report by my local advice research that a Government should commission. It is agencies is that people are going through what they call disappointing that the Government chose not to follow “awful experiences” while waiting for their claims to be through on those sorts of studies. processed. Advisers are spending disproportionate amounts I will pre-empt what I know the Minister will say, of time making calls to the DWP and the privatised PIP which is, “Labour introduced the WCA, you introduced providers. That is frustrating and is a drain on resources. Atos, and therefore it is all your fault”, but that is not Claims that need to be followed up are taking more good enough for a number of reasons. In my maiden than double the amount of time that is usually allocated speech I mentioned ESA and WCA, and said that to such work. The advice sector in Brighton and Hove whoever formed the Government, I would be raising has made it very clear that the situation is untenable. It that issue. There have been points over the past nearly is looking to the Government to sort it out. In the four years when the Government could have changed meantime, it is asking for local contacts within the tack. They did not have to extend Atos’s contract or DWP and Atos so that organisations do not have to proceed with the migration of people from incapacity keep wasting huge amounts of time contacting DWP benefit to ESA as fast as they did, without looking and Atos nationally. I hope that the Minister will respond again at what the first few years had told us. to that specific request. It is quite a small one, but it The Government have been adamant until now that would make a huge amount of difference to the time they had to carry out frequent reassessments of people, that is spent following up claims. and they would not stop even when cases were clear cut. Finally, other hon. Members have given the shocking “Oh no, we have to do these reassessments”, we were figures on the number of people who are dying while told, but now they are suddenly in a panic because the appealing against a decision that they are fit to work. assessors cannot cope, and it is, “Actually we don’t need 461 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 462 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Sheila Gilmore] are short of time, but there are issues such as housing, the bedroom tax, income cuts, policies such as changing to do these reassessments after all, but we won’t bother RPI to CPI, the social care cuts highlighted by my hon. telling people that they might not be called up in the Friend the Member for Leicester West (Liz Kendall), next few months. We won’t even bother telling MPs.” and the general cuts to public services that directly The Minister was here on Monday for Work and Pensions impact on people with disabilities. People with disabilities questions, and he never breathed a word about it. tend to rely more heavily on libraries and other public The personal independence payment, however, is entirely services, and it is ironic that in my constituency an this Government’s baby, and the problems go back to organisation called EDPIP—the East Durham Positive the beginning. This change was driven by finances, not Inclusion Partnership—which is a charity set up some by any research or understanding that a change needed years ago to support some of the most disadvantaged to happen, and it had to be geared to financial savings. families, is closing today. That is another indicator of There was an urgent—and shortened—consultation on the pressure that disabled people, their families and the changes, which many people complained about at carers are under. the time. Despite the demographic changes, the straw This is a trust issue, and I hope the Minister will take man of too many people receiving DLA was erected, note of that because the Prime Minister pledged that and there were assertions that DLA was granted constantly the cuts would be made fairly. He said that those with without medical evidence and that hardly anyone was the broadest shoulders would bear the greatest burden, ever reassessed. That ignored the big changes that had and that people who are sick, vulnerable and elderly taken place in the previous 10 years, and the fact that would always be looked after. We must remember that increasingly, new awards were time limited. the sick, the vulnerable and the disabled were not responsible If we start with poor evidence, and with arguments for the economic crash, yet they seem to be bearing the and assertions rather than fact, we end up with a flawed brunt of the economic burden. proposal. In 2013 we saw the start of the personal We have heard from other Members about the impact independence payment, and the delays and assessments of the loss of income and services. Disabled people are have been growing exponentially. It is not just Atos, suffering nine times more than those who are not disabled, because Capita is having exactly the same problems. and disabled people who require social care 19 times The flaw is in the system that has been set up. more. If the cuts had been made fairly, they would have People in the Government and elsewhere have said a fallen on the better off, and the changes contradict the number of things about why that is happening, and in promise made by the Prime Minister that those in December the Minister said to the Work and Pensions greatest need of help would not suffer under austerity. Committee that every single assessment for PIP was A measure of the civilisation of any nation is how being audited internally. That suggests either a lack of well it treats the weakest members of society, and by training or a lack of confidence in their own staff. We that standard the Government are failing miserably. are now told that each individual assessment is taking Rather than being protected in a time of hardship, sick twice as long as expected, and that far more face-to-face and disabled people seem to have been targeted. The assessments are having to take place. Might that be services they rely on are being attacked from all directions, because the forms are not very good and the information resulting in greater inequalities, poorer health and a is not coming in? Those are all things that a proper pilot growing sense of anxiety, fear and trepidation over their would have tested. Instead of that, however, many future. The cuts have not been made fairly, and they are thousands of new applicants—not just a few hundred—are not spread evenly across public services or entitlements. being treated like guinea pigs in a system that the The cuts have been targeted, with more than 50% falling Government did not scope out or test properly; they did in just two areas—benefits and local government—affecting not look to see whether the people they had asked to do sick and disabled people disproportionately. the assessments had the capacity to deliver them. 1.43 pm Ian Mearns: Does my hon. Friend share my massive Grahame M. Morris (Easington) (Lab): I congratulate concern that the company that has been delivering the all right hon. and hon. Members who have participated flawed—as we have heard many times today—work in this debate, and I thank my hon. Friend the Member capability assessment, has now been given the job by for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) for the Government of harvesting the whole population’s introducing it. I also thank the many groups and individuals health data from their GP practices? who have taken the trouble to lobby their MPs and come to Parliament today and earlier this week. I give a Grahame M. Morris: I think that is cause for alarm. special mention to Jason Roche from the Royal National It certainly alarms me that Atos, which has been involved Institute of Blind People in my constituency, who does in the debacle of the work capability assessments, and such sterling work raising issues for the blind and which has raised concerns and asked to be released partially sighted, to Simon Duffy from the Centre for from its contract, is apparently being awarded the contract Welfare Reform, and to Philip Connolly from Disability for the collection of highly sensitive care data from Rights UK. They have done a terrific job and we should GPs, but that is another Minister’s responsibility. acknowledge the efforts of disability activists and supporters Social care for children and adults makes up 60% of in this campaign in collecting such a huge number of all spending over which local authorities have any control. signatures to secure the debate. The huge 40% reduction in local government funding The dedication shown by members of the public in spells disaster and will have a huge impact on adults getting this debate held in Parliament’s main Chamber and children who depend on vital public services. An indicates the strength of feeling and the widespread interesting statistic is that by 2015 and the next general concern about the extent of the Government’s cuts. We election, £8 billion will have been cut from social care in 463 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 464 Disabled People) Disabled People) England—about 33% of the total. Last year, 320,000 fewer because of the people who come through our doors. people received local authority brokered social care They are ringing our offices every day to tell us of the compared with 2005. As my hon. Friend the Member horrendous impact on their lives. I think the Government for Hayes and Harlington said, one reason for that is do not want to undertake an assessment because they the change in the eligibility thresholds that many local cannot face the reality and horror of what they have authorities have been forced to make. As well as being done, and to be in denial gives them grounds to continue. unjust and denying people adequate social care, that We have been facing cuts to social care, cuts to disability has unsustainable consequences. It is a false economy. benefits and cuts to housing benefits. What has been By removing care in the community, we are putting created is a climate of fear, a climate of social outcasts pressure on other public services, for example accident and a climate where the understanding of the sick and and emergency. disabled has gone. They are seen to be the undeservingly At the same time, changes to benefits are having an ill. We need to focus on the human stories. Some 2% of appalling impact on those who rely on them. Other the population have faced 15% of the cuts brought in by hon. Members have touched on the consequences of this Government, the same Government that gave tax the abolition at the end of the year of the independent cuts to the rich, and poverty and fear to the sick and the living fund, which currently supports more than 21,000 disabled. people with severe disabilities. Funding cuts already I want to address briefly the work capability assessment. mean that in many areas services for sick and disabled One of my constituents was told that she could work people are reduced to a minimum. because she could make a shopping list. A lady who was With such large-scale and rapid change to the services unable to leave her house because she constantly needed that disabled people depend on, the Government owe it to be able to go to the toilet was told that she could to those who have been affected to have an understanding work from home making jewellery. The impact of the of what the impact is. That is why I support the War on work capability assessment on people’s lives is horrific. Welfare campaign’s call for the Government to commission There is a lack of respect for the terror in their lives. The an independent cumulative assessment of the impact of humility they face in just trying to survive every day is the changes in the welfare system on sick and disabled being undermined and dismissed by such glib statements. people and their families. We were not elected to this I want to look briefly at personal independence payment House to represent and fight for the interests of the assessments. A lady who came into my surgery on powerful and privileged. Without a cumulative impact Friday has multiple sclerosis but, because of her age, assessment, the Government will be failing in their she will not face an assessment until 2017. She tells me responsibilities. that she wakes up every day with a black cloud of terror over her life. She fears that she will lose the money that 1.51 pm allows her to live with some form of dignity. How can we justify that in this place? How can we allow people to Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): I start by live with such terror? declaring an interest. My husband is in receipt of disability allowances. Finally, there is the bedroom tax. I want to talk about one lady, Mrs Evans. In 2009, her son was horrifically My hon. Friend the Member for Wansbeck (Ian injured in a road traffic accident. She was forced to Lavery), in his very powerful speech, said that we can be move from the property she had lived in since the 1970s one day away from a disability. It was not even one day to a specially disabled-adapted property. This has meant for me. One day, I went home to a husband who was that she is no longer eligible for relief from the bedroom perfectly fit and healthy and who lived an outdoor tax. To avoid it, she would have had to have lived in the life—everything one could hope in terms of a fit and same property since 1996. She has a two-bedroom healthy man. Within a matter of days he was terminally property. Her son lives downstairs, but she needs to ill. Life can change, but that change can be softened by have one of the bedrooms for her daughter, who allows knowing that financial security is there for the future. her some relief at night. Because she cares for her son That is why this debate is so important. and not her husband, she is not eligible for relief from I was disappointed when the hon. Member for the bedroom tax. Aberconwy (Guto Bebb), who has not been in his place We are living in a cruel and callous world if we for most of the debate, commented that I was the only cannot support people’s lives when they have been Member from Welsh Labour in the Chamber. If he had destroyed by sickness and disability. That has to change. stayed in his place he would have seen how many Welsh Labour Members are in the House working. They are not able to take part in the debate because it is time-limited. 1.57 pm The comment was made that it was a one-line Whip. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Lab): I apologise This is a Backbench Business debate: there is always a to my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington one-line Whip for Backbench Business debates. I want (John McDonnell) and the House for not being here at people who are watching this debate to understand that the start of the debate. I was holding an advice bureau if people are not here today, it is due not to a lack of in my constituency, where all the problems that we have interest or a lack of understanding, but a lack of time. been discussing today came vividly to light. I compliment Those who perhaps are most passionate are the ones in my hon. Friend on securing the debate and those who the Chamber today, but those who are not here are put the petition together. giving us the space and time to make the important I draw attention to what my hon. Friends the Members points we want to make. for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) and for Wansbeck (Ian Lavery) We are here to ask for a cumulative impact assessment. have just said: disability can happen to any of us. At any People have said that no one knows the cumulative time we can be a moment away from a major accident impact. I do not think that is true. I think we do know, or a day or two away from the diagnosis of a terminal 465 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 466 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Jeremy Corbyn] which many are denied benefits to which they ought to be entitled, and who are living in destitution as a result. illness. The whole idea of not having an assessment of Some of them simply cannot cope with that, and suicide the effects of cuts in welfare spending on those who are results. The situation is compounded by the NHS cuts sick and disabled is something that I feel very strongly that have made it so much more difficult for people to about. get appointments, and the enormous cuts in local I hope the House agrees to the motion. If it does, I government budgets—particularly social services budgets— hope the Government accept that it is incumbent on that have reduced the availability of support mechanisms. them to carry out the independent review and assessment We need to develop a society that protects all, and that is called for in the petition. It is a good part of the does not punish people who are suffering from disabilities reality of parliamentary life now that groups of concerned or long-term sicknesses. It is incumbent on the Government citizens can get together and, with a sufficient number to ensure that the cumulative assessment takes place, so of signatures on a petition, force the House to address that we can be shown the real impact of what we have an issue. That is a good thing. Addressing an issue in a done to our society over the past three years. debate is only part of the process: what is done to follow up afterwards is important and I hope the Minister will 2.3 pm understand the feelings that many people have on this Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): This matter. important debate is very welcome, and I thank my hon. Like many Members, I deal with a large number of Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John cases relating to welfare payments, social security and McDonnell) and the Backbench Business Committee disability.When the Government introduced an emergency for arranging it. Like others, however, I pay particular Budget in June 2010, many were confused by the size of tribute to the 104,000 people who signed the War on the cuts and the devastation to local government, education Welfare petition that forms the basis of the motion, and and so many other areas. What was not fully realised, who were the driving force behind today’s debate. The however, was the impact of the changes to the welfare volume of signatures is testimony to the strength of benefit system on those with disabilities, and the unfair public feeling about these matters. I have had the way in which 15% of the cuts would fall on 2% of the opportunity to meet War on Welfare campaigners in my population. constituency and here at Westminster, and I can testify A number of us will have experienced the misery of to the anger and fear that many feel about the impact of following up return-to-work interviews. We see constituents the Government’s policies on disabled people. It concerns who are manifestly incapable of undertaking any normal non-disabled people as much as disabled people, which work. Following the closure of Remploy factories in is not surprising in view of the fact that—as my hon. constituencies including my own, people have no Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) so powerfully opportunity to undertake work of that kind, and then reminded us—only one in five disabled people is born they are put through the stress of return-to-work interviews. with a disability. Those whose applications for benefits are subsequently It is to our shame that, in all walks of life, disabled rejected go through a period of incredible stress, and people face injustice and unfairness. They are twice as some, sadly, take their lives during that time. Applicants likely to be treated unfairly at work as non-disabled who appeal usually win. Why are we putting people people; they are more likely to be victims of crime; they who are already in a vulnerable position through this face additional living costs associated with their disabilities; dreadful, appalling stress? they are twice as likely to live in poverty; and they are Others have mentioned the lack of proper assessment less likely to be in work. Today the employment rate of people with mental health conditions. The House among disabled people is 45%, while the rate among the now debates the issue of mental health every year, and working-age population as a whole is 71%. The hon. that is a good thing. Attitudes to mental health are Member for Banff and Buchan (Dr Whiteford) rightly changing in society, and that is a good thing too, but identified some of the labour market barriers that disabled why has it not affected the DWP’s attitude to return-to-work people face. Moreover, shamefully, they are on the interviews? I have come across people who experience receiving end of a virtually non-stop flow of hostile and mental health “episodes”. On some days they are okay, abusive rhetoric. and on some days they are not; on some days they have One would expect that, faced with that grim picture, a terrible time, and on others life is more stable for the Government would focus their efforts on tackling them. It is when such people undergo the additional the injustice and discrimination that confront disabled stress that results from being told that they may be people, but the policies of the current Government forced to go to work when they are clearly not able to so often make matters worse. That is why Labour hold down a job that terrible things happen. The numbers wholeheartedly supports the call for a cumulative impact of suicides that have resulted from this system are a assessment of the effect of those policies on disabled shame on the country, and a shame on the overall people, and why we called for such an assessment last welfare benefits system that we have introduced. year. Those who campaigned for—and secured—the principles The Government have argued that Labour never of universal benefits and the welfare state throughout carried out such an assessment, but Labour never unleashed the 20th century, which culminated in the strong principles such a deluge of negative policies on disabled people. behind the National Assistance Act 1948, envisaged a Let me say to the hon. Member for Aberconwy (Guto society in which we would protect people from destitution, Bebb) in particular that our record speaks for itself. and would have particular concern for those with disabilities, [Interruption.] He should listen to this. Poverty among work-related illnesses, or sicknesses that prevented them disabled people, which stood at 40% when Labour from working. Sadly, we now have a system under came to office, subsequently fell to about one in four, 467 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 468 Disabled People) Disabled People) and the employment rate among disabled people rose It is clear that Atos cannot cope. I know that the by 9 percentage points. We introduced a host of measures Minister will say that Labour made the contract, but to strengthen the rights of disabled people. We passed four years and four independent reviews later—independent the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and introduced reviews which, I should tell the hon. Member for Argyll the Equality Act 2010, we formed the Equality and and Bute (Mr Reid), are required under Labour’s Human Rights Commission, and, in 2009, we signed legislation—things are going from bad to worse. the United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Mr Reid: Will the hon. Lady give way? Let us contrast that with the damaging policies of the current Government, which have been highlighted today. Kate Green: No I will not. Cuts in local authority budgets have meant swingeing The Minister has, of course, been commendably frank cuts in social care. The independent living fund has about his plans to replace Atos with other providers—that been closed to new applicants, and its future remains was called for initially by my right hon. Friend the unclear. The Work programme is failing disabled people Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr Byrne)—but badly—only 5% of disabled participants have found we need root-and-branch re-purposing and reform of work—and the Work and Pensions Committee has the work capability assessment, as well as improvements established that there is just one specialist disability in the process. Those improvements should include employment adviser for every 600 people in the work-related systemising the collection of evidence in all cases, including activity group. evidence from GPs and other clinicians, providing suitable, accessible settings for assessments, and ensuring that Guto Bebb: If the hon. Lady is so proud of the record recordings of interviews are always available to claimants. of Labour, can she explain why training and skills programmes financed by the European social fund in Caroline Lucas: Will the hon. Lady give way? Wales are not being made available to Work programme Kate Green: Not at the moment. planners because of a decision by the Welsh Labour Government? I do not apologise for our intentions when we introduced the ESA and an assessment of people’s capacity for work. We wanted that to be a supportive and facilitative Kate Green: I can tell the hon. Gentleman that exactly process, but, as my right hon. Friend the Member for the same is happening in my constituency. I am glad Stirling (Mrs McGuire) pointed out, the renegotiation that he mentioned training and skills, because this of the Atos contract by the current Government has Government are placing the future of residential training rebalanced the system to be punitive, not facilitative. colleges in jeopardy. They closed 33 Remploy factories The Minister’s plan to replace Atos with other providers last year, and 12 months later two thirds of former goes nowhere near to meeting the need for wholesale Remploy employees were still out of work. Funds from reform. the closures were promised to help those former workers into jobs, but they seem to have disappeared. However, I do part company with the motion in its call for the WCA to be scrapped. I know that will Grahame M. Morris: I am sorry to interrupt the flow disappoint many disabled campaigners listening to the of my hon. Friend’s speech. She is presenting some debate. In my view, the assessment should be the first excellent arguments. She mentioned specialist support. step in a process of identifying and assembling the right Northern Rights provides bespoke support in my support, including financial support. I say to the hon. constituency, but it cannot secure a contract from the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas) that I DWP because of the prime contractors who are operating have never thought there should be no assessment or in the area. reassessment, and I do not think it now. Justified criticisms were made of people being left for years on incapacity benefit without any support or any check on their Kate Green: It is so often the way that organisations progress or the deterioration of their condition, and we which have a specialised knowledge and understanding should not go back to that. Yet just this week, as my of the labour market barriers that confront disabled hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila people, and can identify with those people, are themselves Gilmore)—who has had to leave the debate to attend a shut out and deprived of the opportunity to set up Bill Committee—pointed out, we learned that Ministers post-Remploy work settings or provide support through are going to leave people on ESA in exactly that position the Work programme. for the next two years without reassessment, and apparently Damaging changes in the benefits system have also planned to keep both claimants and MPs in the dark had a devastating effect. As was pointed out by my hon. about it. I hope the Minister will be able to clarify Friend the Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Anne exactly the background to that extraordinary decision Begg), that applies both to cuts in benefits provided today. specifically for disabled people and to other cuts that affect them disproportionately. Employment and support Caroline Lucas: I think people with disabilities will be allowance is in trouble—decisions are taking longer—and disappointed to hear what the hon. Lady says, because problems with the work capability assessment persist. the current work capability assessment has become so About one in 10 decisions are appealed against successfully. tainted by being linked to a Government who are very The hon. Member for Meon Valley (George Hollingbery), clearly trying to reduce the amount of money they give who is no longer in the Chamber, appeared to think that out that if a new Labour Government wanted to redesign the fact that people could appeal was a sign of the the assessment, which would still obviously need to success of the system, but surely it would be better to assess whether or not people are eligible, they should get the decisions right in the first place. call it something else. By sticking to the name “work 469 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 470 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Caroline Lucas] I welcome the debate and congratulate the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on securing capability assessment” and not being able to support it from the Backbench Business Committee. This is the the motion, the hon. Lady is doing people with disabilities sort of debate that should take place. I also agree that a disservice. it should be a non-whipped debate; that is right and proper. We may not all agree about what has been Kate Green: The hon. Lady largely made a very discussed, but it is, frankly, in my opinion something helpful contribution, but there is an important point the Whips should stay out of, and we should have about the legitimacy of the assessment process—a proper debates. I will probably get shot when I leave the legitimacy that disabled people will themselves recognise Chamber for saying that. confers on them the entitlement to the benefits they There are also some parts of this very long motion receive. It is very important that we do nothing to with which I have a great deal of sympathy, and there undermine the public’s perception of entitlement. are parts of it with which I do not agree, as Members on Meanwhile, as we can see from today’s National both sides of the House will realise, but perhaps we can Audit Office report, the roll-out of PIP is also in trouble. try to work on what I do agree on and what we can do Terminally ill patients and disabled people have to wait together to make the benefits regime better for the weeks, if not months, for a decision, leaving them people we are trying to represent and the lobby that is stranded financially, and anxious and uncertain about here today. their claim. Why on earth Ministers awarded a PIP contract to Atos, given its failure to manage the WCA Some 24 Members including myself have now taken contract properly, is simply beyond my understanding. part in the debate and it is a shame that it was time- What on earth were they thinking of? restricted, but I understand fully why that was the case. We could have spoken for a great deal longer and have The replacement of the DLA with PIP also comes had longer contributions, however. Many Members on with a 20% budget cut, leaving disabled people and both sides of the House have raised specific constituency their carers facing the loss of vital financial support. cases and my officials are in the Box and will have taken Some will lose their Motability vehicles, and some will note of them. I will write to the Members concerned fall out of work as a result. The Disability Benefits directly after this debate and see how we can progress Consortium has suggested that if 50,000 people leave those matters forward. I will also take a personal interest work as a result of losing the mobility payment, that in certain cases, and in particular the case raised by the could cost the Exchequer £464 million in lost taxes and hon. Member for Rochdale (Simon Danczuk). On that national insurance and in additional benefits. case, as the Minister responsible, I apologise unreservedly It is not just about cuts to benefits specifically for to the family. It falls back on me, and it is about time disabled people either, because other benefit cuts affect politicians stood up and apologised when things have them disproportionately too: the bedroom tax; the gone wrong. In that case, things clearly have gone introduction of the benefit cap, which will also significantly wrong and the family have every right to be aggrieved, impact on carers, many of whom cannot take paid work and I hope the hon. Gentleman’s constituent makes a to escape it; the localisation of council tax support; the full recovery. removal of funding for local assistance schemes; and, as my hon. Friend the Member for North Ayrshire and On the call for a cumulative assessment, I am not Arran (Katy Clark) pointed out, the decision to uprate going to say to the shadow Minister that previous benefits by CPI, which impacts particularly harshly on Administrations did not do that—although they did disabled people, who face substantial additional living not—but there was a reason why and it is very complex, costs. and the Institute for Fiscal Studies has also said that that could not be done properly and accurately enough. As my hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead (Ian I hope the shadow Minister and others will understand Mearns) said, in times of austerity it is disabled people why, although the Treasury carries out independent who are bearing a disproportionate burden, and the reviews of different parts of Government policy, it does Government’s responsibility is to work hand in hand not do that. I respect the work done in other reports, with them to protect and strengthen their independence, but they are not cumulative in the way we would like. their dignity, their choices and their right to live free from stigma, hardship and fear. As a first step to doing Ian Mearns: Outside agencies have attempted to do that, it is high time that Ministers undertook a proper cumulative impact assessments—Scope and Demos, for cumulative impact assessment of the effect of their instance, worked together on an assessment. Surely, policies, took action and faced up to their devastating given the resources of Government, we can do a better effects. job than those organisations and make a good fist of it. 2.15 pm Mike Penning: Actually, I was going to refer to the The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions work by Dr Duffy, and when we leave the Chamber (Mike Penning): I apologise as I had to pop out of the today, I will ask my officials to contact Dr Duffy and Chamber for a second—nature called—but I came straight his team to see whether we can work closely together. back and I think I caught most of the speech of the Perhaps we can give them better information so we can hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green). be as accurate as possible. Ian Lavery: It’sdowntoage. The right hon. Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire) said my heart is in the right place, and I hope it is. I Mike Penning: Yes, it’s an age thing; the hon. Gentleman consider it a great honour to do this job and I desperately is absolutely right—and that is no doubt the voice of want to make things right and proper. If we look at experience. the spending since 2009 going forward and projected 471 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 472 Disabled People) Disabled People) into 2015, we see that the budget in this area of Government of ESA claimants for the next two years. Will he tell us expenditure will continue to rise. We have a slightly why the Department appears to have decided not to more cumulative figure than the ones I cited earlier, and inform claimants or Members of Parliament about it is about £50 billion a year, so we spend just under that? £1 billion a week in this budget. The key for everybody in the House is how we spend it—that we spend it Mike Penning: If we were to inform claimants and correctly. Members of Parliament about the minutiae of every I also believe in having a work capability assessment. single change in policy, we would be here a lot longer. I do not agree with the motion, but I do agree with the As most Members know, I am not hugely party political, shadow Minister. I think that the assessment was brought but I must point out that the previous Administration in for the right reasons. I am not going to say all the did not offer that level of information either. That is not problems were caused by the previous Administration how Governments work. We are trying to deal with the because, frankly, the problems with Atos and the WCA delays, and to ensure that people get what they are have been there for everybody to see since the general entitled to as quickly as possible and that nobody will election as well. It is not quite as simple as saying, as be worse off while we are doing that. We are, however, some Members have, that we should go out tomorrow in the middle of a really difficult negotiation with Atos morning and sack Atos. It has a contract. As I said at over the WCA. oral questions earlier in the week, I am determined that I want to talk about how we can speed things up. once we have negotiated the position with Atos—and Yesterday, I chaired a meeting of a network involving we are in negotiation with Atos, which is why I was so all the major stakeholders and charities. I hope that I surprised to read the views of Atos in the press over the will not upset any of the charities by leaving them out. weekend—we must make absolutely sure taxpayers’ It was a positive meeting, at which I said to them, “Sit money is not paid to Atos as compensation for the end with us and work with us to help us improve on what we of the contract when that comes. That would be have.” I was very much in listening mode, which is why I fundamentally wrong and I would not agree to it. The shall now give way to the hon. Member for Bolton negotiations continue. South East (Yasmin Qureshi). We have discussed several aspects of benefits today, and I believe that the time being taken for people to be Yasmin Qureshi: I am not going to make a party assessed is fundamentally unacceptable. This is an issue political point; my comment is meant to assist the not only for the suppliers of PIP and the WCA—we Minister. On a voluntary basis, I have represented people have talked about Capita and Atos—but for my appealing against assessments now, under the current Department as well. system, as well as 20-odd years ago under the old system. The problem now lies with the assessment method, Yasmin Qureshi rose— which involves only form-filling and box-ticking. That is why we can no longer assess people’s disabilities Mike Penning: I want to make some progress, but properly. In the old days, a medical expert gave evidence I promise that I will give way to the hon. Lady in a on a person’s ability. If we were to bring doctors back moment. into the equation, we might find that more decisions were made properly. Kate Green: Will the Minister give way? Mike Penning: I am almost sorry that I gave way to Mike Penning: I want to make a little more progress the hon. Lady, because her intervention was so long. on this point. My time is being massively eroded, and I hope, Madam Deputy Speaker, that you will give me a few more The National Audit Office report has been mentioned minutes to address the issues that have been raised. today. It was a snapshot report based on the situation in the autumn of last year. When I appeared before the The consultants and GPs tell us that the clinical Select Committee, I spoke extensively about one aspect evidence taken at the assessment is vital. When they of the report, which dealt with terminal illness. It is carry out an assessment, they are not there to provide a crucial to understand that I hid nothing away from the diagnosis; they are there to assess capacity. They can do Committee, and that I said that the length of time that only by using an evidence base. One of the big involved in dealing with those cases was unacceptable. issues under DLA was that only 6% of applicants ever It has now come down to about 10 days. That is still too got a face-to-face assessment. We are at 97% now with long, although it is less than it was under the previous PIP.I agree that that is fundamentally too high, as I said scheme. We will get it down even further. I am working to the Select Committee. closely with Macmillan, and we have agreed to pilot a I have also attended tribunals to see what is happening scheme for the 2% of terminal cases in which we will during the last part of the DLA claims that are now return to a paper-based system until I can get a secure coming through. I listened to the cases, and I agreed PDF into place. Macmillan is pleased with what we are that some of them should never have come before the doing on that. The system is still not perfect, but we tribunal in the first place. Under PIP, we have mandatory have moved an awfully long way, and we learned a lot of reconsideration; that was never the case before. I have the lessons before the report even came out. now asked my officials to go through the approximately 30,000 cases waiting to go to tribunal. We will mandatorily Kate Green: My point is on the WCA, and I hope that assess all of them, to try to prevent so many from going the Minister will address the question that I and my to tribunal. There is a lot of work to be done, but we hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila must do as much as we can, together with the charities Gilmore) raised about the suspension of reassessment and the representative bodies. 473 Welfare Reform (Sick and 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Welfare Reform (Sick and 474 Disabled People) Disabled People) [Mike Penning] I say to the Minister that when the Question is put at the end of the debate, I will be shouting “Aye”, and I Residential colleges were mentioned earlier. I agree hope that everyone in the House will do the same. If the that they do excellent work, but the college principals Government say that it is too complicated for them to know that I cannot pay for places that are not taken up. carry out the assessment, let us have an independent That is what was happening under the previous contract. assessment. Why cannot the Government bring in the There were residential places with nobody in residence, Centre for Welfare Reform, Demos and the other think- and we had day people on day courses. We have worked tanks and fund them to do the cumulative impact with the colleges on that, and we will ensure that we assessment that the Government are running from? have the necessary capacity. Interventions have eroded All the campaigners have been saying—as we have my time, so I shall now listen to what the hon. Member exposed again today—that the work capability assessment for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) has to say; is not working. It is failing people and causing them to I think I know what it will be. Please, let us work suffer; it is failing properly to assess their ailments and together to ensure that the system is better for everyone conditions; and it is failing to get them back into work. we represent. That does not mean that there should be no assessment, however. We are saying that we should scrap this one Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. and work with people with disabilities, their representatives, Before I call Mr McDonnell to wind up the debate, I the BMA and others to create a system that is fair and would like to congratulate the Minister on behalf of the just. That is all that the people up in the Gallery and the House on his appointment today to the Privy Council. 100,000-plus others who signed the petition are asking for. That is why I urge Members to shout “Aye” today, 2.26 pm and to support the reform that is so desperately needed. John McDonnell: I am sorry to spoil the Minister’s Question put and agreed to. day. When the banking crisis took place, the Government Resolved, —with the support of all parties in the House—found £1.3 trillion to bail the banks out. Since then, virtually That this House calls on the Government to commission an independent cumulative assessment of the impact of changes in every other part of society has been paying for that the welfare system on sick and disabled people, their families and bail-out, other than the banks themselves. Is it not carers, drawing upon the expertise of the Work and Pensions ironic that we are debating cuts affecting people with Select Committee; requests that this impact assessment examine disabilities in the week when RBS is putting together a care home admissions, access to day care centres, access to half a billion pounds pool to pay bonuses? education for people with learning difficulties, provision of universal mental health treatments, closures of Remploy factories, the Time and again in the debate, we have heard about Government’s contract with Atos Healthcare, IT implementation the suffering that disabled people are enduring as a of universal credit, human rights abuses against disabled people, result of the cuts, and to be frank, I have heard nothing excess deaths of welfare claimants and the disregard of medical today about alleviating that suffering. That is why it is evidence in decision-making by Atos, the Department for Work important to make a commitment to carry out a cumulative and Pensions and the Tribunals Service; urges the Secretary of impact assessment. Any good Government would want State for Health and the Secretary of State for Education jointly to assess the impact of their policies, so why are this to launch a consultation on improving support into work for sick Government refusing to do so? I think it is because, if and disabled people; and further calls on the Government to end with immediate effect the work capability assessment, as voted for an impact assessment were published, people across by the British Medical Association, to discontinue forced work society would be so angered and disgusted at how under the threat of sanctions for people on disability benefits and people with disabilities were being treated that they to bring forward legislative proposals to allow a free vote on would rise up in revolt. repeal of the Welfare Reform Act 2012. 475 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 476

Parliamentary Representation Mr Speaker has done, on the issue of parliamentary representation? She has mentioned gender, but does she [Relevant documents: Final Report from the Speaker’s agree that there is also a case for increasing parliamentary Conference (on Parliamentary Representation), Session representation in respect of race? In 1987, for example, 2009-10, HC 239-I, and the Government response, Cm 7824. we had four black and Asian MPs. It is now up to 27 on First Special Report from the Speaker’s Conference (on both sides of the House, but that is still well below the Parliamentary Representation), Session 2009-10, HC 449.] percentage of ethnic minorities in the population as a whole. 2.29 pm Dame Anne Begg: I think 4% of the House now Dame Anne Begg (Aberdeen South) (Lab): I beg to comes from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background. move, The proportion in the general community is 8%. Although That this House welcomes the fact that there are now more a lot of progress has been made, we still have a way women hon. Members and hon. Members from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in the UK Parliament than at any to go. time in history; notes that, in spite of progress, Parliament is not It is just a happy coincidence that the very month yet fully representative of the diversity of UK society; recognises that the issue is on the front pages we have the anniversary that increased diversity of representation is a matter of justice of the publication of the Speaker’s Conference report. and would enhance debate and decision-making and help to The issue is a live one—as live today as it was five years rebuild public faith in Parliament; is concerned that the progress ago when the conference was first proposed. The arguments made in 2010 may not be sustained unless concerted efforts are made to support individuals from under-represented communities for a diverse Parliament being both necessary and desirable to stand for election in 2015; and calls on the Government and have not changed. We should have a Parliament that is political parties to fulfil commitments made in response to the representative; it seems obvious. The people sitting in Speaker’s Conference (on Parliamentary Representation) in 2010, this Chamber should reflect the whole of British society. including commitments in respect of candidate selection and They should come from all walks of life. This House support for candidates. needs to look more like modern Britain. People should It is interesting to note just how topical this debate is. be able to look at this place and see someone who looks A few weeks ago, almost every newspaper in the land or sounds like them and who has, if not the same carried the picture of the all-male Government Front personal experience, at least an understanding of the Bench. I wonder whether it will go down in history, and life they lead. be as iconic as the Blair’s babes photo, which I was To achieve that is difficult. It does not happen by proud to be in. I am not sure whether those on the accident. It takes a conscious effort from those with the Government Front Bench were quite so proud to be in power to ensure that the candidates the electorate are their photo. asked to vote for in the general election come from a We have also heard that a number of women MPs are range of backgrounds with different life experiences. standing down at the next election. That is not unusual The political parties are the gatekeepers of this process. for women who are over 65 and who have served in this They are the ones who choose the candidates, so it is place for more than 20 years, but it is concerning when incumbent on them to ensure they have candidates who younger women who have only been in Parliament for come from an ethnic minority, are lesbian, gay, bisexual one term decide that they would rather be doing something and transgender, have a disability—and are not all else. white men from private schools. I always use the phrase We have also had your plea, Mr Speaker, for a more “private schools”, because in Scotland public schools civilised Prime Minister’s questions—good luck on that are run by the state and are free to go to. What a one! Is it all about macho culture, as many say, or is difference language can make! there something intrinsic in the confrontational shape What progress has been made? The House of Commons of the Chamber? A great deal has been written in recent is more diverse now than at any time in history. It was months about the rather narrow socio-economic only at the 1997 election, when I entered the House, that background of most MPs. People ask, “Why so few more than 100 women were elected. Up until then, there working-class MPs?” All of that is relevant to this were more MPs called John than there were women. debate. However, the reason I applied for this debate is Interestingly, there were only five women who had been more prosaic. In the previous Parliament, I was vice- a member of the Cabinet before Margaret Thatcher. chair of the Speaker’s Conference on parliamentary More than 50% of the Labour intake at the last two representation, and one of the recommendations was elections have been women, and across Parliament 4% that, every two years, there should be a debate on the are black, Asian and minority ethnic against 8% in the issues raised in our report on the Floor of the House. It general population. There are now more MPs with a was hoped that such a debate would raise the importance disability, and we have even heard from MPs who have of having a diverse Parliament, look at the progress been willing to reveal that they have suffered from a made and come up with suggestions on to how to mental health problem. improve the situation. The Speaker’s Conference felt May I also commend the Government for introducing that if the issue was not discussed regularly, the need to the Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund take action would be forgotten. The last debate was in and for announcing its extension up to 2015 a couple of January 2012, so this debate is to fulfil that recommendation. weeks ago? The Speaker’s Conference recommended setting up such a fund to help disabled people overcome Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I am most grateful one of the barriers they face in seeking selection—the to my hon. Friend for giving way so early in her speech. extra costs that they incur. The money might go to pay May I congratulate her on securing this debate and for a signer, or postage for someone who cannot hand getting the chance to have it on the Floor of the House, deliver letters to members, or extra travel costs. It is and on all the work that she has done, and indeed that important and it is a start. 477 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 478

[Dame Anne Begg] society, with women MPs having fewer children. That would appear to support the proposition that family Although the fund can be accessed by disabled people commitments are a barrier to women’s entry into across the UK for selection to Westminster, it does Parliament. Dr Campbell indicated at the event that not cover elections to the Scottish Parliament and further qualitative work would be required to ascertain Scottish local authorities—I am sad that the members precisely what factors are involved and how this issue of the Scottish National party have disappeared out of may best be addressed. the Chamber. Those elections are the responsibility of One key recommendation of the Speaker’s Conference the Scottish Government who have yet to set up such a that remains unresolved was aimed at ensuring that fund in Scotland. Despite warm words and a motion political parties choose a diverse range of candidates in and debate in the Scottish Parliament last year, nothing potentially winnable seats: the publication by political has yet happened. Therefore, while English disabled parties of diversity data relating to candidate selections people can access the fund for local government elections, has not properly happened. It is worth setting out again Scottish disabled people cannot. As political parties in the reason why the conference thought that was so Scotland have already begun their selection process for important. We found evidence to indicate strongly that the next Scottish Parliament elections in 2016, the need inequality persists in candidate selection. The reasons for such a fund is urgent. If they leave it too late, for that are complex, and it is difficult to identify and potential disabled candidates could miss out. I hope the apply solutions because parties and constituencies Scottish Government hear my call and follow the example select candidates by different methods and, frequently, set by the UK Government in this worthwhile initiative. independently of central control. There have been other changes that have made Parliament The vast majority of MPs are selected on a party more accessible. We now have more reasonable hours, ticket. The parties are the agents of change, and the and the programming of business has meant an end to choices the parties make about candidates are central to the old late nights spent in the bar. The opening of shaping what the House of Commons looks like. Those Parliament’s crèche has also been a step forward. However, choices are important to the parties as well: the message there is no room for complacency, and unless the women of inclusion is a very powerful one that could help to MPs who are standing down in 2015 are replaced by engage new audiences and develop closer bonds with even more women, then the overall numbers could drop. alienated communities. We recommended the creation There is clearly a need for us to look at ourselves to see of a formal monitoring scheme, requiring political parties why so many people think that being an MP is not a job to publish anonymised data on the gender, ethnic for them. background and other characteristics of candidates selected. Knowing that the parties already hold that If people from different backgrounds do not want to type of information, we gathered it from them ourselves be an MP, and cannot be persuaded to put themselves and published it in the six months preceding the last forward, we will not address the supply side issues. If it general election—that shows that it can be done. We is too expensive to enter a selection race, people from also secured an amendment to the then Equality Bill—it modest backgrounds are not going to be in that race. If is now section 106 of the Equality Act 2010—to make the public continue to hold MPs in such low regard, such monitoring permanent. why would anyone in their right mind want to be an Since the election, however, and the end of the conference, MP? Of course perception is far worse than the reality, the central publication of data has stopped, despite my which may explain why a higher proportion of the writing to the political parties reminding them of the people wanting to be an MP already have a knowledge Speaker’s Conference recommendation. Section 106 of of the world of Parliament—either because they are the Equality Act has not been commenced, as the related to an MP, they have worked for one or they have Government wished to consult further with the parties been a political special adviser. What puts other people and secure their agreement to publish voluntarily. But off, does not seem to discourage them. Perhaps they that has not happened, so may I ask the Minister realise that being an MP can be fun. I must say that I whether she can implement section 106, so that candidate have never regretted standing for Parliament, and I do selection can be tracked? Now is the right time to do it, not come from the typical MP’s background. How do as candidate selections for 2015 were delayed owing to we get across the fact that, for most of us, serving as an uncertainty over future parliamentary constituency MP is a privilege and an honour and the best decision boundaries, so it was only at the end of last year that of our lives? Having said that, we must be honest about selections for Westminster constituencies began in earnest. the issues that put people off. Perhaps we should do Data on current candidate selections have now been more work shadowing, such as that organised by Operation published online by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, Black Vote, and look closely at the work of my right but not, as far as I can discover, by the Conservatives. hon. Friend the Member for Salford and Eccles (Hazel Some of the information that has been published is not Blears) so that potential candidates can see just how necessarily comparable across the parties, but I hope good this place can be, despite all the shouting—although the Minister can help with all that. that can be fun, too. I appreciate that all political parties have different If proof were needed that MPs are different from the cultures and so may not all adopt the same approaches rest of the population, we need look no further than the in tackling under-representation. It might be through recent research by academics Professor Sarah Childs all-women shortlists, through the use of primaries, through and Dr Rosie Campbell presented at the “Parenting in the use of an A-list or by whatever means, but a Parliament”event last month. Their research has identified conscious effort must be made because this will not a statistically significant difference between the number happen by accident. There is no silver bullet or magic of children that women MPs have and the number of wand to wave that will change the make-up of the children had by women of their peer group in wider Commons, and it would be an enormous missed 479 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 480 opportunity if the Parliament elected in 2015 is less The impact on family life has to be tackled better diverse than this one. Changing that make-up will require than it has been, and some of the regulations imposed all political parties to accept they have a role to play in by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority fostering talent and in candidate selection. The Government have moved the situation backwards. That has to be can play a role, too, in providing leadership and encouraging tackled head on; we must not be embarrassed or nervous a cross-party approach, as we have seen with the access about dealing with the problem faced by those who to elected office fund. But Parliament has to be more represent constituencies many miles away and who want welcoming, too, and perhaps, if I may be so bold, Mr their family with them during the working week. They Speaker, that is where you come in as well. Our democracy should not be disincentivised by an anti-family system is precious—it is too precious to be wholly in the hands of allowances. That system has to be changed. of a narrow elite. We can make this a Parliament for the 21st century, but we can only do it together. Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): Does my hon. Friend agree that the partners, wives and husbands 2.44 pm of MPs have changed their view of the role of an MP? Margot James (Stourbridge) (Con): Mr Speaker, I An MP, like everybody else in our society, needs to do a congratulate the hon. Member for Aberdeen South range of things both for their family and for their work, (Dame Anne Begg) on securing this debate and on and that social change in expectations on child care and keeping the pressure up to make sure that the Speaker’s other things is a driver in some of the things to which Conference proposals, which were made before many of she has referred. us entered the House, live and carry on delivering the successful outcomes that they have started to deliver. I Margot James: I thank my hon. Friend for that agree with much of what has already been said; we are intervention. He makes a good point about how society here because we all care about our democracy and and family life are changing, and how Parliament has to know how fundamental it is that all Britons, regardless keep up with that. I quite agree. of their ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, where they come from or social background, should not be Dame Angela Watkinson (Hornchurch and Upminster) barred from playing a full part in our parliamentary (Con): Following on from that, does my hon. Friend democracy. So this debate involves the issue of fairness, agree that the decision to become an MP is a much as well as the effectiveness of our legislative process. As greater one for a woman than it is for a man, particularly I found in business, things are much more effective if she is of child-bearing age, because there are big where a diverse group of individuals, with a variety of decisions to make about when to have children? I am backgrounds and experiences behind them, come together absolutely full of admiration for female colleagues in to have an impact on the process. Later in my contribution this House who have had babies while they have been I will give a few examples of small ways in which that working, but there are decisions to be made about who has been achieved by our greater diversity. looks after the child, possibly decisions that men do not A more representative Chamber will also help us to have to make. That is one of the reasons why women are reduce the gap, which we have all seen grow in our under-represented in this Chamber. lifetimes, between the public and their elected representatives. There are many reasons why we are all here, and the Margot James: I thank my hon. Friend for that whole process starts at a young age by inspiring in intervention; she makes an important point. I know people an interest in politics. Although we have improved that she does not mean to imply that the aspects of the routes into politics, one conventional route is still family life and child-rearing that she mentioned apply for young people to come here to work as interns or only to women; increasingly, young fathers are also special advisers or for one of the main parties’ research involved in making such decisions. functions. We have to capture those young people and make sure they are more representative of society at It is difficult to combine a parliamentary career with large, as that is a natural pool of entry into politics. caring responsibilities. While my parents were alive—they lived close to me in London—I would have found it We also need to consider the people who come into possible to represent a London constituency but impossible Parliament later in their careers, having done something to represent a constituency outside of London and else first. The public always say that they want to see many miles away from them. more of that, and I believe everyone in this House agrees with that. There needs to be a career within My hon. Friend makes a very good point. We need to Parliament that embraces the experience that these people tackle this issue, and the system of allowances and have had in other fields and does not just focus narrowly parliamentary hours, about which much progress has on the more political experience, and the performance been made, needs to reflect the difficult decisions that in the Chamber and at the big set-piece events, as the people make. She is quite right, of course; I believe that only perceived way of getting on in Government or there is only one mother in the Cabinet, and perhaps shadow Government. that has something to do with the point she made. There are many barriers to overcome, and I have I will talk a little about some of the measures that touched on a few. The hon. Lady gave a strong mention have been taken and that have worked to various degrees. to the economic barrier, which puts a great many people Clearly, the all-women shortlists that the Labour party off. It is why we have so few people from lower-paid or introduced in 1997 have had a positive effect on the manual occupations. Indeed, there are also issues to representation of women in Parliament, and I am sure address in respect of people at the higher end of the pay that they have had much to do with why 33% of Labour spectrum, who might feel that they cannot afford to go MPs are women. Positive discrimination, if I can put it into Parliament. This is a big issue with numerous that way, has also benefited Conservative representation, aspects. perhaps not so much in this place as in Europe, where 481 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 482

[Margot James] but social class, and frankly our associations all too often—not in the case of my constituency, I am pleased we have two or three very good MEPs who were elected to say—represent a particular social class. at the last European elections because we were brave enough to say that in the primary system of election, whereby we were electing candidates, the highest placed Margot James: My hon. Friend makes the very good woman went to the top of the list. point that, of course, this debate is about more than gender; I could not agree more. In my area, the black Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): Does my country, I do not feel that Conservatives have any sort hon. Friend accept that, although we of course want to of class bias in favour of people from higher socio-economic have as many women as possible in Parliament—not backgrounds, but I can see that in some parts of the least because they are as gracious as she is—it is still a country that bias might exist and we must certainly fundamental Conservative principle that Conservative stamp it out. associations must preserve full independence to select Gender is an area where it has been easier to improve the best people, whatever their sex? the selection processes, but we must work equally hard on improving the access to Parliament for other Margot James: A system that does not recognise that disadvantaged groups. We can do that by fostering a some groups in society face greater barriers than others sense of inclusion—a sense that Parliament is an inclusive does not do Parliament a service, and I do not think place—and by our parties respecting that when they that we can just leave things to what, in some parts of select candidates. our country, are fairly small groups of people. If they The Speaker’s parliamentary placement scheme has are in a Conservative area where there is a large majority delivered a good start in equalising the number of and effectively choosing the MP, I do not think that women and men who come into Parliament at a young they can expect to have untrammelled choice, when we age to work. Almost 50% of the paid internships supported are acknowledging in this debate that many groups— by the scheme have been for young women, which is a including women and ethnic minorities, and especially good thing. The hon. Member for Aberdeen South people with disabilities—have particular issues they need mentioned the access to elected office for disabled people to overcome. That needs to be built into a system in fund. There have been 60 applicants to that fund and order for it to be genuinely meritocratic, and I thank my 29 people with disabilities, who probably face greater hon. Friend for his kind remarks. hurdles than anybody else in entering Parliament, now have full funding, which is great progress. I thank you, Mr Brooks Newmark (Braintree) (Con): I could make Mr Speaker, for your support for all that work, which I the quip that for more than 200 years we seemed to have hope will continue. all-male shortlists and nobody seemed to object to that. Does my hon. Friend agree that, when we make I will say a little bit about the sort of changes that we international comparisons, we see that where there is can make when we get here. The number of lesbian and higher representation of women in international Parliaments gay people on our Benches now makes quite a big there is some form of positive discrimination? difference. Ministers across all Departments are very busy people. I am glad to say that all the Ministers I Margot James: I agree with that point and I thank my know are fully committed to diversity and equality, but hon. Friend for his intervention. In most Parliaments the issue is not always at the top of their mind—they where there is a decent level of female representation have very busy lives and many responsibilities—so it is there is at least positive action. up to Back Benchers. I applaud many of my fellow gay Our party has succeeded to some degree with the Back Benchers on keeping the Government to their positive action that we have taken. I was on the A-list, promises. There has been the legalisation on gay marriage; as it was known, before the last election, along with the removal of historical convictions for consensual sex many of my hon. Friends. That system enabled a big between men; the pardoning of Alan Turing; and support increase in the number of Conservative women that for anti-homophobic bullying campaigns in school. There we now have in the Chamber. As many Members will are many other examples, too. It is because we have know, it was a system whereby half of the list of more diversity that we can make that sort of difference, candidates from which an association could select were and that is why we need more of it. female. We went through a few other developments on I want to talk about what we can learn from business. that theme, and later in the cycle of selections there was In business, we have seen some success in the “Women a system whereby associations had to have gender parity on Boards” programme, which has very much been led at each stage of the selection process. I commend that by the Government and the Under-Secretary of State process for enabling men to have a proper and fair for Women and Equalities, my hon. Friend the Member chance while ensuring that women were supported in for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant). Now, 25% overcoming some of the more extensive barriers that of non-executive directors on boards are female; that is they face. up from 16%. I can see business outstripping politics if we are not careful. Of course, I hope that business wins Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): I will just the battle to get more diversity and inclusion. It realises take my hon. Friend back to the point of selection. Is it that it will not win corporate battles by relying on the not also the case that the selection processes of all talent pool that used to win in the past, and that areas parties, but especially our party, do not only favour men of great shortage, such as engineering, need to attract but men of a particular social and professional background? more women. Some 75% of an organisation’s customers That has been one of the biggest issues in expanding and employees will not be white men, so its decision representation. This debate is about not only gender, makers should not be, either. 483 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 484

There are many ways to lead. Lloyds Banking Group A-level should be an option in all sixth-form colleges has set a target: it wants women to be 40% of its senior and all schools, because that can inspire people. If executives in five years’ time. Procter & Gamble has a young people do not watch the news on television, big programme on developing women leaders globally. perhaps they are getting their information from blogs, Thomson Reuters has a female management academy. or in other ways, but they must be encouraged, by us Those organisations recognise that women need support and by others, to engage politically; I absolutely agree and training, and a champion at board level to enable with my hon. Friend on that. them to fulfil their potential. I see an opportunity there We all want a much more inclusive political process. I for politics in Westminster. I think that we are all aware hope that I have been able to set out a few ideas about that HR at Westminster is perhaps a little antediluvian, how parties, the Government and Parliament itself can compared with HR in industry. We need to learn lessons help us to achieve that goal so that we do not go from these organisations, which do not just set targets, backwards, as the hon. Member for Aberdeen South but have committed people dedicated to making those realistically warned that we might, but instead go forward targets a reality. On those programmes, women are as a Parliament that is far more inclusive than it has identified and put into positions that are known as been to date. feeder jobs, in which people can acquire critical skills that they will require at board level. What I am saying is 3.5 pm that it is not enough to get greater diversity in Parliament; we then need career progression, which needs to be Mr David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough) managed and led from the top. There is a great opportunity (Lab): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for there, and I urge that point on Members on both Front Aberdeen South (Dame Anne Begg) on securing the Benches. debate. She was extremely modest, however, because she has been assiduous and tenacious in following through Julian Smith: From my experience of head-hunting in on these matters since she was vice-Chair of the Speaker’s business, I would say that the key element in getting Conference, albeit that she chaired it under the previous more women into the positions that we are talking Speaker and then under your tutelage, Mr Speaker, about is incentivising men to look at a much broader after you were prepared to pick up the cudgel when you longlist of candidates. That is vital in achieving what came into your position. You carried the conference she wants. forward and have given support since then including, of course, through the parliamentary placement scheme Margot James: My hon. Friend makes an excellent that you and my right hon. Friend the Member for point. More broadly, many men, both in politics and Salford and Eccles (Hazel Blears) have pushed forward. the corporate world, now see the benefits of having a I am pleased to have a paid intern in my office under more inclusive environment. It is crucial that the head- that scheme, who happens to be female, which is beneficial hunting industry plays its part in supplying the longlists in my speaking in the debate. that he mentions. There is a lot to learn from business. My hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South There is also outreach: we have to reach out. I hear must not hide her light under a bushel, because not from contacts in universities and the workplace that the enough people keep pushing this issue. I often nip Labour party is very good at that. We Conservative myself and think, “Why aren’t I doing more to speak Members need to follow its example of going after about this, or to put forward publicly ideas of what we people from a diverse range of backgrounds when they might do?” I should, however, declare a non-pecuniary are at university or in leadership roles in business, interest: I am helping to establish the Bernard Crick inviting them in, and suggesting a parliamentary career centre at Sheffield university—it is named after my old to them. Hopefully, more will be Conservative than the tutor, Professor Sir Bernard Crick—which is also called opposite. the centre for the public understanding of politics. We had high hopes that the Cabinet Office, linked to Dame Angela Watkinson rose— the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, would be prepared to do more. We keep hearing that it will, but after the Margot James: Does my hon. Friend wish to intervene? schemes are put up, they seem to disappear like sand Mr Speaker: The hon. Member for Hornchurch and between fingers. I understand that money has been Upminster (Dame Angela Watkinson) need not be unduly diverted to be handed over to local authorities to address shy; she would be breaking the habit of a lifetime. the critical issue of electoral registration, given that Parliament was getting into a mess regarding people Dame Angela Watkinson: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I being discouraged from registering, but we need to want to follow up the point about going to universities spend even modest sums to encourage political engagement and enthusing people at that stage. That needs to start from the earliest years. even earlier. I have been shocked to find in schools that The hon. Member for Stourbridge (Margot James) is pupils do not ever read a newspaper or watch news right that it is vital that we encourage young people at bulletins on television. I encourage them to do so. They school to be interested in politics and citizenship and think politics and public life are nothing to do with that they receive proper unbiased tutoring in those them. Interest in general matters needs to start much subjects. I was very pleased that the Secretary of State earlier. for Education—I do not often say that—took a step back and did not remove citizenship from the school Margot James: I absolutely agree. All of us have a curriculum, but there is still a discussion behind the duty in that regard. We all enjoy going to schools and scenes about parity with other curriculum subjects and talking about politics, and ensuring that there are school the timing of any review of programmes of study. I visits to this place; all that is very important. Politics hope that that will be sorted out between the Department 485 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 486

[Mr David Blunkett] has yet approached me from the Lib Dems, but I would not discriminate against them if they did, so perhaps and Ofqual as quickly as possible because, as the hon. I could encourage then to do so. Lady rightly said, we often pick this up too late. If young people are turned off from the whole idea of Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): My right hon. Friend public engagement—not just standing for a council seat may be interested to know that there is not a single Lib or this place, but being engaged in campaigns and Dem in the Chamber. activities that we would all see as crucial dynamics in a living civil society—we will lose them. By the time Mr Blunkett: I thought that the Equalities Minister people start having children and commitments, it can was a Lib Dem. often be too late. Nia Griffith: She is absent. Dame Anne Begg: When I was listing the things that have improved, I failed to acknowledge the Mr Blunkett: That is a shame because she served on improvement to the parliamentary education service the Speaker’s Conference. I was hoping that the enthusiasm and not only its outreach work, but what it does to that she showed five years ago would have shone through. bring people to this place so that we can break down I do know that ministerial office wears you down, and some of the barriers. you sometimes loses the fervour that you came in with. Perhaps we could encourage her on these matters. Mr Blunkett: I agree entirely, and I am pleased that Access to elected office is important, but here is a the education centre has been granted planning consent. thought. I hope that there will be a route to it, Mr Speaker, because I am strongly in favour of the service, and Julian Smith: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way support and participate in its programmes. I am pleased on that point. that your efforts and those of the Lord Speaker in reaching out, going out and talking about Parliament Mr Blunkett: Can I just do the thought? When someone and politics in a non-party way is encouraging others to gets to my age after 27 years in this place, if you do not be interested in this subject. There is hunger out there. I deliver the thought when it is in your head, you might say that I hope there is access to the new facilities lose it. because on one or two days of the week these days, it is The thought was how difficult it is for people with quite difficult to get from Portcullis House to here in disabilities—it is equally true for those with caring one piece. I do not want to discourage anybody from responsibilities, who are mainly, although not exclusively, coming here, but we will have to look at that. women—both to become a candidate in the European elections and then to campaign effectively across a Mr Speaker: Order. May I just say to the right hon. region. We need to encourage the European Union to Gentleman that I have taken careful note of his strictures be a lot more supportive in that regard. on that point, and I regard it as being as close to a parliamentary instruction as he is minded to volunteer? Julian Smith: On the point about the Liberal Democrat I hope that he will not be disappointed when the eventual Minister who is not here. If I am not mistaken, she is on plans materialise. maternity leave. That is a really positive move, and crucial to the issues that we are debating. Mr Blunkett: I am very grateful for that. These days, I grab at anything that indicates that what I have said is Mr Blunkett: I have always been prepared to take taken seriously, so thank you very much, Mr Speaker. advice from around me and behind me, and I totally The way in which people see politics and Parliament commend the Minister on her drive and willingness to has been raised. The allowances debacle four years take on the difficult task of matching her political and ago is still doing great damage, partly because people personal responsibilities. How could I not? I am reliably believe things that do not happen and they believe and informed that there is some sort of job share going on. are worried about things that do happen. I hope that We must also not exaggerate the difficulties. We need my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South to be positive in seeking change, but we need to tell agrees when I say that, in relation to the Independent people more often that it is possible to do it. I want to Parliamentary Standards Authority, issues to do with say something that is a bit more humble than usual. I disability matters have improved considerably. There is am very proud to have been be in the Cabinet for eight always a step back in any organisation when there is a years, as I am of all sorts of things I have done over the change of personnel, because people do not know that past 44 years, both in local government and in Parliament, others have been “educated” to understand the issues but probably the most important thing I have ever done, and to be sensitive to them. But when it comes to an and the thing I am most proud of, is demonstrating to understanding of families one would have thought that young people, families, employers and society in general those who have families—everybody is brought up in that someone with a definable disability—I rarely talk some sort of family, even if they are looked after—would about this—can work on equal terms in a very tough have understood the issues around family life. I regret environment. If I can get that message across, everything that we have not got there yet. else will have been worth while. I say that because I On the issue of disability, access to elected office is think that we have to be positive in saying, “Whatever important. I am pleased that 29 people have been fully your background, whatever the challenges you’ve had funded on this. I have been trying to help people who in life, whatever economic or physical disadvantages, have approached me from both major parties. No one and whatever your gender or race, you can do it.” 487 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 488

To pick up on the point made by the Chair of the The fact that the Chamber is changing will lead to Home Affairs Committee, I have often been concerned more change. Let us face it: someone would need to be a that particular ethnic minority groups are underrepresented bit odd to want to stand for Parliament. We were always in Parliament and in many areas of local government. I the odd people at school; most people were interested in am particularly concerned in that regard about the football and other things. If people see positive role Afro-Caribbean community. We need to look at how we models in the Chamber who they feel might well represent can encourage particular groups to feel that they can them, they are more likely to stand for Parliament. play a part and that they would be welcome in doing so. Therefore, the changes that have started to occur will It is about people like us, but it is also about people continue. who are changing like us. I want more people who have Our system has a great advantage and a great experienced challenges in their life to feel that they can disadvantage—it is called first past the post. I love our come forward and use that experience to bring about electoral system; it is very good. It means that we positive change for others, but I also want them not to represent a definable geographical area, that we have to be daunted by the fact that we change. I am not the deal with people who do not vote for us—people come same person I was when I entered Sheffield city council into our surgery who voted Labour, Liberal, Conservative in 1970, or even when I entered this place in 1987, and or whatever—and that we have to get to know our the challenges and difficulties I face are not the same. constituencies very well. That is a big advantage in To begin with, I am better off now. I can buy things that terms of representation, but it does mean that, on the I could not previously buy and do things that I could whole, associations joyfully go ahead in selecting one not previously do. person. If every association selects the one person they I am also slightly more daunted by things that I used want, that does not necessarily mean that the team we to do, particularly when it comes to travel. For example—I get at the end of the day is balanced or representative. will share this story with the House briefly—I remember The one advantage of proportional representation, as going to a football match at Stamford Bridge when I in the European elections, is that it enables a slightly was in my late teens. The match was between Sheffield more balanced approach. Wednesday and Chelsea. I persuaded my mother that I Clearly, all the political parties are signed up to would meet an old school friend, who was totally blind, change. The driver of that change is ultimately political at the ground. She was more terrified about it than I competition, because each party wants to get the most was, but I would be more terrified now than she was votes possible and realises that it can do that only if then. I came down on the coach and hooked on to the there is much more balanced representation in the House. crowd going to Stamford Bridge. I got to the main gate Although articles in newspapers often say that there is a and started shouted my friend’s name: “Tony.” He deficiency of women voting Conservative, the polling answered and I found him. How the hell I managed to evidence is that as many women now vote Conservative find someone else who could not see outside the ground, as vote Labour. There is a slight propensity among I do not know. younger women to vote for the left and older, or more The second part of that story is that we often rely on mature, women to vote for the right. However, we need the support, encouragement and, sometimes, direct help only look at the US presidential elections to see that the of others, as we all need to be able to do. In those days very heavy preponderance of young women voting football grounds did not have audio-described commentary, Democrat was probably the reason Obama won the as they often do now, so we had to commandeer the election, because although the margin in terms of the poor devil who was fortuitously sitting behind us so electoral college was quite large, in terms of the vote it that he could give us a commentary. Anyway, it was a was quite narrow. one-all draw. One of the things that makes me feel that the situation I think that this afternoon’s debate will also be a will continue to improve is that we have a very competitive one-all draw, because I want to finish with a dangerous political system. All the political parties want to get the riposte to the hon. Member for Stourbridge, whose maximum number of votes, and they all realise that that speech I enjoyed. She was very kind to my party in necessitates changing the manner in which we carry out commending us on what we do. I must say that I wish our selections. That sometimes means educating our we did it in quite the way she described. If we did, I own best friends. We all have in our associations people think that I would be prouder, more encouraged and we have known for years and dearly love, and who are less concerned. We all have a great deal to do, within great supporters, but sometimes do not always act in a our political parties and within our society, to change way that is in the broadest, greatest interests of the the nature of how we describe our politics, what we are party. Political parties have to try to persuade their own doing and the way in which we are seen and heard. members that change is necessary. That is a big challenge Perhaps this biennial debate will help to encourage for those of us who have been in elected politics for a other people to think more positively, to be a little more number of years. The Conservative party has changed courageous and, above all, to carry this forward post in the way it sometimes carries out selections. That is to the general election next year. be commended and is starting to have results. I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge 3.19 pm (Margot James) and, indeed, the right hon. Gentleman Mr Robert Syms (Poole) (Con): It is a great pleasure that the role of the Independent Parliamentary Standards to follow the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside Authority has not helped. People with caring responsibilities, and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett), who not only spent particularly those with children, are not well catered for eight years in the Cabinet but was one of the most in the expenses system. The abolition of the resettlement effective performers on the Labour Front Bench. He grant is a retrograde step. If we have fixed five-year has a lot of respect in all parts of the House and has Parliaments, a Member coming up to their 60s has a been a role model throughout his time in the Chamber. choice whether to go or to stay for five years. If there is 489 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 490

[Mr Robert Syms] sense that half the country felt that they were not there —that we are extremely odd, peculiar, not like them. a financial incentive to go early, that will mean more Until there is a sense that politics gets it and that it is selections, and if there are more selections we will have like us, that gap of trust between the voter and the votee, a more diverse House, so it is a simple way of getting if I may call us that, will grow. It is extremely significant. change. If we abolish the resettlement grant, there is It is only in the past four years, for example, that we always the temptation for a Member to hang on for one have had any Muslim women in this Parliament. On the more term, even when they may have lost interest. I Labour Benches in the previous Parliament, the hon. hope that IPSA revisits this, because there ought to be Members for Gloucester (Parmjit Dhanda) and for positive incentives to manage people out of this House Bradford West (Marsha Singh) were Sikhs. Now on the rather than the other way around. As we all know—we Government Benches the hon. Member for Wolverhampton all have our dear friends in this House—there comes a South West (Paul Uppal) is a Sikh. I know that my Sikh time when everybody has to go, and usually it is sooner constituents believe that I can understand their issues—such rather than later. as whether Britain was involved in the invasion of the The Speaker and many other people in this House—there Golden Temple or not—but they want to make sure that are many great examples of role models in the Chamber— somebody who has the gut feeling, the cultural baggage have changed the nature of politics. We have to amend which is so important to them is part of the conversation. the expenses system to make it more family-friendly. Having that genuinely does change the conversation. For many years, the Conservative party was run by I will never forget the conversation that I had with the women, and many of them dominate our associations Clerk to the Defence Committee in about 1998. I asked and our local councils, but the problem is getting them him whether having women on the Defence Committee into this House. It is not necessarily about women, but had made a difference. It was the first time there had about women with children—that has always been the been any women on that Committee ever. “Of course,” biggest barrier. It is vital to deal with caring responsibilities, he said. I asked what difference. He said, “Well, we and sometimes it is very important to educate my own always used to talk just about how big the bombs were, party in that regard. I am glad to see that both the and now we talk about the families and children of the leadership and most of our parliamentary party understand soldiers and the other people who are out there defending that, which is why we are making progress. us.” It seems to me quite obvious that if we are asking Parliament is richer for having more diverse someone to be extraordinarily brave, the most important representation. That gives people a different perspective, thing for them to know is that their family is safe. It is a and that perspective makes us all better representatives no-brainer, but it took women on that Committee to because we are dealing with people whose life’s contribution have that insight. and life story is somewhat different from our own It is true that diversity brings different kinds of experience. Meeting other people and picking up people insight. If we miss out on those insights, politics is from less traditional backgrounds is important and poorer. For example, one of the achievements of the makes for better Members of Parliament. Speaker’s Conference was changing the rules in relation I congratulate the hon. Member for Aberdeen South to Members of Parliament who have mental health (Dame Anne Begg) on securing this debate. I hope we challenges. The interesting thing since those rules changed continue to make progress, and I am sure we will, but is that a number of colleagues have been able to come my main message today is that political competition out and say that they have suffered from poor mental will be the driver of that. If all of us do our best to health, and that has helped the general public feel, “Oh, encourage people who want to come into politics from a maybe they’re more normal.”Confessing to abnormalities range of areas, I am sure we will end up with a more has made people feel that we actually have the same diverse and a more vibrant House. struggles and challenges as them. I did not want ever to speak in Parliament about the 3.25 pm fact that I have multiple sclerosis, and I only did so Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): I was proud to when it was relevant to a debate on stem cell research. serve as a member of the Speaker’s Conference and I That was really important for one of my constituents. want to reflect on some of its broader aspects, because He has a much more severe form of the condition than I think it is regarded as being just about how to change me, but he felt, “If she can do that, I can step up.” There the composition of the House of Commons. In fact, it is a sense that if we show people—my right hon. Friend was a big reflection on democracy and politics. I strongly the Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough recommend to Members that they read the whole report (Mr Blunkett) made this clear—that we are like them because there is not enough in politics today that makes and have had different challenges, politics can be more the case for political parties and for an active democracy. engaging and make more sense to them. That is what I think the conference did. We still have big challenges. I still regularly hear The reason issues of representation became so core people saying—I speak as the first generation of my to this is that in order for democracy to work, people family to speak with a southern accent—“Why don’t I need to trust politics. In order to trust those of us who hear more politicians speak like me, with an accent?” are professional politicians, they have to think that we We really need to address such issues. get what is happening in their lives. That means that we Where does this all come from? One of the things have to look normal to them. When the Leader of the that the Speaker’s Conference made clear was the Opposition, my right hon. Friend the Member for importance of the role of political parties themselves. It Doncaster North (Edward Miliband), demonstrated said that the other day that the composition of the Front Bench “political parties are the mechanism by which people of any of the governing party was all-male on that day, one of background can be actively involved in the tasks of shaping the reasons why that had so much resonance was the policy and deciding how society should be governed…The extent 491 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 492 to which political parties are the subject of both contempt and made about our male colleagues who, on the whole, are general public indifference should be a cause of concern to all kind, supportive and generous individuals. Do such who are interested in how our country is run.” accusations not perpetuate the impression that this That is what I want to address. It seems to me that the place is an ordeal, particularly for women, whereas it is biggest risk is to our parties, which are the mechanism in fact a wonderful place to work and a fantastic job through which we can deliver some of the changes to have? Will she encourage people who complain needed, yet we do not do it well enough. In introducing about bullying to identify its source and complain to the debate, my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen Mr Speaker, rather than to tar all our colleagues with South (Dame Anne Begg) reminded the parties of the the same brush? commitment they made to publishing their selection records. Fiona Mactaggart: I am not sure that the victims of We as politicians know that it is political party activists bullying do the tarring; I think that our media are who only ever go to talk to people about politics and unable to differentiate sufficiently between groups of how to vote. I am very proud that I and my Labour people, and therefore ask whether men have been the colleagues have spoken to at least 18,000 electors in source of the bullying. The situation has got a lot better Slough since December. We are very dynamic in the way since I first arrived here and went through a door we go to talk to voters and we can probably claim the marked “Members only”—I thought that that was for best record in the country. That is one of the reasons me—only to find a urinal behind it. why I am still the Member of Parliament for Slough, Bullying still occurs, but I do not think that it is only because my constituents know that they can engage by men of women. I feel guilty when journalists ring me with people on the doorstep who are like them—people about people shouting in Prime Minister’s questions—I who might not feel comfortable doing what Members am very reluctant to confess this, but I will do so in do in this Chamber every day and who might not be front of Mr Speaker—because I have a voice that can able to make the sacrifices in their lives that many of us very easily be heard and I have been known to behave have made in ours, but who nevertheless recognise that inappropriately at Prime Minister’s questions. It is not a political parties are an agent for change. wholly male thing, because I have done it. I have taken a One of the things that really worries me is that the vow to stop, and I will keep trying to do so. I have also media perceive political parties as a conspiracy against taken a vow to give up chocolate and alcohol during the voters and as somehow trying to defraud them, and Lent, but I digress. I believe that we feed that conspiracy by having a lot of The hon. Lady’s point is that there is a risk in saying private little arrangements to deal with things. For that a whole class of people is guilty of inappropriate example, we have no formal maternity or sick leave behaviour. One thing that we fail to do is to say that the arrangements. Instead, the Whips secretly make deals class of people wanting to represent others is, on the across the Chamber to pair Members. Why are those whole, made up of people who are honest and want to things not proper rights and more transparent? We need make a better world, even though some of them have a them to be. The risk of us looking antediluvian and very funny idea of what that world should look like. We ancient is not just because of who gets here and the fact have not done enough to advocate democratic politics that we do not reflect the whole of society as well as we as a better way than any other of changing the world ought to, but because of our ancient habits and ways of and building a better society. Out of this debate should doing things and our habit of saying across the Chamber, come very strong consensus throughout Parliament about “You’re all bad guys and we’re all good guys.” such a belief, as well as a belief that to make politics At the moment, I am missing a sitting of the pre- stronger, it must be less peculiar, involve more normal legislative scrutiny Committee on the draft Modern people and be more possible for people with a range of Slavery Bill. Its members are working across parties—in challenges in their lives. quite an intelligent way, I hope—to herd the Home We need to make our behaviour to each other more Office into producing slightly better legislation than supportive here, so that it is more possible for people to would otherwise occur. Listening to them, people would do things. Although I have not had detailed conversations not be able to tell which party they belong to or what with the women on the Government Benches who will line they are taking, because we are united in a common be leaving Parliament shortly, I think that partly what is cause. Members from all parties have united with colleagues happening is that they are people whose lives were quite from across the Chamber on areas on which they have a normal; who have not been through generations of common cause. hateful politics and developed skin a mile thick; and When we do politics, we should copy Mars, which who found the change to their lives, their income and does not say, “Cadbury is poisonous; go for Mars”, but, their families very challenging. They have thought, “What “Ours are just better”. In our politics, we have a real I am giving up and what I am having to put up with is problem or challenge about permitting a discourse saying too much.” that the other guys are all evil, rather than that we share We all need to have a bit more solidarity for one many values with them, but disagree about some of the another, so that people who want to do that noble thing ways to deliver those values. of representing constituents and building a better world do not get put off by the exigencies of public life. We Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North) (Con): The hon. could all help to meet that challenge through our own Lady is making an incredibly important point. When behaviour, whether it is by shouting less at Prime Minister’s accusations are made about really appalling behaviour— questions or by offering just a little support to someone bullying—they are not made about or ascribed to an when they are having a hard time. Frankly, that is individual behaving badly in the Chamber or outside it, something that political parties do not do sufficiently but to a general group of people. For example, they are for our colleagues. 493 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 494

3.41 pm ended up on the parliamentary A-list. I always joke that it was because I turned up for the interview in a frock, Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): It is a pleasure but it was not. I hope it was because the party saw that I to follow the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart). was working-class—I will not say normal; we will leave I particularly agreed with the final part of her speech. others to judge that—and from a profession that was She was entirely right to say that we do not always help not well represented on these Benches. However, that ourselves in this place. For those of us who do not come was largely irrelevant to me because I would have been from particularly political backgrounds—I did serve as able to stand in my area as a local candidate. a local councillor for a while, but that was very different from this job—the torrent of abuse that we often have I was lucky that the selection processes for 2010 had to put up with and the invasion into what were previously changed somewhat, but in all parties our selection perfectly normal lives can be difficult to take. It has processes still favour people who come from a certain made me question on more than one occasion whether professional or educational background. At many difficult I want to continue doing this. comprehensive schools, pupils simply keep their heads down and try to get on with surviving school, rather This has been an interesting debate. As I intimated in than putting themselves forward for things that might my intervention on my hon. Friend the Member for exist in other places such as debating societies—not at Stourbridge (Margot James), I want to talk about social my school—or wanting to be something called a head class. Much has been said about gender. This place is boy or a prefect. We did not have anything like that. In under-representative in terms of gender, race and sexuality, many difficult inner-city comprehensive schools, pupils but it is also under-representative in terms of social simply keep their heads down and get used to not class. That is not often spoken about. There is an raising them above the parapet, but the selection process intense debate about all-women shortlists. I have always for getting to this place is the complete opposite. come back at people by saying that there is little use in replacing a privately educated, middle-class man with a Selection used to be a case of having to make set-piece privately educated, middle-class woman if the person speeches—who does that benefit? As a school teacher, I who misses out is, for example, a working-class, northern was okay doing that; I just thought I was speaking to a mechanic. That does not increase diversity in this place load of five-year-olds—actually, they are more frightening in any real sense. that the selection executives of local Conservative associations. However, it certainly feeds into the fact The only tag that I am interested in applying to that a lawyer or a barrister will be more used to doing myself, apart from the Conservative tag for the purposes that kind of thing and feel more comfortable with it. We of the election, is a working-class tag. I am proud to be must recognise that the processes sometimes have an from a working-class background. I am the son of a in-built advantage for certain people. school secretary and a foundry worker. My dad lost his job in the recession of the early ’90s and we spent a considerable period on benefits. He later got a job as a Sir Edward Leigh: My hon. Friend is not making a market gardener, which he still does at 69 years of age. I speech against the selection of old Etonians is he? could not have asked for more loving or hard-working parents. Andrew Percy: No, not at all. I am making a speech in favour of ensuring that we select the best people, and I attended a local comprehensive school in Hull. It create processes that allow the best people—from whatever was so bad that it was closed down twice. I am probably background or social class—to come forward and succeed. the one and only Member of Parliament who will come from that school. A lot of the time, we end up with non-local professionals who come in and take the seats. They often do a very I come from a completely non-political background. good job, but that sometimes disadvantages local candidates Most of my family voted Labour. I had a great-granddad whose hearts may be a bit more in their local area. As who was apparently something of a communist agitator somebody who came to this with no personal or family in the ’30s. He was the only political person in my wealth, I spent three and a half to four years as a family. The rest of them were Liberals, apart from my candidate fighting for a marginal seat and not knowing grandma, who was a Tory. whether at the end I would achieve my aim of getting I am proud of that background. I am also proud to elected to Parliament. That is a big risk that would put be the first member of my family to go to university. My off many people, particularly if they have small children. parents were the first generation in my family to buy The financial commitment is huge. I was lucky to their own home. My grandparents all grew up and lived have a very supportive association, and to get a lot of until they died in social housing or private rented housing. support from the Conservative party, for which I am We are all the sum total of our experiences. I am proud grateful. I had a really good chairman and agent, Councillor of that background, not that I like to whine on about it Rob Waltham, who was there to provide support where too much. necessary. One of my local councillors, Caroline Fox, I have also been a teacher, which makes me very lives round the corner from me, and I would not have unusual—a working-class, northern Tory from the public survived the three and a half years without her constant sector. My last workplace was a primary school and support, whether in the form of meals or saying, “I’ll that was very under-representative as well, but in that give you a hand in the house,” or whatever. I would not case it was men who were under-represented. It is not have got here without people such as them. only this place that needs to do more to be representative. The time commitment and the impact it has on a Without wanting to whine on, let me say a little about career is massive. As I said, I was a school teacher, but I the challenges and difficulties of getting here for someone started teaching part time in order to try to achieve my who comes from a normal background and does not aim of winning the constituency from the sitting Member. have any money behind them. I was lucky in that I That has a massive financial impact, and an impact on 495 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 496 my career. Had I not won the seat I would have been in Hull, when I was 16 and she was a student—she was a greatly disadvantaged and gone back to teaching part taskmistress, but we will not go into that. She is the first time in the primary school where I was when I was Tracey to have been elected to Parliament. I cannot elected. That is a great job to have, but it would have left claim to be the first Percy, as one of them tried to blow me financially much worse off. this place up. I am assured that there is no family connection, although the Whips have often wondered Penny Mordaunt: My hon. Friend is making an excellent whether that is my ultimate aim. point. One thing that was always a bit unfair before I want to say something on the role of the public, on we had fixed-term Parliaments was that prospective expenses and on what Parliament is like. I do not care parliamentary candidates were disadvantaged because about people’s background: I treat people as they treat they had to prepare for three possible timings of election me and I think it is great that we have Members from a campaigns, whereas Members of Parliament had a better whole range of backgrounds. I get sick of being told idea and were more financially secure. Does he agree that I am in a posh party. That really does rankle with that fixed-term Parliaments will be a great help in me, because there are plenty of Conservative Members creating a more level playing field for people wanting to who are not posh and there are plenty of Labour get into Parliament? Members who are. This institution is a bit odd. It is not like real life. Andrew Percy: Absolutely, I could not agree more. That is partly because of the nature of the environment Those of us who had been selected early had the prospect in which we operate. It sometimes feels very much like a of the 2007 general election, which did not happen. I private members club. I remember going into the Tea remember thinking at the time, “Please, Lord, just let Room for the first time and being told, “You can’t sit on this election happen”, and that was only 12 months into this side, because that’s where Labour Members sit.” being the candidate. I wanted it to be over. When I go to Starbucks or Mae’s Tearoom in Goole, I There was then the constant question of when the sit wherever there is a spare table, so that seemed like a election would come. From a career point of view, what strange thing. With the wooden panels, the way people could I say to my head teacher? I was very lucky at speak, the cliques and all the rest of it, it is a bit like a Berkeley infant school to have had a lot of support private members club. I know that you, Mr Speaker, from the deputy head teacher, Sarah Shepperson, who and others here have done a lot to try to challenge that, was also my job share. She was there to take over, and but there is still more to do. The processes are a bit was happy to take over, from me if I was elected. That stuffy. If one asks a question, even to Officers of the uncertainty—will the election be in three months’ time House, one can be spoken to as if it is a terrible or six months’ time?—is a killer. I completely agree that question or as if one is an imbecile—which I may be. fixed-term Parliaments at least deal with that side of it. What do we do? We could get people interested from They do not deal with the prospect of spending three- a young age. I was a bit odd in the sense that I was and-a-half years flogging what is ultimately a dead interested in politics at William Gee school in Hull—not donkey, so we need to bear that in mind. many pupils were. I had that interest and drive regardless of wealth, but we have to get people from different Fiona Mactaggart: I just wanted to follow up on the backgrounds in here through paid internships. We also hon. Gentleman’s point on some of the difficulties that need to avoid tokenism. I was disgusted with the debate face people if they stand. Recommendation 37 of the on which party has the most women MPs who are Speaker’s Conference states: retiring. I understand that a greater percentage of women “The Government should legislate to enable approved prospective MPs on the Labour Benches have said that they are not parliamentary candidates who are employees to take unpaid standing at the next election than have those on the leave, rather than resigning their employment, for the period from Conservative Benches—I believe it is 13% compared the dissolution of Parliament”. with 11%. That whole debate was thoroughly filthy. We That is just one step towards making it possible for should also establish non-ministerial routes for career more people to stand. progression, so that there is an alternative for those who do not want to move forward. Andrew Percy: Absolutely. That deals with the issue Finally, the public have a role, too. Unfortunately, during dissolution, but unfortunately it does not deal driven perhaps by the expenses scandal—justifiably in with the preceding three-and-a-half years. I think it was some cases, not in others—there is something of a hate estimated on ConservativeHome that the average cost campaign against politicians. The judgment is constantly to a candidate was about £40,000. That is not only from made that we got into Parliament only to feather our having to stomach the cost of large parts of one’s own own nests, milk the expenses system, or, in some way, campaign—feeding the students who come out and sell favours to our wealthy friends. Well, that is not the help; they are even poorer than the candidate, allegedly—but case for the vast majority of us, if any of us. Every from the loss of the income that would have come from institution, including this place, has its bad apples over career advancement. the generations, but the constant torrents of abuse and Despite all that, I am glad to have got here. Lots of the questioning of our motives is a real disincentive other colleagues got here too. I am lucky that my near for people who might otherwise come here and want to neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes stay here. (Martin Vickers), is a fellow local working-class lad, as MPs are, ultimately, normal human beings, but when is my right hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice we try to come across as normal, we are told “You are and Howden (Mr Davis). My hon. Friend the Member only doing that because you want to be seen as normal.” for Chatham and Aylesford (Tracey Crouch) is a former We cannot win. When I went into the kebab shop in McDonald’s employee. She trained me at McDonald’s Goole at 2 am one night, one of the patrons there, 497 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 498

[Andrew Percy] Members for South Thanet (Laura Sandys) and for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard), to do although thoroughly lovely to me, told me that it was a such a thing. They climbed the Tower, as a result of scandal that I was in the kebab shop at two in the which the rule was changed. Anyone can climb the morning. The disconnection between what people think Tower now, including people with epilepsy, but if those politicians are and what we really are must change, and two Members had not done so, the change would never the public have a role to play in that. have happened. I apologise for not telling them that I I am just someone who happens to do a job. This is was going to mention them in the debate, but I will the job that I do now, but before I did this job I was a write to them later. teacher, and before I did that I did other jobs, including As many Members will know, people in a number of working at McDonald’s. I am still a human being. I still professions—including some in Parliament—used to have a family and friends as everyone does—as we all say things like “This is not a woman’s job”, and women do here. We are all human beings. Until the agenda of were kept out of those professions. There were quotas: hate against politicians ceases, we will not get more for instance, only a certain number of women could normal people into this place, because the only people become doctors. It is only when women and people prepared to put themselves forward will be people who from different backgrounds are given opportunities that are a little bit odd. others can see just how capable we all are. How do we address that need? You, Mr Speaker, are 3.46 pm doing a huge amount to change our way of doing business in Parliament. For instance, when you call Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab): I thank my hon. Members to speak in debates, you alternate between the Friend the Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Anne two sides of the House, and check whether the women Begg) for initiating the debate. I suppose that it is a have spoken. We owe you a debt of gratitude for the measure of how far we have come that both the Front way in which you are changing Parliament. I was very Bench spokespersons are from diverse backgrounds, honoured to be part of your delegation to Burma, which is very pleasing. Mr Speaker. When we were there people were asking, Before I entered the House of Commons in 2010, I “How do you change Parliament?” I think you will used to watch the evidence sessions of the Speaker’s recall that I gave them the example of how you have Conference, and I suppose that, in a way, that gave me changed the way we take part in debates. You look the motivation to have one last fling, as they say. I had around and see who has not spoken before—Members been trying to get into this place for a number of years, on the Back Benches, for example—and do not necessarily but had been unsuccessful. Then there were a great give first place to Members on the Front Benches or many retirements, which benefited me because plenty of those who have had a lot of speaking time. You are seats became available. It was probably the Speaker’s going some way towards addressing the way Parliament Conference that finally pushed me into making another works, therefore, and it is much appreciated, certainly attempt, and I think that it also sent a message to the from the 2010 intake. political parties that certain things had to change. How do we address these matters? We must have a The first point that I want to make is about the level playing field. That involves ensuring, as many qualities that we have. I do not think that there are such Members have said, access to opportunities and to things as male and female qualities. Some women— support, which you are also doing, Mr Speaker. Judges including me, it could be said—enjoy the cut and thrust used to be picked by a tap on the shoulder, and that was of debate, or challenging people, and some men do not. the same in lots of different professions—I think in I think we should acknowledge that we have a mixture previous times many Members of Parliament were picked of patterns of behaviour. We know that many men in that way. nowadays take out the rubbish and change nappies. Turning to positive action, the hon. Member for There is even a new word for them. I do not know Stourbridge (Margot James) talked about business. whether you know it, Mr Speaker, but they are described She is right that it is moving ahead of us in certain as “metrosexuals”. They like facials, and wear moisturiser. aspects. Many businesses now have crèches, and when [HON.MEMBERS: “Hear, hear.”] So we are changing. women have to go on a career break they do not come I am sure many Members will know that it took both back to a lower stage than they were at; their position is men and women in the House to push forward the protected. So we do have something to learn from change in the hours, which has made a huge difference businesses. in giving us a decent, family-friendly workplace. The Let us focus on the question of positive action. It is leaders of the three main parties, all of them men, always the case that people have to fulfil the criteria for supported that proposal. the post. They are not the lesser candidate because there My second point is about diversity. As many Members is positive action; they are of equal stature and they have pointed out, diversity is important because it is have fulfilled the requirements for the post. We have to important for us to look like the country overall—to look at where there is underrepresentation, and in some represent the full range of people, both able-bodied and instances men will be given positive action. We start non-able-bodied, including people with have different from the premise that everyone can do the job. The hon. conditions. Let me give an example of the way in which Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy) made a Members with long-term conditions have changed the very amusing speech, but he will see when we serve on way in which Parliament works. People with epilepsy the Health Committee together that a stream of people used not to be allowed to climb to the top of the Clock from a certain section of society—we can call them Tower to see Big Ben. It took two of my co-members of white males if we like—give evidence even though the the all-party parliamentary group on epilepsy, the hon. health service has a very diverse work force. 499 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 500

Equal opportunities does not mean some will be Mr Nuttall: The table in the dining room. excluded. The greatest gift of a diverse Parliament or When people recruit for businesses like mine and work force is that everyone will feel included. when political parties choose candidates for selection to this House, they should choose the best person for the Several hon. Members rose— job, regardless of physical characteristics—male or female, white or black, Christian or Muslim, Hindu or Jew, gay Mr Speaker: Order. I am grateful to the hon. Lady for or straight; it should not matter. We should simply her kind remarks, and may I just say that there are, I choose the best person for the job. We should not try to think, seven further Members who wish to contribute to engineer a situation in which the membership of this the debate and the winding-up speeches will need to House matches exactly, or even approximately, the make-up start no later than 4.40 pm and we should allow a small of British society. amount of time for a winding-up speech by the hon. I should like to refer briefly to the Bradford West Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Anne Begg), so we by-election, which was triggered by the death of the will need speeches of approximately five minutes each, sitting Labour MP.The 2011 census showed that 54% of if colleagues can discipline themselves? the population in that constituency were Asian or British Asian, with just 37% white. The Labour candidate was 4.2 pm Mr Imran Hussain, a Muslim, who was the deputy leader of Bradford council. He was no outsider; he was Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): I will certainly not parachuted in from London. Any observer would do my best to stick to that, Mr Speaker. have thought he was the ideal candidate, yet, as we all I want to contribute to this debate from the point of know he lost not by just a few votes but by more than view of someone who is perhaps by all accounts regarded 10,000 votes, and he was beaten by a man who is as being a member of the class that is too represented in white—the present hon. Member for Bradford West this House: someone who is white, male— (George Galloway). The residents of that constituency decided that the hon. Gentleman was the best man to Andrew Percy: From Lancashire. represent them, despite the demographics of the constituency. The diversity of this House is about more Mr Nuttall: Originally from Yorkshire, if you don’t than just race or religion; it is also about the background mind, but I will come to that in a minute. and life experiences of Members. I come to this debate from the perspective of being Let us trust the people to send the right people to this white and male and, because I was a solicitor by profession House to represent them. We should not take artificial before I entered the House, I would be widely regarded measures to tinker with the make-up of the House, as being middle-class. That points to the archetypal because that will inevitably mean that someone who criticism that is thrown at Members particularly on the would otherwise have been the best person for the job Conservative Benches: it is said that our Benches are ends up being discriminated against. stuffed full with white middle-class males. 4.8 pm That is not the whole story, however, because we need to look more widely than that. We must look at a Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): It is a great pleasure to person’s background. I came from an ordinary working- speak in the debate, and I pay tribute to you, Mr Speaker, class background in the north of England—in south for the work that you have done in this respect. Yorkshire, where my father was a steelworker in the The underrepresentation of specific sectors of society rolling mills in Sheffield. On that score, by all accounts I has been well documented. We understand clearly that am underrepresented in this House. So statistics can be we need diversity in order to be representative, to bring made to prove anything really. The statistics show that in new priorities and to speak for a whole range of there were 48 solicitors among the Conservative, Labour people. It is no coincidence that, when a critical mass of and Liberal Democrat Members elected to the House in more than 100 women Labour MPs were elected to 2010—some 7.7% of all Members—so we are certainly Parliament at the 1997 election, there was a real difference over-represented. We should not try to ensure that every in the types of topics that were talked about here. My group in society is equally represented; that cannot be hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) done. has already mentioned the Defence Committee. The I was a solicitor, but I regarded myself as a small agenda in the House focused much more on a range of business man. As a partner, I was running a small subjects including maternity and paternity leave, carers, business. I had responsibility for finance, marketing, flexible working and equality legislation. We debated a personnel, administration, complying with regulations raft of issues that would probably not have come to and so on. By that score, I should be regarded as having prominence had there not been such a critical mass of been a small business man. Incidentally, when I was women in the House. running the practice, more than 90% of the 40 or so That did not just happen, however. We are 57th in the staff that we employed were women. I remember one world in terms of women’s representation. We are behind occasion when we had all gone out for an evening meal. not only many of the progressive countries but some of I was the only gentlemen among 20 or 30 women. At the countries with a very traditional view of women’s the end of the evening, a guy came over to me and said, roles. They are catching up with us fast. “Crikey, I don’t know what you do, but I wish I had Let me remind people of where we are with regard to your job!” He was amazed to see me with all those women MPs. From 2005 to 2010, some 98 out of 356 ladies on the table. Labour MPs were women, 27%; 17 out of 192 Conservative MPs were women, 9%; and 10 out of 62 Liberal Democrats Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con): On what table? were women, 14%. In 2010, Labour went up to 32% and 501 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 502

[Nia Griffith] implemented, partly because of the size of the schools and partly because of the cynicism of teenagers. It is the Conservatives to 16%; and the Liberal Democrats more difficult at that stage for young people to have the went down to 12%. It may be significant that there have opportunities to participate in a democratic way. been no Liberal Democrats in the Chamber for this If we look around Portcullis House, we see far more debate, apart from the brief appearance by the hon. young men than young women. Again, what are we Member for Solihull (Lorely Burt). doing about the people who ask to come here and to It is not good enough to allow things just to happen, take advantage of the opportunities that this place which is probably the Liberal Democrats’ way of doing offers? I think more young men than young women things. They think everyone is a nice person, and therefore approach this place, and more people from privileged things will change. However, we are not starting from a backgrounds than less privileged backgrounds. We must level playing field. We need to look at why the representation take steps to improve that situation. is as it is now, and what more we can do to encourage It is not for me to comment on the selection procedures people to come through. It is easy to describe the situation, in other parties, so I will talk about what happens in my but much more difficult to do something about it. party. The key is to make sure that it is not easier for We must put in place positive steps. We cannot allow people who have had a lot of opportunity to know what chance to make things happen. We need to look at why the procedure is like to do better than those who have people are not coming through. What is stopping them? not. I very much welcome the fact that on Saturday I Why are we beginning to stagnate in some respects? will be at a special conference where we will be examining Why are we not moving forward in the way in which we the opportunity to limit expenditure on selection procedures. would all like to do? However, this is not just about expenditure; it is also We do not have enough role models. We are beginning about time, because, as has been mentioned by the hon. to have a few role models who are women and a few role Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy), there are models from different ethnic minority groups. A few implications in respect of having to give things up and people have come from diverse backgrounds, and a few do a lot of work early on. I put my name forward and represent those with certain disabilities. None the less, if very much worked full-time in my job, and it was a lot we ask the person in the street what comes into their more difficult for me than it might have been for someone mind when they hear the word “MP”, they say a middle- who had time available to them. aged white male. We are beginning to see more diversity We need to make sure that we get all those things in among reporters and news presenters on television, but place, but we also need to bring forward a range of there are still some fields that are significantly under- candidates—we need to be looking for people. That is represented. not because we do not want a level playing field—we do There is a huge tendency for everyone to pick people want one, but the playing field is not level to start with. who are like themselves. That has been well documented That is why we have to make the extra effort, particularly in lots of human resources work about equal opportunities for those from less privileged backgrounds. We also interviewing. The tendency is to choose a person who need a better geographical selection, because there can speaks like us, looks like us and who does things in the be a tendency for people from London and the south-east waythatwedo. to go to represent a seat elsewhere, and we have a One of the key requirements for this job is an immense geographical imbalance in where people come from. amount of self confidence, which can be a major obstacle. On the IPSA issue, it is important that we never have If we look at the work done in schools, we tend to find a system whereby people who do not have wealth behind that in primary school, children are relatively confident them cannot be MPs; we must make sure that it is whatever their background. As they get into secondary possible for people to be MPs. I worry that it may be school, we find significant differences between the way very difficult to attract people who are the main earner boys and girls perceive themselves. Children who consider in the family and between the ages of 35 and 50 if we do themselves to be not so bright academically think that not get the MPs’ expenses system right. It must be they are second rate compared with those more successful possible for someone to be that person, otherwise we pupils. We often hear children saying, “Oh, they never will have only very young people or people who are pick anyone from this class.” They may also say that older and able to take a drop in salary. It is important about the street in which they live. We must deal with that we get all those things right, but it is not a matter of that sort of attitude, because confidence is such a key trying to create special privileges; it is a matter of trying part of political representation. We have to believe that to put right inequalities and bring forward more people we can do something and that we can make that difference, from all sectors of our society. so confidence is one of the things that we need to look at again and again. Several hon. Members rose— If we take schools, we find that not enough is being Mr Speaker: Order. The wind-ups from the Front done about citizenship lessons. In Wales, we now have Benchers are due to start at 4.40 pm, and half a dozen the Welsh baccalaureate, which makes pupils look at colleagues still wish to speak. I know that colleagues the way that society and politics work, but that is not can do the arithmetic for themselves, and I hope they widespread, and not rolled out in the same way across will try to help me to help them. England. School councils can be effective in primary schools. Quite often, young pupils come forward with good 4.17 pm ideas, and they have opportunities to implement them. Mr Brooks Newmark (Braintree) (Con): I am delighted In secondary schools, there is less of a direct connection to follow the hon. Member for Llanelli (Nia Griffith) between what pupils come up with and what can be and I welcome today’s motion, for the fact remains that, 503 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 504 notwithstanding recent progress, both women and ethnic leading to a virtuous circle whereby, hopefully, political minorities are woefully under-represented in our Parliament associations will increasingly select and the public in today. So what are the facts? As we have heard, we have general will increasingly elect women to become their 27 ethnic minority MPs, which is just 4% of the total representatives in Parliament. number of MPs, whereas about 18%—not the 8% In my party, we will continue to work hard to strive mentioned earlier—of the population are represented for more equitable representation in Parliament as we in the 2011 census as coming from a non-white background. head towards the 2015 general election and beyond. We have 147 women MPs in Parliament, which represents Indeed, my slogan for the 2020 general election campaign 23% of all MPs, whereas just over 50% of the population would be, “50:50 by 2020.” are women. Clearly, we can do better and we must do Let me end my speech by thanking my co-chairman better. and co-founder of Women2Win, Baroness Anne Jenkin; As co-chairman and co-founder of Women2Win, I the director of Women2Win, Ellen Miller; our vice- intend to limit my remarks to what my organisation has chairman, my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham; been doing to address the concerns legitimately raised and our chief operating officer, Resham Kotecha, and in the motion. Parliament and political representation her predecessor, Dolly Theis. I am delighted to support is made stronger by diversity, and we should all be the motion. working to make this change happen. Without buy-in from men, attempts to encourage more women into 4.22 pm Parliament will not be as successful as they could be, so Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab): I, too, thank my we all need to engage with the issue of diversity of hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South (Dame representation. I strongly believe that, which is why I Anne Begg) for leading this important debate. I apologise co-founded Women2Win in 2005, in order to work with for being absent for the opening remarks; I was called to other parliamentarians to address the imbalance. Back an urgent meeting with the Opposition Chief Whip, the then, there were only 17 female Conservative MPs—a details of which I will not bore Members with. paltry 9% of our MPs. Women2Win was launched in I have found the debate interesting and helpful. At November 2005 by myself and Baroness Jenkin to times, it has felt as if it has been quite therapeutic for support and enable more Conservative women to gain some hon. Members. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed it and election to Parliament. Women2Win helps a substantial I want to add my two-penn’orth, as we would say in number of women candidates to gain selection and Lancashire, and to concentrate on some of the issues election, through headhunting, mentoring, training and mentioned by the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole supporting in a variety of ways. Over the course of (Andrew Percy) about working and social backgrounds. 2013, we have had more than 30 MPs volunteering their I agree that we need to make more progress as regards time and expertise to run training sessions and to mentor gender, race and disability, but although we are doing so candidates, and I am pleased to say that more than half a little slowly, we are making some progress nevertheless. of those volunteers have been men. As for social background, in 1979 nearly 100 MPs I will take a moment to give special thanks to my had backgrounds in manual work, which was about hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman), 15% of all MPs at that time. If we fast-forward to today, the vice-chairman of Women2Win, who, as our head of 22 MPs have a background in manual work, which is training, has dedicated countless hours to ensuring that just 4% of all MPs. To put that in context, 20% of the we are doing everything we can to increase the number country’s work force are skilled or unskilled workers. To of women applying for seats and doing so successfully. get a House of Commons that reflects the working lives Over the course of 2013, we have provided more than of people in this country, we would have to sack 105 hon. 150 hours of training to women candidates, and the Members and replace them with manual workers. I have feedback and success have been extremely positive. no doubt that you, Mr Speaker, could identify some of We have made progress since 2005. Indeed, given the the people up for dismissal and replacement. leadership provided by the Prime Minister on this issue, This is an important point. I do not want to enter with the support of organisations such as Women2Win into some sort of Monty Python sketch with the hon. and the Conservative Women’s Organisation, we saw Member for Brigg and Goole about background, work the number of women go up from 17 to 49 in 2010. We experience and life experience, but like him I come from also saw the number of ethnic minority MPs in our what would be described as a humble background. It is party rise from two to 11. important that there are more people in this place who I agree with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, represent the wider communities out there. who recently pointed out: My worry is that we are getting too many politicians “On the important issue of getting more women into public from white-collar professional backgrounds, and too life…this is…important for our country, because we will not many politicians effectively come from what is known represent or govern our country properly unless we have more as the Westminster bubble. Many of those hon. Members women at every level in our public life and in our politics.” are very good at their job, I hasten to add, but we need He ended his statement with the words, more of a mix. The journalist Peter Oborne has talked about the idea that there is a closed shop, or guild, for “we need to do much more.”—[Official Report, 5 February 2014; politicians, and I worry that that is very much to the Vol. 575, c. 264.] fore at the moment. All political parties need to do Amen to that. more to dilute that. I believe that, with more women in politics and public The final area that I want to talk about is business life in general, we not only get better decision making experience. The Labour party has been very good at but better policy outcomes for the country as a whole. diversifying the make-up of those on the Opposition More women in politics will mean more role models, Benches, but it has been particularly poor when it 505 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 506

[Simon Danczuk] Everyone wants more women in Parliament, but fellow Members will agree that we also want the very best people comes to getting Members with a business background. in our society to represent our society, male or female. Figures from the Library show that just 20 Labour MPs 4.29 pm out of 257 have a business background. We could do more to encourage people with business experience, Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): I shall curtail particularly experience of micro-business and small and my remarks. I was going to talk about the need for more medium-sized enterprises, to stand for our party. working-class representation, on which I fully support There are no easy solutions, and I will not go into lots the comments made by my hon. Friend the Member for of detail, because of the time, but we need to put more Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy). effort into encouraging people to come forward for On the selection process, the hon. Member for Rochdale selection, and to change the culture in our political (Simon Danczuk) mentioned primary elections, which parties. Earlier this week, I wrote a piece for the Manchester help to broaden the base of those who make selections. Evening News about having a turnout threshold for I acknowledge that it would be unrealistic to have a elections of, for argument’s sake, 20%, so that if not widespread primary process in which all constituents enough people voted in an election, there would be no could be involved, but using semi-open primaries similar political representative. That is quite controversial, but to that through which I was selected would broaden it would concentrate political parties’ minds on who that base. The process probably trebled the number of they selected and whether that person related to the people who attended my final selection round, many of community that they were trying to represent. It would whom were not members of the local party. certainly make candidates work harder. Also, if MPs in A recent survey by Professor Philip Cowley, in which safer seats perhaps relaxed too much, there would be an he asked members of the public two questions, demonstrates emphasis on them to get out and do more. There is also the importance of broadening the base. In effect, the an argument for looking at primaries. public said that they wanted a Member of Parliament To conclude, there is a long way to go before we can who was more like them, and the proportion of people really say that we have a Parliament that reflects the saying that increased as one went down the socio-economic people of this country. There are steps that we can take scale. The Speaker’s Conference mentioned social class to address the problems before us; only by taking those as one of the supply-side barriers that might stop steps will we get a Parliament that looks like the country individuals coming forward for selection, as well as the that it represents—male and female, black and white, public’s perception of a typical MP. rich and poor. Hon. Members might even call that a one Those from a similar background to mine rarely consider nation approach to representation. a political career, although I am pleased that they are more likely to do so nowadays. My parents were proud Several hon. Members rose— to call themselves working-class Tories, and as I have Mr Speaker: Order. With a maximum of 13 minutes progressed through the ranks, I have appreciated that left, there are still four Back-Bench colleagues wishing there is a wider spread of such people than I thought on to contribute; I simply put that on the record. our Benches and among the Conservative party at large. I attended a bilateral state school, which meant that it 4.27 pm had grammar and secondary modern streams, with children having the ability to move between them. Such Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con): I will be as quick as schools would be a useful addition to the education mix I can, Mr Speaker. Fifty-one per cent. of our population that we have today. At the time I left my secondary are women, so if we are to be fair, 51% of Members of school, people had little chance of a university career, Parliament should be women. There should be more as only 6% or 7% of people moved on to universities from chance of the Prime Minister being a women than a state schools. I eventually graduated at the age of 54. man under those circumstances. Looking at the numbers, Time and chance also play a great role in our lives. the Labour party does better than the other parties by a My hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward factor of at least two, but no political party reflects our Leigh) is in the Chamber, and he encouraged me to put population, so how can we balance the equation better? my name forward as a candidate for my home town of The best way is for society to change, so that people do Cleethorpes. I remember the day distinctly because he not even question the idea that women should naturally made his suggestion as we were driving home from a be in Parliament. meeting of Cleethorpes Conservative ladies’ luncheon Things are changing through societal evolution, rather club. That august body is still in existence and does a than revolution. As hon. Members can tell, I am entering grand job for our party. young old age, and I accept that some, particularly on All parties have become more representative, but we the Conservative Benches, will look at me as a dinosaur. need to do a great deal more and modest financial I somewhat reflect my generation. I freely admit that I support from our parties would not go amiss. However, have not done enough to equal the effort made by my I sense, Mr Speaker, that you want to move on to the wife when it comes to my family; it is something like next speech, so I shall call it a day there. 90% effort from her, and 10% from me. Maintaining our home has really been up to her, and I am not a very Mr Speaker: That is extremely public spirited of the good father, at least in terms of care, but my children—I hon. Gentleman. have several—are very different from their old man. Those with children of their own do not even question 4.33 pm the need to share duties, the idea that women should be Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): I congratulate equal, or the idea that Parliament should be made up everyone who has been involved in moving things on so equally of men and women. That is wonderful. well since the Speaker’s Conference report was published. 507 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 508

The Conservative party has done a great deal in the I am. I think women MPs are much more interesting in past few years to increase the number of women on our so many ways. Do we want legions of more young, grey, Back Benches and, most importantly, the number of ambitious men in suits? No, we want more women. We high-quality women on our Back Benches—[HON. are all united. But let me say a word of caution. We MEMBERS: “What about the Front Bench?”] On all our must move with society. We cannot impose structures Benches. What was so infuriating about the photo of a and while we should worry about the lack of Conservative couple of weeks ago is that we already have 20% female women MPs, we should have confidence in our own representation on our Front Bench. We now have a beliefs and in the way that society matures to ensure golden pipeline of high-quality female Members who that we have more women MPs. Therefore, I am strongly are ready to move on to the Front Bench, which means opposed to all-women shortlists. that the Prime Minister will be able to hit his 30% Ultimately, as my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg representation target soon. and Goole (Andrew Percy) said, there is no point in a There are people in our party whom we need to constituency denying a strong local working-class man thank. There are people who have unfortunately passed being the Member of Parliament by insisting that in away, such as John Maples and Shireen Ritchie, and that particular constituency, where perhaps he has worked those such as Gareth Fox and Davina Merison, and for years, there must be an all-women shortlist. No, the many others, including David Jones who runs our way forward is to recognise, as my hon. Friend said, assessment centres. We have put in place a phenomenal that society is changing. It is a mystery why Conservative competency-based programme, and that has produced associations, which have always been dominated by so many excellent female—[Interruption.] I am sorry; I women, have selected so few women. There was some am just going to keep going. The criticisms of the Prime feeling perhaps in the past of “Where I cannot go, why Minister on this issue are absolutely unwarranted. should I send somebody else?” There was perhaps a We have heard from my hon. Friend the Member for feeling of jealousy. All that is changing, so we do not Braintree (Mr Newmark) about the work that we are need to impose our centralising tendencies on our local doing as a party, but we need to back the work that the associations; we need to have confidence that they will House of Commons and Mr Speaker are doing to themselves want to select more women and the best promote this place outside. Mr Speaker seems to get a candidates. One of the ways forward is through the lot of criticism for doing foreign trips and promoting open primary system. That is highly democratic. It this place. He seems to get a lot of criticism for educational takes power back to the local people. It takes it away initiatives, which my constituents cry out for. They want from the Whips Office—dare I say?—because people more of these initiatives. Why on earth he is getting this will be more reliant on what people are saying locally, so hassle for promoting this wonderful cradle of democracy the open primary is the way. I do not know. I just encourage him to keep pushing I do not think that IPSA has helped at all. For forward. instance, would a successful woman doctor working The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in the north of England want to give up a successful has done a great deal for parliamentary staff. We have practice to come and live under our present expenses 100% maternity pay. Ira Madden has done great work system, to be stuck in a rented one-bedroom flat, and in the occupational health area, but there is a lot more not just for the occasional business trip, but for half her to do. I am pleased that my hon. Friend the Member for working life? It is difficult. The problem is not so much Brentford and Isleworth (Mary Macleod) has her that we have created structures that discourage women, commission set up, and I hope that that will look at but that women themselves do not want to come forward. some fundamental questions, such as why my friend I think that IPSA could help with that. Bridget Harris is having to fight in the media about Lastly, we must not think that we will encourage groping allegations. Why, when I speak to other colleagues, more women by making Parliament more anaemic, for do they say that this is not unknown today? Why are instance by sitting from nine to five. The fundamental 140 crimes taking place on this estate, with about three job of Parliament—it might be boring and take a long or four in the last 21 months against women? Why are time—is to hold the Government to account and to sexually charged words and phrases used in the media scrutinise the Government. That means that we must sit in relation to female Ministers and Members, whereas here for long hours, because that is our job. that lexicon and that dialogue are not used for male Under the present system, some of our greatest Prime Members? How do we make this place more family-friendly? Ministers have come from modest backgrounds, as have Mr Speaker had a lot of hassle about the crèche, but for many leaders of the Conservative party, including Margaret a new dad like me that is vital to me doing my job and Thatcher, Ted Heath, Michael Howard and John Major. keeping my deal with my wife. They were all committed parliamentarians. Many of How do we ensure that everyone in the House becomes our best parliamentarians, such as Ann Widdecombe obsessed about the pipeline issues that we have spoken and Margaret Thatcher, were women, and we should about? We must all worry about and obsess about that. have confidence that we can go on throwing into the Most importantly, how do we ensure that as many men mix some wonderful women parliamentarians. as possible realise that the current position is unsustainable? We have to nail this in the next couple of years by 4.41 pm finding more women, more diverse candidates, to come here and be part of our democratic process. Sadiq Khan (Tooting) (Lab): I will keep my comments brief, Mr Speaker, as you have asked us to. I congratulate 4.37 pm my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): This has Anne Begg) on securing the debate and on the motion. I been a good debate and we all, even reactionaries like also congratulate all 14 Members who spoke and all me, are desperate to have more women in Parliament. those who intervened. I think that this is the first debate 509 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 510

[Sadiq Khan] went up from 28% to 31%, and the number of black and minority ethnic MPs more than doubled from 2.2% to in which I agreed with almost every word said by all 6.2%. The Tories did very well in the 2010 election— Members on both sides of the Chamber. However, I although perhaps not as well as they should have done—and think that it would be complacent to get involved in increased their number of MPs by 97 in numerical mutual backslapping, saying how fantastic things are as terms. The percentage of women MPs did not go up by a consequence of the Speaker’s Conference. Progress as much as male MPs. They still have half the number has been made, but there is still a huge amount to do. of women MPs that Labour have—48 out of their The most senior member of the Government, the 306 MPs, or 15%—and still only 11 of their MPs are Home Secretary, when asked about this, said: BME. Although progress was made and credit should “The first responsibility for ensuring diversity of representation be given, it was not enough progress. rests with political parties, and with political parties taking action Let us look at how the Government have conducted to ensure we have a greater diversity of candidates”.—[Official themselves under this Prime Minister. Of the various Report, 17 June 2010; Vol. 511, c. 1017.] Departments, four are run by women—the Department All three party leaders have signed up to the principles for Culture, Media and Sport, the Home Office, the of making Parliament more diverse: justice, effectiveness Northern Ireland Office, and the Department for and legitimacy. It is really important that responsibility International Development. Those Departments have a should start and end with political parties. combined budget of £33.79 billion—9.2% of the total It is important that we take a look at how the three budgets that the Government spend. Of the Ministry of political parties are doing when it comes to representation. Justice, the Department for Environment, Food and Of the 55 Liberal Democrat Members of Parliament, Rural Affairs, the Cabinet Office, the Scotland Office, only seven are women—a Liberal Democrat Whip was the Wales Office, the Office of the Attorney-General, just in the Chamber for a short period, but she has now the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, gone—and none of them are black or minority ethnic. and the Office of the Leader of the House of Lords, For the European Parliament elections on 22 May, only none is run by women. Those Departments’ combined a third of the party’s candidates are women. I think that spending is £55.6 billion—almost double that of the is a problem. four Departments that women run. There is still a huge The Labour party has made some progress, but a lot problem in relation to whether this Government understand more is needed—I am not, by any stretch of the the importance of having women in positions of power imagination, suggesting that we are perfect. I remember and influence. being inspired when I saw my right hon. Friend the What about other appointments made by the Prime Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) elected in 1987, Minister? Of 114 Privy Counsellors appointed since along with my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney 2010, 17 are women, with zero being BME. Fourteen North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott), Bernie Grant per cent. of the seats on influential Cabinet Committees and Paul Boateng. Fourteen members, or 44%, of the are held by women, but how many of them are BME? shadow Cabinet are women, as are 55 of our 138 shadow Zero. Of the 85 policy tsars appointed since 2010, 13 are Ministers, or 40%. Two members of the shadow Cabinet women. How many are BME? Zero. Of the 19 Select are BME, as are five of our shadow Ministers, and 54% Committees chaired by a Conservative MP, how many of our candidates in target seats are women, and 40% of are chaired by a woman? One. Who is she? The hon. them in London are BME. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Miss McIntosh), Had there been more people like me sitting around and we know how that movie ended. How many— the Cabinet table when there was a discussion about [Interruption.] I hear some chuntering from the whether to have a van with the words “Go home” on it Government Benches. I am happy for the hon. Member driving around the most diverse parts of London, I for Brentford and Isleworth (Mary Macleod) to intervene genuinely believe that someone would have said, “Hold if she wants to. No? Fine. Out of those 19 Conservative on a second. I remember the National Front in the Chairs of Select Committees, I said that one is a woman. 1970s and 1980s.” Others would have said, “I have How many are BME? Zero. neighbours and friends who remember the National Lots of progress has been made and we can talk in Front in the 1970s and 1980s, and that is not a sensible platitudes about the importance of making further thing to do.” progress. All the Conservative Members who spoke Had there been more disabled people sitting around made excellent speeches; I particularly enjoyed those by the Cabinet table when cutting and cancelling impact the hon. Members for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy) assessments was being discussed, I think that someone and for Braintree (Mr Newmark), who I commend for would have said, “Hold on a second. If we stop having his plug for Women2Win. However, although the Prime impact assessments, we will not be aware whether a Minister signed the commitments to the three principles consequence of a policy might be poorer and disabled at the Speaker’s Conference and progress has been people being left out.” Had there been more women made in relation to the number of additional seats won around the Cabinet table when it came to talking about by women, the evidence thus far on this Conservative-led anonymity for victims of rape, they would have said, coalition is that progress has not been made, not only “Hold on a second. There are very good reasons why for women in politics but for women voters. Research victims of rape are kept anonymous.” by the Library shows that those who have been affected The Prime Minister said, as you will remember, disproportionately by this Government’s policies are Mr Speaker, that he wants a third of his Front Benchers women, the disabled and those who are BME. to be women by the end of this Parliament, so how are I am afraid that in the next general election it will the Conservatives doing? In the 2010 general election, once again be left to the Labour party to make further Labour secured its second-worst result in history. progress in this important area. However, we want Notwithstanding that, the percentage of our women MPs competition. We want the Conservative party and the 511 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 512

Liberal Democrat party to be doing far more, because September 2012 reshuffle, 12 of the new intake from the the more they do, the more our game is raised, and the 2010 general election were promoted, six of whom were more our game is raised, the better it is for British men and six of whom were women. society. Despite this progress, we know that we still have a long way to go to achieve gender quality. That is why I 4.48 pm am delighted that my hon. Friend the Member for The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Brentford and Isleworth (Mary Macleod), who chairs Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant): I congratulate the the all-party group on women in Parliament, has launched hon. Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Anne Begg) a very important inquiry into how to attract women on securing this important debate. She has been a into Parliament and public life and, just as importantly, tireless and passionate advocate of the Speaker’s Conference, how to retain them. I hope that everybody who cares and she is quite a role model in her own right. I pay about this issue will support the inquiry as much as tribute to all hon. Members who have made excellent they can. contributions in thoughtful speeches and interventions. In 2010, the number of ethnic minority MPs nearly Our democratic institutions make the best decisions doubled—it went up from 14 to 27—with 10 being when they have a mix of people with different skills, women. That is Westminster’s biggest ever percentage backgrounds and experiences from different parts of increase and I want to ensure that that upward trend the country. As things stand, Parliament, especially as continues. seen on television, presents as a predominantly white, We also need to do as much as we can to attract middle-aged, male institution, which is not good for people from different socio-economic backgrounds to anyone’s faith in democracy—a point that was made in enter politics—a point that was made very well indeed very strong terms at the Speaker’s Conference. by my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole The House is an institution designed by men and for (Andrew Percy). It is worth noting that Mr Speaker’s men hundreds and hundreds of years ago, it seems, and parliamentary placement scheme, which is run through it often shows. The hours are long and often we do not the Social Mobility Foundation, is specifically aimed at leave until well after 10 pm, and for those with families, people from disadvantaged backgrounds. I am delighted as we have heard, finding a balance can be difficult. that the Government have been able to support it. I also There have been recent improvements through the pay tribute to the right hon. Member for Salford and introduction of an in-house nursery and more family- Eccles (Hazel Blears), who initiated the scheme with friendly sitting hours. I thank the right hon. Member Mr Speaker. I am also pleased that it is being used as a for Lewisham, Deptford (Dame Joan Ruddock), who model for a similar scheme in the Scottish Parliament. worked hard and effectively to bring about that very In July 2012, we launched the access to elected office important change. I also thank you, Mr Speaker, for for disabled people strategy, which gives support to your ongoing commitment to and determination on the disabled people who want to get elected. As part of the issue of representation and the work you have done on strategy, the Government have delivered the access to so many fronts. Long may it continue. elected office fund, which enables disabled candidates Progress is welcome, but it has been very slow indeed to meet the additional costs they face and thus compete and we cannot be complacent. We need women and with others on a level playing field. The fund has now diversity to be part of the system in order to change it. I been extended to cover the 2015 general election and am very proud to be a woman and from an ethnic local authority elections, as well as parish and town minority background in this Government, who are council elections, with an increased application limit of committed to help instigate change. £40,000. That has been widely welcomed by disability The Government are committed to supporting parties charities up and down the country. that want to increase their talent pool and ensure that This has been a very well-managed, well-mannered they better represent the electorate. In that respect, we and mature debate. It is a bit of a shame that the have implemented the provisions of the Equality Act shadow Minister let the side down at the final hurdle in 2010, which enable political parties to use positive action seeking to score fairly cheap, if I say it myself, political in candidate selection, should they wish to do so. We points on issues about which we all care. These are not have also extended the ability for parties to use women-only Conservative, Labour or Liberal issues; they are issues shortlists to 2030, and to reserve seats on electoral for Parliament. We must not use them as party political shortlists for those with particular under-represented footballs, but work together to get the situation right characteristics. We have also secured commitments from and continue to make improvements. the three main parties to provide greater transparency of candidate selection through the collection and publication Fiona Mactaggart rose— of diversity data. I am very pleased that the main parties are acting on their agreement to publish the data Sadiq Khan: rose— ahead of the 2015 general election as an alternative to implementing section 106 of the Equality Act. Mrs Grant: I have little time left, so I will finish my There has been real progress in getting more women remarks. into politics, and this is the most gender diverse Parliament Today’s debate has reflected a wide range of opinions ever. Currently 22.6% of MPs are women, up from on how Parliament, Government and the parties can 19.5% in 2010. Following the 2010 general election, work to increase diversity of representation in Parliament there are now six Asian women MPs, whereas previously and public life, while respecting parties’ cultures and there were none. Five women attend Cabinet, with philosophies. A strong democracy is inclusive. It is clear some 24 women in Government overall in the House that such diversity is not something that is just nice to of Commons and the House of Lords. In the have, but is an absolute essential. 513 Parliamentary Representation27 FEBRUARY 2014 Parliamentary Representation 514

[Mrs Grant] represent different views from across our country. Under your tutelage, Mr Speaker, I hope that that is what this Many steps have been taken since 1918, when women House of Commons will become in the near future. first got the vote. Even then, the prospect of women Question put and agreed to. standing at this Dispatch Box, let alone becoming Prime Minister, was absolutely inconceivable. We now have Resolved, more women in the House than ever before. The Speaker’s That this House welcomes the fact that there are now more Conference has thrown down a challenge to us all, women hon. Members and hon. Members from black, Asian and whatever hat we wear—as a parliamentarian, a party minority ethnic communities in the UK Parliament than at any time in history; notes that, in spite of progress, Parliament is not activist or a Minister—and this Government are of yet fully representative of the diversity of UK society; recognises course absolutely committed to playing their part fully. that increased diversity of representation is a matter of justice The Government support the motion. and would enhance debate and decision-making and help to rebuild public faith in Parliament; is concerned that the progress 4.56 pm made in 2010 may not be sustained unless concerted efforts are made to support individuals from under-represented communities Dame Anne Begg: With the leave of the House, I to stand for election in 2015; and calls on the Government and thank all hon. Members who have contributed to this political parties to fulfil commitments made in response to the debate, which has shown this Parliament at its best, Speaker’s Conference (on Parliamentary Representation) in 2010, with an ability to agree and to disagree, to be lively, including commitments in respect of candidate selection and funny and amusing, and most of all—surprisingly—to support for candidates. agree across the Chamber that the House needs to be more diverse. Julian Smith: On a point of order. Is it in order that in We have shown that we already have diversity in the the closing stages of a cross-party debate about a House. We have had a speaker from the LGBT community parliamentary report, the shadow Minister— and several from BAME communities; a couple of us happen to be disabled; a few of us are women; and, Sadiq Khan: Shadow Secretary of State. indeed, some people have been willing to self-declare as working-class. Of course, we also heard from that very put-upon minority, the white middle-class man. All of Julian Smith: I apologise. The shadow Secretary of life was here. State sought to over-politicise the debate and was quite aggressive in debating issues that are important for the I was very struck by the phrase used by my hon. House. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart), who said that we all have a belief in politics. The fundamental basis of this place is that we believe in it. Mr Speaker: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for We believe that we can change things and make the his attempted point of order. I do not say this in any world a better place from this Chamber. We all believe disobliging sense, but his attempted point of order has that this is the place to be in order to make life better for much in common with the vast majority of attempted our constituents. If this place is undermined, that will points of order—namely, that it was an attempted point affect our ability to do that job and our very worthwhile of order, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Nothing work. We do not do it for individual glory, despite what disorderly has taken place, but the hon. Gentleman many people outside Parliament think, but because we with his usual eloquence and alacrity has registered his think it is right. That is why we are here, why we should point, and it is on the record. come from different communities and why we must I call Tessa Munt to present a petition. Not here. 515 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Post Office Museum and Post Office 516 Railway Post Office Museum and Post Office There are other, more immediately attractive items. Railway There is a remarkable sheet of stamps that depict the ageing Edward VII. The stamp was known as the Tyrian Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House plum and was used only once. On the night that the old do now adjourn.—(Claire Perry.) King died, one of the stamps was sent to the new King. The used stamp that was sent to the new King is in the royal collection and the sheet of unused stamps is in the 5pm archive. That was the only time that the stamp was used Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) to post a letter. George V, who was an avid philatelist, (Lab): I requested this debate to help secure the heritage collected it. of the British postal museum and archive. It was closed Another remarkable sheet of stamps was designed in in the mid-1990s and, if the plans go well, a new the 1970s. At that time, it took a long time to design a museum will, at long last, open its doors and the public stamp, print it and make it available, so they had to be will once more have access to not just stamps, but the prepared in advance. Scotland was in the World cup history of communication and the social history that finals in 1978, so stamps were produced so that they will be on display. would be ready if Scotland won the cup. Those stamps are in the archive and will be available for the public to When I first thought about the possibility of having see, so long as the museum is established. The stamps a stamp museum just outside my constituency, I did depict the winning team holding aloft the World cup and not think that it would necessarily set the world celebrating victory, which, tragically, was never realised. alight. However, as has been explained to me, it is about communication and, particularly, how we communicated Another stamp documents Churchill’s plan during throughout the 20th century. The way in which we the second world war, when there was concern that communicate with one another is, in the end, what France would fall. Churchill’s plan was to unite the makes us different from the animals. Kingdoms of Britain and France so that they would stand together and France would not be able to capitulate I am sure that the House will be pleased to hear that I to the Germans. A stamp was designed to celebrate the will discuss Royal Mail without delivering a tirade uniting of the two countries. The plan did not work, but about the outrageous proposal to develop the Mount it is evidence of attempts that were made during the Pleasant site above ground. The Minister will know that second world war. Such things one learns from stamps. Mount Pleasant is one of the largest development sites The museum is not only about stamps that depict in London, yet, of the 650 homes that are proposed for history; the postal archive holds hundreds of paintings, the site, only 12% will be affordable housing. That is letters, telegrams and photographs documenting Britain’s frankly scandalous, particularly given that the viability social history. There are two telegrams from the owners report shows that it could support more than 50% of of the Titanic, one from the evening of 14 April 1912 proper affordable housing and still make a profit. However, declaring that rumours of the Titanic’s distress were I will not talk about that today. unfounded, and another from the following morning I want to make it clear that there is a difference announcing the death of more than 1,500 people and between the development overground and the development saying that women and children had been saved. The underground. The development underground is the railway museum owns 100,000 photographs taken by Stephen and to the side of that is the new postal museum. There Tallents, the person who first coined the term “public is a distinct difference. It is important to underline that relations” and was the first public relations manager of difference because the new postal museum and archive the Post Office. In the 1930s, he revolutionised how and the underground railway will apply to the council companies were to communicate with the public. for planning permission on 10 March and, on the same The style of many of the posters put up to promote day, the council will not be asked to discuss the plans the Post Office in the 1930s was copied by London for Mount Pleasant above ground because the developers Underground, and if we compare some of London have decided to bypass local opposition and go straight Underground’s more famous posters with those produced to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. They hope by the Post Office immediately before, we can see where that they will get a better hearing from him than they it got the idea. At long last, when the museum is finally would get locally, where we are all against the development. opened in my constituency, those posters will be available We are not against the British postal museum and to be seen. They include photographs of postmen in the archive. 1930s delivering across the country, including to fields As the Minister will know, the museum and archive where women and children were working, and to has strong historical links to the Royal Mail Group. It is washerwomen in Poplar. All sorts of different things an independent charity in its own right and is the were delivered. There are photographs of a postman caretaker of a remarkable history, some of which I will delivering live fish, and another of a postman holding share with the House. Currently, the archive is based at two dead game birds in both hands—it seems that Freeling House. Freeling was the secretary to the Post pheasants could be delivered as long as they were not Office, which was the equivalent of a chief executive. leaking at the time. Because of his expertise in international mail routes, The oldest document in the collection dates from particularly across the continent of Europe, he was an 1636 and is a letter from Charles I to the mayor of Hull. extremely effective spy during the Napoleonic wars. He The mayor is told in fairly clear terms that the mail was therefore not only the chief executive of the Post service is now a monopoly and that he is no longer Office, but a spy from the 1780s until the 1820s. He allowed to use his own personal service. He is told that collected all the accounts, mail coach maps and employee the monopoly is now under ownership of the king and records and put them into an archive. He was therefore that he must cease using the local mail. It is a remarkable the founding father of the archive. and unique version of history. 517 Post Office Museum and Post Office 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Post Office Museum and Post Office 518 Railway Railway [Emily Thornberry] Jenny Abramsky, the chair of the HLF. I would like to use this opportunity to ask the Minister and other The BPMA plans to spend £10 million on a new Members to write to Dame Abramsky and offer their archive and museum, and £12 million on the little support to the bid. If successful, the grant from the known rail mail—another gem. The rail mail runs under HLF will make a significant contribution to the total my constituency and many others across the heart project. At £4.6 million, it will make up 20% of the total London. It was devised in 1911 and completed in 1927 figure. I am sure that the House will agree that it is vital and is a underground railway that served the main the BPMA is successful in its application. sorting offices from Whitechapel to Paddington. The It is, however, with some regret that, of the £21.8 million idea was to link the major railway stations across London already raised by the BPMA, the Department for Business, so that mail coming into Liverpool Street could be Innovation and Skills has donated only £70,000. That delivered straight from Paddington and out the other figure derives from the residue of the sales of shares in side. Therefore, if someone in east England wanted to Royal Mail. I hope the Minister will agree with me that write to west England, the post would go down to the such an important historic and social archive as the underground railway line. We talk about producing new BPMA deserves a little more than £70,000. It deserves railways and the ideas behind them, but that was the more of the £2 billion sale of Royal Mail than the first Crossrail devised many years ago. It was built at a £70,000 it is being given. time when the belief was that we would—of course— One of the quirks of Royal Mail history is that it has continue to invest in the Post Office because the amount always had two Postmasters General. I hope the Minister of post would increase and people would always want will be able to visit and see the history of the two to communicate with one another. Postmasters General from, I think, the late 17th century When the railway line was built across central London, to the 19th century. The deal was always, to ensure that knowing that people were likely to want to expand the when franchises were given out there was an even split line in future, spurs were built so that if it was necessary of political profit, that one Postmaster General was to have a new line going out to Oxford street, there was always a Whig and one was always a Tory. Such things a spur already there. It could simply be blocked off at go around: even then there was a coalition of Tories and one end and the railway line not closed completely, and Liberals who were selling off Royal Mail services. the line could be expanded. Things are so different now; Given that the Government have acted within the now we build to a contract and only to that contract, tradition of Royal Mail, I am sure that they will be as and hope that we will build it in time and to budget. The keen as I am to ensure that this history is properly project was built with vision, confidence, and with a documented and accessible. The archives have been positive attitude for the future of Royal Mail. So unlike closed to the public since the mid-1990s, when the old our current times, unfortunately. site at St Pauls was sold off to Merrill Lynch at a time The original Royal Mail allowed mass communication when Royal Mail was in public ownership. Does the across the UK and ran for 76 years. The public have Minister not agree that perhaps some of the profit, never been allowed to see the railway, but hopefully made when the Royal Mail museum was first sold off to when the railway museum is opened people will, at long Merrill Lynch in the 1990s, could be ploughed into the last, be able to go down to see it. There is huge excitement new museum? Is it not right that the money from the not just in train circles, but for many people who are sell-off, which has been held in trust ever since, is interested in the industrial heritage of Britain in the returned to the museum? 20th century, and they will be able to ride on that The BPMA has managed to raise £21 million towards railway underneath the streets of London. this project, but it is still £500,000 short. Does the Minister agree that the Government could do more to Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab): My hon. ensure that the postal archive is once again accessible Friend is making a marvellous speech. Is she aware that and that the never-before-seen rail mail is also open to one third of the world heritage sites in this country are the British public? It is asking for £500,000. I hope that industrial world heritage sites? Would she consider putting the Minister will this evening be able to grant its request. this forward as another one? It is vital that the museum is open to the public. How far can one walk through London without Emily Thornberry: My hon. Friend is always full of seeing part of Royal Mail history, such as a pillar box? very good ideas. I shall make a note and attempt to The museum is like a pillar box. Think of all the history propose it. pillar boxes have seen in central London. This museum The historic tunnel has not been seen by the public. It is standing there showing us the social history that has was also used during the wars to house some of our evolved around it. If any of those 100-year-old pillar most priceless treasures. There are photographs of Turner boxes could talk, they would be telling us the sorts of paintings in the underground railway during the first things we would be able to pick up at this museum. I world war, where they were held safe from bombs. It hope the Minister will agree that it is vital that the was also a home for Air Raid Precautions during world museum opens and I hope that he will be able to show war two. some support for it today. In total, the BPMA will have raised £8.91 million, and secured a further £8.15 million from donations and 5.14 pm loans from Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd. The bulk of the remaining funding will come from an application to The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation the Heritage Lottery Fund, which is currently in progress. and Skills (Michael Fallon): I congratulate the hon. The £4.6 million of HLF funding is a second round Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily application. I have written in support of it to Dame Thornberry) on securing this debate on the future of 519 Post Office Museum and Post Office 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Post Office Museum and Post Office 520 Railway Railway the postal museum and the Post Office railway. I commend donation was made for the running and maintenance of her for such an entertaining and informative speech, the museum. Fees of £400,000 were also paid for archive which I think we all enjoyed. services provided by the BPMA in order to ensure that The Government recognise that the British postal Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd would meet their obligations museum and archive is the leading resource for all under the Public Records Act 1958, and, in doing so, aspects of British postal history in the United Kingdom. would themselves ensure that records of social and These records are designated as being of outstanding historic importance were preserved and made publicly national importance. The BPMA was established by available after 20 years. Royal Mail in 2004 as an independent charity to manage Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd have also contributed and preserve the Royal Mail archive and to be the to the new project by providing soft loans and grants of custodian of the museum’s collection. As well as housing just over £7.5 million, to be paid at various stages of the the world’s greatest collection of British postage stamps, redevelopment. To secure the loans, the BPMA prepared the museum and archive hold written records of the GPO a commercial business case which will enable it to be and the Post Office, staff records, telegrams—as we more self-funding in future—by, for example, charging have heard—posters, photographs, uniforms, pillar boxes, for mail rail, and allowing its facilities to be hired for an amazing collection of postal vehicles including a corporate events. The BPMA has also secured access to five-wheeled “pentacycle”, and a fascinating variety of heritage lottery funding of over £4.25 million, and was other artefacts, including the signature stamp of Anthony awarded £250,000 as initial funding, with access to a Trollope, who worked for the Post Office for over 30 years, further £4 million-plus. My Department arranged a and sheets of the Penny Black, the postage stamp that is contribution of £70,000 to the BPMA last year. That at the heart of the history of the universal service. came about as a result of the terms of the retail share The BPMA effectively safeguards visual, written and offer element of the initial public offering which we saw physical records from 400 years of postal history. It through successfully in October. Under the terms of the acknowledged some time ago that in order to secure a offer, any sums less than the offer price of one ordinary sustainable future for that heritage, it would need to share were not to be refunded to the applicant, but the relocate and redevelop the museum and archive. The Secretary of State could give these amounts to charitable current premises at Freeling House have space and purposes. access limitations; they are also prone to intermittent flooding, so the staff have had to deal with additional Emily Thornberry: Was all the residue and the money curatorial issues. As the hon. Lady told us, there was that was to be given to charities given to this museum, previously a Post Office museum, but it closed in 1998. or did some of it go elsewhere? Since then, a large part of the collections has been held at a storage facility in Essex, or held by other museums Michael Fallon: My understanding is that it was all around the country. It is clear that the BPMA needs a given to this particular charitable purpose, but I will permanent and damp-free home, for its museum collections check whether I am right. in particular but also to lay the foundations for a more sustainable future. We considered what charitable donation would be The plans that the BPMA has set in play to address most appropriate and we thought a donation to the the situation are beginning to pay off. These are exciting BPMA was the most merited of the various possibilities times. An existing building near the Mount Pleasant canvassed. The BPMA is also raising significant funds complex is to be the new home for the archive, and the from charities and foundations by selling surplus duplicate surrounding land will be used to build a new exhibition stamp collections and related material and using corporate space. The selected building, Calthorpe House, has donors to help to raise the funds needed. All proceeds been provided by Royal Mail, and planning permission from such duplicate stamp sales are ring-fenced for has been granted for the development of a museum use by the BPMA. The BPMA also has effective plans building on adjacent land. The BPMA is also proceeding in place—along the lines of its existing fundraising with plans to bring back into service part of the historic activities—to attract the outstanding funds needed for mail rail underground system—which we have heard the project. about—as an additional visitors’ attraction. That will I hope that today’s debate has served to highlight the enhance the visitors’ experience, and I am sure that it highly important work for which the BPMA is responsible will attract many people to the hon. Lady’s constituency. as custodian of our postal heritage. That is deserving of The cost of all the redevelopment—again, as we have wider recognition, and I think deserving of the highest heard—is just over £22 million, which is a significant praise given the history of the museum and some of the sum. The BPMA has secured much of that funding hiccups along the way. Through the hard work and from a number of sources. Royal Mail and Post Office determination of the BPMA’s administrators over the Ltd remain firmly committed to the work of the BPMA last few years, this truly worthy project is now within and to the redevelopment project. Donald Brydon, the touching distance of coming to fruition, and to get this chairman of Royal Mail, has been a great advocate for far is a magnificent achievement in its own right. the BPMA, and has been consistently in touch with me I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who about it. Royal Mail has made available a 999-year lease have already made contributions to the redevelopment on Calthorpe House—the new museum and archive project. Through their generosity a very important part premises—at a nominal rent, and further donations of of Britain’s history will be preserved for the benefit and £350,000 have been made in respect of preparation enrichment of everyone—most importantly, of course, work for the new museum. future generations. I would encourage all charitable Both Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd continue to trusts and foundations, corporate sponsors and individuals make payments to the BPMA as part of the ongoing to give serious consideration to supporting the BPMA arrangements. For example, in 2012 a £640,000 charitable in whatever way they can. 521 Post Office Museum and Post Office 27 FEBRUARY 2014 Post Office Museum and Post Office 522 Railway Railway [Michael Fallon] The Government will continue to monitor the progress of the project with keen interest, and Parliament will, of I hope that any necessary additional funding can course, be kept informed of the progress through Royal soon be secured to ensure that work can start on schedule Mail’s annual reports on its heritage activities that are for the planned opening in 2016. In the interim I hope laid in Parliament, as the Government required under that anybody listening to this debate, including those of the Postal Services Act 2011. us who have engaged in it, will be encouraged by the Question put and agreed to. BPMA’s plans and will seriously consider paying a visit to the museum, as I intend to do, to find out more about a key period of our modern history—the communications revolution that started here in the United Kingdom in 5.23 pm the mid-19th century and spread with remarkable speed around the globe. House adjourned. 173WH 27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 174WH

not using it. The use of outcomes data to measure Westminster Hall outcomes and performance is utterly core to the successful delivery of modern services across our society. The Thursday 27 February 2014 biggest crisis in this debate is not our over-exploitation of NHS data but our shameful failure to allow transparent performance management in the NHS and care sectors [HUGH BAYLEY in the Chair] earlier. As we have seen these last few weeks, issues involving BACKBENCH BUSINESS the use of patient data can arouse a storm of controversy and highly charged emotional and partisan debate, NHS Patient Data including a hugely visceral set of conspiracy fears based on the idea of big government allowing their friends in [Relevant documents: Oral evidence to the Health Committee big business to exploit our data for narrow commercial on 25 February, on Care.data database, HC 1105.] interests and the incompetence of Governments to manage Motion made, and Question proposed, That the sitting data securely. This debate is fuelled by and, at worst, be now adjourned.—(Jane Ellison.) worsening a profound collapse of trust generally in Government and big business, which is becoming something 1.30 pm of a defining zeitgeist of our times. Pro and anti George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): It is a pleasure campaigners have come out in force to proclaim the to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Bayley. I thank merits of their relative positions. the Backbench Business Committee for supporting me in applying for this debate, and those hon. Members Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con): Although who have found the time, on a day when attendance it was not directly about data, the last time this happened here in Parliament is not compulsory, to join me in was during the scandalous media coverage of the measles, supporting this important agenda, which is incredibly mumps and rubella vaccine scares. It took 12 years or timely given the recent debate and coverage in the so to find out eventually that the arguments against the media about concerns over care.data and the wider vaccine had been absolutely bogus from the beginning. issues that it raises. I thank the Select Committee on I say to my hon. Friend, because I may not be able to Health for its hearing earlier this week and its support make a speech, that some of the campaigning organisations, for this debate. including SumOfUs and 38 Degrees, have stirred up It is no exaggeration to say that the use of patient trouble when they should have been backing responsible data is one of the most important subjects being debated use of NHS data for the benefit of all of us. in this Parliament, because the use of such data is central to numerous important quiet revolutions. The George Freeman: My hon. Friend makes a powerful first is discovering and preventing another Mid-Staffordshire point. I will acknowledge later the veracity of some of NHS Trust, possibly the biggest institutional failure in the points raised, but he is right that some irresponsible public services in recent decades. It is also key to planning fears have been raised, which do nothing but damage the health and care of an ageing society, the costs of public health. The MMR debacle is a good example of which are one of the key drivers of the health budget why we need to use those data and why we need very element of the structural deficit that promises to hold high rates of opt-in so that they can be used in that way. this country in debt. Unsurprisingly, due to that debacle, many now ask Data are key to evidence-based policy making and whether there is a future for this quiet revolution in the the modernisation of 21st-century NHS services to use of patient data to deliver the benefits outlined tackle the chronic gap in health productivity. They are above. After all the controversy and public backlash, key to tackling the growing medicines deficit, which is where can the hope of a data-led NHS go? Is public causing the NHS and the UK to fall ever lower in the trust now so low that the Arab spring of health outcomes league tables for access to new medicines. They are key and transparency is over? I suggest that it is not, and to helping unlock the UK’s ability not just to tackle that that the Government and NHS England’s decision to but to turn it on its head by becoming a global hub of delay the care.data initiative in order to give more time the new model of patient-centred drug discovery sweeping for a wider public discourse provides a platform for the globe. Finally, they are crucial to generating huge rebuilding public trust and confidence. I will make some new revenues for the national health service and potentially specific suggestions for the Government to consider that massive savings in the drugs budget by making the UK I think would go a long way towards achieving that. the best place in the world to design the new generation I will begin by sketching out the revolution that I of 21st-century targeted and personalised medicines, believe is currently under way in 21st-century medicine which are replacing the old one-size-fits-all model of and how data are central to driving it. I will then show drug design—the old big pharma blockbuster model— how the ten-minute rule Bill that I have introduced on which is failing. patient rights over patient data, and the “Patients4Data” The Francis report highlighted a major crisis in the campaign that I helped to found, some of whose members NHS and was a massive wake-up call for all of us. Let are here in the gallery, are articulating the benefits of us remember that thousands of patients suffered patient data. I will then summarise and address the unnecessarily as the result of a massive systemic failure understandable concerns of many patient data opponents, of health care delivery that was deliberately and shockingly which have been aired in the past few weeks. We must ignored by health professionals, who ignored whistleblowers. carry public trust and confidence; how can we put It was not identified by any management data at the measures in place to combat those concerns? Finally, I time, because although we were recording it, we were will set out how I believe the scheme can be saved and 175WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 176WH

[George Freeman] in the power of data and online access to drive both transparency of outcomes and patient empowerment. how we can ensure that patient data can be used to The frightening truth is that we are currently in a dark deliver the benefits that we all want in a way that carries age in some areas of our health service. The Government public trust. have sought to tackle that through the care.data initiative, Fundamentally, I suggest, this debate on data is a and we should welcome that. The issue is how we tackle small but important test for our politics. Will we let that in a way that commands public trust and confidence. some of the greatest advances in modern medicine and Despite all the technological advances of the last the chance of a truly 21st-century model of health care century, we are still unable to say how many people elude us and get lost in a muddled partisan debate that receive chemotherapy in the NHS each year, or how generates more heat than light, or let failures of health many prescriptions are issued. For all we know, there care delivery like those in Mid-Staffordshire be compounded could be another Harold Shipman—God forbid—operating by failures of parliamentary and political process? Or in a GP practice somewhere in Britain; or, more likely, a will we rise above it to recognise the reasonable objections GP surgery or social care unit that is operating well raised by opponents, address them with the studied below acceptable standards. We—the patients, taxpayers calm that an issue of this importance demands and find and citizens of this country—have a right to know, and a workable solution on a truly cross-party basis? to expect that MPs are asking the right questions and I hope that this debate will play a part in helping us using our position in Government and privileged access take the latter course and show this House at its best, to that vast data set to ensure that we are asking those with politicians coming together to find answers in the questions and demanding the answers. interests of the British people, patients and the NHS, as The horror stories from Mid Staffs were brought to well as the care professionals who rely on us to get it light only by the power of outcomes data. Patients were right. As they have a duty of care to the patients of this dying unnecessarily. People were drinking water from country, so we as elected representatives have a duty of flower vases. We now know that whistleblowers were care to the democratic process and to them as citizens. ignored. It was only through the power of data that the The transformational impact of data is too important scandal was uncovered. After all, data do not lie. If, as to get lost in a debate dominated by petty factionalism the Secretary of State said, sunlight is the best disinfectant, and party rivalry. This serious issue demands serious open data provide the light we need to stop the sort of answers, which this debate will help to provide. abuses that were going on in places such as Mid Staffs I mentioned a quiet revolution in modern medicine. I and Winterbourne View. suggest that slowly but surely, 21st-century health is The second and perhaps most groundbreaking changing from something done to us by government application of data is in research. The truth is that the when government has thought that we needed it to traditional model of medicines development on which something that modern citizens do for ourselves. It is a we and the NHS have relied for almost 50 years, in revolution ultimately driven by data in three profound which the pharmaceutical industry goes away for us and ways—a quiet revolution in transparency of outcomes spends hundreds of millions—increasingly, billions—and across the NHS; in research and how medicines are comes back with a perfect drug claiming to suit everyone, developed; and in empowerment of patients to take is a model that neither we nor the NHS can afford any more responsibility for their own health care. longer. On transparency, we saw—most traumatically in the Having had a career in biomedical research, my Francis report, although it is working across other areas experience is that over the past 10 to 15 years this of health care—that our constituents increasingly want country has quietly come to lead in the appliance of to understand and see that their patient journey through patient data sets in particular disease areas to drive and the health system and, crucially, the care system is accelerate the development of modern medicines. That properly tracked. To share a personal example, I have has had extraordinary benefits for NHS patients. I power of attorney for my elderly mother, who was declare an interest in that I spent the last seven years of hospitalised last summer. When she came out of hospital, my career in biomedical science and research helping to as thousands of our constituents do every day, she was create partnerships in the NHS between NHS clinician suffering and in pain, and not getting the care that she scientists, research charities, industry and university needed. I wanted to be able to log on quickly to see what scientists, in order to try to accelerate the process by her diagnosis was, what she had been prescribed by way which modern medicines are discovered and developed. of pain relief and which of the mountain of expensive The truth is that the more we learn about genetics, multicoloured pills she had been prescribed over the genomics, patients and disease, the more we know that previous weeks and months she should have been taking someone else’s disease will probably be different from that afternoon. I wanted to be able to ask the right mine. Our susceptibility to it will be different, as will questions of the system and the people in it when she our response to different drugs. The revolution in research was unable to do so for herself. Why could she not data offers an extraordinary opportunity for the NHS simply have given me her login password so that I, with to be the place in the world where we develop and power of attorney, could log on with her NHS number design 21st-century medicines targeted at the patients to her care record and see at a glance live information who need them, and generate extraordinary opportunities on her condition? for NHS patients and clinicians. Instead of being a I have given a small example, but it is one that the country that can no longer afford a spiralling drug bill younger generation in particular now expect in the and that, through inevitable rationing, becomes an ever delivery of public services. They want and expect data less attractive place to develop and launch new drugs— and easy online access to drive accountability. The genie accelerating our crisis in access to medicines—we could is somewhat out of the bottle in terms of public interest become the best territory in the world in which to do 177WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 178WH patient-centred drug design, and thus get the fastest George Freeman: My hon. Friend has put his finger access to the latest medicines. That would be a huge on it. I will come in due course to some detailed ideas, prize for our country. but his question merits an “in principle” response. It I shall give an example that brings that opportunity was proposed in the initial version of care.data to use to life. The last project that I worked on before coming one or two advisory boards within NHS England. Their to Parliament was at King’s college here in London, memberships are not particularly accountable or with Professor Simon Lovestone, the head of research transparent, and nor are their criteria, although they at the college’s academic health science centre and the are no doubt staffed by laudable and well-meaning professor of psychiatry. The project was funded by the public professionals. My hon. Friend’s question shines a NHS National Institute for Health Research and looked light on the issue—what is the basis on which different at the catchment population of the South London and sorts of data are being released, for what purpose and Maudsley NHS mental health trust—250,000 patients to whom? suffering from a range of mental health ailments. Members Later on I will suggest that we ought to be putting will be aware that there is no magic bullet drug in such advisory bodies and the framework for data release mental health; there is a huge cocktail of some very on a statutory footing, with protections to help to difficult drugs, with often hugely traumatic experiences secure public trust and confidence. We must also ensure and side effects for patients. It is an unsatisfactory area that Parliament can look—annually, biannually, or whatever of modern health care in which we are still failing a might be appropriate—at ensuring for itself, and for the large number of patients, despite the best efforts of benefit of our constituents, that the system is working those seeking to care for them. as intended. My hon. Friend’s key point is that if we are The system that was put in place, funded by the to maintain public trust and confidence in a system NIHR, created an anonymised data set of the 250,000 based on opt-out—that is essential for the data set to be patients, which allows researchers to look across that maintained at the level of scale and competence required cohort at relationships between medicines and outcomes for its function—we must earn the right to win over and between disease diagnosis and MRI scans. It shines public support for opt-out. If we do not put in place the a light on which drugs are working for which patients right protections, we will not earn that right, and we will and starts to allow us to improve treatments, target the risk large numbers of patients opting out. If that happens, right drugs to the right patients, and begin to understand we would have been better off putting in place protections the complex interplay of genetic, lifestyle and that we would have preferred not to be necessary, but pharmaceutical factors shaping disease, as well as giving were, in order to secure public confidence. possible opportunities for breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment. To return to the system in the South London and Maudsley NHS mental health trust that was established Interestingly, in the context of the anonymisation by Simon Lovestone, it creates extraordinary opportunities debate, crucial to the success of the NIHR-funded for us here in London—and Britain more generally—to system is the ability to trace and analyse GPs’ notes in a lead in the field of developing treatments for a whole long sequence of diagnoses for an individual patient, range of mental health ailments, from Alzheimer’s to a and to understand the interaction of a number of range of other psychiatric conditions that cause so different factors in that patient’s life in predicting particular much pain and suffering. They also cause vast secondary patterns of predisposition and response to drugs. In costs to our health economy. discussing anonymity, pseudo-anonymisation and total anonymisation, we must therefore be careful to ensure The third and most important reason this quiet revolution that we support a system that allows the right people to of NHS data is so important is in what I call empowerment. use the right data in the right way in order to drive If health care is to move from being something that health benefits. Government do to us to something that we increasingly, We must also distinguish the use of data for research as modern health care citizens, take responsibility for, from the publication of data. We have discovered from we need to be empowered to engage in that health care the story this week in The Daily Telegraph about a economy.We need to be enabled to take more responsibility secondary analysis of data by insurance companies that for our own health, our own health outcomes and our those data were originally published by a think-tank. own predispositions to disease, and enabled to embrace We must therefore be careful to put in place an appropriate an active role as health citizens able to use the system to system so that, for core research within the NHS, the drive the search for new treatments and cures; and we necessary freedoms to look at individual patient and need to be given the tools to play a more active role in non-anonymised data are protected, but we have a shaping our own health care destinies. cascade of protections leading out so that published Twentieth-century medicine has essentially been passive: data are absolutely safeguarded against de-anonymisation. we wait until we get a condition and then we get what we are given. I believe 21st-century health care will be Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): I congratulate all about empowering a new generation of health care my hon. Friend very warmly on securing such a timely citizens to be proactive, taking an active interest and and important debate. The protections that he is talking role in preventing disease, and helping to engage as about are fundamental to a lot of people with strong patients in research and in treatment as patient support views on this issue. By what mechanism does he envisage networks. The revolution in social media and the internet data sets becoming available? Who would be in charge is already playing a profound role in allowing that to of the protection? Do we make large data sets available? happen, making Britain the home of some extraordinary Would there be some sort of automated system to find work that is being driven by our medical research breaks in the data? My question, essentially, is: what are charities in bringing patients together to support research, the mechanisms to reassure people? and also to support treatment, care and networks. It is 179WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 180WH

[George Freeman] We started collecting basic health data 25 years ago. Most recently, out-patient data were added in 2003. A connecting British patients, particularly in the field of and E data were added in 2008. Crucially, the previous rare diseases, with global networks and communities of Government did not feel it was necessary to give anybody patients. the chance to opt out. That is a decision that was taken, We are seeing extraordinary things happening with I am sure, in good faith at the time. I think it is a sign of patient groups raising money; philanthropic funding; how public attitudes are changing that the Government companies being formed; and joint venture vehicles announcing they are giving people the right to opt out being formed by patient groups wanting to go and find has triggered a massive backlash and public debate the cure to their disease, often going back to interrogate about on what basis there is any assumption that there old data from yesterday’s drugs, or failed drugs, to is an automatic opt-in. It is a sign of how public discover whether they might have worked for particular attitudes are changing and that public trust in Government patient catchments and cohorts. That revolution is all to to always act in the best interests of its citizens is lower the good. It is something that we need to be encouraging than it was. and building into the system. Ask any clinician and they will tell you the same Sir Peter Bottomley: We must pay tribute to the thing. It is very striking that when patients first get a media in helping us on all this. They are not always serious diagnosis, they quickly become overnight advocates helpful. When Dr Foster information on hospital of the power of the internet, online support and patient experiences is aggregated and published, everyone is data, and the ability to plug into research, online pleased because they can see what is good, what is information and patient networks. It can be very better and what should be stopped, but when it starts challenging, particularly when patients are hungry for spreading to GPs, people suddenly start thinking it is all information, to stumble into and across the wrong a frightful shock. It took the BBC, I fear to say, six days source—unhelpful sources of information—and GPs to wake up to the benefits and the common currency often find themselves having to correct their patients of the use of anonymised medical data for the benefit of and put them back on track, but I do not think that that us all. is a reason to say that the revolution is wrong or bad. It is a reason to make sure that we make it easier for George Freeman: My hon. Friend again makes a very patients to plug into the right sources of information. important point. Such debates are difficult. Whenever When we talk to patients, the sources that they naturally science and complex science are being debated, there is trust are the NHS, the National Institute for Health a danger that the easy, controversial and headline-grabbing Research—the NHS’s own research base—and the great arguments will dominate. I will not throw stones from charities whose philanthropic and disease commitment Parliament and bemoan the lack of qualified scientists is unquestioned. We ought to be thinking about creating in the media. The truth is that we have a lack of a framework for patients to access online to make it well-informed science dialogue in our public discourse. easier for our patients to plug into those trusted sources There are excellent journalists in the debate. They do us of information. a favour by understanding and promoting sensible and I spoke recently to Cancer Research UK, which is in high-quality public debate, but my hon. Friend is absolutely the process of developing a patient portal. It will sit on right that we have seen—he has mentioned MMR—cases the Cancer Research UK website as a portal to help in which well-intended public policy has been distorted cancer patients access clinical trials. It will recruit through by a badly handled media debate—that is true across the trials, through the Cancer Research UK charity. It different parts of the biosciences. also has a major technology transfer arm and is developing In agriculture, we have seen similar debates around and supporting the development of new medicines—in GM. The proper debate about the benefits is not had many cases, medicines on which the industry simply because the level of public discourse does not allow us does not see enough of a return to develop, because even to acknowledge what they are—we stay at an they are often targeting quite rare and specialist cancers. emotional level. Somehow, Parliament needs to find the This is the revolution of medicines discovery that we ability to have those conversations. We are extraordinarily need to be encouraging, and it is utterly based on well equipped in this country compared with Europe. patients engaging and supporting each other, and driving We are the only country that has a chief scientific philanthropic and joint venture and mixed models of officer in every Department, and that has a cabinet of medicines, discovery and development. All that is down chief scientists that meet weekly to advise the Government to data. Without those data, we are powerless to see as a whole as well as their individual Ministers. Only neglect in our health care system; to help to save lives three other nations in Europe have a system of chief through research; or to gain further control of our own scientific officers. Britain has an opportunity to lead as health care through this revolution of empowerment. we grapple with a lot of higher science and technology Fundamentally, we need to remember that we are in the 21st century. talking about an evolutionary process. This quiet revolution The HSCIC in its new form will allow better use of did not start last month with the care.data leaflet job. information to join up care, but it comes as part of an The Health and Social Care Information Centre is not a evolution of health care data, not a revolution launched sudden change sprung upon the public. We have been with care.data this year. It is no good having a £3.8 billion collecting health data in this country for more than integration fund for better provision of services unless 25 years. The UK and the NHS have been slowly we have the right information, and unless we can join leading the world in this field, but, for a range of up intelligence to understand what really good care reasons, we have not yet told the public the story. No looks like. The truth is that this is part of a much bigger wonder they are confused. picture, with medicine and health care being transformed 181WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 182WH by an explosion of new technologies around the world. Long-term thinking and cross-party unity of purpose I contend we are living through a biomedical revolution is essential if we are going to unlock that value for the every bit as profound as the agricultural and industrial UK. revolutions that came before. Extraordinary new diagnostics, Of particular note are the launch in 2011 of the life devices and drugs are being developed that will transform science strategy, the catalyst fund, the patent box, the health care. NHS open data initiatives, the “Innovation, Health I want to share one example, which I recently came And Wealth”reforms, and now the £100 million Genomics across in hosting the “Silicon Valley comes to the UK” England project, in which the UK is making a bold leap med-tech event in Cambridge before Christmas. into leading the world in genomics medicine, and for the Interestingly, I met a Brit based in California who, after first time sequencing the genome of 100,000 NHS patients a successful first career in Hollywood special effects, and combining that at scale with its phenotypic hospital decided that he wanted to put something back and do outcome data. With that, we will have not just partial something rather more meaningful. As a child, he was bits of genetic information, but the entire genome. That obsessed—that was his word—by the “Star Wars”movies. will allow us to be the first place in the world that starts He ended up developing a helmet that reads the neurological to identify certain things, saying, for example, “Interestingly, signals in the brain and, using algorithms and software, 98% of patients who don’t respond to that drug have converts those into basic speech. this tiny genetic variation that we never spotted before.” That holds the promise of opening up a whole new Having developed the first prototype, he trialled it on world of medical research based here in the UK. a cerebral palsy patient, a young man with an acute Ultimately, linking clinical and genomic data and palsy who was unable to communicate. His mother had, using the power of modern computing provides the like mothers do when children are diagnosed or suffer opportunity to turn the NHS from a major driver of in that way, spent 21 years caring for her son. When our structural deficit into a major driver of growth in they put the helmet on, to establish some communication life sciences and a catalyst for public service innovation, protocols, he said to the mother, “I am now going to ask reform, and patient and citizen empowerment. This a series of simple questions that you will know the agenda really matters. answer to and I want to establish whether your son is hearing and answering me correctly.” He proceeded to The most inspiring examples of this tectonic shift in ask yes/no questions, including, “Do you like coffee?” health care are, of course, the stories of the individuals and “Do you like tea?” The answers, translated by the whose lives have been saved by this data revolution. algorithm, came up on the screen, “Yes” and “No”. He They include a man called Graham Hampson Silk, asked the boy’s mother, “Are these answers correct?” whose life was saved by the revolution in research-based She said, “They are 100% correct.” He then asked, after medicine. Ten years ago, he was given three years to live. a long pause, “Do you love your mother?” What came Yes, Members heard me correctly: Graham was supposed up on the screen was, “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.” After 21 years to die seven years ago. His life has been saved by the of not having any communication from her son with team of clinicians and NHS staff at Birmingham Royal cerebral palsy, for the first time she heard that her son infirmary and the Institute of Translational Medicine, loved her. That was achieved by the most extraordinary led by the inspiring Professor Charlie Craddock. He combination of algorithmic, diagnostic and Hollywood- found a drug in development in the USA and, to do derived technologies. that, he personally led a fund-raising effort on behalf of his patient, highlighting again the way in which philanthropy In health care, we are seeing an extraordinary convergence and charitable work, embedded in our NHS as part of a of technologies across different fields, which are genuinely mixed economy working with industry, is increasingly transforming what will be possible in the 21st century. vital to the development of new medicines. Charlie Data and information sit right at the heart of it. We raised the money through local fundraising to fund a have a duty to try to tell the public what could be trial for Graham and is now pioneering personalised possible if we allowed this revolution to be unlocked. cancer treatment here in the NHS, with NHS patients and their data, so that every patient in that unit becomes The UK is pioneering a new model of patient-centred a research patient, helping prevent the next generation biomedical research. Across the world, the life science from suffering unnecessarily. industry is radically reconstituting itself around what everybody is coming to recognise as the most important It was because Graham’s story and many thousands asset of all in modern biomedicine: the ability to work like it that I agreed to co-found with him the Patients4Data with clinicians and their patients, with biopsies, and campaign this year, to highlight the life-saving effects of with patient records and data, to design a new generation patient data. Patients4Data exists to make the case for of targeted and personalised medicines, diagnostics and how the medical revolution can and will transform, and devices. That model of targeted medicine unlocks the is transforming, our lives. Our contention is that, if we biggest prize of all: a new model of reimbursement, do not embrace this data revolution, there is a clear and where, instead of our officials sitting in smoke-filled present risk of the UK—far from leading in this world rooms every five years to negotiate prices for one-size-fits-all of personalised medicine and winning in the global race blockbuster drugs with the pharmaceutical industry, for investment; and far from the NHS pioneering new which neither we nor they, increasingly, can afford, we models of health care, productivity and patient get to be the country getting drugs at reduced prices, empowerment—becoming a backwater, talking the talk reflecting the value we have delivered through our NHS but not walking the walk. infrastructure. That is why the Prime Minister’s leadership Specifically on data, in a few years’ time it will be in grasping this opportunity, through the life science unimaginable to think of health records and patient strategy, matters so much, building on the legacy—I monitoring as it is today, with paper records, cardboard should pay tribute to it—of the previous Government. boxes, partial digitisation, fragmentation across hospitals 183WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 184WH

[George Freeman] Big Brother Watch has set out a number of concerns on the levels of public information, data extraction, the and community care a black hole. How many patients—our governance framework and sanctions, which merit constituents—realise that what data integration there is consideration. On public information, Big Brother Watch in our health service currently depends on the humble flags the failure to ensure that the public are properly treasury tag, that little green piece of string with two informed before any data are uploaded. It also highlights bits of metal at either end that holds together different the conflation of various issues on the uses of data cards and pieces of paper, particularly in our hospital within care.data, from drug research to commissioning, system? On those treasury tags rely our 21st century monitoring of performance and treatment success. On system of medicine. It simply is not good enough. data extraction, Big Brother Watch flags the lack of That will be as unimaginable in health care as it was clarity on which data would be extracted for those who in the world of banking before electronic and telephone do or do not opt out, and the framework for the banking empowered millions of banking consumers to governance of that extraction. There are concerns about take more responsibility for their finances. I am old the ability of NHS England to establish a proper governance enough to remember when the first online bank was framework that commands public confidence. Big Brother launched. I remember being worried that I could not Watch also raises the issue of appropriate sanctions for really trust them with my money; worrying that the data protection infringements. The British Medical number on the screen might not actually resemble the Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners amount of money in my bank account; and worrying have raised a number of concerns about communications. that my money would leak and be lost, along with my I do not believe that those concerns equally merit financial data. I need not have worried, because that Government attention, but some of them definitely do. revolution in online banking has transformed banking I am interested to hear the Minister’s thoughts on how and personal finance and has driven an extraordinary those issues will be addressed in the next six months. revolution in the UK in personal financial services. It The major complaints are these: why cannot we have an has driven huge benefits for customers and citizens, easier opt-out? Everyone who understands the issue with huge savings and a huge new market in online wants to see very low opt-out rates, but the price we pay financial services. It is now taken for granted. The same for ensuring low opt-out rates is introducing a series of revolution is happening and will happen in health care. protections that cement public support for being opted The Patients4Data movement and the Patient Data in, as it were, unless they actively opt out. Bill, in respect of patient rights, which we have sponsored, have already secured extraordinary support from a wide There is a major concern about the governance, the range of key opinion leaders in this field: those who lack of a code of practice, the lack of clarity on the have seen what is coming and want the UK to be at the basis on which the advisory councils work, the criteria forefront, leading the charge. Those opinion leaders that the advisory councils are using and what will include more than 75 medical research charities, leading constitute inappropriate release or use of data. There is professor clinicians on the front line of UK research also concern on the statutory basis of the advisory medicine, the NHS national director for patients and councils. Given how strongly we now know the public information and the Ethical Medicines Industry Group, feel about that, should we not be thinking about ensuring which is not big pharma but small, emerging companies that we put those advisory councils on a proper footing, that are pioneering the new treatments and diagnostics so that they are accountable in some way to the people that are all too often locked out by our current system whom they are there to serve through Parliament? of NHS innovation rationing. Questions have been raised about the possibility of Patient data are part of a wider story that will transform releasing not the raw data but a cleaned summary how we think about health and save hundreds of thousands format, which is not straightforward. As I have highlighted, of lives along the way. As with any revolution, there are there are some areas in which the raw data are essential new concerns, which I will now address. As the past few for the purposes of research but would not be appropriate weeks have shown, many people have legitimate worries for any wider publication. Some have asked whether we about the use and integration of GP and hospital data. could have more transparency on the different fields of Who has access to those data? Might your drink problem, data. The truth is that the summary care data contains a sexually transmitted disease or confidential discussions patient’s name, postcode, blood group and date of birth— with your GP be revealed? I am not talking about you, the basic data—down through their detailed diagnosis Mr Bayley, but about a hypothetical constituent. Will and treatment history. Different levels of sensitivity and there be a free-for-all for insurance companies or others confidentiality are inherent in that cascade before we that want to use the data for malign rather than benign even consider genomic data. A number of people have purposes? Major objections have been raised by a number raised interesting issues on whether we should have of organisations. MedConfidential has raised problems different levels of consent and different stages of release with the opt-out, and public ignorance of the scheme, for those different fields. the leaflet campaign and the communications. On the opt-out, medConfidential says: A number of people have asked whether we could “Where patients have objected to the flow of their personal have more transparency on the data being used, by confidential data from the general practice record, the HSCIC whom and for what purpose. There are questions about will receive clinical data without any identifiers attached (i.e. the sanctions for inappropriate release and use of data. anonymised data)…This is not what any reasonable person would understand by opt out—if you opt out, no information from your A number of people have pointed out that the current medical record should leave your GP practice.” fines represent small change to big industry, and we A number of other concerns have been raised that merit need to ensure that we have appropriate sanctions that attention. are an effective deterrent. What deters big industry will 185WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 186WH probably need to be different from what deters academics by saying that there is a clear way to address that or a medical research charity of limited means from question. I want to suggest five simple things that we making a mistake. could do to turn the current uncertainty into a genuine There are interesting questions on appropriate success, taking patients with us and addressing the parliamentary governance and oversight and on how concerns expressed. Some are contained in my Bill; we in Parliament, with a duty of care to our constituents, others will require additional legislation. will be able to monitor the system. Even those who First, we should establish a new charter of patient support my Bill and campaign have raised concerns that rights, as set out in my Bill, with the principles that the they want me to raise today. My hon. Friend the Member data are patients’ data and that there is a duty of care for Cambridge (Dr Huppert) has flagged reservations from NHS England, the Government and social care about the ability for people not to share their data if providers to patients. I well appreciate that it is difficult they wish. He particularly flagged the danger of patient- and something of a cul-de-sac to enshrine a legal definition doctor confidentiality being breached and undermined of ownership in legislation, but a series of rights, by the release of data and the risk that patients would responsibilities and obligations flow from the principle no longer want to talk to their doctor for fear that that of it being patient data, and we should enshrine that in confidentiality may be compromised. Other Members statute. have raised questions about the scrutiny of the process, The charter of patient rights would enshrine what public awareness and the ability to unwind the process rights patients have and put the conversation on data so that the Government can retrieve the situation if it is back to where it should be. It should not be about which shown that data security cannot be assured. The Select mandarin in Whitehall has access to patient data, but Committee on Health has raised concerns, too. how patients can access their data and use them to Unless those issues are directly addressed, there is a discover and drive a new world of health care. My Bill huge danger that we will not win public trust and that sets out measures to make the data available, using the we will lose the benefits of patient data altogether. To NHS number as a unique identifier, abolishing charges avoid that, we need to show how the revolution benefits and letting patients access their data quickly. us as patients and is designed in the interests of patients above all else. We need an opt-out system, but we have Secondly, we need to enshrine a new duty of care on to earn public trust to allow it; we cannot just take that NHS and social care providers to collect data properly, trust for granted. using the NHS number to ensure that we foster a culture of open data and transparency across the health We need to put the system within a framework of system. My Bill sets out why that should be a contractual patient rights. Patients should have a framework and an obligation, created through a new clause in the contracts architecture to access the data for themselves. We should of GPs and clinicians. There should also be a new duty encourage patients to take responsibility for their outcomes, of responsibility on NHS and care institutions to ensure their health and their data. If we do that, we will find that they are properly collecting and recording data in a much more public support for this important initiative. way that patients and GPs can access through an integrated First, we should be clear about some of the basic facts pathway record. relating to some of the debate in the past few months. For example, despite newspaper reports of the old story Thirdly, we must put the data release advisory bodies of data being released to an insurance company, which on a proper statutory footing so that the public can have happened years ago, under the Government’s proposals confidence that those bodies have proper oversight and it will be illegal to make data available for any type of governance arrangements. We must set out more clearly marketing or the administration of any type of insurance. the different protections for different fields of data. There is a big difference between the use of summary We need to make it very clear that the experience of care data and the use of genetic or detailed diagnosis other European nations shows the importance of having data, and we need to acknowledge and consider different an opt-out system. In Austria, which has an opt-out levels of consent. system, the consent rate is 99.98%. In Germany, which has a similar culture, economy and demographic situation Technology is changing what is possible. Sophisticated to Austria’s but has an opt-in system, the consent rate is automated online consent systems are being developed—by currently running at 12%. That has profound consequences great British software companies, as it happens. Those for Germany’s public health planning and ability to systems could help provide patients with that subtlety unlock all the benefits that I described earlier. of consent framework. That concern is inherent in some of the concerns expressed in the past few weeks. Others To make the scheme worth while, the evidence shows have asked whether the Secretary of State should be that opting out is the only viable system. Low opt-in required appropriately to sign off on different levels rates render the data patchy and partial, and they would of data, but equally one does not want him to spend hugely undermine the ability to spot the next Harold too much of his time signing off on individual data Shipman or Mid Staffs. Do we really want our constituents release. We need a framework that the public can have to be operating in a health system excluded from real trust in. comprehensive outcome transparency? I do not want my constituents to be subject to that, but many of the Fourthly, we need to think about having some sort of objections listed above are valid. To address those problems, annual parliamentary reporting on the use of the data we need to set out clear measures to regain public trust and a review of the outcomes and insights that the data in the power of patient data to save lives. are generating. We must put the patient first and highlight the security Finally, we need a tougher statutory framework, with of their data, because the data are theirs. The current real criminal sanctions for data breaches. That would mess is not sustainable, and we need a way to rebuild reassure the public. Campaigners are right to suggest public confidence. How do we do that? I will conclude that fines are of little real deterrence to some. To give 187WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 188WH

[George Freeman] 2.27 pm the public ultimate reassurance about the safety of their Mr George Mudie (Leeds East) (Lab): It is a pleasure data, we must look again at the punishments that can be to serve under your distinguished chairmanship, Mr Bayley. handed out for data breaches. There is simply no way I must compliment the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk we can ever win the argument on protecting the public’s (George Freeman). I have always regarded him as a data unless there are clear penalties. talented man, but when a man can speak, take a telephone call, say who has rung him and switch the phone off The six-month delay in the roll-out of care.data is a without breaking a sentence, that is real ability. valuable opportunity to address a number of widespread I should almost apologise for daring to speak after concerns. Ultimately, we must assure the public that the hon. Gentleman. I am at pains to say that I am not their data will be used only to save lives and improve putting the opposite view to his. I had a debate last our collective health. Rather than focus on who has week. I only had half an hour to share with the Minister, access to data, we should focus on how the data are but I gave up five of my valuable minutes to allow the used, and we can do that through a combination of hon. Gentleman to speak. those five new steps. I do not see the debate as having two opposite sides; I Most of all, I call for the Minister to take this see it as two different responsibilities or objectives that opportunity to set up a proper formal working party of should be rolled into one objective. The hon. Gentleman interested parties to address these issues, to show how spoke today for more than three quarters of an hour, fears can be addressed and to report back on a workable and all but five minutes were on the medical side. solution that could command the confidence of those I said this last week—I will say it again—but I do not concerned. We need to do that now. If we enact some of challenge the medical benefits of the exercise. I concede the described measures, and possibly others, and set up that medical improvements will flow from it. Those such a working group, we can use that six-month delay benefits are accepted and encouraged, but the other side to get into a position where, when the care.data is is personal privacy in the important field of individuals’ relaunched in October, we have not just dealt with some medical records. There were indications, but I am not of the concerns, but built a profound sense of public, sure that the common ground was in the five points he patient and GP support for the process and the benefits made. We must search for common ground, but I will that will flow from the use of these data. While there are show the hon. Gentleman and the House why it is always risks to any endeavour, the debate does not, as it difficult to find. has in the past few weeks, have to be characterised by a stale and overly polarised insistence on security on the This is not a dialogue; NHS England and the body one hand and data use on the other. with the long initials that was set up are not listening. They do not intend to listen or allow the public a real We have to explore the issues, break them down and choice in the matter—that is the problem. If those tackle them. There is no security for the patient unable bodies did as the hon. Gentleman said and saw the to live another 20 years because the data system is matter as, “If we are going to do this, we must gain the incomplete. In short, this is a make or break moment trust of the public”, we would all be in a better position. for the NHS and for public health in the UK. Will we However, I do not see that as their objective, which has embrace the new world of 21st-century health care, or always been to get through the formal parliamentary do we want to let those advances be lost in the muddle Committee and medical-world structure. The less we of fear and reassurances that the public do not trust? know, the less interference from us and the fewer decisions We need to take robust action now to deal with the we are allowed to take, the better, because the world will criticisms at hand. By doing so, we can make use of the be better. Well, the world will be better medically, but truly world-leading reservoirs of data that the NHS has, the dangers that we are spelling out, in terms of putting for the benefit of us all. every person’s full medical records on a database, While the economic argument is compelling, there is worry us. much more to the issue than projections about structural The dangers worry us in two ways. The first is the deficits and the cost of ageing. It is about one simple bringing together of the databases into one huge database, question: who wants to be better for longer? With the where all the information about an individual patient is right safeguards in place, I know that there is only one stored. That is an important technological computer real answer to that question, which is that we all want to problem—a difficult problem that has to be argued out. be better for longer and we want to live in a society that The second worry, which I think is the greater, is also is using every means at its disposal through the uniquely difficult. The exercise so far would not lead an objective valuable institution of the NHS to make that moral, member of the public to trust the authorities. The social, political and economic crusade a reality. worry is about the flow of information out of that In conclusion, this debate and process can be a database to people outside the national health service moment—not just here today at 2.26 pm, but this or social care. year—for our politics to demonstrate itself at its best. It I have in my hand the document that has caused the can be a coming together of interests, with Parliament fuss. It was sent out as junk mail, delivered on a and politicians listening to the debate, taking the best Monday morning with all the other junk mail; the post arguments and working together in a non-partisan way office has a standard way of delivering it. A person gets to deliver a long-term benefit for the nation. The Francis their pile and looks for an individual letter—no. They report demonstrated the tragedies of the past and the know it is Monday, so the pile goes into the bin. That dangers of an overly polarised debate. The future can was how the document was delivered. Some 65% of the be different. It is up to all of us in the House to try and people who were polled, “Did you read it? Did you makeitso. receive it?” said no. 189WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 190WH

Mr Bayley, you are a long-established politician. You you to go away and withdraw the threat to cheques. Will know the number of times we deliver manifestos and you do that?” “No”, he said. “I am the regulator. I do leaflets to houses in an election. When we then go not answer to Parliament. I have statutory powers. You round, people say to us, “We never hear or get anything will have to convince me.” Those were his exact words. from you.” The public’s memory of what goes through Reporting to Parliament is a form of pompousness the door is pretty short, but when things come in with on our part. What on earth do they report to Parliament junk mail, that is understandable. about? How do they do that? When do we see them? The real objection, however, is inside the document, When do we question them? and we have heard about it today. The front page is the We can look at the Annunciator monitors in the front page. The inside pages contain the lot, including Chamber. I commend the ability of the hon. Member “Introduction”; “What are the benefits of sharing my for Mid Norfolk to speak for nearly an hour; his speech information?”; “Information will also help us to:”; and on the subject was important enough. However, if you, “What will we do with the information?”. It is all Mr Bayley, were speaking in the debate that was on the favourable. It is all on the medical side. That is not Floor of the House while the hon. Gentleman was disputed, if we get the data together and look at complaints speaking, you would be talking about an important and how they are handled. I am a lad who is into subject—the treatment of welfare beneficiaries—and computers and databases in politics. Databases transform you would have had six minutes. Six minutes—that is information in ways one could never do with pen and accountability to Parliament. That is the ability of the paper. That is conceded and encouraged, but what majority of parliamentarians to raise an issue. This about the other side—the disbenefits? debate is a rare event. I challenge anyone to find from this piece of paper The hon. Gentleman talked about duty of care and a the down sides or things that we have to worry about bill of rights for patients. Well, we have a duty of care in that the bodies would like to discuss with us. They are the health service. It was good, was it not? We have had not there. The document has two pages saying that the it since ’48. But what happened at Mid Staffordshire? system is great and that it will do wonderful things, and The duty of care was there. A document such as the one then it has a section called, “What choice do I have?” I was talking about matters little; the issue is about how Anyone getting a piece of paper like that would read the service is run and what happens on the ground in two pages, be switched off before that, and say, “When reality. All those patients were protected by the duty of we have to opt in, why would I want to opt out? This is care. All the people who died had that duty of care. It wonderful.” Having listened to the hon. Member for was supposed to be wonderful and supposed to protect Mid Norfolk, it is wonderful, so why would anyone them—but we would want a bit better protection now. want to opt out? “We will make the data release body a statutory Let me discuss some matters of trust, because that is body” sounds fine, but who appoints to that statutory what the issue is all about. I have been in the House for body? The Government appoint, one way or another. 20 years, and I do not trust Governments. I would not Who appoints to the committee or body that released tell people to trust Governments, whether Labour, Liberal the leaflet I was talking about? The Government. “Yes or Conservative. I would say to people, “Put your trust Minister” has not disappeared from our memories, so in God if you wish, but don’t trust Governments”, would we expect someone from York who works on the because the state and Governments have a life and railways, for example, to be on that body or on any interest of their own. The document is an example of body appointed by this building? No. Would we expect where something has been decided that might ruin the to see a permanent secretary or an ex-permanent secretary life of anyone sitting in the Chamber, especially those on this great committee? “Yes Minister” would say we sitting on our Benches. We all know, as politicians, what would. happened to data that were secure beyond any reason—our Public sector pensions are not what they were, and we expenses. How secure was that database? What damage cannot have a permanent secretary retiring without it did! It killed people and imprisoned people, and it having a side job given to him—and he will behave brought us down to below journalists, estate agents and himself, or he will never get another one. Surprise, perhaps lawyers in the esteem of the public. That was a surprise, on the committee I am talking about, there are “secure” database. two: one from the Ministry of Defence and the other, Is there such a thing as a secure database? That is one the interim chief executive who is just leaving, from the of the arguments, but I am still talking about trusting Department of Health. Trust Government! An inquiry, the Government. Do not trust the Government. Let me a review, a statutory body or a quango—what is the first take the five things the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk criterion for people being appointed? They behave said about what we should do. Four of them are about themselves—that they are a safe pair of hands. That is the Government and public bodies. the reality. I serve on the Treasury Committee. We have gone The only one of the five points made by the hon. through the banking world. Theoretically, everyone who Member for Mid Norfolk with which I totally agree is matters to the financial world reports to the Treasury the last one, and I would push it a bit further. Misbehaviour Committee. They appear for an hour—two, if pushed— on data of such sensitivity should not involve a fine. before the Committee once a year, and they have been When the pharmaceutical or insurance industries are accountable to Parliament. I remember the lad who ran involved, or even the media, the penalty should be jail. the Financial Services Authority coming before us. We The information in the file of people with a sensitive were discussing, I think, the withdrawal of cheques. I medical history could lose them their career, job, marriage, said to him—I was in the Chair, I think—that the public relationship or even life. That is what is in those files. were outraged by the proposal, especially the elderly. I That is why when we go and unburden ourselves to the said, “The Committee is outraged by it. We would like doctor, we should be secure in the knowledge that what 191WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 192WH

[Mr George Mudie] on to insurance companies. As a result, the insurance companies have 47 million records. is said in the doctor’s surgery stays in the doctor’s Of course we can trust Government—Government surgery. I am not opposing records coming out, but are great! We can trust the word of an individual who what about the basis on which people outside this stands up to say, “The security is great.” Yes, we can, building or the national health service will have access but that same institution then allowed all our hospital to and be able to identify those records? Trust—we are records to be passed—in fact, sold—to a firm of actuaries. going to trust them. Thanks to The Daily Telegraph, we know that that What about the prevarication over opting out? How happened and that the information was analysed and do we opt out? I have found out about this issue in put into a form that insurance companies could use to greater detail over the past two months, but how do I put up premiums for individuals and certain groups. As opt out? I have not opted out yet, because there is more a result, we are paying higher premiums. That was our than one form to fill in when doing so. On Tuesday, the hospital records—“They are safe with us.” I might be Secretary of State was asked whether opting out could getting a bit bitty, but I can pass the article to the be done online or by telephone. Apparently, we can do Minister, if she wishes. it on the telephone if we are able to get through to the Another article was bigger—a whole front page—but I doctors and get a person answering, rather than an have not brought the one that I was going to speak answering machine, and we can go online if the doctor about with me. I think it was yesterday, or the day is online. before, in The Daily Telegraph,orThe Guardian.It Yesterday, I met a nice gentleman sent from the reported that a private firm had been in discussion with organisation involved—it was a pleasure, and interesting, the body that is holding our records and building up the to meet him. I asked him about opting out. He said, database, because it wants to buy the records, and it “Opting out is a matter for the GP.” I had asked why wants to buy them quickly. We have to ask about that there was not a full-page advert in the paper explaining individual company having discussions before the matter the arguments in favour and the worries, saying to is even agreed, but the interesting point was at the end people, “Make a balance. It is your decision. It will of the article. Not only was the company set up to deal affect you” and including some opt-out forms. “We with pharmaceutical firms—that is already cannot do that”, he answered. “The GP is the holder of straightforward—but the owner set up another company the data, so GPs should do it.” and stated that among the clients would be pharmaceutical companies. That is the word, “among”. We have to ask What is the situation on opt-out? It is the biggest who the other customers are—the ones that have not argument and the biggest concern. If we listen carefully been named. If the pharmaceutical companies are in to the reasons for concern, the medical side do not want there, the insurance companies will not be far behind. us to opt out. The more people who find out what could In terms of trust, however, the worst thing is that happen to their records, the more who will opt out. If spokesperson for the body in question has said that that the authorities were straightforward, such is the way of company has been told that there will not now be any things that the number of people who opted out would prior discussions and it must make an application in the be a small proportion of the population. Rather than normal way, with others, at a later date. What does that trust to that, they have taken the decision to minimise spell out—that “not now”? Two days after the balloon opt-out in a most dreadful way. goes up, we go into the second period of re-examining We are told to phone and make an appointment with the scheme and the matter is in all the papers, the our doctor to discuss opting out, but we have little spokesperson suddenly says, “We are not now going to chance of doing that even if we have lung cancer. We do have prior discussions with the firm.” I am sure the not have a chance. With a medical complaint, when we Minister will say what in fact the Secretary of State said try to see our doctor, the surgery says, “Ah, well, we on Tuesday in the House, namely that that sort of thing might be able to see you next week. Can you take a day went on before, but things have been toughened up. off work?” What person will take a day off work to Well, the Secretary of State has toughened things up so discuss opting out? That is absolutely nonsensical and much that private discussions are going on with an not of the real world. They want us to say, “Forget organisation that we would all wonder about. about the opting out.” A further issue about trust is this: the records were Furthermore, before leaving that subject, if people going to be uploaded to the big database last autumn, opt out, they should not think that their details will not but the process was stopped because some information be in the database. They will be going into the database. about it came into the public arena, and the organisation The point of opting out is that any information going took fright and said, “We will look at the situation for from the database to someone else, will have the personal six months.”Those six months, which run out on 1 March information taken out—date of birth, postcode, gender —that is, this Saturday—were used to produce the leaflet and all sorts of things that can identify someone. We I referred to. For all that the hon. Member for Mid might opt out, but our records are still in the database. Norfolk says about improved efforts, that was the response. It was told that it would have to tell the public about the Why should we trust the authorities? I am not as programme and get the public onside, and the leaflet is articulate as the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk, but I what it produced. do not have to persuade people. As Nye Bevan said, This Saturday the records would have started to be “Why look into the crystal ball when you can read the book?” uploaded—indeed, there is a suggestion in some minutes All the patient records of everyone in the Chamber who from the HSCIC that maternity and children’s care has had hospital treatment in the past 10 years were records are already being uploaded. I will have to look sold to a firm of actuaries, who passed the information at the exact wording of the board minutes, but that is 193WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 194WH worrying. In three months’ time, all the records would He went on to say: have been in the database and the job would be done, “I hope the hon. Lady is not criticising the principle of improving but that was stopped because of the fuss, including in and joining up care”.—[Official Report, 14 January 2014; Vol. 573, this place. However, the trust is gone. The process was c. 702-703.] stopped because the public had to be told more, but And there was more of that. Will the Minister tell us—I who in this room feels we have been told more? will be happy if, even with all the resources behind her, Now, the process has been stopped again, and what she has to answer in writing—whether a risk assessment has the body responsible said publicly? It has not done has been carried out on the extraction service and, if so, what the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk did in his will the Secretary of State publish it? speech, in which he gave us some information and set I will say, mischievously, that it does not really matter, out some starting points for discussion and dialogue to because The Daily Telegraph has published extracts of help improve things and to bring people together—I am the risk assessment—probably, hysterical extracts—so grateful to him for that. Instead, it has said consistently there is one, and it raises many questions. I do not say in all the press releases that it is delaying the scheme so that in a hostile way. Thank God somebody who is not a that it can persuade the public how good it is. Perhaps it hysterical parliamentarian or a computer whizz but is will send out the hon. Gentleman’s speech. That would regarded as sensible has examined the scheme and said do the job, because it was wonderful—I could not fault that there is a risk. All we wanted was for that to be it, as he told us all the conditions that could be improved. acknowledged. We simply want a wee bit of movement, Members who are not present could put this case to get the maximum possible medical improvement with better than me. There are genuine worries. We represent the minimum of risk to the security of the personal people whose records are going into the database without medical records of the general public. them being aware of what is happening. Questions have I have a further point about trust—I see you looking been raised by both Government and Opposition Members, at the clock, Mr Bayley, but it is such a pleasure to be and what does the organisation responsible do? It cancels serving under your chairmanship that I want to milk the process for another six months in order to improve a every moment. Even this week the Secretary of State leaflet. was asked a question by the hon. Member for Totnes There was a little light earlier this week, with an (Dr Wollaston), who is such a bright and straightforward article in The Times—it was only a short one, but every colleague of the Minister’s in the Conservative party. little bit of light is welcome—saying that the bodies She asked about those 47 million medical records that responsible have broadened their approach: they are were sold to insurance companies, and she was talking now aware that there are dangers in pulling all these about trust— data together and that the question of security has to be taken more seriously. If that has pushed producing Hugh Bayley (in the Chair): Order. I am not asking another leaflet to one side, and they are working on that the hon. Gentleman to terminate his speech, but perhaps instead, I think the scheme is back on the table. Nobody he would sit down just for a moment. I must vacate the wants to kill it. I have not met anyone who wants to kill Chair now, and my colleague will take over. We have it, or anyone who does not agree that the basis for the had plenty of time for two speeches from both sides of scheme is first class. All we want is for our voices to be the Chamber and they have ranged widely, but two heard. I represent 60,000-odd people, all of whom have more Members want to catch the Chair’s eye. The medical records. How could I look one of those people wind-ups will start a little before 4 o’clock, so I hope in the eye and say, “I had the chance to stop your that the three Members concerned will keep an eye on private details being attached to your medical records, the clock to ensure that everyone has a reasonable but sold out?” We have to do something to ensure that opportunity to express their views. security is as good as it can be. It is about trust. On 15 January this year, my hon. Friend the Member Mr Mudie: I apologise, Mr Bayley, and I apologise to for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Chi Onwurah) asked my colleagues. I understood that only one other Member a question in the House on this matter, just before the was on the speaker’s list. hon. Member for Mid Norfolk. The Minister here today is very good, but in a way I am sorry that the [MR DAVID AMESSin the Chair] Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member The hon. Member for Totnes, a Conservative, said: for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter), is “Nothing will undermine this valuable project more than a otherwise engaged—he is the Minister who gave me a belief that data will be sold to insurance companies, so will he”— bad time when I raised the same point last week—as he the Secretary of State— answered the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central. She asked him: “set out the way in which he will investigate how that sale was allowed to happen and categorically reassure the House that there “Has a risk assessment been carried out for the extraction will be no sale of care data to insurance companies?” service”— The Secretary of State’s reply was long, but I will give that is, the extraction of GP records— only the first sentence: “and, if so, will he commit to publishing it and any recommendations “My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that issue”. made?” What issue? She raised two. Now that is a perfect question—educated, specific and designed to ease the worries of the general public. What He continued: answer did she get? It is parliamentary scrutiny at its “I am happy to give that assurance.”— [Official Report, 25 February best. Asked a specific question, the Minister said: 2014; Vol. 576, c. 147.] “We have, of course, constantly assessed it.” What assurance was he giving? 195WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 196WH

[Mr Mudie] should be told the basis on which those databases operate, what safeguards exist, and the criteria for the May I ask the Minister what the Secretary of State release of those data. intends to do—I do not need an answer now because No one in the Chamber would trust the judgment of the matter is in his head—and whether it will be something an organisation that entrusts so much sympathetic and disgraceful? The BBC totally ignored the fact that 47 million sensitive data to Atos. It is probably deservedly one of patient records were sold outside the national health the most despised public companies. The fact that it is service. The Secretary of State’s colleague, the hon. French does not come into the picture. That does not Member for Totnes, asked him to conduct an investigation matter. We laugh, but it is outrageous. It must have been and give a specific answer. mentioned in every sentence during the debate on welfare The Secretary of State said there would be no sale of benefits. It received millions of pounds from the care data to insurance companies. That reassurance Government and, if I am charitable, over-extended its means nothing because the data will not be sold. There remit by putting people off disability benefit in enormous will be an appropriate charge to meet administrative numbers and sometimes tragically. The Government costs. NHS England wanted to give it away for nothing, have not sacked it; it decided to walk. However, the but the HSCIC said it would charge £1 for each data Government have now decided that it is such a good record to cover its costs. Will care data be moved to firm that the contract for uploading the patient database insurance companies directly or indirectly? Will the has been handed to Atos. It is unbelievable. If we are Secretary of State tell us in writing how he will ensure talking about trust, trust implies confidence and that such data do not land in the hands of insurance judgment—the people we trust must have that—so they companies? He has given one of those assurances, and have appointed Atos. we will find out which one. I simply say that trust is being lost daily. What we do The refusal to acknowledge the security risk is at the in the next six months is important. As the hon. Member heart of the issue. One objection is that all the data will for Mid Norfolk did, I shall make some suggestions. be brought together in databases, whatever the hon. There must be an urgent and transparent exercise to Member for Mid Norfolk says. He will remember that I deal with concerns over security. There must be a asked how there could be a guarantee that they will not streamlined, clear and convenient way to allow people be breached. What is the answer? I will give the answer. to opt out and there must be massive steps to minimise They will be breached. identifiable data, or data being easily identified to an individual. You may remember, Mr Amess, that a Glasgow man in his 20s breached the Pentagon’s database from his It is said that those conditions should be independently bedroom out of curiosity. The US Government wanted scrutinised—that is on the hon. Gentleman’s wish list—by to extradite him to America but we fought against that. some sort of board. To tie that in with what I said I asked the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the before, I would prefer somebody who has been writing hon. Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, these articles in Computerworld to be on that board. All whether he was telling the House that the patient database the things that have happened—I accept that I have is more secure than that of the Pentagon? I did not taken some time to spell them out—have happened, and receive an answer, so perhaps the Minister will tell me trust has been lost. If we are saying that we will get a now, because the Pentagon would like to know. group of people together and try to bring together the two sides, one way to do it, as we normally do in politics Will the patient database be more secure than Barclays and political life at a lower level, is to have some of the database, from which the financial records of 27,000 people who are criticising the thing on the board. That customers were stolen? The computer world says that would give the public the greatest assurance that this is there is a constant fight to keep databases safe from not a bunch of hand-picked people. eastern European countries and there are even cyber This matter is very important. I am sorry that I have attacks in China. But we are being asked to accept that taken so long, and that I am the man who has agreed to the NHS database will be so secure that it will never be work for four days this week and all my colleagues are breached. elsewhere, but there we are. How do the Government expect to obtain trust if they do not accept that there are limits to security, and that steps should be taken to protect such sensitive 3.12 pm data? It is fine for the medical profession to have access John Glen (Salisbury) (Con): I welcome the great to the actual records, because that is what it is interested opportunity to speak in this debate, Mr Amess—what a in, but it is not fine to be able identify individuals. How pleasure it is to serve under your chairmanship. I many people live in one postcode? It could cover a congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk whole street, or a couple of streets. If the age, gender (George Freeman) on his tireless campaigning, and on and date of birth were available, it would not be difficult the full and sensible way in which he made his case. to identify an individual. That is what we are facing, Research is the most powerful weapon we have in the and we want the Government to do something about it. fight against disease. For decades, access to medical An extremely worrying suggestion from a good source data has been integral to meaningful research—in the is that GP databases will be put into a huge centralised 1950s, it showed the link between smoking and lung database. I have been reliably informed that those databases cancer; in the 1960s, it proved that thalidomide was are not in the GPs’ offices. They do not have separate harmful to unborn children; and today, it helps our databases. I have been told that data are sent to three doctors identify the most effective treatments for cancer private companies to be stored. I would like some patients—but it is clearly time to move on from hastily reassurance that that is not so, but if it is the House scribbled GP records residing in dusty filing cabinets. 197WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 198WH

Patient data is becoming increasingly critical to ensuring red tape and barriers to the sharing of information. the delivery of better treatments, and it can radically However, we should also remember the implications. improve how long-term conditions are managed and Just this week, we heard that researchers are exploring a understood in the NHS and the world of medicine. test that can identify perfectly healthy patients who are Aligned to that, we have personalised care, which is, at risk of fatal medical complications based on the frankly, the future of medicine. Just a few years ago, proteins in their cells. I do not presume to understand cancer was treated by giving all patients very similar, or all that, but I recognise the principle that as we have the same, surgery and damaging radiotherapy. As an more information, we have the capability to do more, example, I understand that Cancer Research is now but we remain constrained by the finite budget of the using some 11,000 patient records to see how their NHS. cancers respond to particular treatments. The stratified On ethics, the hon. Member for Leeds East referred medicine programme, as it is known, goes to the genetic to security of data and the lack of assurance. We have core of a cancer to detect the mutations that cause it presented the use of data as leading to better outcomes and identifies the specific drugs that can stop it. and personalised solutions for patients. We must recognise Researchers can take on those fragmented pieces of that there are also enormous ethical implications in data and collate them. By identifying broad patterns, respect of the prioritisation of finite resources to treat they can start to understand the most effective treatment new conditions and provide new therapies, which may for specific cancers at the molecular level. That has well be just as expensive. So much more will be possible, undoubtedly developed our understanding significantly. but it is important that, in parallel with the discussion We now know that one drug is more effective than on access to data, we recognise the challenges of providing standard treatment for one branch of lung cancer and an ethical framework for prioritising those finite resources. less effective for another. Unlike the trial-and-error We will never defeat human frailty altogether, but I approach of the past, the success of care in the future want the medical community to reflect on the choices will depend on researchers analysing a sample and then that need to be made to prioritise treatments. Research cross-referencing it with a reliable database to identify may find the cure for diabetes or lung cancer, but the genetic markers. A targeted treatment can then be tailored. second challenge will be to ensure that it is accessible to the population at a time of competition for resources. It is not just cancer that presents opportunities for better data use. Long-term conditions present one of Access to data must undoubtedly include safeguards, the most significant challenges for the NHS, but research and obviously there is a lot of scepticism about the enables us to identify the most successful medications reliability of safeguards. My hon. Friend the Member to manage them. The King’s Fund estimates that we for Mid Norfolk set out five actions that he feels would spend £77 billion every year treating long-term conditions. address some of those concerns. Legitimate questions NHS spending on diabetes, for instance, is set to rise must be asked on how we handle large amounts of data from £9.8 billion to £16.9 billion over the next 25 years. and ensure that they are used in the right way and for We would be spending 17% of our current NHS budget the right purposes. The six-month delay in the consultation just to manage that. If we replicated those sums of is clearly the right time to explore those issues. However, money in lots of other areas of expenditure, it would it would be a great shame if we were to miss the clearly be unsustainable. That highlights that we must opportunity to open up patient data for medical use. use research to identify the most effective treatments, so Hon. Members should not rely on the argument, we can target resources at them. which has been in the headlines of some newspapers, that the data will be used for malign purposes. I instinctively A recent Cardiff university study looked at just 10% take a positive view of the state. I think it acts in the of GP records in this country. It compared two different interests of its citizens, although I am a relatively new treatments used for type 2 diabetes over the course of Member of Parliament and my optimism may fray if I 12 years and found that one of them has a mortality am still here in the years ahead. I find it deeply frustrating rate that is 58% higher than the other. Patients naturally that, when we have the opportunity to relieve suffering seek reassurance that they are being given the best and find ways of delivering personalised care for our course of treatment. Colleagues would acknowledge constituents, we fall back on arguments about the loss that constituents who come into our surgeries are very of banking data. I listened carefully to what the hon. anxious when they believe that the treatment or drugs Member for Leeds East said, but the idea that somebody they have received are not optimal for their use, and will know our individual medical histories is pretty want to know why others are not available to them. unlikely. It would be a real shame if we did not move Patients naturally seek reassurance, but the reality, if we forward by allowing the data to be accessed more are to reply honestly to our constituents, is that without readily. expanding the evidence base, it will not be an easy task My hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk is right to maintain the narrative that most people get the best that Parliament should be involved. It is essential that drug all the time. We have a duty to ensure that clinicians there are annual reports so we understand where things and scientists are given the right support from Government are moving and the positive outcomes. That would to make the ambition of personalised care a reality. improve public understanding of progress. However, it I will respond to the comments made by the hon. is deeply wrong to prevent medical science from providing Member for Leeds East (Mr Mudie), who raised a more options for health care. I acknowledge that there number of concerns that my constituents have expressed are security risks, but it is not beyond the wit of my in e-mails to me, in a few minutes. former industry and the IT industry to work out the The British Heart Foundation tells us that its researchers necessary protocols and safeguards. face considerable barriers due to a complex legal framework I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. and the multitude of bodies involved. That is unacceptable, It is right that we are having it, and it is right that we and it is right that we take steps to tackle unnecessary project the Government’s aspirations and hear concerns 199WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 200WH

[John Glen] Then there is the case of baby P, in which Dr Sabah Al-Zayyat, an inexperienced locum, was disciplined after about them. I hope the Minister will set out in her Dr Kim Holt had notified Great Ormond Street and response the safeguards that she feels are proportionate others in authority that the level of cover was inadequate. and necessary, and explain what the positive outcomes Too often the system finds a victim, but it will not look will be for our constituents, who are often frustrated by at itself and ask, “What did we get wrong?” gaps in provision. The NHS is an incredibly complicated I have many good doctors in my constituency, but organism, and it is very difficult for a constituency MP one whom I trust and rely on is Dr Gordon Caldwell. to grasp where the problems lie. However, something He first alerted me to the fact that the medical training positive can come from the proposal. I thank once application service—a system for doctors’ training—was again my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk for not going to work. For months, he and I tried to get to his deep knowledge, enthusiasm and inspiration on this Ministers, medical officers and others in authority. subject. Eventually, when the whole thing blew up, the then Secretary of State for Health said, “Why did nobody 3.24 pm tell me?” My reaction was, “I wish you had read some of the replies that you sent to me, and that you had read Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con): I what I sent to you, to which you replied.” congratulate the Backbench Business Committee on allowing this important debate. Ben Goldacre gave some Dr Caldwell also alerted us to the problem of the advice in The Guardian; I cannot be certain whether the NHS IT system. One hospital in each region was going article was from 21 or 22 February because one of the to be sacrificed to a particular version of the system. We problems of modern data is that one cannot tell whether managed to put it off for six months, but not bury it. an article was first published on the website. He said: Within six months, the hospital, which had turned over £142 million, had to be given an extra £2 million to do “if you’re thinking of opting out—wait. If you run care.data—listen.” manually what had previously been done satisfactorily This debate will help. by computer because the new computer system did not It is sad that most of the public commentary has not work. mentioned Dame Fiona Caldicott’s review, published in Let me turn to what Dr Caldwell recommends. He March 2013. It followed up the review that she did in says that the first thing about sharing clinical data is 1996-97. I will not read out the whole executive summary, that it should be done from clinician to clinician and but she said that we must “justify the purpose” of using that we should know about the big risks of not sharing. or transferring personal confidential data. She continued: Hospital doctors should be able to read the patient’s GP “Don’t use personal confidential data unless it is absolutely database information in front of the patient. That does necessary…Use the minimum necessary personal confidential not happen normally. GPs should be able to read the data…Access to personal confidential data should be on a strict hospital notes. That, too, is essential for patient care—safe, need-to-know basis…Everyone with access to personal confidential swift and timely care. Then we can move on to the data should be aware of their responsibilities…Comply with the law…The duty to share information can be as important as the question of how data should be accumulated and analysed duty to protect patient confidentiality”. within the NHS, and then comes the question of how far the accumulated data should go outside the NHS. Most of the information that the present row is about is not personal confidential data, but anonymised data. I do not get over-excited about the private sector. I Those data are as important to the GP sector as the thought that my GP and everyone else’s GP had been a hospital sector. When Brian Jarman started using publicly private contractor since the founding of the national available information, he started a process that led to health service in 1948. However, I do know that only by the knowledge about Mid Staffs. There is also the issue looking at large data can we find things that matter. of public concern at work or whistleblowing: people In 1950, Bradford Hill and Richard Doll came out who raise problems do not get congratulated, but get first with the link between smoking and adverse health criticised, disciplined and treated badly. impacts and also with the effect that asbestos had on The first serious patient confidentiality issue that I the lungs. By the time I started fighting to get into came across concerned a doctor who had been in my Parliament in the early 1970s, half our political system constituency but was working in Warwickshire. She was was still fighting to keep coal miners underground, yet sacked and referred to the police, the Information we knew from the pneumoconiosis studies, especially in Commissioner and the General Medical Council because south Wales, that up to 25% of them or more were she had transferred information about south Asian getting conditions that, frankly, should be banned under diabetes patients—those least likely to go to hospital for health and safety. The compensation scheme opened in, self-care—to herself at another part of the NHS so she I think, 1998, applications had to be in by 2004 and could invite them to attend a meeting to learn how to 570,000 miners applied because of their lung conditions. improve their health. Data would have found the information out much faster, What Dr Shirine Boardman went through was hell and the GP data would have been even more important on earth, and it should not have taken someone from than the hospital data. outside to point out to the Information Commissioner I pay tribute to Peggy Wynn and Arthur Wynn. They that to transfer information about a patient for the said to me, shortly after I got into Parliament in the patient’s benefit from one part of the NHS to another is 1970s, that smoking and excess drinking by parents at clearly not a breach of any regulation. The police or before the time of conception led to a very high should have thrown it out within days, not months, and increase in the rate of adverse congenital malformations. the GMC could have been sharper in saying what the I put that to the Department of Health. It said it was dispute was actually about. not so, or probably—more accurately—that there was 201WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 202WH no evidence for it. The Wynns had found the evidence. to see whether people can give blood every eight weeks, Now that has been confirmed and it is part of the 10 weeks, 12 weeks or whatever. If I could persuade my common currency of knowledge. wife, my body would go off when still warm to be The question is how we can get things to be known mucked about with by medical students or others who earlier and faster in the right way—how the inquisitive want to practise on dead bodies before they start working can get access to information, formulate a hypothesis on live people. and then find how they might disprove it. They cannot All those things I regard as perfectly sensible and always do that by doing regression analysis and then satisfactory and as much part of public service as applying what they have found from that to the data standing here and making this speech. I will not claim that they used for it, because that is bad science. that everything that has been done around this care.data The good science is to be inquisitive, find ways of project is perfect, but I will say that those who raised the checking, find ways, potentially, of disproving what scare ought to be able to say, “We’ll contribute to people are after—what they think they have found—and making it work, so that we can say to everyone: ‘Don’t then they can spread it around. That includes some of opt out. Stay in and be of value to others.’” That is part the medical treatments—not just the physical treatments, of what I call community. but, as my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk (George Freeman) said, the pharmacological ones. There 3.36 pm is also talk about gene therapy, which is after my time. I believe that it is possible to deal with people’s fears, Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): It is a and without eliminating all risk of any breach at any pleasure, as ever, to serve under your chairmanship, time. I shall interrupt myself to say that Ben Goldacre Mr Amess. I congratulate the hon. Member for Mid says that he is now a father of twins. He gives their age Norfolk (George Freeman) on securing this timely and in his article and shows how that could identify him. important debate and on his extremely thoughtful and That is fair enough, but there are those who worry powerful opening contribution. I congratulate other about insurance companies. If I go to an insurance hon. Members on their contributions, too. company and say, “Will you please insure my life?”, I know how strongly the hon. Member for Mid they will say, “What are your conditions?” I say, “I’ve Norfolk feels about this issue, and he is right. He has had a non-malignant basal carcinoma and I stopped been instrumental in establishing the Patients4Data group. smoking in 1986” and various other things about my I commend also the work of the co-founder, Graham life. What do they need to go for big data for to find out Silk, and of Patients4Data in campaigning for the opening what I have to tell them to get cover or to be able to have up of data in the national health service. That group has a successful claim if I have not told them? been very good at bringing the issue of patient data to Then we start saying, “Why can’t we get good new the forefront of debate on health policy across England. drugs to everyone at once?” That is partly because of I was pleased to share a platform with the hon. Gentleman money and partly because of the National Institute for earlier today at the summit that he hosted in Parliament. Health and Clinical Excellence approval system, but the It goes without saying that a growing population, an question about how we can get new treatments and ageing population, the rise of co-morbidities and the drugs to people arises only because they have been necessary drive to improve the quality of care and developed, and they tend to be developed because someone treatments available to patients mean that, in future, the has had an idea, has done trials and tests and taken the success of the NHS will increasingly rely on the data to data. Incidentally, I say this to those who get frightfully which it has access. Indeed, if we take as a starting point worried about data. If the reporting system shows that the fact that the health and social care worlds, through there is or could be a problem with a particular treatment, both desirability and financial factors, are heading towards what happens? The pharmaceutical company is required proper and full integration, it goes without saying that to go to the research database and see what information in breaking down the structural silos between the NHS can be found there. There is a lot of information around and social care and, within the NHS, between community and a lot of it is being used. services, acute services, primary care services and mental This is where I come back to my friends or so-called health services, we also need to break down the information friends at SumOfUs and 38 Degrees. I do not want to silo mentality in the NHS. spend my time criticising people who are activists and Genuine “whole person” care will require “whole concerned with public policy. I am very happy to have person” information. Let me put the current controversy debates about that. I do sometimes make rude remarks over care.data to one side for the time being. The about their campaigning system and how they sometimes fundamental principle is to create a system designed to have a lack of common sense, foresight or understanding, link together medical records from general practice which I once summed up, famously, in the word “stupid”. with data from hospital activity and eventually extend But I will say this to the SumOfUs campaign. When it that to cover all care settings inside and outside hospital. did its question in the YouGov poll, did it say anything As even my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds East about the potential benefits of the data for patients? (Mr Mudie) said, no one wants to wreck that. It is a There are members of my family who are alive today really good thing for the future of health and social care because of checking on how treatments worked and the in this country. conditions that they later got. I am grateful for that. I The improvement of health care in England depends happen to be part of the Biobank research project, on the removal of the barriers between primary and which takes all the data on the people involved. It secondary care—between the GP, the surgery and the watches us; it can look at our records. It does not tell us district general hospital, and between social care providers if it finds anything that is useful to us, but it does help and traditional health care providers. Integration is the other people. I am part of the NHS INTERVAL study key to meeting the needs of patients, and the availability 203WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 204WH

[Andrew Gwynne] the hard-hitting TV adverts, the big posters with the tombstone on and the powerful leaflets. Today, as my of integrated data is central to shaping the services that hon. Friend the Member for Leeds East pointed out, we will meet those needs. It is in that context that the need are bombarded with so much junk mail—pizza menus, for data sharing should be seen. UPVC window offers, supermarket offers and, dare I Let me make it clear to the House that Labour say it, even the odd political leaflet— supports the principle behind the proposal. Whole-person care must have at its heart a whole-person approach to Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): It is a information. It is important that key statistics drawn two-horse race. from that data set can be used to further clinical research or even future service planning. Let us not forget that if it were not for medical data sharing, the link between Andrew Gwynne: It certainly is a two-horse race in my thalidomide and deformities at birth would never have constituency; do not let the Liberals tell you otherwise. been identified, and it would have taken decades longer The point is that it is very easy for someone to miss the to establish clearly and definitively the link between leaflet about care.data even if they received it. I received smoking and lung cancer, which the hon. Member for it and I read it, but I think that is probably the neurosis Worthing West (Sir Peter Bottomley) mentioned. Good of politicians; when a leaflet comes through the door, medicine is determined by access to good data. we automatically think that our opponents have started the general election 16 months early. If we are to improve the lives of our children and reduce health inequalities, we must ensure that data are Many of my neighbours, who I assume must have readily available to researchers. Making data at the received the leaflet, claim that they did not. Likewise, local GP practice level available for the first time will we can easily skip the adverts on TV. In my home, we give us an unprecedented insight into local health outcomes. have Sky Plus, that wonderful technology that allows us Which GPs are over-prescribing antibiotics or to press fast forward as soon as the advert break starts antidepressants? What factors are causing delays to and skip all the adverts. Conventional methods now fail early diagnosis of cancer? If we are truly to tackle to penetrate with the vast majority of the general public. health inequalities, which are a huge issue in a constituency We probably need to implement a more personalised such as mine, we need a joined-up approach. That is approach to make the public aware of the scheme, of simply not possible without ready access to data. the benefits, of the implications and of their individual rights. Most people readily recognise the clear benefits of a data-sharing scheme, but there is rightful concern about Incredibly, we have heard stories of people who want how the care.data initiative has been implemented so to opt out of the system and have had to make an far. Mistrust of care.data is not surprising given the appointment with their already overburdened GPs to nature of the data involved and the typically haphazard do so. I do not think that that is necessarily the right communication about the scheme, particularly the opt-out approach. GPs are already struggling to use their time programme for patients who do not wish to take part. to deliver good quality general practice and primary Many people did not even know that the scheme was care services, and perhaps an easier way to allow people happening in the first place, at least until the recent to opt out using a variety of methods should be explored. media reports. To be fair, if the only information that As the Minister will be aware, the chief executives of someone has about care.data is what they have read in Mencap, Sense, the Royal National Institute of Blind the newspapers, they will probably get on the phone to People, the National Autistic Society and Action on their GP to make an appointment to opt out straight Hearing Loss have written to the Secretary of State away. expressing concerns that information about care.data is I do not know whether it is the result of incompetence, not being communicated in an accessible way to disabled a reflection on how we live our lives today or a combination people, who are consequently being deprived of the of both, but the conventional methods of public opportunity to make an informed choice about the information campaigns simply have not worked. Every future of their medical records. home in England should have received the leaflet entitled We want care.data to work, and it is in everyone’s “Better information means better care”, which my hon. interests that it does, but—this is where the pause is Friend the Member for Leeds East happily brought welcome—the Government need to get a grip before the with him. aims of the project are lost on a suspicious public The blunt truth, however, is that most people either anxious about what care.data is for and how their have not received the leaflet or have not looked at it. personal data will be used. That risks compromising a Questioning of Ministers during the recent Committee project that I think we all recognise to be vital. The stage of the Care Bill, in which approval for care.data proposal by the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk for the sits, revealed that even Ministers do not know whether Government to establish a working group of campaigners every house has received the leaflet, what the opt-out and opponents—their inclusion is important—to try to rate is or what the regional variations are. resolve the differences is a sensible way forward. Consensus Although I do not get to see much TV these days—such is the key here. is the nature of the job we do—the first I saw of the The Government must understand that the data do advert for care.data was on BBC “Newsnight” last not belong to them or to the NHS, but to each of us week. That is an important point for Governments of individually. That should be the starting premise. The all political persuasions. As I said at the summit earlier, combined data that the NHS holds about me is mine if we think back to the success of some of the big public and no one else’s, and that should be enshrined. Only health campaigns, such as the “AIDS: don’t die of then will the Government be able to make the case that ignorance” campaign nearly 30 years ago, we remember inappropriate use of the data could never be sanctioned. 205WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 206WH

Let us be honest—if the data are mine and they are I reiterate to the Minister that we are happy to recognised to be so, that is empowering for me as an support the measures in the House, but as it stands, we individual and a patient. “No decision about me, without fear that the security regime is woefully inadequate. me” has been the mantra of Ministers of all political There is still time to save it, and we on the Labour Front parties in the Department for some years, but how Bench have offered the Secretary of State for Health about “no information about me, without me” as the our full support if he can come up with an offer that next guiding principle? Our most intimate details are satisfies everyone. On Tuesday, those points were put to wrapped up in this system. The Government will be the Health Secretary at Health questions by my right able to shore up public and institutional support only hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham), when they have convinced the public that the data will the shadow Health Secretary. Maybe the desire for not and cannot be abused, and when they have been consensus and a way forward is sometimes lost in the honest about the potential risks. theatre of the Chamber of the House of Commons, so I The data are owned by the patient, and all parts of repeat those points to the Minister in this debate, which the NHS must be their legal custodian. Rights and has been much more consensual and informative than it proper responsibilities must go together: the legal would ever be on the Floor of the House during Health responsibility to use data for necessary purposes, and questions. I sincerely hope that she will respond to them only for necessary purposes, with proper safeguards in positively. place and, to agree with my hon. Friend the Member for There are five key protections that Labour wants to Leeds East, tougher sanctions to underpin them. We introduce. First, we want tougher penalties for any need to convey to the public the laudable intention misuse of data; my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds behind the proposals, because even professional trust in East made that point far more eloquently than I. We the programme is so low that a poll for the Medical also want to keep the requirement for the Secretary of Protection Society found that 80% of family doctors State to sign off on any new application to access the believed that the system could undermine public confidence data, which the Government are seeking to remove in in the principle of medical confidentiality. the Care Bill. Accountability to the Secretary of State, to Parliament and to us as Members of Parliament on behalf of our constituents is a fundamental requirement Sir Peter Bottomley: I often try to look at the questions that would start to satisfy the need for oversight. that people are asked. I am not absolutely certain that We want and need full transparency for all organisations doctors were asked, “On balance, would you recommend granted access to the data, so there is full openness that people stay in to contribute their information for about who has access and what data they have. We need the benefit of all?” a proper targeted and personalised awareness campaign for people with a learning disability, autism or sensory Andrew Gwynne: I entirely take the hon. Gentleman’s impairments, so we think that GPs should be issued point, but if we are to reintroduce the element of public with clear guidance to ensure that all of their patients confidence, enshrining proper rights and responsibilities are informed. We want easier opt-out arrangements will start to build that sense of trust. As the hon. than those possible at present. If the Secretary of State Member for Mid Norfolk suggested, it is consensus that is happy to ensure that the new provisions are in place, will get us where we want and need to be. we are happy to lend our support to make it happen. In closing, I should say that confidentiality has always One example of the problems that can arise lies in had a tense relationship with scientific progress when it recent media reports, which we have heard about again comes to clinical research, but it is only right that in this debate, including those about the Institute and information is made available outside the NHS in a Faculty of Actuaries, which obtained at least 13 years completely anonymised form. The hon. Member for of hospital data equating to 47 million patients. Often, Mid Norfolk is quite right about clinical data: their media reports are not quite what they seem, but the potential is enormous, they can revolutionise systems damage is, sadly, done as a consequence. I would hate and processes and they can get to the heart of problems for the benefits of information sharing within the NHS, in certain areas far sooner. It is hugely empowering for and of drawing out anonymised data sets from that future patients to get away not just from the silo mentalities system for beneficial medical research, to be jeopardised of the structures of our health and social care system—all by incorrect assumptions made from media reports. parties want to do that—but from the silo mentality There would be rightful public revulsion if identifiable about data that exists in parts of the health and social or cross-identifiable information were to fall into the care system: whole-person care and whole-person hands of insurers and other private interests that do not information. have the public good in mind, but such reports are I commend the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk for his potentially damaging to public confidence in care.data, work on this hugely important issue and congratulate which is already quite low. him on securing this important debate, on the summit That is why we welcome the Government’s decision in Parliament earlier today and on the work that he is to pause the scheme. I hope that they will use the doing alongside patients for data. Hopefully, we can get opportunity wisely to reflect on how better to engage some movement on this from the Government, so that with the public about the real benefits that we have we end up with a scheme with the appropriate safeguards. discussed in this debate, and to revolutionise patients’ I look forward to the Minister’s response. rights: make the data theirs; make the NHS their custodian; put in real safeguards and, importantly, proper penalties; 3.57 pm and have rights with responsibilities and whole-person The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health information for the age of whole-person care. That (Jane Ellison): It is a pleasure to serve under your would be genuinely transformational. chairmanship, Mr Amess. I congratulate my hon. Friend 207WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 208WH

[Jane Ellison] refer back to them during the course of care; and benefit by sharing, if they choose, that information with the Member for Mid Norfolk (George Freeman), as has a range of other people who they want to help them everyone else, on securing the debate, as well as all the with the care and support they need, when they need it. Members who have contributed to this thoughtful debate. However, to alter legal ownership of patient records is a I must start with an apology for not being the Under- difficult way forward. Information is not property in Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the the sense in which physical objects are, but is subject to Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich intellectual property rights, common law confidentiality (Dr Poulter), who is otherwise engaged on important rights and obligations, and rights and obligations under business, but I will do my best to stand in for him in this the Data Protection Act 1998. Ownership implies a area of his portfolio. If there is anything to which I am level of control over a record that is unrealistic and unable to respond during the debate, I undertake to do impractical for NHS medical records. so afterwards. Let me outline why that is the case. Patients cannot, I add to the voices that have welcomed the work of and should not, control what a clinician writes in a record, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk on developing nor should they be able to delete items from a complete the Patients4Data website and other work, and have record. However, it is right that patients should be praised its co-founder, Graham Silk, and all its supporters. empowered to use the information in their records, for I particularly thank my hon. Friend for bringing such a example by scrutinising their records for potential errors, calm, rational and well-informed voice, which is ever or accessing them to help to manage their care. Colleagues more needed in our public discourse. He has become a might find it interesting to know that NHS England has respected voice throughout the House in this area of committed to ensuring that people will be able to access expertise for that reason, and has amply demonstrated their GP record online by March 2015. That is a real it again. commitment and is in the NHS mandate. Ministers will, The Government support the sentiments outlined in of course, hold it to account on that. the private Member’s Bill that my hon. Friend introduced. The law already provides individuals with considerable They are in line with the Government’s information control over medical records should they choose to strategy for health and care in England, “The power of exert their rights, but it also provides a balance that information: Putting all of us in control of the health protects the interests of those who provide care, and and care information we need”, which was published in enables them to respond to complaints or litigation, 2012. His proposed Bill would provide for ownership of, monitor the quality of care they are providing, and and access to, patient records and health data to empower learn lessons to improve the care of others. My hon. patients in everyday health care and research. He has Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk gave a personal outlined the principles in more detail today. The Bill example of where that would have been helpful to him, would create a new statutory duty of care on NHS and I have similar personal experience of where someone professionals to use and update information and ensure being able to give such easy access to their data would that the next professional on the patient’s care pathway have been enormously useful. That is also ever more is using properly maintained patient records. relevant to a sandwich generation of the age of some of I want briefly to deal with those two areas in turn, us in the Chamber who are caring for the generation and, as Members would expect, I will then touch on below and the generation above. My hon. Friend brought some of the aspects of care data that have been explored that relevant point very much to life. during the debate. The Government feel that there is no On the duty on professionals to share data, sharing need for legislation to provide ownership and access to information is pivotal to improving the quality, safety patient records—the shadow Minister touched on that. and effectiveness of our care, as well as our own experiences Patients already have the legal right to access information of care. It is also critical to modernising care through in their own health and care records, but it has not been raising quality, improving outcomes and reducing easy get it because it means requesting paper copies, inequalities—now a legal duty—as well as improving and people might be charged. Easily accessing records productivity and efficiency. My hon. Friend the Member online does not require changes to the law, but it is a big for Salisbury (John Glen) mentioned the Caldicott review, challenge to the culture and practices of many health which outlined the many benefits of sharing data, as and care organisations and professionals. well as the cultural change required to create a rebalancing of sharing and protecting information that is in patients’ The NHS Future Forum emphasised the required and service users’ interests. cultural shift and the importance of health and social care operating Sir Peter Bottomley: My hon. Friend has prompted “as if it is the patient’s or service user’s data”. me to remember half a sentence I meant to say when I The shadow Minister made a good point about the fact was talking about the baby P case. If all the medical that integrating data naturally follows integrating care. contacts with baby P had been brought together in one The Government’s information strategy stresses the need place, any clinician would have known that there was a for a change in culture and mindset, in which health major problem. and care professionals, organisations and systems recognise that information in our care records is fundamentally Jane Ellison: My hon. Friend gives a perfect illustration about us. It can therefore become normal for us to of the point. We have all, particularly as MPs, encountered access our records easily. people who say, “Oh no—data protection!”and obfuscate The information strategy also makes it clear that in some way, but what they say is almost always absolute patients will be able to access their own health and care nonsense. There are lots of existing legal requirements records online; review those records, including test results; to share data where needed to protect and look after 209WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 210WH people. We recognise the valuable role that my hon. hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk and others. It Friend has played in making and championing that offers a great deal to help us to bring benefits to point. patients. We have heard examples about detecting the The Secretary of State has challenged the NHS to go problems at Mid Staffs, about autism and the disproven digital by 2018. That will help the sharing of patient link with MMR, and about thalidomide. records across the whole medial pathway. I echo and I want to add an example that falls within my portfolio. welcome the general point made by my hon. Friend the In health care discussions, there is sometimes a tendency Member for Mid Norfolk on technology and its to think that we are moving forward only from the base empowering possibilities. As public health Minister, we already have—that we bank all the existing benefits, that is very close to my heart. Of all the demographic progress and discoveries and move forward from that surveys and insights into people’s situations that I see, point. However, an area of great concern to people in the factor that defies the usual arc of deprivation is the this country and around the world is the development ownership of a mobile phone. That is a great democratising of anti-microbial resistance and the work required on piece of technology and I am keen to see that we use it that. The number of drug resistant conditions is growing, more and give it more potential to put power into the and that is frightening. hands of the previously powerless in this sphere of our We hope that the ability to scrutinise the data will lives. allow us to understand the pattern of growth of drug On Government support for the concept of data resistance, because that threatens to take us several sharing and the unique identifier, my hon. Friend has steps back from what we assume to be our basic level of been working closely with officials from my Department. health care: the things that we have in our armoury We have welcomed that working relationship. Officials against disease. It is something we need to take very have been exploring possible avenues for legislation to seriously, otherwise there will be a great economic and ensure that the sentiments outlined in my hon. Friend’s human cost. private Member’s Bill and his speech can be taken It is clear that most people agree with care.data’s forward. We are all hoping for a successful outcome in aims, but they have justifiable concerns about how they the private Member’s ballot so that we can make progress. are being implemented. People want more information Data-sharing options and the provision of clear guidance and details about how the programme will actually that underlines the need for sharing and clarifies what work. That has been well articulated by various colleagues the law already allows are being considered. We are during this debate. People want rights over how their considering placing a duty to share on commissioners health and care data, especially data that identify them, and providers. That would force such organisations to are used. ensure that contracts include such a duty to help to Before I became an MP, I worked for a large national change the culture and mindset so that we share data retailer organising large national marketing campaigns, when we need to. so I could probably entirely occupy another debate on In addition, we are considering introducing a measure the vagaries or otherwise of door drops and the mix of to ensure the consistent use of the unique patient communications needed to reach most people. I say identifier—the NHS number—across the whole health “most people”, because it is almost impossible to design and care system. The intervention made by my hon. a programme that reaches everyone in a way that they Friend the Member for WorthingWest (Sir Peter Bottomley) remember. We might reach everyone, but an awful lot of illustrated why it is so important that, when we know quite good factual detail has proven that there will critical things about a patient, we join them up. The always be some people who do not believe they have easiest way to do that is by consistently using their been reached. We have to reach a reasonable level of unique identifier. The use of the NHS number will breakthrough and cut-through with the messaging. I unify and standardise the recording and use of information think that is well understood after the last couple of for the benefit of both patients and clinicians. We have weeks of debate. heard examples, and I am sure we can think of others. I understand but do not entirely share the cynicism of The Government are working on ways in which to the hon. Member for Leeds East with regard to big ensure that measures are introduced on the duty to Government and large institutions. I lean slightly more share and the use of NHS numbers. towards my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury— Sharing information for medical research has perhaps for the same reasons, because we both came demonstrated the many benefits that it can bring to us into the House in 2010—and his slightly more optimistic all in society, and that has been extremely well articulated view on life. I meet people in the health system all the today. I will shortly address the concerns expressed by time—every day, every week—who have dedicated a the hon. Member for Leeds East (Mr Mudie). Members lifetime to patient care and to trying to understand how have touched on issues—including cancer, heart disease we can make the human condition better. I also meet and diabetes, to name just a few—that have benefited people wanting to achieve great things, and perhaps we greatly from the sharing of data, and treatments have all sometimes forget that we have to take people with us been found for seriously ill patients. on the journey, and we need to explain. For reasons I will explain, I want to turn relatively The hon. Member for Leeds East also touched on a briefly to the care.data programme. It has been much point that has been well made recently, which is to be discussed in the House, sometimes heatedly but sometimes honest about the benefits versus the risks. I agree, but I calmly, as it has been today. Members have made various think he overdid the risks; he focused almost exclusively points about the programme. My view, which I think is on them. However, he is right to say that we have to shared in principle by everyone in the Chamber, is that have a balance between the two, and we have to articulate overall the care.data programme is, or has the potential that. Ironically, people will trust us more if we tell them to be, a good thing, for all the reasons outlined by my about the risks as well as the benefits. I really believe 211WH NHS Patient Data27 FEBRUARY 2014 NHS Patient Data 212WH

[Jane Ellison] main thrust of his speech today. The Government are keen to ensure that the measures are taken forward. We that transparency drives greater trust, and I think that believe that sharing information for medical research point has been made elsewhere. I read the article by Ben has demonstrated the many benefits it can bring to us Goldacre, and my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes all in society. (Dr Wollaston) has articulated it as well. The more Before I close, I should mention—I think it is useful transparent we can be about the balance, the better it is. for colleagues—the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries On the way people view data and balance risk in and the data it used. I think the shadow Minister also everyday life, we see the world rapidly changing all the alluded to it. I want to put on the record that the data it time. The information that people put out about themselves used was publicly available, non-identifiable and in aggregate in the public domain in exchange for ease of access, form. They were used not to analyse individual insurance convenience, speed or economy is quite surprising, so premiums, but general variances in critical illness. The perhaps attitudes are changing around where the balance information was used to ensure premiums were fair, not lies. Nevertheless, we need to explain it. Picking up the to calculate individual premiums. shadow Minister’s point, we particularly need to explain The moneys paid to the Health and Social Care it and be open about it with those who perhaps are least Information Centre were for administration costs to able to understand the risk versus benefit balance. That compile the data, and of course the Health and Social is a good point, and I will take it away with me. Care Act 2012 has set stronger legislative safeguards. We have a period for reflection. The delay in the That does not mean that the information was wrongly extraction of the first data means the data collection given; it does not mean that that organisation has said from GPs’ surgeries will now begin in the autumn, that greater scrutiny should not be applied. However, rather than in April this year. It will allow for more time for the sake of being straight with the public about the to build up our understanding on the benefits of using balance of risk, it is important to put what happened in the information, the safeguards in place, and how people that particular instance on the record. can opt out. NHS England informs us that it does know To conclude, the Government are actively looking at how to make it easier for people to opt out if they wish what we can do to promote the sharing of data in a safe to and that that can be done by phone. That is one of and secure way, using the NHS number to help connect the points picked up in the debate. medical records across the whole health and care system We need to highlight the interdependency of trust as we move between services. That, as well as professionals and the levels of opt-out, because we do not want being able to access relevant records online simply, people to opt out for the wrong reasons. If they want to securely and all in one place—for example, via clinical opt out for the right reasons, because they have made a portals—will enable more joined-up care. Together with balanced assessment, that is absolutely fine; it is their the points I have made about care.data and the potential right. I share and echo the sentiments of those who are that that has, which others have articulated, I think we concerned, but I would advise them to wait a bit, see know there is an enormous prize in our grasp, but we what happens during this time of reflection and make know we will win that prize only if we are very careful an assessment of where we get to before doing something and thoughtful about how we proceed, taking the public that might be based on what is going on in the media at with us. This afternoon’s debate has greatly added to the moment. our thinking around that. I want to reassure the Chamber that the Secretary of State for Health, my ministerial colleagues and I are 4.18 pm listening to all the concerns. I am not in a position to George Freeman: Thank you, Mr Amess, for the respond to some of the specifics. We recognise the opportunity to wrap up. I thank all the hon. Members points made by Opposition Front Benchers—articulated who have spoken this afternoon. I thank Opposition again today—and we are looking carefully at the issues. Members for their spirit of cross-party support and the If need be, safeguards will be put in place over and Minister for her generous remarks and the encouraging above what NHS England does as part of its own things she said about the Government’s commitment to engagement, and that will help to build public confidence. the process of consultation and to the Patients4Data I cannot go into detail today, but considerable thought campaign. I also thank her for what she has just told the is being given to the issues, and when we can comment House about the Bill and some of the measures set out. and add clarity, we certainly will. I look forward to working with her and officials to try Today’s debate has been a timely opportunity. It goes to make a success of that and to supporting her and the without saying that I will report back to ministerial Department in that work. Thank you also, Mr Amess, colleagues who lead on this to draw their attention to for your and your colleague’s chairmanship this afternoon. the points that have been made, particularly the points Question put and agreed to. about transparency, security and information for the public. Both aspects of the private Member’s Bill championed by my hon. Friend the Member for Mid 4.19 pm Norfolk are being worked on. They featured as the Sitting adjourned. 25WS Written Statements27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 26WS

only to legal exemptions. This project, involving the Written Statements release of nearly 20,000 files, was completed in November 2013 in line with the published timetable. Thursday 27 February 2014 I am equally committed to the release of the records in the special collections. This is a much bigger project DEFENCE which will take longer. Work is under way. We have already conducted an audit of the material and we are currently building the capability to begin preparing the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (Triennial Review) files for release. We have published an overview of our release plans on www.gov.uk/archive-records. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence I am very pleased that Professor Tony Badger, Paul (Anna Soubry): I am today announcing the start of the Mellon Professor of American history and Master of triennial review of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body Clare College at the university of Cambridge, is continuing (AFPRB), an advisory non-departmental public body in his role of independent reviewer and will be providing (NDPB). rigorous and independent oversight of our release Triennial reviews of NDPBs are part of the Government’s programme. commitment to ensuring, and improving, the accountability and effectiveness of public bodies. The AFPRB provides independent advice to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence on the HEALTH remuneration and charges for members of the armed forces. The review will be conducted in accordance with Mitochondrial Donation Government guidance for reviewing NDPBs, and will focus on the core questions of effectiveness and good governance. It will be carried out in an open and The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health transparent way, and interested stakeholders will be (Jane Ellison): We are today publishing for consultation given the opportunity to contribute their views. draft regulations to allow mitochondrial donation to I shall announce the findings of the review in due prevent the transmission of serious mitochondrial disease course. from mother to child. The regulations will be subject to full scrutiny by the public and Parliament through the affirmative procedure. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE It is estimated that one in 200 children born every year in the UK have some form of mitochondrial DNA Public Records: FCO Archives disorder. These disorders can range from mild and asymptomatic to severe enough to be fatal. However, at present, mitochondrial donation techniques to prevent The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth the transmission of serious mitochondrial disease are Affairs (Mr William Hague): On 30 November 2012, my prohibited. right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe informed Parliament, Official Report, column 36WS, that a large In anticipation of significant advances in this field, volume of FCO archive records had come to light the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act was amended which are known as the “special collections”. On in 2008 to include a regulation-making power that, 12 December 2013, my right hon. Friend also informed if introduced, would enable mitochondrial donation Parliament, Official Report, column 55WS, that a high-level to take place in treatment. This legislation is reserved to inventory of the special collections we published on Westminster. gov.uk in 2012 had been updated with significantly The Government gave very careful consideration to more detail. advice they received from the Human Fertilisation and There are an estimated 600,000 special collection Embryology Authority (HFEA) in March 2013 about files. Initially, a specialist contractor appointed by the the comprehensive public dialogue and consultation FCO estimated the number of files at 1.2 million but process the HFEA has undertaken into the acceptability this has since been corrected following a reassessment of new techniques for mitochondrial donation. As a of the number of files in formats other than paper. result, in June 2013 we announced our intention to The special collection files are outside the normal consult on draft regulations which would allow this. FCO filing sequence and many—but by no means all— This proposed change in the legislation would give contain records of historical value. The historical value women who carry mitochondrial DNA disease the of the files will be determined through an appraisal and opportunity to have genetically-related children without selection process under the guidance and supervision of risk of serious conditions. It would also keep the UK in The National Archives (TNA). The FCO also holds a the forefront of scientific development in this area. In further 600,000 standard files created by FCO departments framing the draft regulations, we have largely accepted and overseas posts, around 500,000 of which are not yet and taken account of the advice contained in the HFEA’s due for transfer to TNA. report of 28 March 2013. On 5 May 2011, Official Report, column 24WS, I Consultation on the draft regulations begins today made a commitment to Parliament that every paper of and will run until 21 May 2014. We welcome responses interest from our holding of colonial administration from everyone with an interest in this area. We have also files would be released to The National Archives, subject asked the HFEA to reconvene the expert panel to 27WS Written Statements27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 28WS review the latest evidence of safety and efficacy. We will its support for this work; we are currently developing consider their advice alongside the responses to the plans for our contribution in conjunction with other consultation. European partners. Expert briefing meetings for hon. Members and peers Over lunch, practical co-operation on the area of will be arranged during the consultation period, and returns will be discussed. will be an opportunity to discuss issues arising from the During the mixed committee there will be an update consultation document. on the proposed data protection directive which covers “Mitochondrial Donation: A consultation on draft areas of police co-operation and judicial co-operation regulations to permit the use of new treatment techniques in criminal matters and would replace the existing data to prevent the transmission of a serious mitochondrial protection framework decision 2008/977/JHA. The UK’s disease from mother to child” has been placed in the priority is to ensure the right of access to, and to erase, Library. Copies are available to hon. Members from the personal data does not prejudice or hinder criminal Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper investigations or proceedings. Office. During AOB there will be an update by the Commission on the implementation of the new financial programmes for 2014-20 for home affairs. The presidency may also HOME DEPARTMENT wish to discuss the draft directives on intra-corporate transfers and student researchers. Justice and Home Affairs Council The justice day will begin with information from the presidency on a number of current proposals. First, the European account preservation order to facilitate cross- The Secretary of State for the Home Department border debt recovery in civil and commercial matters (Mrs Theresa May): The Justice and Home Affairs which the UK has not so far opted into, given our (JHA) Council is due to be held on 3 and 4 March in concerns about the adverse impact on debtors. The Brussels. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State Council will then be updated on the regulation amending for Justice and I will attend on behalf of the United the “Brussels I” regulation on jurisdiction and the Kingdom. The Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland is recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and also due to attend on behalf of the Scottish Administration. commercial matters. This is a technical amendment, As the provisional agenda stands, the following items fully supported by the UK, to set the rules governing will be discussed. jurisdiction for the Unified Patent Court. Finally the The Interior day of the Council will start with a Council will receive an update on the proposal for a general state of play update from the presidency on the regulation amending the Council regulation on insolvency Europol negotiation. The presidency are also expected proceedings, which is a key measure for growth and the to seek agreement from the Council to remove the UK broadly supports the Commission’s proposal. provisions in the Europol text relating to European The presidency will next facilitate a state of play/ Police College (CEPOL). This would secure formal orientation debate on the proposal for a Council regulation agreement not to proceed with the Commission’s proposed on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s merger of the two agencies. The UK will support this Office. The Government continue to oppose this measure position and there is expected to be a strong overall and agree with Parliament that the Commission has on consensus in favour of opposing the merger. this occasion breached the principle of subsidiarity. There will be a discussion on the EU’s future JHA This will be followed by an orientation debate on the programme, which will replace the current Stockholm recently published proposal for a directive of the European programme. This exchange of views will focus on the Parliament and of the Council on procedural safeguards Commission’s forthcoming communication, which will for children suspected or accused in criminal proceedings. not be published until after Council. The UK will press The presidency is expected to try to establish some for more clarity on the next steps towards developing a guidance to inform the expert-level negotiations. The strong JHA Council contribution to the new programme, Government have offered time in March for the House which should include key priorities such as a strong of Commons to debate the question of the UK’s opt-in commitment to tackle free movement abuse and modern regarding this proposal. slavery. There will be a state of play/orientation debate on the The Council will be updated on current migratory proposal for a general data protection regulation. The pressures, with presentations from Frontex and the UK continues to believe that this proposal is far from European Asylum Support Office. The pressures stemming ready for a general agreement, and that no such agreement from the Syrian crisis are of particular importance here, can occur until the text as a whole has been approved. in particular the situation in Bulgaria, which has been The proposal remains burdensome on both public and under particular pressure in recent months. This item private sector organisations and the Government would will be followed by discussion on the Task Force not want to see inflexible rules on transfers outside the Mediterranean, which was convened by the Commission European economic area which do not reflect the realities following the tragedy off Lampedusa last October. The of the modern, interconnected world. UK participated in the taskforce meetings, which led to a set of coherent proposals for concrete action to prevent Over lunch there will be a discussion on the ways and further migrant deaths in the Mediterranean. At this means to promote the simplification and acceptance of Council we understand that the Commission will set public documents: expectations by the citizens and business. out an action plan for implementation, which will require On non-legislative activities, the Commission will the co-operation of the member states, European External present its 2014 anti-corruption report, which we broadly Action Service and EU agencies. The UK will reiterate welcome, to the Council. There will then be a presentation 29WS Written Statements27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 30WS of the Commission’s communication on the future Society and others to help lawyers through what I know development in the JHA area where the UK, as mentioned will be a challenging period. The plans published today before, will push for a strong Council contribution, include a package of financial support and specialist including a focus on better targeted legislation, consolidation advice specifically designed to help lawyers respond to where necessary, and ensuring that the EU prisoner the current challenging economic climate, including: transfer agreement is fully implemented by member a commitment to work with BIS to provide guarantees for states. The Council will then seek to adopt conclusions commercial loans to legal firms who need to invest to deliver on justice systems in the European Union. The UK the new contracts; supports these conclusions which highlight the deficiencies measures to ease cash flow in legal aid firms through interim of the justice scoreboard approach to monitoring national payments for lengthy Crown court cases; justice systems and suggest a more collaborative dialogue exploring the possibility of grants to aid practitioners to between member states. This will be followed by a invest in digital technology as part of a digital criminal presentation by the Commission on the 2014 justice justice system; and scoreboard itself, expected for publication in March. providing, through business partnering, support and guidance Justice day will end with a presentation by the Commission on business planning and restructuring. on the 6th annual EU disability high-level group report The response paper also outlines our approach to on the implementation of the UN convention on the reform the advocates graduated fees scheme (AGFS) in rights of person with disabilities. order to achieve further simplification of the fee structure by adopting a model broadly based on the Crown Prosecution Service model. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT As part of our ongoing monitoring of the impact of reforms and the sustainability of the scheme generally, Contingencies Fund Advance the Ministry of Justice will undertake reviews of the operation of the new advocacy and litigation services The Minister of State, Department for International frameworks one year after each is implemented. Development (Mr Alan Duncan): I would like to inform We recognise that it is not simply legal aid funding the House that the Department for International arrangements that determine the success and viability Development: Overseas Superannuation requires an of the criminal justice system, and we have distinct advance to discharge its commitments which are set out pieces of work that will complement our plans for legal in its supplementary estimate 2013-14, published on aid. The independent Jeffrey review into the provision 12 February 2014 as HC 1006—CG supply estimates, of independent criminal advocacy in the courts continues supplementary estimates. and will report in due course. In addition, the Lord Parliamentary approval for additional net cash of Chief Justice has asked Sir Brian Leveson, president of £6 million for existing services has been sought in the Queen’s bench division, to conduct a review to a supplementary estimate for the Department for identify ways to reduce to the minimum the number of International Development: Overseas Superannuation. pre-trial hearings that necessitate defendants in custody Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at and advocates attending court; and to identify ways to £3 million will be met by repayable cash advances from reduce and streamline the length of criminal proceedings. the Contingencies Fund. Alongside the response to consultation we are laying later on today the Government response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) report on three JUSTICE parts of the reform package: restricting the scope of criminal legal aid for prison law, the residence test for Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps civil legal aid and removing civil legal aid for borderline cases. The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice As we move away from the consultation phase to (Chris Grayling): I am today publishing the Government delivery, subject to parliamentary approval where applicable, response to the “Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps” we will continue to engage with the professions to help consultation that took place in the autumn of 2013. them prepare for the implementation of these reforms. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Taken in its entirety, we estimate the “Transforming The House will be aware that this programme of Legal Aid” package will save the taxpayer around reform commenced in April last year when we launched £215 million per annum by 2018-19. the initial consultation “Transforming Legal Aid: Delivering a more credible and efficient system”. The rationale for proposing this package of measured reforms has always been clear and has always remained the same: due to the ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE acute pressure on the public finances we must continue to bear down on the cost of legal aid to ensure we are getting the best value possible, while ensuring that the Parliamentary Question (Correction) system commands the confidence of the public. When almost every area of public spending is facing increased scrutiny, the legal aid scheme cannot be ring-fenced. Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): The Electoral Today’s publication outlines the Government’s final Commission informs me that the response to written decision on a modified model of competitive tendering question number 186084, which was printed on 10 February for criminal legal aid contracts in England and Wales; 2014, Official Report, columns 414-16W, contained an and a range of new measures requested by the Law error. The question asked for the 50 wards with the 31WS Written Statements27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 32WS greatest change in turnout between the 2005 and 2010 Percentage general elections. The original answer showed changes Turnout 2005 Turnout 2010 point in turnout with plus signs where there should have been (Inc votes ( Inc votes change in minus signs and vice versa. I regret any inconvenience Constituency rejected at rejected at turnout caused as a result of this. (2010 names) count) count) 2001-101 The correct response is shown below. Bradford West 65.3 55.0 -10.4 Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd): To ask the hon. Member Bolton North 65.0 54.7 -10.3 for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s East Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will list Hull West & 55.1 44.9 -10.2 the 50 wards with the greatest change in turnout between Hessle the 2005 and 2010 general elections. [186084] Holborn & St. 63.5 53.3 -10.2 Pancras Reply Ulster Mid 63.7 73.9 10.2 The Electoral Commission informs me that it does Liverpool 60.8 50.7 -10.1 not hold this information at ward level. This is because Wavertree Returning officers are not required to report data at Esher & Walton 72.6 62.5 -10.1 ward level for parliamentary elections. Belfast West 54.9 64.8 9.9 However, the table below shows the 50 constituencies Lewisham East 63.6 53.8 -9.8 with the greatest change in turnout between the 2005 Leyton & 63.6 53.8 -9.8 Wanstead and 2010 general elections (note a positive percentage Nottingham 60.6 50.8 -9.7 indicates an increase in turnout in 2010, a negative South indicates a decrease). Ealing Central & 67.5 57.9 -9.6 Acton Percentage Weaver Vale 65.5 56.0 -9.5 Turnout 2005 Turnout 2010 point (Inc votes ( Inc votes change in Hampshire North 73.5 64.1 -9.4 Constituency rejected at rejected at turnout East (2010 names) count) count) 2001-101 Dulwich & West 66.5 57.1 -9.4 Norwood Staffordshire 68.4 37.7 -30.6 Liverpool West 57.0 47.7 -9.3 South2 Derby Poplar & 63.3 46.1 -17.2 Tooting 68.7 59.5 -9.2 Limehouse Newcastle Upon 56.6 47.4 -9.2 Thirsk & Malton3 50.0 65.7 15.6 Tyne Central Tyneside North 59.9 46.2 -13.7 Westminster 59.8 50.7 -9.1 Hackney North & 63.3 50.6 -12.7 North Stoke Newington Walthamstow 63.9 54.8 -9.1 Feltham & 60.3 47.8 -12.5 Northamptonshire 73.4 64.4 -9.0 Heston South Penistone & 68.0 55.6 -12.4 Hackney South & 59.4 50.5 -9.0 Stocksbridge Shoreditch Tyrone West 61.5 73.5 12.0 Salford & Eccles 55.2 46.4 -8.8 Cambridgeshire 71.2 59.3 -11.9 1Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher at the Elections North East Centre, Plymouth University, collected and collated these data from Barking 61.7 49.9 -11.9 Returning officers on the Commission’s behalf. Tottenham 59.6 48.0 -11.6 22005 election postponed and held on 23 June. 32010 election postponed and held on 27 May. Brentford & 64.7 53.2 -11.5 Isleworth These data come from an analysis provided to the Islington North 65.6 54.2 -11.4 Commission by the University of Plymouth. It should Streatham 63.1 51.8 -11.4 be noted that because of changes to constituency boundaries Liverpool 52.3 40.9 -11.3 and names between the 2005 and 2010 general elections, Riverside direct comparisons cannot always be made. Some of Greenwich & 63.2 51.9 -11.3 these figures may therefore only give an indication of Woolwich what the levels of turnout might have been had the 2010 Sheffield Hallam 74.5 63.5 -11.0 constituency boundaries been in use at the 2005 general Liverpool Walton 55.1 44.1 -11.0 election. Hammersmith 65.9 54.9 -10.9 Luton South 64.9 54.0 -10.9 Islington South & 64.6 53.8 -10.8 Finsbury TRANSPORT Vauxhall 58.1 47.3 -10.8 Lewisham 62.0 51.3 -10.6 Deptford DVLA Review Bethnal Green & 63.3 52.7 -10.6 Bow Newry And 60.9 71.5 10.6 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Armagh (Stephen Hammond): I am today publishing the report Midlothian 64.0 53.5 -10.5 on the review of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Sefton Central 72.0 61.5 -10.5 Agency (DVLA), which I announced on 8 October 33WS Written Statements27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Statements 34WS

2013. The Department for Transport commissioned Locations: this review as part of its commitment to delivering 1. Aldwark bridge, near Linton-On-Ouse, north Yorkshire improved quality and better value motoring services to 2. Bournemouth-Swanage motor-road ferry, entrance the public, business and other interested parties. of Poole harbour, Dorset The review has concluded that while DVLA is an 3. Clifton suspension bridge, Leigh Woods, Bristol effective organisation that is delivering important services, 4. Dartmouth-Kingswear floating bridge, Dartmouth, there is significant scope to increase efficiency. Strategic Devon recommendations have been made covering DVLA’s digital transformation, reducing the burden on customers, 5. Dunham bridge, Dunham-on-Trent, Lincolnshire modifying the governance and management structure 6. Rixton and Warburton bridge, Warburton, Cheshire and optimising DVLA’s value as a service provider for 7. Shrewsbury (Kingsland) bridge, Shrewsbury, Shropshire Government. 8. Swinford bridge, Swinford, Oxfordshire I am content to accept all of the recommendations in 9. Tamar bridge and Torpoint ferry, Saltash, Cornwall the report. I have asked the chief executive to prepare a 10. Whitchurch bridge, Whitchurch-on-Thames, strategic plan for DVLA on this basis, which prioritises Oxfordshire those measures that will bring the greatest advantage to 11. Whitney-on-Wye bridge, Whitney-on-Wye, Herefordshire customers. I am placing a copy of the review and my response in WORK AND PENSIONS the Libraries of both Houses and on the Department’s website. I would like to thank Mary Reilly and the Child Poverty Strategy 2014-17 review team for their work. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Iain Duncan Smith): Today, jointly with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Schools, I am publishing the Local Tolled Crossings Government’s draft child poverty strategy 2014-17. We are seeking views through a public consultation, closing on 22 May 2014. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Our draft strategy builds on the good progress we (Mr Robert Goodwill): Today I am publishing a consultation have made so far in tackling child poverty. Despite the document detailing proposals to simplify the process set tough economic climate, employment has increased by out in Transport Charges &c. (Miscellaneous Provisions) 1.3 million since 2010 and the number of children in Act 1954—the “1954 Act”—for amending tolls at local workless households has fallen by 274,000. Poor children statutory tolled undertakings. are doing better than ever at school; the proportion of children on free school meals getting good GCSEs Local statutory tolled undertakings can be bridges, including English and maths has increased from 31% in tunnels, lifts and ferry crossings where tolls are charged 2010 to 38% in 2013. for their use in accordance with relevant Acts of Parliament. The majority of these are owned by private companies Alongside our strategy, we are publishing an in-depth or individuals but some are owned by local authorities. evidence review which identifies what leads families There are around 11 local statutory tolled undertakings to be stuck in poverty and what leads poor children to in England that are currently required to follow the become poor adults. By identifying and understanding procedures contained in the 1954 Act to increase their the root causes of child poverty, now and across generations, tolls. we can target action effectively. This is an important step in our mission to eradicate child poverty. Under this Act, operators are required to apply to the Based on the evidence in the review, our strategy sets Secretary of State for any increase in tolls regardless of out the action Government are taking to tackle child how big or small. This process can be costly and time poverty. consuming for the operator, and will often involve a It sets out how we will tackle poverty now through public inquiry. These costs are likely to be passed on to supporting families into work and to increase their the user through higher tolls. The Government have earnings, support living standards through decreasing therefore decided the process needs to be simplified to costs for low-income families and prevent poor children reduce the administrative burden on operators and becoming poor adults through raising their educational Government, while ensuring the interests of users continue attainment. to be protected. However, central Government action cannot, by itself, Our preferred option is a simplified procedure for end child poverty. Action is also needed by employers, increases in tolls which are no greater than inflation the devolved Administrations, local areas and the voluntary minus 1%, so providing an incentive for the crossing and community sector. Today, we are asking for views operators to keep any increases in tolls below this level. on what more can be done and how we can all work The consultation document, including the impact together to end child poverty. Only by working together assessment, will be available in the Libraries of both can we transform the lives of the poorest children in our Houses and on the Department’s website. society.

5P Petitions27 FEBRUARY 2014 Petitions 6P

have risen by 16% from last year to 2,290; further that Petition more than half of those admitted to hospital were children or teenagers; and further that eating disorders Thursday 27 February 2014 have the highest mortality rates of any mental illness, at around 20%. PRESENTED PETITION The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Petition presented to the House but not read on the Floor Commons urges the Government to increase understanding and monetary resources available for those with eating Understanding and Funding for People with Eating disorders. Disorders And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by The Petition of residents of the UK, Tessa Munt.] Declares that the Petitioners believe that the latest figures show hospital admissions for eating disorders [P001322]

425W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 426W Written Answers to Egypt Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Questions Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of UK policy towards Egypt on Egyptian-Russian relations; and if he will make a Thursday 27 February 2014 statement. [189017]

Hugh Robertson: Egypt-Russian relations are a matter FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE for their respective governments.

Arms Trade: Treaties Equality Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent and Commonwealth Affairs how many publications his representations he has made to his international Department has produced for the purposes of monitoring counterparts in support of ratification of the UN Arms or promoting staff equality and diversity in each of the Trade Treaty; what discussions he has had with the last five years; and what the cost of producing such European Commission on ratification of that Treaty; publications was in each such year. [188881] when he expects the UK to ratify the Treaty; and when he expects the Treaty to come into force. [188957] Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Hugh Robertson: The UK continues to maintain regular Office (FCO) publishes an annual Diversity and Equality contact and dialogue about the next steps to ratify and Report which provides information about the diversity implement the arms trade treaty with its international and makeup of our staff, as required by the Equality partners at both ministerial and official level. Officials Act 2010. We also refer to equality and diversity in the have continued to engage the European Commission on FCO’s Annual Report: the aspects of the treaty on which the EU has competence. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/annual-report-and- We are planning for the UK to ratify the treaty in accounts March 2014. The ATT will enter into force 90 days after Since the requirement to publish diversity and equality the 50th ratification. information was established the FCO has published two reports, in 2012 and 2013. These are online publications British Nationals Abroad and therefore no additional printing costs are incurred. The 2014 FCO Diversity and Equality Report will be Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for published shortly. Staff time for compiling each annual Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his report is absorbed into the overall costs of the Diversity Department takes to offer financial support for the Team—for details of this team, I refer my hon. Friend repatriation of a UK citizen’s body if the citizen’s to my response to his recent question, 24 February relatives are in financial hardship. [188943] 2014, Official Report, column 54W. Mark Simmonds: The Foreign and Commonwealth The reports are published at: Office does not pay for the repatriation of a UK citizen’s https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign- body. It does however provide partial funding to specialist commonwealth-office/series/fco-diversity-and-equality-reports external partners who can support bereaved families who have this need by, for example, working with insurers Iraq and repatriation partners, and by helping families find sources of funding. I also refer the hon. Member to the Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign answer I gave to the question from my hon. Friend the and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether any UK Member for Witham (Priti Patel), on 25 April 2013, Government Ministers or officials made any representations Official Report, column 1049W. to the World Health Organisation or Iraqi Ministry of Health on their report into birth defects in Iraq prior to Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for that report’s publication; [188847] Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many families have successfully claimed compensation from an overseas (2) whether any UK Government Ministers or officials local authority following the death of a relative abroad had discussions with their US counterparts on the joint World Health Organisation and Iraqi Ministry of Health in each of the last 10 years. [188945] report into birth defects in Iraq prior to its publication; Mark Simmonds: Although the Foreign and [188848] Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its specialist partners (3) what assessment he has made of the methodology work closely with families to help them seek the of the joint World Health Organisation and Iraqi Ministry compensation to which they are entitled, information of Health report into birth defects in Iraq. [188849] on numbers of successful claims is not recorded in a way that can be easily searched. In the last financial Hugh Robertson: We made no representations to the year (April 2012 to March 2013) the FCO recorded World Health Organisation or Iraqi Ministry of Health 3,391 deaths that were not natural or suicides. To provide prior to the 2013 report into birth defects in Iraq, and more information on which of the cases over the last 10 have made no representations to the United States years then resulted in a successful compensation claim Government on this matter. We have made no assessment would therefore involve a disproportionate cost. on the methodology of the report. 427W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 428W

Pakistan We could only collate the data for May to December 2010 at disproportionate cost. Since January 2011 we Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for have improved the way in which we capture this data. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Pakistani counterpart Syria on (a) that country’s blasphemy laws and (b) the abolition of the death penalty in that country. [188958] Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what categories of Hugh Robertson: We regularly raise the issue of the people are allowed to leave Homs under the terms of blasphemy laws at a senior level with the authorities in the recent cease-fire agreement. [188626] Pakistan. The Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, most recently raised our Hugh Robertson: Women, children (under the age of opposition to the death penalty with the Chief Minister 15) and those over 55 were eligible to leave Homs under of the Punjab on 27 January in the case of a British the original terms of the recent cease-fire. Following an national convicted under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. initial evacuation of women and children, a UN-led aid On 12 February our high commissioner in Islamabad convoy entered Horns and brought out a group of met the Governor of Punjab and raised the same case. approximately 450 men, women and children. According It is our long-standing policy to oppose the death to the UN, a total of 1,371 people (including 431 penalty in all circumstances. The Prime Minister reiterated men-who were subsequently detained by the Syrian this to the House during questions on 29 January. regime) left Homs during the ceasefire. Ministers regularly raise the issue of the death penalty in Pakistan at the highest levels both in terms of our USA principled stance and in supporting cases of British nationals facing the death penalty overseas. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has Qatar taken to improve US-UK trading relations since the beginning of 2014. [189044] Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Hugh Robertson: The UK-US trade relationship he has had with the Qatari government expressing the continues to be strong; the US is the largest single UK’s opposition to their funding of the Muslim destination for UK exports and our largest source of Brotherhood; and if he will make a statement. [189018] inward investment. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) provides important support to UK companies looking Hugh Robertson: We have regular discussions with to export to the US and US companies looking to invest the Qatar Government on a broad range of issues in the UK. The UKTI network in the US has assisted including both countries’ policies towards political 370 UK companies so far this calendar year. From developments in the region, in particular on Egypt and April 2013 to end January 2014 UKTI in the US Syria. The most recent being during my visit to Doha recorded 4,402 instances of assisting UK companies, on 9 January. 49% higher than the number assisted at this point in the previous year. Staff The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), currently being negotiated between the EU and Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for US, will provide significant benefits for the UK-US Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion trade relationship, with the potential to add £10 billion of staff recruited to his Department since 5 May 2010 per annum to the UK economy. We are actively engaged identified their ethnicity as (a) white British and (b) in promoting progress in the negotiations, both through from a minority ethnic background. [188074] contact with the European Commission and through our network of posts in the US. The Secretary of State Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Office (FCO) publishes an annual Equality Report which Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), provides information about the diversity and makeup of most recently raised TTIP during his visit to Washington our staff, as required by the Equality Act 2010. We only in February, including with the Senate Foreign Relations report on declared data as disclosure of diversity Committee. information is voluntary. Reports were published in 2012 and 2013 and included information on the proportion of staff recruited in 2011 and 2012 that identified their ethnicity as (a) white and HOME DEPARTMENT (b) from a BME background. The reports are published at: Animal Experiments https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign- commonwealth-office/series/fco-diversity-and-equality-reports Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the The proportion of staff recruited to the FCO in 2013 Home Department how much funding her Department who voluntary identified their ethnicity as (a) white has provided to (a) research councils funding animal was 71% and (b) minority ethnic background was 9%. research and (b) development of non-animal This information will be published in our 2014 Equality experimentation methods in each of the last five years. Report. [188640] 429W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 430W

Norman Baker: The Home Office has not funded Football banning orders are the highly effective research councils funding animal research in the last cornerstone of our preventative strategy, prohibiting five years. The Home Office makes payments of £250,000 those subject to an order from attending matches for per annum to the National Centre for Replacement, between three and 10 years and addressing the individual Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. offenders’behaviour with additional conditions if necessary. The Coalition Government has made a commitment There are currently 2,327 individuals subject to orders to ‘work to reduce the use of animals in scientific imposed in England and Wales. To prevent the spread research’. The recently published Delivery Plan shows of football disorder outside the United Kingdom banned how alternative methods can deliver fast, high quality individuals are required to surrender their passport to research available at: nominated police stations before relevant overseas https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-to-reduce- international and club matches. the-use-of-animals-in-research-delivery-plan The Home Office continues to make funding available The scientific case for developing new techniques that to support local police operations gathering evidence do not require the use of animals is as strong as the and seeking football banning orders against persons moral one. The Delivery Plan will cement the UK’s who have been involved in football disorder. place as an international leader in this field. A considerable part of the resource in the Home Office Animals in Drugs: Smuggling Science Regulation Unit is working towards the development of reduction, refinement and replacement Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for alternatives (the 3Rs) to the use of animals in scientific the Home Department (1) what financial assistance her procedures. Home Office Inspectors do this as part of Department has provided to the United Nations Office their inspection role and when assessing applications on Drugs and Crime for counter narcotics work in (a) for project licences. It is not possible to quantify the Pakistan and (b) Afghanistan since 2010; and what value of this resource, but it is significant. future such assistance her Department plans to provide; [187716] Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the (2) what assistance is currently being given to help Home Department what assessment her Department combat drug trafficking in Afghanistan and Pakistan in made of the proposals submitted by the British Union the form of (a) financial support, (b) operational for the Abolition of Vivisection during the preparation support and (c) resource and information sharing; of Working to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific [187779] Research. [188732] (3) what plans she has to increase cooperation with Pakistan to combat drug trafficking following the signature Norman Baker: The Home Office received proposals of a Memorandum of Understanding; [187780] from various organisations, including from the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, during the (4) what steps the Government is taking to increase preparation of the Government’s delivery plan “Working co-operation between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran to Reduce the Use of Animals in Scientific Research”. to stop the increase in drug trafficking along their All material received was given full consideration during borders. [187781] the preparation of the delivery plan. Mrs May [holding answer 24 February 2014]: The UK works closely with international organisations to Crime: Football tackle the drugs trade, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Government Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for has pledged approximately £4.5 million to UNODC the Home Department what steps she is taking to projects in Afghanistan and approximately £5 million minimise the number of football match related crimes. to UNODC projects in Pakistan since 2010. The UK [189040] encourages regional dialogue on tackling the narcotics trade. It does so by promoting the principle of shared Damian Green: The Home Office works in partnership responsibility and joint regional action through key with police, the football authorities, other Government multilateral forums including the UNODC Paris Pact, Departments and fans’ groups to ensure there are an initiative aimed at strengthening international and appropriate powers available to minimise the threat of regional co-operation against opiates trafficking from football-related disorder, to plan for safe and secure Afghanistan. matches, and to encourage self-policing by supporters. The UK provides bilateral assistance on counter-narcotics The large majority of football supporters are law to a range of international partners in line with the abiding individuals. Although levels of football disorder UK’s new Serious and Organised Crime Strategy. In have been significantly reduced, and orchestrated football Afghanistan our support includes mentoring the counter- violence marginalised, the risk of spontaneous alcohol- narcotics criminal justice system and promoting agricultural fuelled incidents, especially at high-risk and high-tension development programmes, including in poppy-cultivating matches, remains. A range of football-specific legislation provinces. As set out in the Memorandum of complements public order legislation which enables police Understanding signed in September 2013, we are committed to prevent and respond to incidents of violence and to ongoing work with Pakistan with whom we have an disorder. established relationship on tackling counter-narcotics. Police football intelligence officers share information However, it is important to protect specific activities with one another, clubs and other authorities involved which form part of the UK’s contribution to the in the security and safety planning to minimise the risk international counter-narcotics effort and to respect the of disorder. principle that international partners are able to operate 431W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 432W confidentially on matters which concern their national James Brokenshire: In reports published in 2009 and security. In line with our strategy to work internationally 2010, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to combat organised crime, plans for increased co-operation questioned whether the use of allowances, including with Pakistan include discussions on joint work relating tax-free expenses, for intra-company transfers creates to combating a wider range of organised crime threats. the potential for under-cutting of UK workers. The MAC gave further consideration to the issue in Equality its February 2012 report ″Limit on Tier 2 (General)″ for 2012-13 and associated policies. The Committee concluded: Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home “On balance we believe that, while scope for using allowances Department what the (a) total departmental expenditure, for the purposes of undercutting does theoretically exist, it is (b) (c) generally the case that in practice such incentives would not exist number and cost of people employed for the because employing an intra-company transferee represents a significant purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for cost to a UK employer. each of the last five years. [187643] On this basis, down-rating allowances in calculating whether the income threshold for intra-company transfers would unfairly Karen Bradley: The Department has statutory penalise those companies who do not abuse the intra-company responsibilities set out in equality legislation, both as an transfer system. We do not recommend doing this.” employer and provider of services. The Government has accepted this recommendation. In discharging these responsibilities, the Home Office The Government has not attempted to estimate the spent the following: effects of intra-company transfers and access to tax free 2012-13: £901,000, of which £674,000 were staff costs. The business expenses on UK workers and UK IT services number of people employed specifically on equality and diversity— companies. However, there are provisions within tier 2 FTE 13.4. of the points-based system to prevent undercutting of 2011-12: £1,110,000, of which £865,000 were staff costs. The the resident labour market. These include a requirement number of people employed specifically on equality and diversity— to pay appropriate rates for the job and guidance on the FTE 15. upper limits of the proportion of a tier 2 worker’s 2010-11: £1,141,000, of which £909,000 were staff costs. The salary package which can comprise allowances solely number of people employed specifically on equality and diversity— for the purposes of accommodation. The guidance also FTE 18.6. makes clear that the salary package taken into account 2009-10: £1,518,000, of which £1,026,000 were staff costs. The for tier 2 purposes should not be inclusive of anticipated number of people employed specifically on equality and diversity— receipts of tax relief on business expenses. FTE 22.4. 2008-09: £1,683,000, of which £1,071,000 were staff costs. The Hunting number of people employed specifically on equality and diversity— FTE 24.6. Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of illegal Female Genital Mutilation taking of game have been recorded in the UK in each of the last three years. [189269] Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met the Secretary of Norman Baker: The Home Office does not hold this State for Education to discuss raising awareness of information centrally. female genital mutilation in schools; and if she will The Home Office is responsible for police recorded make a statement. [189005] crime statistics, consisting of indictable and triable-either- way offences. This does not include summary offences, Norman Baker: On 6 February 2014, Ministers from such as taking of game. across Government, including the Minister for Children and Families and I, met with charities and other interested Immigrants: Tuberculosis parties to discuss progress being made in tackling female genital mutilation. We signed a cross-Government Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the declaration announcing a range of measures to combat Home Department how many positive cases of active this harmful practice in the UK and internationally. pulmonary tuberculosis were prevented (a) indefinitely and (b) temporarily from entering the UK in 2013. Foreign Workers [188159] James Brokenshire: On 21 May 2012 the Government Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the announced its intention to expand upon the existing Home Department (1) what estimate her Department pre-entry tuberculosis (TB) screening programme to has made of the effect on (a) UK workers and (b) UK allow for more extensive screening. Entry clearance IT services companies of the ability of multinational applicants intending to come to the UK for over six companies to transfer employees into the UK and gain months from countries where pre-entry screening is access to tax free business expenses; [188942] available are required to present a certificate from a (2) with reference to the recommendation in the designated screening provider confirming that screening report of the Migration Advisory Committee’s Limits, has been conducted and that the applicant has been on Migration, November 2010, that allowances used diagnosed as free from active pulmonary tuberculosis. for PBS points purposes should be scaled back, what Where tuberculosis is detected, the applicant will be measures have been put in place to prevent any required to undertake treatment and further screening incentives to undercut domestic labour. [189225] before any entry clearance application can be made. 433W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 434W

As these applicants have to present a certificate stating We are unable to provide answers to the proportion that they are clear of active TB, entry clearance staff do of staff returning to and remaining with the Home not see applications from applicants with active TB. For Department or the wider civil service following a period all other entry clearance applications, the entry clearance of maternity leave as it would incur a disproportionate officer has powers to refer any applicant for medical cost to determine this information. screening. We do not maintain a record of the number Members: Correspondence of individuals who have been refused entry clearance on the basis of having active pulmonary tuberculosis. Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will arrange for the hon. Immigration Controls Member for Walsall North to receive a reply to his letter to the interim director general, UK Visas and Immigration Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the of 8 January 2014 on behalf of a constituent, CTS ref Home Department pursuant to the oral evidence taken M294/14. [188224] by the Public Accounts Committee on 28 March 2011, HC 913-i, whether the Immigration Case Work system James Brokenshire [holding answer 24 February 2014]: A reply was despatched to the hon. Member’s letter, is now in place. [189224] CTS ref M294/14, on 14 February 2014. James Brokenshire: The Immigration Casework programme has successfully delivered a fully digital Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the end-to-end visa process for in-country students, and a Home Department if she will arrange for the Member powerful search function which allows caseworkers across of Walsall North to receive a reply to his letter to the the world to view details from across 14 current systems, interim director general, UK Visas and Immigration of which greatly aids accurate and timely decision making. 24 January 2014 on behalf of a constituent; CTS ref The programme has now closed. The Secretary of State M1157/14. [188951] for the Home Department has commissioned a new plan for taking forward the modernisation of IT across James Brokenshire: The director general replied to the whole immigration system. the hon. Gentleman on 25 February 2014. Motorcycles

Interpol Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home taking to prevent motorcyclists from riding across (a) Department who will represent the UK at the Interpol public areas, (b) community parks and (c) areas of General Assembly in November 2014. [188799] outstanding natural beauty. [188704]

Karen Bradley [holding answer 26 February 2014]: Damian Green: The police have the power under The Head of Border Policing Command and the Head section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 to seize of the UK International Crime Bureau, both in the vehicles, including motorcycles, which they have reasonable National Crime Agency, will be representing the UK at grounds to believe are being, or have been used, both in the 83rd Interpol General Assembly in November 2014. a careless and inconsiderate manner on road or off-road without consent, contrary to the Road Traffic Act 1988, and in a way which causes or is likely to cause alarm, Maternity Leave distress or annoyance to members of the public. Offences Against Children Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of civil servants in her Department who had been on maternity Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for the leave were still employed in the Civil Service (a) six Home Department what recent discussions she has had and (b) 12 months after their return to work in each of with Ministers of the Department for Education the last five years; [189125] regarding children subject to sexual exploitation. [188854] (2) what proportion of civil servants in her Department who were on maternity leave in each of the Norman Baker [holding answer 26 February 2014]: last five years returned to work; [189065] The Home Office and the Department for Education (3) what the standard level and duration is of are in ongoing contact regarding children subject to contractual maternity pay paid to civil servants in her sexual exploitation and related issues at a range of Department. [189085] levels. For example, the Department for Education is represented on the National Group for Sexual Violence Karen Bradley: The Home Office makes up the difference Against Children and Vulnerable People. between statutory maternity pay and normal contractual rate of pay for the first 26 weeks of maternity leave Police: Ethnic Groups period, providing expectant mothers: have completed a minimum of 12 months’ qualifying service with Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the the Department during the 24 months up to and including the Home Department (1) how many black and ethnic 15th week before the expected week of childbirth; and minority officers are currently employed in the police meet all the qualifying conditions for statutory maternity pay. service in England, Wales and Scotland; [188825] 435W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 436W

(2) how many black and ethnic minority officers are Number of black and minority ethnic full-time equivalent1 members of currently employed in the police service in England, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in England and Wales and Scotland at chief police officer level; in Wales, by police force area, as at 31 March 2013 which forces they are located; and what is the total Black and Minority Ethnic number of chief police officer posts in the service; Durham 0 [188826] Essex 0 (3) how many black and ethnic minority officers are Gloucestershire 0 employed at chief superintendent level in the police Greater Manchester 0 service in England, Wales and Scotland; and what is Hampshire 0 the total number of chief superintendent posts in the Hertfordshire 0 service; [188827] Humberside 0 (4) how many black and ethnic minority officers are Kent 0 employed at superintendent level in the police service in Lancashire 0 England, Wales and Scotland; and what is the total Leicestershire 1 number of superintendent posts in the service; [188828] Lincolnshire 0 (5) how many black and ethnic minority officers are London, City of 0 employed at chief inspector level in the police service in Merseyside 0 England, Wales and Scotland; and what is the total Metropolitan Police 3 number of chief inspector posts in the service. [188829] Norfolk 0 Northamptonshire 0 Damian Green: The requested data for England and Northumbria 0 Wales are provided within the tables and relates to the North Yorkshire 0 number of officers in post on 31 March 2013 (most Nottinghamshire 0 recent data with breakdowns of ethnic groupings). South Yorkshire 1 The provided figures are published in the ’Police Staffordshire 0 Workforce, England and Wales, 31 March 2013’ statistical Suffolk 0 bulletin, which can be accessed using the following link: Surrey 0 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-workforce- Sussex 0 england-and-wales-31-march-2013 Thames Valley 0 Figures for Scotland are a matter for the devolved Warwickshire 0 Administration. West Mercia 0 West Midlands 0 Number of black and minority ethnic full-time equivalent1 members of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in England and West Yorkshire 1 Wales, by police force area, as at 31 March 2013 Wiltshire 0 Black and Minority Ethnic Total England 6

Avon and Somerset 0 Dyfed-Powys 0 Bedfordshire 0 Gwent 0 Cambridgeshire 0 North Wales 0 Cheshire 0 South Wales 0 Cleveland 0 Total Wales 0 Cumbria 0 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been Derbyshire 0 presented to the nearest whole number. Because of this, there may be Devon and Cornwall 0 an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent Dorset 0 items.

Number of full-time equivalent1 Chief Inspectors, Superintendents, Chief Superintendents and members of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in England, as at 31 March 2013 All police Chief Inspector Superintendent Chief Superintendent ACPO officer ranks

Number of police officers 1,702 770 345 187 122,751 Of which: are Black and Minority Ethnic 71 33 10 6 6,436

1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been presented to the nearest whole number. Number of full-time equivalent1 Chief Inspectors, Superintendents, Chief Superintendents and members of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in Wales, as at 31 March 2013 All police Chief Inspector Superintendent Chief Superintendent ACPO officer ranks

Number of police officers 99 49 21 14 6,833 Of which: are Black and Minority Ethnic 1 0 0 0 101 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been presented to the nearest whole number. 437W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 438W

Public Houses: Opening Hours Mrs Villiers: I have great sympathy with fishermen in Northern Ireland who have been so adversely affected Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the by the recent extreme weather. However, responsibility Home Department what evidence her Department collected for sea fisheries is devolved to the Northern Ireland before the announcement of a consultation on extended Executive Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development pub opening hours on 14 June 2014. [186963] whom I understand is seeking support from her Executive colleagues for a £400,000 aid package for fishermen Norman Baker [holding answer 10 February 2014]: affected by the weather. The Home Office consulted a number of key partners, including the Police, local authorities and licensing officers before reaching an initial view. Television: Advertising The Home Office will shortly consult on whether or not to use the powers under section 172 of the Licensing Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Act 2003 which allows the national relaxation of licensing Northern Ireland what discussions she has had with the hours for occasion of ″exceptional international or Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about local significance″. updating the regulations governing Channel 3 licence holders in Northern Ireland to take account of online Re-employment advertising; and if she will make a statement. [188261]

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Mrs Villiers: I have not had any discussions with the the Home Department pursuant to her answer of 3 Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my February 2014, Official Report, column 35W, on right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria re-employment, how much was paid to the staff Miller), on this matter. referred to as part of their retirement package. [188058] However, I understand that the regulator, Ofcom, has recently renewed the Channel 3 licences for 10 years Karen Bradley [holding answer 24 February 2014]: As effective from 1 January 2015, including in Northern at December 2013 the Home Office paid a total of Ireland. Ofcom advises that its Cross-Promotions Code £871,077 to the re-employed staff referred to in the enables television broadcasters to promote other previous reply as part of their retirement package. broadcasting related services without such promotions being considered advertising. However, the code’s provisions relate to the promotion of other broadcasting related services and do not extend to online services unrelated NORTHERN IRELAND to broadcasting. As in other areas, Ofcom decides whether there is a need to review and make changes to the codes Equality and guidance on the basis of evidence that change is needed to the existing rules. Although Ofcom has no Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern existing commitments to review the code, it will continue Ireland how many publications her Department has to monitor its effectiveness and assess whether change is produced for the purposes of monitoring or promoting necessary in the future. staff equality and diversity in each of the last five years; and what the cost of producing such publications was in each such year. [188886] Trade Promotion

Mrs Villiers: As a small organisation with less than Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern 150 employees, the Northern Ireland Office is exempt Ireland in how many trade missions involving Invest NI from publishing information and equality objectives as have Ministers in her Department been participants required by the Equality Act 2010. However, the NIO is since May 2010. [188286] obliged under section 75 and schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to publish an Equality Scheme and Mrs Villiers: Most aspects of trade are a devolved annual progress report. These publications are produced responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive Minister at nil costs and can be found on the NIO’s website of Enterprise, Trade, and Investment, but Ministers in www.nio.gov.uk my Department and DETI have always worked closely My Department also provided contributions to Cabinet to promote Northern Ireland as an excellent place to do Office on any equality or diversity surveys which they business. carried out during this period. Again, there was no cost From time to time the DETI Minister Ariene Foster associated with publication of any of this material. MLA has invited Northern Ireland Office Ministers to accompany her on trade missions. My right hon. Friend Fisheries: Weather the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), when Minister of State in my Department, was invited by Minister Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foster to support a trade mission to the United Arab Northern Ireland (1) what recent assessment she has Emirates, Qatar and Oman in February 2012 which made of the effect of the current weather conditions on promoted the Northern Ireland Aerospace industry. fishermen in Northern Ireland; [188921] Ariene Foster has also invited me to join her on a (2) what recent discussions she has had with the trade mission later in the year promoting the best of Northern Ireland Executive on the difficulties caused Northern Ireland food and produce at SIAL 2014 in to fishermen by current weather conditions. [188946] Paris. 439W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 440W

WALES Information relating to the make-up of our workforce is included in the Wales Office Annual Report and Asbestos: Children Accounts. Equality and diversity is promoted within the Department through the Ministry of Justice intranet Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for and direct communication with our staff, as such, the Wales (1) which Government Department has overall Wales Office produces no such publications in its own responsibility for ensuring that safe standards are right. achieved in protecting school children in Wales from the dangers of asbestos in (a) local authority schools and (b) schools outside local authority control; SCOTLAND [188424] (2) which Government Department is responsible for Equality the (a) health and (b) safety in relation to asbestos of children attending schools in Wales; [188425] Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many publications his Department has produced (3) which Government Department is responsible for for the purposes of monitoring or promoting staff the (a) health and (b) safety in relation to asbestos of equality and diversity in each of the last five years; and children in Wales when they are not at school; [188426] what the cost of producing such publications was in (4) which Government Department has the overall each such year. [188887] responsibility for issuing guidance to schools in Wales on (a) the risks to children from asbestos and (b) the David Mundell: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the management of asbestos in schools; [188427] answer I gave on 25 February 2014, Official Report, (5) which Government Department has the overall column 282W. responsibility for issuing guidance to the general public Ministers’ Private Offices on (a) the risks to children from asbestos and (b) the management of asbestos in homes in Wales; [188428] Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for (6) which Government Department has the overall Scotland what the size, in square metres, of the offices responsibility for advising the Welsh Government on assigned to each of his Department’s Ministers is; and (a) the risks to children from asbestos in schools and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private (b) the measures that should be taken to control those offices of each of his Department’s Ministers. [188325] risks in Wales; [188429] (7) which Government Department has the overall David Mundell: The room in Dover House assigned responsibility for ensuring that safe standards are to the Secretary of State is 83 square metres, and the achieved in protecting children in Wales at home from room assigned to me is 51 square metres. Both rooms the dangers of asbestos. [188430] are also used for other purposes such as events and hospitality to promote Scotland and Scottish interests Mr David Jones: The Health and Safety Executive in London. (HSE) has responsibility for enforcing legislation on the The Scotland Office private office is headed by a management and control of asbestos in all workplaces Principal Private Secretary at SCS 1. The Secretary of in Great Britain, including schools. The statutory State also has one grade 7, one SEO, and three EOs in responsibility for ensuring that risks from asbestos are his private office. In line with the practice of previous managed, however, falls to the duty holder and to any Administrations, exact numbers are not usually disclosed employer undertaking work on asbestos containing to protect individual privacy when the numbers are five materials in those premises. For schools this depends on or fewer. I have five or fewer officials working directly its status and could be the local authority, the Board of for me in my private office. Governors, the trustees or a proprietor. The HSE produces general guidance on the management of asbestos and the precautions that need to be taken COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT before work is undertaken on any property where asbestos is present. Bellwin Scheme It is for the Welsh Government to decide if it wishes Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for to introduce overall policies for dealing with asbestos Communities and Local Government what proportion management across maintained schools in Wales. of additional money promised to local authorities through the Bellwin Scheme will be (a) from his Department’s Equality budget, (b) directly from HM Treasury, (c) through a transfer from HM Treasury to the Department for Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales Communities and Local Government and (d) from how many publications his Department has produced another budget. [187890] for the purposes of monitoring or promoting staff equality and diversity in each of the last five years; and Brandon Lewis [holding answer 24 February 2014]: what the cost of producing such publications was in As part of its contingency planning, the Department each such year. [188890] already has a yearly allocation for Bellwin funding. Any additional costs outside this initial allocation will be Stephen Crabb: The Ministry of Justice provides funded from departmental under-spends. The bottom employment services to the Wales Office, including line is that local government will receive additional monitoring and promoting equality and diversity. funding to help with floods recovery. 441W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 442W

Notwithstanding, given councils have until the end of The Department does not collect data about individual June to submit applications for their Bellwin funding, claimants and has no plans to do so. These are local and given it is a demand-led scheme based on councils schemes, and it is for local authorities to ensure that the retrospectively reclaiming their exceptional costs it is effect on specific groups of council tax payers is not feasible at this point in time to publish detailed proportionate and fair. We made a £100 million transition figures on precise funding allocations. grant available in 2013-14 to help councils develop well-designed schemes and maintain incentives to work. Council Tax An independent review of the policy will be carried Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for out within three years. We are working with local authorities Communities and Local Government how many liability to identify the right data sources for that review. orders for council tax payment have been granted by the Spending on council tax benefit doubled under the courts in the last six months. [188617] last Government, costing taxpayers £4 billion a year— equivalent to almost £180 a year per household. Welfare Brandon Lewis: The Department does not collect this reform is vital to tackle the budget deficit left by the last data. Administration. Our reforms to localise council tax support now give Council Tax Benefits councils stronger incentives to support local firms, cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people into Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for work. We are ending the last Administration’s ’something Communities and Local Government (1) if he will for nothing’ culture and making work pay. make it his policy to collect data on the number of (a) people in work, (b) carers, (c) disabled people, (d) war Council Tax: Plymouth widows and (e) veterans who have seen an increase in their council tax bill following changes to the payment of council tax benefit; [186484] Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people (2) what data he (a) is currently collecting and (b) in Plymouth who receive welfare and disability benefits plans to collect on the number of (i) households and are liable to pay council tax. [188618] (ii) people paying council tax for the first time or seeing an increase in their council tax bill as a result of the Brandon Lewis: The Department does not collect this changes in council tax benefit who have received a visit data. Council tax support is set locally, and it is for local from a bailiff over non-payment of council tax; authorities to ensure that the effect on specific groups of [186485] council tax payers is proportionate and fair. We made a (3) if he will assess the effect of (a) changes to and £100 million transition grant available in 2013-14 to (b) localisation of council tax benefit over the next 12 help councils develop well-designed schemes and maintain months; [186486] incentives to work. (4) whether he has asked any local authority for (a) an assessment of and (b) data on the effect of the Floods: Insurance changes in and the localisation of council tax benefit; and if he will place in the Library copies of any Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for information so provided; [186508] Communities and Local Government what steps he is (5) what data his Department (a) collects and (b) taking to monitor the responses of insurance companies plans to collect on the number of households and to the needs of people made homeless as a result of individuals (i) that are paying council tax for the first their homes being flooded in the recent severe weather; time or whose council tax bill has increased as a result and if he will make a statement. [189227] of recent changes to council tax benefit and (iii) who have been summonsed to court for non-payment of Brandon Lewis: Ministers met with senior representatives council tax since those changes took effect. [186509] from the insurance industry earlier this month to discuss their plans to ensure flood-related claims are paid rapidly, Brandon Lewis [holding answer 10 February 2014]: and support government plans to help home owners The Department is collecting information about the make their homes more resilient. It was agreed that number of pensioners and working age claimants, the there would be monthly meetings between the Government amount of council tax local authorities have forgone and the insurance executives to make sure everything and the impact council tax support schemes are having possible was being done to provide prompt and full on the council tax base. payment to customers, and to ensure that government Experimental statistics covering the number of claimants and the industry were fully co-ordinated in helping and the amount of council tax forgone are available flood victims. from the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority- Fracking revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2013-to-2014- individual-local-authority-data Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for The Council Tax Base statistics release includes details Communities and Local Government pursuant to the of the impact of council tax support schemes on the answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 418W, council tax base, and is available from the following on fracking, what estimate he has made of how many link: local authorities would be willing to host a shale gas site https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-taxbase- if permitted to retain (a) 100 and (b) 50 per cent of 2013-in-england business rates from shale gas production. [188865] 443W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 444W

Brandon Lewis: There will be a direct financial incentive includes the Birkenhead constituency as well as others. for local government from hosting shale gas production Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not sites from retaining all of the business rates paid. It is collected by the Department and are a matter for the too early to say how many authorities will benefit from relevant devolved Administrations. this measure as this will depend upon a range of factors The following table shows the reported number of including the location and extent of the shale gas. homelessness acceptances in the last two quarters for Hatfield England and the Wirral.

Acceptances Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when Sir Bob Period England Wirral Kerslake approved the process by which Hatfield would April-June 2013 13,460 35 be considered as a Town Team; and if he will place a July-September 2013 13,330 34 copy of the approval in the Library. [186766] To make robust like-for-like comparisons between Kris Hopkins [holding answer 10 February 2014]: numbers of homelessness acceptances in adjacent quarters, The Town Team applications were assessed through a it is necessary to adjust for seasonal effects. The process consistent with “Managing Public Money” and Department’s statisticians routinely make such adjustments the “Consolidated Budgeting Guidance”. In this instance, to the England totals. On an adjusted basis, the number as Sir Bob Kerslake set out in a letter to the right hon. of homelessness acceptances in England decreased by Member on 10 December 2012, given that the Hatfield 4% between April-June and July-September 2003 (from Town Team was based in the constituency of the Minister 13,520 to 13,010). without Portfolio, my right hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), in line with the Ministerial Homelessness acceptances remain lower than in 27 of code, the decision on Hatfield’s bid to become a Portas the last 30 years, and homelessness is around half the Pilot was made by a different Minister. average level it was under the last Administration. It is very disappointing that the right hon. Member The pressures on homelessness were caused by the continually wishes to knock and snipe at the Hatfield recession and housing crash that occurred under the Town Team. It was a very deserving bid and it has gone last Administration. As outlined by the Chancellor of from strength to strength since its award. the Exchequer in his autumn statement, the coalition Government has taken decisive action to pay off the I understand that the Portas Pilot win was a catalyst unsustainable budget deficit, to keep interest rates down, for increasing participation in arts and culture in the to build more homes, to reform welfare to make work town, and helped secure additional funding from the pay and to deliver long-term economic growth. Arts Council and the Royal Opera House Bridge to support arts and cultural activities in the town. This Government has retained a strong homelessness safety net protected in law, supported by £470 million in They have replaced their market stalls with new ones the current spending review period to prevent and tackle for their weekly and farmers markets, and also now use homelessness, rough sleeping and repossessions. them as marquees for various initiative and events. We have also made some common sense changes to They have created a town shop as the Hatfield Hub, the rules under the Localism Act to enable local authorities helping them become runner-up in the Association of to help households move more quickly into a settled Town Centre Management’s Town Team Review of the home. This means households will no longer need to be Year. The Town Team is focusing now on increasing placed in temporary accommodation while they wait footfall into the town by supporting local businesses in for social housing to become available. terms of business advice, mentoring and training. They are also working on a better signage project as a result of the Portas Pilot, and have a bus map project Housing Bond Guarantee Scheme working with Herefordshire University’s Centre for Sustainable Communities. Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for They also have a new town website at as a result of Communities and Local Government (1) how many winning, which further outlines their continuing good bids his Department has received to manage the (a) work: affordable rent and (b) private renting component of www.hatfieldtown.co.uk the Housing Bond Guarantee Scheme; [184929] Homelessness (2) how many bids for funding the Government has received for the private renting component of the Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing Bond Guarantee Scheme. [184930] Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of trends in the level of statutory homelessness Kris Hopkins: I cannot publish commercially confidential in (a) the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, (b) Birkenhead information that would undermine the ability of the constituency and (c) the United Kingdom since April Government to negotiate the best deals for the taxpayer. 2013; and what assessment he has made of the causes of However, I would note: those trends. [183046] Affordable Housing Finance Plc was awarded the licence for the Affordable Housing Guarantee Scheme Kris Hopkins: The Department does not collect data on 20 June 2013. The first eight housing associations to at constituency level. The closest available figures are be awarded funding were announced on 7 January those for the metropolitan borough of Wirral, which 2014, receiving £400 million of finance to facilitate the 445W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 446W delivery of up to 4,000 new affordable homes. We also We do not centrally hold data on the number of jobs announced a further European Investment Bank loan created by the programme. However, we estimate that facility worth £500 million. More schemes will follow. the construction of each new home supports is one to In relation to the Private Rented Sector Guarantee, two jobs. we are currently in direct commercial negotiations with This is part of a wider set of initiatives to help a number of borrowers with large enough projects to kick-start stalled sites, as outlined in the answer of 7 raise their own finance. The Private Rented Sector November 2013, Official Report, column 345-47W.Figures Taskforce is supporting this, and the separate Build to from Glenigan show the overall number of stalled sites Rent fund, by engaging with the market and encouraging is consistently falling, as explained in the answer of 24 key players to invest to kick-start the new private rented January 2014, Official Report, column 330W. sector. I will make further announcements on guarantees in due course once negotiations and contracts are concluded. Planning Permission In addition, the Built to Rent fund, which provides development phase finance, has received £1.4 billion of Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for bids under Round One, and projects are proceeding Communities and Local Government if he will extend through the due diligence process. The first two contracts the deadline for local authorities to finalise and submit in Southampton (Centenary Quay) and Manchester their local neighbourhood plans including provision (Three Towers) have been exchanged, with more to for a five-year supply of sites for housing under the follow. Under Round Two, we have received bids worth National Planning Policy Framework. [188251] £2.8 billion which are currently being assessed for shortlisting. Again, I will make further announcements in due course. Nick Boles: The National Planning Policy Framework has been in full force from the day it was published, on 27 March 2012, and included an initial implementation Housing: Construction period that ended on 26 March 2013. The specific transitional arrangements applied only in a very small number of tightly defined cases—where councils had Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for post-2004 plans, and there was only a limited degree of Communities and Local Government (1) how many conflict between those policies and the Framework. homes have been completed under the Get Britain This was to allow these areas, whose plans were expected Building scheme; [185480] to already be broadly compliant with policies in the (2) how many affordable homes have been completed Framework, an opportunity to check and update their under the Get Britain Building scheme; [185482] policies where necessary. (3) how many jobs the Get Britain Building scheme For all other councils, the transitional period was not has created. [185481] relevant. The end of the transitional arrangements should not have a dramatic effect on decision-making, and we Kris Hopkins [holding answer 3 February 2014]: The have no plans to extend it. To help those councils who Get Britain Building programme was set up to unlock have not yet completed their plans, or do not have a five homes on stalled sites with planning permission through year supply of sites for housing, the Government continues access to development finance. The scheme is on track to fund the Planning Inspectorate and the Planning and on course to deliver on its targets. Advisory Service to provide assistance. Between them, they have visited over 200 councils in the last year to As of September 2013, there were 11,165 housing provide help with getting a good quality plan in place. starts under the programme (of which 811 were affordable housing) so far, and 715 housing completions so far (of which 47 were affordable housing). Other projects are Planning Permission: Rushden Lakes under contract, there will be more starts in due course and all the homes are due to be completed by 2015. Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for The starts on site reported for 2012-13 exclude a Communities and Local Government when he expects further 522 affordable units which will count towards to announce the decision on the Rushden Lakes the overall target, but which are also in receipt of planning application. [188188] funding from an affordable housing programme and thus are reported under that programme to prevent Nick Boles [holding answer 24 February 2014]: I refer double-counting. This takes the starts to 1,333 affordable the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. homes so far. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) In addition, there may be sales which are made today, PQ 188242. available at below market price or rents but which do not meet the definition for affordable housing. The Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for completions may also include houses that are subsequently Communities and Local Government on what date he sold to purchasers through the Help to Buy scheme. plans to make a decision on the planning application That said, a sense of pragmatism is needed on affordable relating to Rushden Lakes and Skew Bridge, deferred housing requirements. Unrealistic Section 106 agreements by him on 11 February 2014. [188242] signed during the housing boom before the housing bust have been one of the key reasons for stalled sites, Nick Boles [holding answer 24 February 2014]: The resulting in no development, no housing, no regeneration case is under active consideration and a decision will be and no community benefits. issued as soon as practicable. 447W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 448W

Property Development: Floods Temporary Accommodation

Sir Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to his Communities and Local Government how many Official Report statement of 10 February 2014, , column households categorised as homeless have been housed 574, on flooding, what definition of areas at high risk of in temporary accommodation for more than six weeks flooding is used to record building in such areas; what in each of the last five years. [182181] the nature is of the objections to developments included in the figure of 99.3 per cent; and what locations of the developments objected to was. [188276] Kris Hopkins: The Department collects figures from local authorities for households in temporary Nick Boles [holding answer 24 February 2014]: The accommodation for more than six weeks only for families definition derives from the Department’s Land Use and 16 or 17 year-olds in bed-and-breakfast Change Statistics. The areas of high flood risk cover accommodation. approximately 10% of England. They reflect the river The following table provides snapshot figures for and coastal floodplains and provide indicative flood England as at 30 September over the last decade. risk areas. They are areas estimated to be at risk of at least a one in one hundred chance of flooding each year Household with from a river or at least a one in two hundred chance of dependent children in 16 to 17-year-old applicant flooding from the sea. The boundaries are approximate B&B1 over six weeks in B&B1 over six weeks2 and do not take into account any flood defences. 30 Other than for minor development (such as house September extensions and garden sheds), the Environment Agency 2003 1,590 — must be consulted by local planning authorities in a 2004 180 — number of instances including where the proposed 2005 150 — development is within Flood Zones 2 or 3. When 2006 120 — responding, the Environment Agency will advise on the 2007 130 300 flood risk and may object for a number of reasons 2008 160 150 including, for example, where the planning application 2009 130 100 initially provides insufficient information about flooding 2010 140 80 or, in the case of a sustained objection, where there is an 2011 310 50 unresolved concern about the flood risk. We do not centrally hold detailed information on the individual 2012 880 50 planning applications. 2013 790 20 1 Including shared facilities. 2 Data on 16 to 17-year-olds in B&B over six weeks was not recorded until Q4 2006. Right to Buy Scheme This Government has retained a strong homelessness Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for safety net protected in law, supported by £470 million in Communities and Local Government what recent the current spending review period to prevent and tackle assessment he has made of the effect of preserved homelessness, rough sleeping and repossessions. We are right-to-buy sales on rental incomes for housing associations seeing this investment making an impact with homeless which were part of large-scale voluntary transfer schemes. families now spending seven months less in temporary [187165] accommodation than at the start of 2010.We have also made some changes to the rules under the Localism Act to enable local authorities to help households move Kris Hopkins: Stock transfer is a means to fund more quickly into a settled home. This means households needed capital investment whilst keeping rents within are likely to spend less time in temporary accommodation Government policy for social housing, thereby reducing waiting for social housing to become available. The law the call on housing benefit. It assists regeneration and is clear that families with children must only be placed new build developments, providing community benefits. in bed-and-breakfast accommodation as a last resort Stock transfer agreements are private commercial and then for no more than six weeks. contracts between local authorities and housing associations. We are continuing to support local authorities to Estimated rental incomes are reflected in the transfer raise their game and have provided £2 million for seven price agreed between the local authority and the housing councils struggling with increasing bed and breakfast association. Furthermore, the receipt from the transfer use so that they can reduce numbers and develop long is used to pay down some of the transfer council’s lasting solutions to this problem. The latest statistics housing debt, effectively decreasing public sector debt. show that, with the help of this funding, Westminster The impact of the re-invigorated Right to Buy on and Croydon councils have vastly reduced the number Preserved Right to Buy sales should be manageable for of families with children in bed and breakfast beyond housing associations. Our view is that receipts from six weeks. We publish performance data and have also Preserved Right to Buy sales should be used to help provided £1.9 million for local authorities to take a fund new homes for affordable rent and we would Gold Standard approach to help them design and deliver encourage housing associations to work in partnership more efficient and cost-effective housing solutions for with local authorities to do so. vulnerable people. 449W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 450W

TREASURY Nicky Morgan: Information relating to spend on external consultants and advisers for the Department, Beer: Imports each of its non-departmental bodies and executive agencies for which the Department is responsible is published Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the information. Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2014, This information is published on the Department’s Official Report, column 307W, on beer: excise duties, website. Please refer to the Resource Accounts, Note 7, what proportion of beer sold in the UK is imported. Other administration costs and Note 8, Other programme [187863] costs for further details. Links to each of the year’s accounts within this request have been provided as Nicky Morgan: No official statistics are available on follows: the proportion of beer sold in the UK which is imported. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-annual- HM Revenue and Customs compiles trade statistics report on alcohol production, clearances and revenue which https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ are publicly available at: attachment_data/file/247998/0261.pdf www.uktradeinfo.com In the accounts Core Treasury comprises the non-agency These statistics indicate 13 million hectolitres of beer parts of HM Treasury. were released to the UK market from excise warehouses and imports in 2012-13. However, it is not possible to say whether beer released from warehouse originated Councillors: Allowances from outside the UK. Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Child Benefit Exchequer on (a) what date and (b) what basis the deemed workplace of a councillor was changed to that Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the principal local authority for the purposes of HM what his plans are for the future of child benefit. Revenue and Customs’ taxation of mileage. [188937] [188210] Mr Gauke: There has been no change to the rules Mr Gauke: Child benefit provides financial support governing the tax treatment of local councillors’ travel to help families with the costs of raising children. expenses or mileage allowances. Children: Day Care Economic and Monetary Union Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of tax free Graham Stringer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer child care national insurance contributions’ relief what assessment he has made of the ruling by the available for workplace nurseries. [188523] German Constitutional Court on outright monetary transaction on (a) the stability of the euro and (b) the Nicky Morgan: The introduction of tax-free child constitutional arrangements of the EU institutions; care will have no effect on the national insurance and if he will make a statement. [187588] contributions’ relief available for workplace nurseries. Nicky Morgan: The German Constitutional Court Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer has referred to the European Court of Justice the how many meetings (a) he, (b) other Ministers of his question of whether the ECB’s Outright Monetary Department and (c) officials of his Department have Transactions programme is compatible with the primary had with outside organisations on tax-free childcare law of the European Union. Member states, including since the closure of his Department’s consultation on the UK and German Governments, have the right to that issue; and which organisations were involved. submit observations on cases referred to the European [188874] Court and in the usual way we will be considering whether this would be appropriate in this case. Nicky Morgan: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from and meet with a wide variety of HM Treasury monitors developments in the euro organisations in the public and private sectors as part of area on an ongoing basis as part of the normal process the process of policy development and delivery. As was of policy development. While the UK recovery now has the case with previous Administrations, it is not the real momentum, international risks remain—including Government’s practice to provide details of all such those arising from fragilities in the euro area, one of our representations and meetings. major trading partners.

Consultants Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on external consultants and advisers Neil Parish: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental by how much and what proportion of the cost of an public body and (ii) executive agency for which his average bottle alcohol excise duty has increased between Department is responsible in each of the last four years (a) 1997 and 2010 and (b) 2010 and the present day; for which figures are available. [187799] and if he will make a statement. [188290] 451W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 452W

Nicky Morgan: HMRC’s ‘Alcohol Factsheet October The following table shows the number of full-time 2013’ provides a range of data on alcohol, including the equivalents (FTE) employed by HMRC in the HNWU proportion of the average price of a drink that comprises and the unit’s compliance yield in the last four years. of tax. This can be found here: https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/ FTEs Compliance yield (£) TaxAndDutyBulletins.aspx 2009-10 439.05 85,241,663 Neil Parish: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 2010-11 383.52 157,344,269 what assessment he has made of the report produced 2011-12 357.7 200,428,660 for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association entitled 2012-13 372.39 222,403,897 Economic Impact Assessment into the Wine and Spirit Industry in the UK and its conclusion on the effect of Tax Allowances: Video Games the alcohol duty escalator on the wider economy. [188295] Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to tackle the concerns of the Nicky Morgan: HM Treasury are considering the UK video gaming industry over delays in the decision report produced for the Wine and Spirits Trade Association by the European Commission on tax breaks for the alongside all other Budget representations, HM Treasury industry. [189211] keeps all taxes, including alcohol duties, under review. Mr Gauke: The Government remains committed to The Government has taken recent action that will introducing video games tax relief as soon as possible help the alcohol industry. A major business rates package and has been working with the industry to provide the was announced at autumn statement 5 December 2013, Commission with the evidence it needs to conclude its Official Report, columns 1101-1113, that will help ease investigation quickly. It is not unusual for cutting edge the tax burden on business. The Government will also state aid measures to be subject to close scrutiny, but the abolish employer national insurance contributions for UK has a long history of working with the Commission under-21s earning below £813 per week from April to implement new and innovative forms of state aid 2015. successfully.

Excise Duties: Tobacco Training

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Exchequer pursuant to his answers of 6 September which Ministers in his Department have undertaken 2013, Official Report, column 579W and 16 December which training courses; and who provided each course 2013, Official Report, column 429W, on excise duties: at what cost since May 2010. [182932] tobacco, what his policy is on imposing restrictions on Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer the personal imports of cigarettes by travellers from what training has been provided for Ministers in his certain EU member states, as provided for by Article 4 Department since May 2010; and at what cost. [188006] of Council Decision 2010/12/EU. [188199] Nicky Morgan: Treasury Ministers have not undertaken Nicky Morgan: The Government’s policy is to apply any training in their ministerial capacities since May quantitative restrictions on personal importations of 2010. tobacco products from other member states whose excise duty rates are below the permitted EU minima. The Written Questions: Government Responses UK can only do this where a member state has declared their current duty rates. The Government is awaiting Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the formal confirmation by the EU Commission of the Exchequer when he plans to answer Questions 179068, declared excise duty rates on cigarettes in member states 179045, 179031 and 179030, tabled by the hon. Member applicable from 1 January 2014. It would be inappropriate for Birmingham, Ladywood on 9 December 2013. for the UK to implement quantitative restrictions on [180837] imports from any member state until it is confirmed that their excise duty rates are below the permitted EU Mr Gauke: I have done so. minima.

High Net Worth Unit ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Absent Voting Exchequer how many people are employed by HM Revenue and Customs in the High Net Worth Unit. Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West [179030] Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 10 Mr Gauke: The High Net Worth Unit (HNWU) in February 2014, Official Report, column 411W,on Absent HMRC deals with the personal tax affairs of 5,000 of Voting, what assessment the Electoral Commission has the UK’s wealthiest individuals. This allows HNWU to made of the effect of the (a) transition from household tailor service delivery for these customers through proactive to individual electoral registration and (b) proposed engagement and provide a single point of contact and a changes to handling postal ballot forms on the number holistic approach to their tax affairs. of people receiving postal ballots. [187939] 453W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 454W

Mr Streeter: The Commission will monitor the impact Burma on the number of electors receiving postal ballots of the transition to individual electoral registration (IER) but Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State has not made a pre-emptive assessment of this impact for International Development what discussions her ahead of the start of the transition to IER in July 2014. Department is having with the Government of Burma The Commission has not made an assessment of the to reduce the risk of the census in March 2014 likely effect of its proposed changes to the handling of triggering communal violence and increasing ethnic completed postal vote application forms and handling tensions. [188473] of ballot packs on the number of people receiving postal ballots. It will, however, be undertaking a consultation Mr Duncan: DFID officials have regular discussions on these changes that will consider what additional with the Government of Burma. DFID officials sit on steps Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers the National Advisory Committee, chaired by Government could take to help electors complete and return application and that includes representatives from across Government forms and postal ballot packs to ensure that everyone Departments, and have successfully pushed for broader who wants to cast their vote by post is able to. representation of ethnic groups on this national oversight body. During his visit in January the Minister of State, Electoral Register Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) raised the Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South census with the Government of Burma and other interested West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on parties. the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of Developing Countries: Overseas Investment 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 621W, on electoral register, whether civic society groups, beside Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Bite the Ballot, have requested Electoral Commission International Development what the purpose was of help to register voters; and which such organisations the Memorandum of Cooperation with the London were (a) given and (b) not given help, by the Electoral Stock Exchange Group signed on 27 January 2014; and Commission. [187326] if she will place a copy of that memorandum in the Library. [189221] Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it develops a range of resources to be used by any Justine Greening: Our strategic partnership with the group or individual for the purposes of increasing voter London Stock Exchange will facilitate the development registration without the need for such groups to make a of local capital markets, which can help countries raise formal application to the Commission for help and that finance to drive growth and jobs. The Memorandum of it has not refused to provide these resources to any Cooperation sets out our intent to work together to group or individual. These resources are freely available provide training on capital market development in sub- for download from the Commission’s Saharan Africa, using the London Stock Exchange’s www.aboutmyvote.co.uk website and for this reason the world class expertise. Commission is not able to keep records of every I have placed a copy of the memorandum in the organisation which it has helped in this way. Library.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRANSPORT Bangladesh Electric Vehicles Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for what steps he is taking to increase the take-up of electric International Development what assessment she has vehicles. [188567] made of the progress of the Government of Bangladesh in appointing factory inspectors following the Rana Mr Goodwill: The Government committed a £400 Plaza building collapse. [188976] million to support the early market for ultra low emission vehicles to 2015 and has committed a further £500 Mr Duncan: DFID Bangladesh is working closely million out to 2020. The UK currently has one of the with development partners and the International Labour most comprehensive support packages anywhere in the Organisation (ILO) to monitor and encourage progress world with money off eligible vehicles, grants for of the Government of Bangladesh in meeting their chargepoints at home, on street and in train station car commitment to recruit an additional 200 factory inspectors. parks, and a growing network of super-fast rapid The Bangladesh Department of Inspection for Factories chargepoints which will be Europe’s best by 2015. We and Establishments has been upgraded to a directorate, also have a consistent set of tax incentives driving fleet to give it more influence and resources, and 575 posts and private purchasers towards ever cleaner cars and have been assigned as factory inspectors. There are now are revising Government buying standards to increase 135 inspectors in place and the Government is aiming adoption within the public sector. We are now developing to recruit an extra 200 by April. DFID is supporting the our proposals for the shape of our 2015-20 support establishment of a transparent, credible and efficient package and analysing contributions from industry to inspectorate through funding to the ILO programme. our recent call for evidence. We aim to finalise a draft The training programme for inspectors is in development package of measures by the spring, before seeking state and will begin in March. aid clearance from the European Commission. 455W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 456W

High Speed 2 Railway Line Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the police about a Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport possible pilot exercise. This would involve the police what steps have been taken to facilitate the undertaking linking their own intelligence along with DVLA data to given by the Chief Secretary to the hon. Member for target overstaying vehicles and take enforcement action. Eddisbury on 4 December 2013, Official Report, column The DVLA and the UK Border Force are continuing to 928, to secure an answer to the question asking where discuss the use of the UK Border Force’s data. among the published documents on HS2 a comparison of the economic benefits of using double-decker carriages Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance to relieve the problem of capacity on the West Coast Main Line as against the economic benefits of relieving Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for capacity through HS2 can be found. [188585] Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse of 12 September 2012, Official Mr Goodwill: The 2010 paper on strategic alternatives Report, column 244W, on motorways: repairs and to HS2 (Rail Interventions Report) reviewed a long list maintenance, how many people repairing motorways of options for further study including running double-decker were killed or injured by vehicles in (a) 2012 and (b) trains on the West Coast Main Line. Although double- 2013. [188950] decking could increase the capacity of each train, the option was not taken forward due to the significant Mr Goodwill: The table sets out the number of fatal expense and disruption it would cause, including the and serious injuries caused by vehicles in incidents large infrastructure requirements to upgrade the Euston- which have been recorded on the Motorway and Trunk Rugby section of the line and the other disadvantages Road network in England, operated and maintained on of running double-decker services noted in the Network behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. Rail feasibility study of 2007. Instead detailed consideration These incidents are specifically related to vehicles was given to increasing capacity on the West Coast driven by members of the public on the strategic road Main Line through train lengthening. network that resulted in road worker injuries while they A copy of the Rail Interventions report is available at were carrying out maintenance and repair activities on the following web link: behalf of the Highways Agency. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/ www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/alternativestudy/pdf/ Fatal Serious Slight railintervention.pdf A copy of the Network Rail feasibility study is available 2012 0 2 5 at the following web link: 2013 0 7 13 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513020716/ http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/ Roads: Bedfordshire whitepapercm7176/railwhitepapersupportingdocs/ provevalddtrains Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the risk of serious or Large Goods Vehicles fatal injury to powered two wheeler users of Bedfordshire Borough Council’s proposal to include raised curbs between lanes in a turbo style roundabout scheme at the Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for intersection of Union Street, Tavistock Street, Clapham Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2014, Road and Roff Avenue in Bedfordshire; and if he will Official Report, column 358W, on Large goods vehicles, make a statement. [188947] when he expects the detailed OCRS report to be published. [188992] Mr Goodwill: Bedford borough council’s turbo style roundabout scheme will be funded by the Department’s Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Cycle Safety Fund. Bids for the Fund were assessed by Agency (DVSA) expect that Goods and Passenger vehicle a panel from the safety sub-group of the Department’s operators, who have registered for on-line reports, will Cycling Stakeholder Forum. We would expect bidders be able to request a detailed, bespoke Operator Compliance to have taken vulnerable road users into account in their Risk Score (OCRS) report for each of their operator’s schemes. licences by the end of May 2014. Detailed design of cycling infrastructure, including the wider safety issues linked to new infrastructure, is the responsibility of local traffic authorities. DFT sets Motor Vehicles: Registration the legislative framework for the signs and markings used in cycle facilities, in the Traffic Signs Regulations Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for and General Directions. The Department also provides Transport pursuant to the answer of 28 November guidance on designing for cyclists in various documents, 2013, Official Report, column 406W, on vehicle number primarily Local Transport Note 2/08: Cycle Infrastructure plates, what recent progress the Driver and Vehicle Design. It is for local authorities to ensure that any Licensing Agency has made with the UK Border Force infrastructure they install is safe and fit for purpose. and the police on how data can be used to identify The Department will meet with Bedford borough foreign registered vehicles that have been in the UK for council shortly to discuss concerns raised by the Motorcycle longer than six months. [188975] Action Group. 457W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 458W

HEALTH in Category A calls, and a rise in emergency journeys. Call volumes also show seasonal variation. NHS England Ambulance Services publishes data monthly on the indicators. It is available here: Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance- Health what funding his Department has allocated to quality-indicators/ each ambulance trust in England in each of the last five Further information is available in individual ambulance years. [188953] trust annual reports. The Department has rolled out the NHS 111 non- Jane Ellison: The Department does not directly allocate emergency number nationally to reduce the pressure on funding to ambulance trusts. Primary care trusts (PCTs), ambulance services. Over a million patients used NHS whose funding was allocated by the Department, were 111 in December 2013, showing that the service is historically responsible for commissioning ambulance becoming a core part of local urgent care systems. services. From April 1 2013 this responsibility has transferred Given rising demand, we asked Sir Bruce Keogh to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), whose funding (National Medical Director of NHS England) to undertake is allocated by NHS England. a review of urgent and emergency care. The review is aimed It is for local commissioners to use the funding at delivering system wide change starting 2015-16—not allocated to them to commission services to meet the just in accident and emergency and ambulances but health care needs of their local populations, taking across all health and care services in England by: account of local and national priorities. However, the concentrating specialist emergency care expertise, where appropriate; Department expects CCGs to commission from providers and who are best placed to provide high quality clinical ensuring that other services, such as primary and community services, and this is supported by detailed guidance care, are more responsive and delivered locally. from NHS England. The first phase of that review was published on 13 November 2013. Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what (a) measures and (b) indicators his Avian Influenza Department uses to assess the performance levels of ambulance trusts in England; [188954] Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (2) what assessment he has made of trends in call what plans he has to commission a vaccine for the volume handled by each ambulance trust in England in H10N8 virus. [188948] each of the last five years. [188956] Jane Ellison: The current Public Health England’s Jane Ellison: There are three ambulance response risk assessment for H10N8, is that this strain is very time standards, which ambulance trusts are required to rare, sporadic and still restricted to China. Therefore, meet at trust level: currently, we have no plans to commission a vaccine for 75% of Category A ’Red 1’ calls should be reached within eight the H10N8. minutes, from the time the call ’connects’. ’Red 1’ calls are those patients in cardiac arrest or similar; Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 75% of Category A ’Red 2’ calls should be reached within eight what steps his Department is taking to detect the minutes, from the time that either: H10N8 virus in the UK population. [188949] (i) the chief complaint is identified; (ii) the call handler determines a priority response is required; Jane Ellison: The United Kingdom is one of the best or prepared countries in the world for responding to threats (iii) after 60 seconds has elapsed/whichever is the sooner. such as avian and pandemic influenza. Public Health ‘Red 2’ calls are those patients such as strokes and fits, which England (PHE) has produced clinical flowcharts and are still life threatening emergencies but not as time critical as information on the PHE website to enable clinicians to ‘Red 1’ patients. identify potential cases of avian influenza, usually in 95% of all Category A calls should receive an ‘ambulance travellers returning from affected areas of the world. capable of conveying the patient within 19 minutes’ (The A19 Suspected cases will be investigated and samples taken performance measure). for virological analysis. PHE. has a network of laboratories In December 2010, the Government announced a set with the testing capability to recognise whether the of clinical quality indicators to measure the quality of virus is influenza A, and then to determine if this care delivered in response to all calls made to the influenza A virus is a human seasonal strain, avian H7 ambulance service. The Ambulance Clinical Quality or H5, or an unknown/unusual strain. Diagnostic capability Indicators, introduced on 1 April 2011, encompass a for unknown/unusual influenza viruses is maintained at range of factors measuring both the quality of care the national centre where any strain can be identified. delivered by ambulance services and the clinical outcomes These systems would allow for the early detection of of patients. The indicators aim to develop a culture of emerging influenza viruses such as H10N8. continuous improvement in emergency care. They ensure that response times are given importance but are not the Cancer: Drugs sole focus. Performance against these standards has been improving. Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for We recognise that there is increased demand across Health if he will make representations to the European the urgent and emergency care system, including an Commission on changing regulations that exempt increased volume of 999 calls to ambulances, particularly pharmaceutical companies from testing cancer drugs 459W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 460W on children on the grounds that the cancer the drug Norman Lamb: NHS England is responsible for treats does not occur in children; and if he will make a administering the Cancer Drugs Fund, and decisions statement. [188346] on which treatments are afforded priority funding status are taken by an expert clinical panel. NHS England’s Norman Lamb: The European Union Regulation on Cancer Drugs Fund panel has considered including Paediatric Medicines 1901/2006 has been successful in Abraxane (albumin bound paclitaxel) for the treatment achieving its goals to increase the number of medicines of metastatic breast cancer and advanced adenocarcinoma that are researched, developed and authorised for use in of the pancreas on the national list of Cancer Drugs children. Under the Regulation companies must submit Fund cohort policies. The panel decided not to include a paediatric investigation plan (PIP) for new medicines Abraxane for these indications on this list. explaining how they will conduct studies in children. For cancer drugs not on the national cohort policy Companies receive an extension of patent protection or list, local clinical panels can consider individual applications orphan drug exclusivity when a marketing authorisation for funding in exceptional cases. for the product includes the results of these studies. The regulation does provide for exemptions to carry Cerebral Palsy: Children out a PIP if, for example, the adult condition does not occur in children. This means that companies cannot be Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State legally compelled to develop paediatric medicines for for Health (1) for what reason NHS England has decided different conditions than those occurring in adults. to stop funding selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery for However companies may choose to submit a PIP on a children with cerebral palsy; [189209] voluntary basis and receive the same rewards for doing (2) if the Government will continue to fund selective so. There are examples of this for cancer therapies. dorsal rhizotomy surgery for children with cerebral Medicines regulators are aware of the situation and palsy; [189210] work is ongoing to look at how to widen access to (3) if NHS England will provide funding for selective clinical trials for medicines to treat cancer in children. dorsal rhizotomy surgery to go ahead for children who The Government is supportive of this work at European have already had the surgery arranged. [189236] level. The lack of availability of medicines for paediatric cancers has been highlighted and identified as an area Dr Poulter: Since 1 April 2013, NHS England has for future work in the European Commission’s five-year been responsible for the direct commissioning of specialised progress report on the impact of the Paediatric Regulation, services for children with cerebral palsy. This nationally which was published on 8 July 2012. consistent approach, informed by clinical experts, was drawn up to ensure that all patients could access the Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health best clinical and cost-effective treatment for their care. how many pharmaceutical companies operating in the Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is one of a range of UK are engaged in developing drugs to treat cancer in treatments for children suffering with cerebral palsy. In children. [188347] accordance with guidance published by the National Norman Lamb: Clinical trials carried out in the United Institute for Health and Care Excellence, clinical experts Kingdom need to be authorised by the Medicines and at NHS England have determined that there is currently Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.. Information insufficient evidence of the relative clinical and cost- on their database indicates that currently there are 80 effectiveness of SDR for the procedure to be routinely cancer trials open in the UK which include children commissioned. (0-18) as subjects. These are being carried out by a total However, NHS England agreed to honour the of 42 individual sponsors, 20 of which are classed as arrangement for patients who were already listed for the commercial sponsors (pharmaceutical companies) and procedure prior to 1 April 2013, if the patient’s family 22 as non-commercial (eg academic and charity sponsors). decided to continue treatment following a full consideration There may be other drugs in development in the UK of the facts. that have not yet reached clinical trial stage but data on As further trials take place, NHS England’s clinical these are not available. experts will keep the policy under review. NHS England The European Medicines Agency publishes a list of recognises that both patients and clinicians feel this is a opinions and decisions adopted on Paediatric Investigation promising area of research and it is committed to Plans (which are aimed at ensuring the necessary data exploring this further through the new national are obtained through studies in children to support the Commissioning through Evaluation programme. medicine’s authorisation for use in children). The list In the meantime, in common with any treatment that can be accessed on the following link and it does not is not routinely funded by NHS England, clinicians may include information on where the development is taking submit individual funding requests to NHS England for place. consideration where they believe there are exceptional www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages%2Fmedicines%2 clinical grounds in an individual case. Flanding%2Fpip_search.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d129& search Floods: Health Hazards kwByEnter=false&alreadyLoaded=true8usNewQuery=true8t keyword=Enter+keywords&searchType=Invented+name&tax onomyPath=8ttreeNumber=¤tCategory=Oncology Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of dangers to Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if public health of (a) water-borne infections, (b) trauma he will take steps to allow access to Abraxane form of and ill-effects to mental health and (c) hypothermia in protein-bound paclitaxel through the Cancer Drug areas suffering from flooding; and if he will make a Fund. [188960] statement. [189230] 461W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 462W

Jane Ellison: The lead responsibility for assessment to their previous levels of mobility/walking ability at 30 of the health impacts of the recent flooding in England and 120 days following injury. In addition to this indicator, lies with Public Health England (PHE) and its partners the Clinical Commissioning Group Outcome Indicator including local government and the national health Set also has a specific indicator, measured at clinical service. commissioning group (CCG) level, to improve recovery While floodwater from rivers and land is a known from fragility fractures including hip fracture, through risk for the common bacterial gastrointestinal infections a formal hip fracture programme, timely surgery, and there are no high-risk enteric infectious diseases naturally multifactorial risk assessment. endemic in the human population of the United Kingdom The responsibility for determining the overall national (e.g. cholera, typhoid), and the relative risks to people approach to improving clinical outcomes from health from bacterial contamination of floodwater is, therefore, care services, including fracture liaison services (FLS), low, especially if the public health advice being widely now lies with NHS England. FLS aim to reduce risks of distributed is followed. Where there is any raw sewage further falls and fragility fractures in older patients. entering floodwater, the diluting and dispersing of potential This preventative approach is beneficial to patients, sources of infection further significantly reduces any reduces future hospital admissions and is cost effective risk. for the NHS. NHS England supports the FLS model Nationally, PHE carries out active surveillance for recommended by the International Osteoporosis outbreaks of infectious diseases, and related illnesses Foundation and the National Osteoporosis society and (gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory) and is using this recognises this model as best practice. However, NHS information on a day-to-day basis to monitor the health England advises that it is aware that provision of good of the population in the areas affected by flooding. FLS is not uniform across the country. NHS England is These data include statutory reporting of notifiable working with CCGs to support them to develop appropriate infectious diseases by all clinicians to PHE; statutory local services and services are steadily improving. reporting of all significant infectious organisms detected NHS England also supports the ″Falls and Fragility in laboratories to PHE; and the monitoring undertaken Fracture Audit Programme″ commissioned by the by PHE’s Real Time Syndromic Surveillance Team. Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) Flooding can impact on people’s mental health, and and delivered by the Royal College of Physicians. The distress is a common reaction following a flood. However audit supports the providers of services to improve distress is usually temporary; most people are resilient outcomes and efficiency of care after hip fracture, helps and cope with being flooded despite being distressed by to improve services in acute and primary care to respond it. Only a minority of people are at risk of going on to to first fracture, and prevent second fracture through develop further mental health problems. Most people’s early intervention to restore independence. need for support is met by persons close to them. Good The latest report from the “National Hip Fracture social support can protect against the negative mental Database” shows that care for hip fracture patients is health impacts of being flooded. Advice on protecting improving with more patients receiving surgery within against the mental health effects of flooding from PHE 48 hours of admission than in 2012, and almost all is available on its website. PHE recommends that if a patients (94%) receive a falls assessment before being person’s symptoms persist, they should visit their general discharged from hospital. This report shows an practitioner (GP) who can help to identify further sources improvement in the care for frail, older patients with of support. broken hips. Hypothermia is an exceedingly rare consequence of flooding and not a major public health concern in the UK. However, local multi-agency response teams are aware of the need to ensure that vulnerable people do receive any necessary additional care or support during General Practitioners events such as these. Departmental officials and Ministers remain in regular Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health contact with PHE with regard to the public health how many GPs per head of population were in practice aspects of the flooding. in (a) Warrington, (b) the North West and (c) England in the most recent period for which figures are Fractures available. [189223]

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking through NHS policy Dr Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information frameworks to ensure that clinical commissioning Centre (HSCIC) General and Personal Medical Services groups reliably and consistently commission secondary Statistics show the number of general practitioners (GPs) per 100,000 registered patients at 30 September fracture prevention services. [188126] each year. The latest available statistics are as at Norman Lamb: The Department’s Mandate to NHS 30 September 2012. The HSCIC will publish headcount England sets an objective for NHS England to make numbers of GPs per 100,000 patients as at 30 September measurable improvement in helping people to recover 2013 in the NHS annual workforce census in March from episodes of ill health or following injury. Alongside 2014 and full-time equivalent figures will be available this, the NHS Outcomes Framework includes a specific on request after that date. indicator whereby the national health service has been The number of headcount GPs per 100,000 registered set an objective to improve patient recovery from fragility patients in Warrington, the North West region and fractures by measuring the proportion of patients recovering England is shown in the following table. 463W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 464W

GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) per head of population in selected area as at 30 September 2012 GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) headcount headcount per 100,000 population

England 35,527 66.9

Q31 North West Strategic Health Authority 4,801 67.7 5J2 Warrington Primary Care Trust 134 66.1 Note: Data as at 30 September 2012. Sources: The Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics Office for National Statistics; 2011 Mid-Year Population Estimates (2011 census based)

Health Services: Floods than those who are registered with the RCGP. To the end of January 2014 there have been 1,248 unique users Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for of the package. Health what assessment he has made of the effect on Health Education England (HEE), as the body local NHS services of the floods; and if he will make a responsible for education and training across the NHS statement. [189229] and public health system, will play an important role in supporting health professionals to better understand Jane Ellison: There have been no issues and no hospitals the health needs of veterans. The Government expects have been at risk of flooding. A number of general to publish its mandate for HEE for 2014-15 next month practitioner (GP) practices were affected by flooding which will outline further training and support for GPs but these all had business continuity plans in place. in the care of veterans’ health. Throughout, local NHS service providers have worked with partner organisations, taking an active role and where possible to ensure disruption to the access to Heart Diseases NHS services has been kept to a minimum. NHS England Area Teams and clinical commissioning David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for groups (CCGs) have remained engaged in multi-agency Health how many (a) cardiac surgeons and (b) nurses arrangements for recovery, working with recovery have been appointed in the UK in the last 12 months. co-ordination groups, where these have been established. [188234] The national health service has been represented at strategic co-ordination groups across England to ensure Dr Poulter: The Provisional NHS Hospital and they play an active role in the identification of vulnerable Community Health Service (HCHS) monthly workforce people, including the use of NHS resources such as the statistics, published by the Health and Social Care hazardous area response teams who have worked alongside Information Centre, show the number of medical staff fire and rescue services. that have joined the cardio-thoracic surgery specialty, A key priority for health and social care services has and the number of qualified nursing, midwifery and been to make sure that vulnerable people affected by health visiting staff that have joined the national health flooding continue to get the support they need and, at service in England, between October 2012 and October local level, there is support in place from the NHS and 2013, which is the latest month for which data are social services. available. The numbers are shown in the following table. It is not possible to identify nurses that work in the Health Services: Veterans cardio-thoracic specialty. Numbers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved Administrations. Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of HCHS monthly workforce statistics: medical staff that have joined the cardio- thoracic surgery specialty, and qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting educational initiatives to support GPs and allied staff that have joined the NHS in England, between October 2012 and October healthcare professionals with measures to improve the 2013 health of veterans. [189228] Numbers (headcount)

Cardio-thoracic surgeons1,2 266 Dr Poulter: Lord Ashcroft in his recent review on Qualified nursing, midwifery and health 30,501 veterans’ transition makes clear that that there is no visiting staff3 shortage of support for those leaving the armed forces 1 Figures show staff with a specialty of cardio-thoracic surgery that appear on and most do well. That support is provided by Government the Electronic Staff Record system (ESR) in October 2013 and do not appear on ESR in October 2012. Doctors in Training are included. agencies, national health service organisations, charities 2 Data excludes locum doctors. and the private sector, as well as the armed forces 3 Figure provided is for all qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff. themselves. It is not possible to identify nurses that work solely within cardiac surgery. Notes: Working with the Royal College of General Practitioner’s 1. Turnover data is based on headcount. (RCGPs) the Department has developed an e-learning 2. All figures show staff on ESR that have joined from outside the English NHS. 3. These statistics relate to the contracted positions within English NHS package for GPs. This provides advice/guidance for organisations and may include those where the person assigned to the position GPs on the health needs of members of the armed is temporarily absent, for example on maternity leave. forces, their families and veterans, focusing on relevant 4. These figures exclude data from two NHS trusts that are not on the ESR and Primary Care staff. aspects of both physical and mental health. The package Source. has recently been updated and can be accessed by other Health and Social Care Information Centre 465W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 466W

HIV Infection and Hepatitis Dr Poulter: Details of Government-funded construction projects as at December 2013, including hospitals and Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for other health programmes, can be found via the Government Health what estimate he has made of the number of Construction Pipeline website: positive cases of (a) HIV and (b) hepatitis C reported www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-construction- in 2013 among (i) people who had migrated to the UK pipeline within the last two years and (ii) people residing in the On the Government construction tab, by filtering UK on visa. [188156] columns A and B to Health Sector and NHS Sub-Sector respectively, Column U then shows the ’Current forecast Jane Ellison: The number of laboratory-confirmed date in service’ including those programmes due to new diagnoses of hepatitis C infection reported in England reach final construction phase in 2015. in 2012 was 10,873 cases. The number of new HIV diagnoses reported in England in 2012 was 6,364 cases. Lung Diseases Figures for 2013 will be available later on in the year. Data on whether an individual with hepatitis C has David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for recently migrated to the United Kingdom or is residing Health what steps his Department is taking to promote in the UK in possession of a visa is not collected as part research into a cure for lung diseases. [188232] of the ongoing surveillance of hepatitis C. Dr Poulter: Total expenditure by the Department’s Similarly, information on the residency or migration National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on status of individuals with HIV is not collected as part of respiratory disease research has increased from £18.2 ongoing surveillance. million in 2010-11 to £24.7 million in 2012-13. Hospitals The NIHR is investing £21.6 million over five years in three respiratory biomedical research units. These Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State units are based in leading national health service for Health (1) what assessment his Department has organisations and universities enabling some of the made of the effectiveness with which NHS trusts nation’s best health researchers and clinicians to work arrange appointments; and what information it holds together to develop new treatments for the benefit of on the extent of variation in practice between trusts in patients with lung and other respiratory diseases. arranging appointments; [189207] The NIHR is also investing £3.4 million over five (2) what guidelines his Department has given to NHS years in respiratory research at the NIHR Imperial trusts on (a) the system used to arrange appointments Biomedical Research Centre. This research aims to and (b) the length of time between appointments. develop novel treatment strategies for the major respiratory [189208] diseases in the United Kingdom. The NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Jane Ellison: It is the responsibility of national health Centre manages the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation service hospital trusts locally to make effective arrangements programme. With funding from the Medical Research for appointments and for progressing patients through Council, this programme is currently supporting a £3.3 care pathways. Most trusts make these clear through million trial of repeated application of gene therapy in their local access policies. patients with cystic fibrosis. The Department does not issue guidelines or collect Ministers’ Private Offices information about these arrangements. The length of time between appointments should take into account the health care needs of each patient. Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the size, in square metres, of the offices Hospitals: Construction assigned to each of his Department’s Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for offices of each of his Department’s Ministers. [188318] Health how many hospitals he plans to build by 2015. [188233] Dr Poulter: The information requested is as follows:

Room sizes—square Grade metres

Senior Higher Civil Executive Executive Servant Special Staff- Minister’s Private Administrative Officer Officer Fast Grade (SCS) Adviser Grand Minister Rooms Offices Officer (AO) (EO) (HEO) Stream 7 Secondees Band 1 Band 2 Total

Secretary of 72 152 228 2.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 1.0 3.0 11.0 State (Mr Jeremy Hunt)

Minister of 53 35 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 — — — 6.0 State (Norman Lamb) 467W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 468W

Room sizes—square Grade metres Senior Higher Civil Executive Executive Servant Special Staff- Minister’s Private Administrative Officer Officer Fast Grade (SCS) Adviser Grand Minister Rooms Offices Officer (AO) (EO) (HEO) Stream 7 Secondees Band 1 Band 2 Total

Parliamentary 56 30 1.0 2.0 2.0 — 1.0 — — — 6.0 Under- Secretary of State (Earl Howe) Parliamentary 57 58 1.0 2.0 2.0 — 1.0 — — — 6.0 Under- Secretary of State (Dr Daniel Poulter) Parliamentary 55 54 1.0 2.0 2.0 — 1.0 — — — 6.0 Under- Secretary of State (Jane Ellison) 1 Private Office. 2 Special Advisers’ Office.

Mortality Rates and Direct Commissioned Service Committee and (b) declaration of interests of all members of NHS Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for England’s Clinical Priorities Advisory Group and Health what steps his Department has taken to lower Direct Commissioned Service Committee. [188129] mortality rates in the Government’s dedicated spearhead Jane Ellison: The membership of NHS England’s areas. [189247] Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG) is set out in Jane Ellison: Reducing premature mortality is a priority the following table: for this Government, and we published “Living well for Name Longer: A call to action to reduce avoidable premature mortality” in March 2013. In addition, the Secretary of Sir Nick Partridge Chair State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for Mike Bewick Vice Chair South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), asked Public Health James Palmer Clinical Director Specialised England to launch the ’Longer Lives’ website in June Services 2013, which publishes local authority level mortality Pia Clinton Tarestad Head of Specialised data for the five big killers, arranged by deprivation Commissioning centile. Mike Bewick Deputy Medical Director, NHS In the spring we will be publishing “Living Well for England Martin McShane Keith Willet Domain Director—Medical Longer: National Support for Local Action to Reduce Directorate, NHS England Premature Avoidable Mortality”, which outlines our Vacant post CCG Accountable Officer ambition to cut premature deaths from the five major Allison Streetly Representative from Public Health causes and to make England among the best in Europe. England We recognise that in order to make progress towards Kate Davies Representative from Public Health becoming the best in Europe we must focus our efforts Commissioning on reducing inequalities in mortality rates. Kate Davies, represented by Representative from Armed Spearhead areas, identified as local authority areas Andy Bacon Forces Health with the worst health and deprivation, were a specific Kate Davies, represented by Representative from Health and focus for a number of public service agreement targets Iain Brew Justice under the previous Administration. The public service David Geddes or Representative from Primary Care agreement targets were abolished in 2010. representative David Geddes or Representative from Secondary The Government recognises the longstanding inequalities representative Dental Services in access to services, in quality of care and in health Rachel Hardy National Finance lead for outcomes for certain patients. Tackling health inequalities specialised services is underpinned by new legal duties, measurement and David Levey Regional Medical Director assessment. Catherine 0 Connell Regional Director of NHS England and each clinical commissioning group Commissioning are under a legal duty to have regards to health inequalities Gill Harris Regional Director of Nursing in access to and outcomes from health services. Sally Brearley Linn Phipps Patient and Public Voice Members Barry Silverman Madeline (4) NHS England Wag Vacant post Health Economist Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Dr Lucy Frith Medical Ethicist if he will publish the (a) names of all members of The membership of the Direct Commissioned Service NHS England’s Clinical Priorities Advisory Group Committee (DCSC) is set out in the following table: 469W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 470W

NHS: Fees and Charges Name Professor Sir Malcolm Grant Chair Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Sir David Nicholson Chief Executive what fees (a) NHS England and (b) the NHS and Dame Barbara Hakin Interim Operating Officer/Deputy NHS London paid to (i) the Specialised Healthcare Chief Executive Alliance and (ii) JMC Partners in the last three years; Ann Sutton Director of Commissioning and for what work such fees were paid. [188131] (Corporate) Paul Baumann Chief Financial Officer Jane Ellison: NHS England advises that is has not Jane Cummings Chief Nursing Officer made payments to either the Specialised Healthcare Lord Victor Adebowale Non-Executive Director Alliance (SHCA) or JMC Partners since its establishment Rosamond Roughton Interim National Director: as a statutory body in April 2013. Commissioning Development Richard Barker Regional Director (North) The Department’s Legacy Management team has Tim Kelsey National Director: Patients and confirmed that from 2010-12 London Strategic Health Information Authority paid the SHCA £1,162.50 for attendance at Sir Bruce Keogh National Medical Director SHCA conferences and paid JMC Partners £29,375.00 for work supporting the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention programme. NHS England has in place principles and procedures for managing and registering potential conflicts of interests, Obesity which are set out in the Standards of Business Conduct guidance, and is available on the NHS England’s website: Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/ what recent meetings his Department has had with 2012/11/stand-bus-cond.pdf Tier 2 providers on lifestyle weight management NHS England requires members of all its committees programmes. [188202] to declare their interests, and any potential conflicts of interests are managed in accordance with the Standards Jane Ellison: The responsibility for supporting local of Business Conduct guidance. commissioning of obesity services, including lifestyle weight management programmes transferred from the As the membership of the DCSC is formed of NHS Department of Health to Public Health England (PHE) England’s board members, their interests have already in April 2013. been declared and are available on NHS England’s website at: PHE has met with local authority commissioners and providers of lifestyle weight management programmes. www.england.nhs.uk/about/reg-interests/ Since April, this has included meetings with Weight At the beginning of each CPAG meeting all members Watchers, Slimming World, LighterLife, HENRY (child are asked to declare their interests and any declarations weight management services), Cambridge Weight Plan, made are recorded within the minutes of the meeting. Rotherham Institute for Obesity, More Life and Weight NHS England will be publishing on its website the Wins. minutes from the CPAG meetings. The Department of Health’s Obesity Review Group which met most recently on 22 January 2014 includes Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health membership representatives from weight management what steps he will take to ensure that no people receiving service providers. fees from pharmaceutical companies are directly involved in NHS England’s specialised commissioning services Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health or sit on any NHS England committees. [188130] what (a) budget and (b) number of staff is assigned to work in the Obesity Project Team at Public Health England. [188207] Jane Ellison: Ongoing discussions with the wider health and social care system, patients, the public, industry Jane Ellison: Public Health England’s (PHE) obesity and their representatives are essential for NHS England related workforce complements the Department’s Obesity to inform its work, learn from best practice elsewhere, Policy team which has three full-time staff and local identify areas for improvement and encourage innovation. public health teams. PHE has approximately 12 full-time NHS England has in place principles and procedures staff working on obesity from the following teams: for managing and registering potential conflicts of interests, obesity and healthy weight, obesity knowledge and which are set out in the Standards of Business Conduct intelligence and staff working on childhood obesity in guidance, and is available on the NHS England website: the children, young people and families’ team. The staff and programme budget for 2013-14, across these teams, http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ stand-bus-cond.pdf to support the prevention and tackling of obesity, is approximately £1.5 million. In addition, the 2013-14 Standards of business conduct apply to anyone working programme budget for the Change4Life campaign, which on NHS England’s behalf as well as its own staff. contributes to supporting families to make healthier NHS England does not require staff to record all dietary and activity choices is approximately £12.4 million. meetings with outside bodies. However, any form of PHE delivers its programmes through teams working hospitality must be recorded in accordance with its together across the life course and on specific subject published standards of business conduct, and a register areas. A range of teams make a significant contribution of such hospitality is maintained. to the work on obesity including: Diet and Obesity; 471W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 472W

Children; Health Equity; Adults and Older People; and Jane Ellison: The detail of meetings held by Ministers its Regional and Centre teams, who also support local in the Department is published regularly online, including public health teams to deliver action to prevent obesity. information about the organisations that attended and the subject of the meeting. This information is updated Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health regularly and can be found at the following link: when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts- publish its updated guidance on obesity. [188208] hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings In addition to those published, the Department is Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health aware of two recent ministerial meetings with the Specialised and Care Excellence (NICE) issued a clinical guideline Healthcare Alliance both attended by my noble Friend on the prevention, identification, assessment and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Quality (Earl management of overweight and obesity in adults and Howe). These took place on 15 January and 24 February children in December 2006. this year, after the last published data. NICE is currently conducting a partial update of the clinical guideline. We understand that NICE expects to publish its final updated guidance in November 2014. WOMEN AND EQUALITIES Updates on progress are regularly published on NICE’s Gender Recognition website at: www.nice.org.uk Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what progress has been made by her Department in implementing the commitments contained in the Plastic Surgery Government’s action plan for transgender equality; and if she will make a statement. [188090] Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure safety of patients and Mrs Grant: Good progress has been made in delivering high professional standards in the cosmetic surgery the commitments identified in “Advancing Transgender sector. [189265] Equality: A Plan for Action”. A report on progress on the action plan will be published in due course. Dr Poulter: I refer the hon. Member to the written Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for Women and statement given on 13 February 2014, Official Report, Equalities what guidance her Department has issued to column 77WS. other Departments on legal recognition for the purpose of official documents for those who do not associate Specialised Healthcare Alliance with a particular gender. [188096] Mrs Grant: DCMS has not issued any specific guidance Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to other Departments on this matter. for what reasons stakeholder submissions to NHS England’s stakeholder engagement programme for specialised services were not collected directly by NHS England but sent to CABINET OFFICE the Specialised Healthcare Alliance. [188127] Children: Corby

Jane Ellison: As part of NHS England’s process of Andy Sawford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet engagement to support the development of its strategy Office what recent estimate he has made of the number for specialised commissioning, the Specialised Healthcare of children living in households where one or both Alliance (SHCA) and Rare Disease UK were asked to parents are (a) working part-time because they are provide administrative support for one of the 17 stakeholder unable to find full-time work and (b) employed on a engagements events to support the development of its zero-hours contract in Corby and East Northamptonshire. strategy for specialised commissioning. [189426] This support involved receiving and collating the written responses, and recording the feedback from the Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the event. This factual information was then used by NHS responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have England to draft the ″Stakeholder engagement report asked the authority to reply. to inform the developing scope of the five-year strategy Letter from Caron Walker: for specialised services 2014-15 — 2018-19″, which was On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National agreed in partnership with SHCA. Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary A copy of the report has been placed in the Library. Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate has been made of the number of children living in This report will feed into a draft strategy, which will households where one or both parents are (a) working part-time be published and widely consulted on with all stakeholders. because they are unable to find full-time work and (b) employed NHS England is planning to launch the consultation on on a zero-hours contract in Corby and East Northamptonshire the strategy in late spring with the aim of a final constituency. (189426) strategy being produced in July 2014. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses the Labour Force Survey (LFS) to compile statistics for people working in part-time jobs because they could not find a full time post from the Labour Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Force Survey (LFS). However, estimates of the number of children what meetings Ministers in his Department have had living in households where one or both parents are working with the Specialised Healthcare Alliance in each of the part-time because they are unable to find full-time work for the last three years. [188128] requested geographies due to small sample sizes. 473W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 474W

Estimates relating to zero-hour contracts are also available Last year we introduced a system to electronically from the LFS; however, full estimates of the total number of transfer Decision Notices from the Tribunal to DWP, people in employment on such contracts are not available from which increases the security and speed of notifying this source. This is, in part, due to reporting error as respondents DWP of the Tribunal outcome. Payment of benefit may fail to identify their type of employment contract correctly. Therefore we have not been able to state how many children are arrears following the outcome of an appeal is treated as living in families where one or both parents are working on zero a matter of priority. hour contracts in Corby and East Northamptonshire constituency. Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2014, Official Report, column 96W, on employment WORK AND PENSIONS and support allowance, if he will place in the Library a Autism Act 2009 copy of the operational guidance on the termination of employment and support allowance. [188863] Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure Esther McVey: We will place a copy of the relevant that his Department complies with the Autism Act sections of the operational guidance on the termination 2009. [189016] of employment and support in the Library. Mike Penning: Under the Autism Strategy, led by the Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Department of Health, the Department for Work and and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 3 February Pensions had several commitments in relation to autism 2014, Official Report, columns 95-6W, on employment and employment. The Department is committed to and support allowance, if he will publish the contractual ensuring that all disabled people, including those with quality targets applied to Atos. [188864] autism, have the opportunities, chances and support that they need to get a job and remain in employment Mike Penning: Contractual quality targets applied to and there is a range of provision to help them. Atos are published and available to view in Deposited The Department published the disability and health Papers (House of Lords) deposited on 14 September employment strategy in December 2013 which outlines 2010—Deposit Reference—Dep 2010-1704. a more personalised and tailored approach to employment Quality targets are specifically referenced in Schedule support for disabled people. A national network of 5 Appendix 1, Rows 20-26. specialist advisors will act as a matchmaker between individuals and employers ensuring that disabled people Jobseeker’s Allowance: Glasgow including people with autism make a smooth transition into work and receive adequate in-work support. In addition, the Disability Confident campaign launched Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for in July 2013 by the Prime Minister is designed to help Work and Pensions how many claimants of Jobseekers employers who are unsure about the benefits of employing Allowance in postcodes G76, G46, G78, G77 and G44 disabled people. have been sanctioned by his Department in the last five years; and for what reasons. [188977] In Jobcentre Plus, all new staff to the role of disability employment advisers (DEA) are expected to undertake Esther McVey: The specific information requested by the DEA training, which includes training on Autistic postcode is not readily available and could be provided Spectrum Disorder. only at disproportionate cost. Employment and Support Allowance Personal Independence Payment Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether a person who has Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for successfully appealed a decision to refuse them employment Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 6 January and support allowance (ESA) can only receive their 2014, Official Report, column 59W, on personal ESA once the jobcentre has received the Statement of independence payment, how long the claimant journey Reasons from the Tribunal Service; [188677] was expected to take under the Lot 1 Contract with (2) how many people wait more than (a) three and Atos; and if he will make a statement. [188823] (b) six months to receive employment and support allowance following a successful tribunal appeal as a Mike Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the previous result of late receipt by a jobcentre of the Statement of reply I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East Reasons from the tribunal. [188679] (Sheila Gilmore), on 6 January 2014, Official Report, Mike Penning: ESA is payable at the basic rate after a column 59W. claimant appeals against the decision to terminate his entitlement to ESA. This continues to be paid until the Smoking: Motor Vehicles appeal is heard. If the appeal is successful ESA plus the appropriate component will be paid and backdated to Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the date of the original decision. Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the A Statement of Reasons is not required from the number of prosecutions investigated by the Health and Tribunal in order for this increased award to be paid. It Safety Executive for breaches of the ban on smoking in is paid once the tribunal’s decision notice has been commercial and working vehicles since the introduction received. of that ban. [188086] 475W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 476W

Mike Penning: The Health and Safety Executive is JSA claimants in Hartlepool not the enforcement authority for smokefree legislation. JSA claimants JSA claimants aged 55+ as a proportion of The enforcement authorities are set out in the Smoke-free aged 55+ all JSA claimants As at Hartlepool National average (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006. January: Hartlepool (percentage) (percentage) http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/3368/contents/made 2010 320 7 7 Social Security Benefits: Disability 2011 300 7 7 2012 300 6 8 Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work 2013 355 7 8 and Pensions what definition of disabled is used for the 2014 325 8 9 purposes of jobseeker’s allowance and employment Every claimant is supported by their local Jobcentre and support allowance sanctions statistics. [188631] to find work and Jobcentres have the freedom to innovate and develop approaches to help older people. Examples Esther McVey: The Equality Act 2010’s definition of of approaches currently being used in some districts disability is that a person has a disability if they have a across the country include: physical or mental impairment which has a substantial Delivering customer focus groups for older people to ascertain and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry their needs to help develop future provision for this group out normal day-to-day activities. The information is self-reported by the claimant and recorded on the Labour Providing dedicated advisers for claimants aged over 50 Market System (LMS) and is used for the JSA and ESA Work Clubs for claimants aged over 50 sanctions decisions statistics. IT provision aimed specifically at older claimants In addition, DWP is developing an internal Good Telephone Services Practice Guide—’Creating Opportunities and Breaking Down Barriers’ and taking steps to ensure advisers are Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for able to meet the needs of older claimants. Work and Pensions when jobseekers will be able to speak to a benefit adviser in his Department without Universal Credit paying for a telephone call; and how this facility will be supported. [188979] Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Esther McVey: The Department’s current strategy is Work and Pensions what the effect on a recipient of that calls to claim benefit should be free to a claimant universal credit will be if they are also in receipt of so it uses 0800 free phone numbers for these calls. widowed parents allowance. [188916] The Department will begin to introduce 0345 numbers Esther McVey: In universal credit widowed parent’s during 2014 to run alongside its existing 0845 numbers. allowance is taken into account in full. This will allow a caller to make an informed choice on the number to dial based on the terms of their call Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for package. Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the Unemployment: Hartlepool total costs and benefits of universal credit in each year to 2020. [188993]

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Esther McVey: The universal credit programme was Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of allocated a budget totalling £2 billion as part of the the number and proportion of people over the age 55 Department’s spending review 2010. who are unemployed in Hartlepool constituency; what change there has been in such figures in each of the last Of the £2 billion budget, spend in 2011-12 was 5%, five years; and what steps he is taking to reduce such and in 2012-13 16%. Current forecast costs and benefits in 2013-14 is £192 million. figures. [188630] Costs and benefits for future years are subject to Esther McVey: The number of people aged 55 and ongoing programme planning. over claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Hartlepool has fallen by 8% over the last year. The proportion of Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for claimants aged 55+ has risen slightly over the same Work and Pensions pursuant to the written statement period. Part of this rise can be accounted for by the of 5 December 2013, Official Report, columns 65-6WS, gradual equalisation of state pension age, effective from on universal credit, whether the business plan for April 2010, as this means more claimants retaining delivery of universal credit has been reviewed by the eligibility for JSA beyond the age of 60. In recent years (a) Treasury and (b) Major Projects Authority. the proportion of all JSA claimants in Hartlepool who [188994] are over 55 has been at or slightly below the national average. Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave her on 6 January 2014, Official Report, JSA claimants in Hartlepool column 65W. JSA claimants JSA claimants aged 55+ as a proportion of aged 55+ all JSA claimants As at Hartlepool National average Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for January: Hartlepool (percentage) (percentage) Work and Pensions (1) in what month the universal credit roll out will start accepting claims from families; 2009 240 7 8 [188995] 477W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 478W

(2) in what month the universal credit roll out will (2) how many residents of Barrow and Furness start accepting claims from couples. [188997] constituency, in each age group, have found permanent employment after being enrolled in the Work Programme Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the written since that programme’s introduction. [189232] ministerial statement made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member Esther McVey: The information we have on Work for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), Programme referrals, attachments and job outcomes on 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 65WS. can be found at: The statement announced our plans to continue to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics- expand our current live service and functionality so that tabulation-tool from this summer we will progressively start to take new Guidance for users is available at: claims for universal credit for couples and, in the autumn, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation- from families. Once it is safely tested in the live service tool-guidance areas we will also expand the roll out to cover more of the North West of England. John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents of Barrow and Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Furness constituency, in each age group, have sanctioned Work and Pensions what the timetable is for rollout of under the Work Programme since that Programme’s universal credit to (a) spring 2014, (b) the end of 2014 introduction. [189233] and (c) the end of 2015. [188996] Esther McVey: The available information on how Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the written many residents of Barrow and Furness constituency, in ministerial statement made by the Secretary of State for each age group, have been sanctioned for failure to Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member participate in the Work programme since that programme’s for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), introduction is shown in the following table: on 10 July 2013, Official Report, column 22WS. Number of individuals sanctioned in Barrow and Furness parliamentary The statement announced the initial expansion of the constituency by age band for failure to participate in the Work programme, June universal credit (UC) services. We said we would expand 2011 to September 2013 to a further six sites across England, Scotland and Employment and support allowance and jobseeker’s allowance Wales by spring 2014. Having already gone live in Age band Number Hammersmith, Rugby, Inverness, Harrogate and Bath, Total 692 we are on track to complete that initial expansion when UC goes live in Shotton in April. 16 to 17 — Our plans for the next stage of implementation are 18 to 24 299 set out in the written ministerial statement made by the 25 to 29 121 Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. 30 to 34 68 Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green 35 to 39 66 (Mr Duncan Smith), on 5 December 2013, Official 40 to 44 61 Report, column 65WS. The UC service will be fully 45 to 49 46 available in each part of Great Britain during 2016, 50 to 54 34 having closed down new claims to the legacy benefits it 55 to 59 18 replaced; with a majority of the remaining legacy caseload 60 and over — moving to UC during 2016 and 2017. Final decisions on Unknown/missing age — these elements of the programme will be informed by ‘—’ Denotes nil or negligible. the development of the enhanced digital solution. Notes: 1. Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) and employment and support allowance (ESA) figures have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Work Capability Assessment: Barrow in Furness 2. The number of benefit sanctions applied is the number of sanction or disallowance referrals where the decision was found against the individual. 3. Lone parents are not mandated to go on the WP but can volunteer. Their John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for participation is voluntary and therefore they cannot be sanctioned. 4. Please note the figures for ESA include all adverse decisions for reason failure Work and Pensions how many people are awaiting a to participate in a work-related activity which will include the WP. The figures work capability assessment in Barrow and Furness for WP cannot be separately identified. constituency; and how many such people have been 5. New sanctions rules came into force for JSA from 22 October 2012. The number of sanctions applied is the number of low, intermediate, and high level waiting in excess of three months for an assessment. referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. Further information [189235] can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance-overview- of-sanctions-rules Mike Penning: The information requested is not available. 6. Where characteristics are introduced into the table, then the count of individuals will be a measure of individual people within each of the breakdowns included in the table e.g. where age only is selected, then the count within each Work Programme: Barrow in Furness age band measures the number of individual people within that age band across the whole period in which the sanction decisions data applies. 7. This information is published and available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Sources: Work and Pensions (1) how many residents of Barrow 1. (JSA and ESA): and Furness constituency, in each age group, have been DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database. enrolled on the Work Programme since that 2. (ISLP): Programme’s introduction; [189231] DWP Income Support Computer System. 479W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 480W

EDUCATION (5) what provisions his Department has in place to support the parents of children and young people Academies diagnosed with cerebral palsy. [188667]

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Timpson: The Government is seeking to improve Education what investigation reports have been carried early intervention and support services for parents of out by his Department or its agencies into irregularities children with all kinds of special educational needs at academies or free schools; to which schools they (SEN) and disabilities. relate; and whether and on what date each report was The provisions in the Children and Families Bill published. [188859] place new duties on local authorities and clinical commissioning groups to commission services jointly; Mr Timpson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer this will include services for children and young people of 13 February 2014, Official Report, column 813W. with cerebral palsy. Local authorities will also have to Since 13 February the Department for Education has produce a local offer of services for children and young also published online a redacted report into its investigation people with SEN and disabilities. Together, these will of financial irregularities at Glendene Arts Academy. ensure that the support available is planned more effectively The report is available at: and clearly set out, helping families and practitioners to https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ get the interventions they need. attachment_data/file/279902/Investigation_report_ The new SEN Code of Practice will emphasise the Glendene_Arts_Academy.pdf importance of early intervention. In early years settings Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for practitioners must consider the individual needs, interests, Education how much correspondence Ministers in his and stage of development of each child in their care and Department have received on admission complaints for whether a child may have SEN or disability which requires specialist support. In particular, providers must academy schools in each year since 2010. [189222] review children’s progress between the ages of two and Mr Timpson: The Department for Education does three. Where SEN or disability is identified practitioners not record whether general correspondence about should develop a targeted plan to support the child’s admissions relates to academies or other types of school. future learning and development involving other professionals as appropriate. Academies: Lincolnshire Where a statutory assessment of SEN shows an Education, Health and Care plan is needed, our reforms Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for mean that parents will be fully involved in ensuring that Education on what grounds Tollbar Academy in Grimsby all their child’s needs are covered by the plan, so that received more funding than other local academies in the there is a joined up approach to supporting the family. north Lincolnshire area; and on what basis the funding We provide funding to Early Support to support the for those academies was calculated. [188970] implementation of the SEN reforms. As part of this, they worked with Scope to produce guidance to parents Mr Timpson: Tollbar Academy’s revenue funding for and others on cerebral palsy, which was published in academic year 2013/14 is higher than other academies 2012. This guidance can be found at in the area because they have a higher number of pupils, http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/923252/earlysupportcerebral 2,168 in total, over double that of most of the other _palsy_final.pdf academies. Tollbar Academy has the lowest level of per pupil funding of all of the academies in the local Education: Assessments authority area. The pre-16 revenue funding for all open academies, free schools and maintained schools is calculated using the local authority funding formula and for those Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for with sixth forms their funding is calculated using the Education if he will take steps to require exam boards national funding formula. to take account of (a) representations from the child’s school and (b) previous schoolwork when assessing the Children: Cerebral Palsy special circumstances tariff they can apply in each particular situation. [188675] Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment has he made of the Michael Gove: This is a matter for Glenys Stacey, the quality of the early years education support available chief regulator of the Office of Qualifications and for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy; [188663] Examinations Regulation, who will write to my hon. (2) what steps he is taking to encourage early Friend. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House intervention measures for children diagnosed with of Commons Library. cerebral palsy; [188664] (3) what recent discussions his Department has had Equality on a training programme for education professionals working with children diagnosed with cerebral palsy; Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Education [188665] how many publications his Department has produced (4) what assessment he has made of the efficacy of for the purposes of monitoring or promoting staff the training materials available to assist education equality and diversity in each of the last five years; and professionals supporting children and young people what the cost of producing such publications was in diagnosed with cerebral palsy; [188666] each such year. [188878] 481W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 482W

Michael Gove: The Department for Education produced The Department of Health will take responsibility a Diversity Strategy in 2008. It also uses intranet articles for the CANparent trial from 1 April 2014. and internal documents to monitor and promote equality and diversity. These are produced by civil servants at no additional cost. Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Parents: Education Education how many (a) whole families, (b) mothers and (c) fathers have used CANParent vouchers for Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education each provider in each year since the introduction of the how much his Department spent on the CANParent scheme. [188354] voucher scheme in each year since that scheme’s introduction; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the scheme in each of the next five Michael Gove: CANparent vouchers have been available years. [188353] to parents of children ages 0-5 in the three trial areas of Camden, Middlesbrough and High Peak. Michael Gove: The CANparent vouchers have been available to parents of children ages 0 to five in the trial The latest data, at 11 February 2014, held by the areas of Camden, Middlesbrough and High Peak. contractor managing the CANparent trial, show that From 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013, the total parenting class providers have confirmed a total of amount spent on the CANparent trial was £1,248,640. 1,832 women and 168 men have attended CANparent From 1 April 2013 to the end of January 2014, the total classes since the start of the trial. These totals are is £928,447. broken down by provider in the following table.

Provider Year 1 Year 2 Total Total Number of females Number of males Number of females Number of males Females Males

Barnardo’s 57 7 30 3 87 10 City Lit 113 7 261 15 374 22 Coram 21 3 0 0 21 3 Derbyshire CC 21 4 8 2 29 6 Family Links 115 5 56 3 171 8 Family Lives 0 0 4 0 4 0 Family Matters Institute 8 0 4 3 12 3 FAST 163 8 95 16 258 24 Fatherhood Institute 10 9 9 4 19 13 Montessori 26 6 0 0 26 6 NCT 36 7 62 11 98 18 Parent Gym 172 5 78 7 250 12 REF 188 16 182 12 370 28 Solihull Approach 24 2 89 13 113 15 Total 954 79 878 89 1,832 168 Note: Reported class starters split by female/male, correct as at 11 February 2014.

Pre-school Education Information on the funding that local authorities allocate to early years providers can be found in table 8 Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for of the main tables. Education pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member Schools: Standards for Gateshead of 19 December 2013, Official Report, column 699W, on education: finance, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the annual funding Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for early education for (a) two and (b) three and whether state-funded schools use pupils’ postcodes to four-year-olds which reaches providers. [188871] determine individual pupils’ target grades. [188621]

Michael Gove: Funding for early education for two, Mr Laws: Schools have the freedom to set their own three and four-year-olds forms part of the dedicated targets for individual pupils based on their professional schools grant (DSG). DSG allocations for each local judgment. The Department for Education does not authority are available here: collect information about the methodology schools use to develop their pupils’ target grades. http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/ financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding Special Educational Needs The Department for Education collects funding information from all local authorities through section Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for 251 financial returns, including information on funding Education how much funding was transferred from the for early years. These are collated and published on the Education Funding Agency (a) to each local authority DfE website. The 2013-14 local authority budget returns and (b) in total to assist the education of young people are published here: with learning difficulties and disabilities aged between http://bit.ly/1fxmOiS 16 and 25 in the current financial year. [188638] 483W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 484W

Mr Timpson: The total post-16 high needs funding UN Committee on the Rights of the Child allocation to local authorities for the 2013-14 financial year was £272 million. The allocations at local authority Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for level are available on the Department for Education’s Education if he will publish an action plan to address website at: the recommendations of the UN Committee on the http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/xls/t/dsg%202013%20 Rights of the Child to the UK; and if he will make a to%202014%20allocations.xls statement. [188727] The total amount allocated to institutions for post-16 high needs students was £379 million. The 16 to 19 Mr Timpson: The UK Government is due to submit funding allocations for the 2013/14 academic year show its five-year periodic review report to the UN Committee place funding allocations made to institutions. They are on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) this spring. The available on the Department’s website at: submission will set out the progress that has been made http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/xlsx/1/16- in implementing the UNCRC since the UK last reported 19%20ay2013-14%20published%20allocation%20dataset%201- in 2008. 2.xlsx The UK Government will consider the benefits of Further information is available at: producing an action plan in light of the UN Committee’s recommendations arising from the periodic review. In http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/executiveagencies/efa/ funding/b00230545/16-to-19-funding-allocations/allocations-for- the meantime, the Government remains committed to 2013-to-2014 further strengthening implementation of the UNCRC, for example by implementing the significant changes Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for provided for in the Children and Families Bill, currently Education how much each local authority spent on awaiting Royal Assent. educating young people with learning difficulties and disabilities aged between 16 and 25 in the current financial year. [188639] ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Bovine Tuberculosis Mr Timpson: Local authorities are required to report actual expenditure on education through the annual Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State Section 251 data collection. Data for financial year for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many 2013-14 have not yet been submitted to the Department herds in each county are classified as infected with for Education. The data will be published in December bovine TB; and how many such herds were wrongly 2014. classified. [185672]

Teachers: Bureaucracy George Eustice: A copy of a table showing the figures for herds not officially TB free due to a bovine TB incident (non OTF herds) as at the end of September Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for 2013, before and after corrections to the data, has been Education when he plans to publish the 2013 Teacher placed in the Library of the House. Workload survey. [188731] Floods Mr Laws: The Department for Education will publish the findings of the 2013 Teacher Workload Survey Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of shortly, in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Government State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Social Research guidance. recent discussions he has had on only declaring land to be of flood risk if it is prone to river as opposed to surface water flooding; and if he will make a statement. Teachers: Surveys [188786]

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has been Education what plans he has to publish the results of making information on the risk of flooding available to the teacher workload survey dated March 2013. the public for a number of years. [188914] The first national map of flood risk was published online in 2000 and showed the areas at risk of flooding Mr Laws: The Department for Education will publish from rivers and the sea. shortly the findings of the 2013 Teacher Workload The Environment Agency has been working with Survey in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Government lead local flood authorities to gather information on the Social Research guidance. areas at risk of flooding from surface water. This was published as maps on the Environment Agency website George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for in December 2013. Education when he expects to publish the results of the Floods: Insurance Teacher Workload Survey for 2014. [188991] Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Laws: The Department for Education will publish Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is shortly the findings of the 2013 Teacher Workload taking to monitor the treatment by insurance companies Survey in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Government of policy holders whose homes have been flooded; and Social Research guidance. if he will make a statement. [189244] 485W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 486W

Dan Rogerson: The Government is working closely since the start of 2014, both the Minister of State, with the insurance industry to manage the response to Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend this winter’s flooding. Ministers held their first monthly the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) and Her Majesty’s meeting with insurance industry executives on 18 February. Ambassador to Burma, accompanied by the Defence These meetings aim to ensure everything possible is Attaché, have raised this subject during meetings with being done to provide prompt and full payment to the Commander in Chief. customers, and to ensure that Government and the industry are fully co-ordinated in helping flood victims. Navy Thames Flood Barrier Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current manpower strength is of all Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State naval personnel who are not Royal Marines. [188939] for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of when the Thames Barrier will Mr Francois: The strength of all naval manpower, not need to be (a) upgraded, (b) supplemented and (c) including Royal Marines, as at 1 January 2014 (the replaced. [188746] latest date for which figures are available) was:

Dan Rogerson: Based on current forecasts it is anticipated Manpower strength that the Thames Barrier will continue to provide protection against flood events in London and the Thames Estuary Royal Navy Service Personnel1229,620 until 2070. The Environment Agency constantly assesses and UK Regular Forces3 25,560 appraises the condition of the Thames Barrier and its Of which: operating mechanisms, and upgrades and replaces these Trained 23,500 when required. Untrained 2,050 In 2013-14 the Environment Agency invested £8.72 million to ensure the Thames Barrier continued to Volunteer Reserve421,960 reduce the risk of flooding to 362,000 properties as well Of which: as critical infrastructure. Trained 21,410 Work to determine the most suitable approach to Untrained 2550 managing flood defence beyond 2070 is set to begin in 2050, at which point all possible improvements will be considered, including upgrading the existing Thames Active Regular Reserve52320 Barrier or replacing it completely. Sponsored Reserve 1,780 Water Supply Of which: Royal Fleet Auxiliary6 1,550 Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for 1 Royal Naval Service Personnel in this table comprises the Royal Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice he Navy, Royal Naval Reserve (RNR), Active Royal Fleet Reserve and has received on the relative precedence of the provisions the Royal Naval Reserve Sponsored Reserve. University Royal Naval (a) enacted in the Government of Wales Act 2006 and Units, Royal Marines and Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) are (b) proposed in the Water Bill in respect of the right of excluded. 2 All figures for the Volunteer Reserve are provisional while Defence the Secretary of State for Wales to intervene on issues of Statistics carries out further data validation exercises. water supply to England; and if he will make a statement. 3 UK Regulars are full time Royal Navy personnel, including [188673] Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, and mobilised Reservists. Unless otherwise stated, Dan Rogerson: The Water Bill does not alter the includes trained and untrained personnel. 4 The Volunteer Reserve figures comprise the RNR but exclude the devolution arrangements set out in the Government of RMR. It includes mobilised RNR, High Readiness Reserve Wales Act 2006. personnel and RNR personnel serving on FTRS or Additional Duties Commitments (ADC) contracts. 5 The Naval Service Regular Reserve is known as the Royal Fleet Reserve and usually comprises ex-Regular Royal Navy and Royal DEFENCE Marines personnel who retain a liability to be called up for military service in times of need. The figures in this table exclude ex-Regular Burma Royal Marines. The ″active″ component identified here comprises ex-Regular personnel who have applied to return to military service on FTRS or ADC contracts. Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for 6 Although all of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are employed as civilians, Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2014, approximately 80% of them are also on sponsored reserve contracts Official Report, column 6, what recent discussions he and are shown here as a subset of the sponsored reserve. The Defence Statistics Quarterly Civilian Personnel Report publishes all has had with the Burmese army on that body’s role in of the RFA personnel, including those on sponsored reserve the Burmese Parliament. [188938] contracts, and will provide a breakdown by sponsored reserve status later in the year. Mr Francois: The Secretary of State for Defence met Note: President Thein Sein on his visit to the UK in July 2013 Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers ending in ’5’ have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent and discussed a range of issues. Our Chief of Defence systematic bias. Staff also met the Commander in Chief of the Burmese Source: Army during his visit to Burma last year. In addition, Defence Statistics (Tri-Service) 487W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 488W

Unmanned Air Vehicles Gregory Barker: In 2011, the latest year for which statistics are available, 142,000 households, around 12% Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for of all households in the north-east, were fuel poor in Defence what progress has been made on the Watchkeeper the north-east under the new low income high costs Programme; when he expects the system to enter full definition. This is still far too high, but represents a service; and if he will make a statement. [188941] significant reduction on the 2009 figure of 169,000 households, around 15%, inherited by the coalition Mr Francois: Further to the answer I gave on 22 October Government. 2013, Official Report, column 102W,to the hon. Member Under the previous 10% definition of fuel poverty, for Moray (Angus Robertson), significant recent progress the number has fallen from 24% in 2009 to 19% in 2011. has been made on the Watchkeeper Programme to satisfy the regulatory authorities that the system will be Energy Suppliers: Switching safe to fly. This first of type Unmanned Air System should commence flying from Boscombe Down in Wiltshire 18. Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of in early March 2014. An initial Release to Service is State for Energy and Climate Change what recent expected to be authorised by the Chief of the General assessment he has made of trends in the number of Staff to allow the first military flights by the Army from customers switching energy supplier. [902743] Boscombe Down from early April 2014. Mr Davey: In the last two months of last year, industry Warships data published by Energy UK suggests 1 million electricity customers switched supplier. Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for This upturn in the numbers switching energy supplier (a) Defence what surface combat ships are currently in reverses a decline in switching caused by the end of (b) [188940] build and on order. doorstep selling which-while it had led to more switching- had also resulted in far too many examples of mis-selling. Mr Francois: The Type 26 Global Combat Ship (T26 GCS) is expected to become the future surface combat We think there is more that can be done to promote vessel for the Royal Navy. The T26 GCS programme is switching, and the beneficial effect on competition, and currently in its assessment phase, and orders will be our efforts include our support for collective switching, placed after the Ministry of Defence has taken the main our work with the industry to make switching quicker investment decision later in 2014. and easier and our help for more vulnerable customers who have switched less frequently, through initiatives In terms of the wider warship building, the Queen such as the Big Energy Saving Network. Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are currently in build, and orders are planned to be placed for three offshore Fuel Poverty patrol vessels, subject to the successful conclusion of the commercial discussions with BAE Systems. 20. Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to protect the fuel poor while seeking to reduce energy ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE bills. [902745]

Household Energy Bills Michael Fallon: In December 2013 the coalition announced a package of policy changes to save families Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy an average of £50 off their bills. and Climate Change what steps he is taking to help In 2013 the Energy Company Obligation made 290,000 households with their energy bills. [902740] low income vulnerable homes warmer and cheaper to run through insulation and heating improvements. We Mr Davey: Energy bills are a real concern to households are proposing to extend the scheme to 2017 and broaden so we are helping them with energy bills in three ways-direct support available-making more low income areas eligible financial help, energy efficiency measures and increased for support through the Carbon Saving Communities competition. Obligation, and encouraging delivery to a wider range Direct financial help includes the warm home discount, of homes including those off the gas grid. the winter fuel allowance and cold weather payments. Additionally, this winter over 2 million households Energy efficiency measures are delivered in a variety have received help under the Warm Home Discount. of ways, but especially through the energy company Government also makes winter fuel payments and cold obligation and the green deal. weather payments. And our relentless focus on increasing competition ranges from Ofgem’s retail market review to our focus Energy-intensive Industries on new suppliers and making switching quicker and easier. 22. Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he Fuel Poverty: North-East England has had with representatives of energy-intensive industries. [902747] 17. Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he Michael Fallon: My ministerial colleagues and I regularly has made of the levels of fuel poverty in north-east meet with representatives of energy intensive industries England. [902741] to discuss a range of issues. Together BIS and DECC 489W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 490W continue to examine the issues that affect energy intensive Energy: Meters industries and consider, along with Treasury, what can be done to address policy costs that affect the Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy competitiveness of these vital foundation industries. and Climate Change if he will seek to establish (a) how Climate Change many households in Britain have a gas meter installed but receive no supply of gas to their property and (b) how many customers are subject to standing charges Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for for such meters. [189218] Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office Michael Fallon: The most recent data the Department about the effects of climate change on civil contingency holds is for 2012 and from this we estimate that up to provisions. [189217] 326, 673 households in GB have a gas meter but consume no gas. The Department does not hold information as Gregory Barker: The Minister for Energy, my right to how many of these households are subject to standing hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon), charges for such meters. has engaged closely with the Minister for Government Policy, my right hon. Friend the Member for West The energy market regulator, Ofgem, is currently Dorset (Mr Letwin), on the resilience of the energy considering concerns raised about the fairness of some supply sector to the impacts of climate change and to consumers having to pay a standing charge even though other risks. they do not use their gas supply, and therefore have zero consumption. It has issued a request for information to Climate Change: Northern Ireland suppliers on the subject: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/request- Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy information-%E2%80%93-standing-charge-gas-customers-zero- and Climate Change what recent discussions he has consumption had with ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on the effects of climate change on extreme weather Energy: Prices events. [189219] Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of and Climate Change has not had any recent discussions 29 January 2014, Official Report, column 575W, on with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on the energy: prices, what estimate his Department has made effects of climate change on extreme weather events. of the number domestic customers on fixed-price deals. [188846] Energy Supply Michael Fallon: The Department estimates that, as of Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for quarter 3 of 2013, the latest data available, 18% of Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the annual standard electricity customers (about 4.3 million) and energy statement, Official Report, column 1095, 31 21% of gas customers (about 4.5 million) were on October 2013, what recent discussions he has had with fixed-price deals. suppliers about 24-hour switching. [188836] These figures are in tables 2.4.2 and 2.5.2 of the DECC publication Quarterly Energy Prices, which can Michael Fallon: Following the annual energy statement be accessed online: on 31 October, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly- and Surbiton (Mr Davey), held a meeting to discuss domestic-energy-price-stastics faster switching with suppliers, Ofgem, Energy UK and Estimates for quarter 4 of 2013 will be available on consumer groups on Monday 11 November. 27 March 2014. The discussions explored the challenges in moving to 24 hour switching and considered a staged approach. Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households My officials continue to work with Ofgem and the have registered in each collective switching scheme supported industry. We expect that switching times will be halved by the Cheaper Energy Together fund; and how many within the lifetime of this Parliament. such households have switched energy suppliers. [188952] Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the annual Michael Fallon: The following table shows how many energy statement, 31 October 2013, Official Report, households registered and how many switched in each column 1095, when he expects 24-hour switching to be collective switching scheme supported by the Cheaper in place for all suppliers. [188837] Energy Together fund.

Michael Fallon: Moving to 24-hour switching will be Number of Number of a staged approach. We expect to see switching times consumers having consumers having halved within the lifetime of this Parliament. Ofgem is provided their full switched/accepted currently working with industry to facilitate a process details the offer and timetable to move to switching to 24-hour switching Total 190,575 21,641 in a way that does not result in significant additional Isle of Wight Council 11,911 2,107 costs to consumers or a less reliable system. People’s Power 5,200 980 491W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 492W

codes on all energy bills, to help facilitate the development Number of Number of consumers having consumers having of smartphone or tablet applications which could make provided their full switched/accepted switching quicker and simpler. details the offer The Department has published data on the level of Centre for Sustainable Energy 5,378 1,242 collective switching of energy companies by customers Exeter City Council 2,461 324 from collective switching schemes supported by Cheaper Eden Project 8,366 1,174 Energy Together, however we do not monitor this on an Birmingham City Council 1,029 171 ongoing basis. The evaluation of Cheaper Energy Together Change works 4,773 525 is available at this link: Community Energy Direct 6,133 618 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ 1 Nottingham City Council 1,310 136 attachment_data/file/253862/ Calderdale Council2 4,091 692 Helping_Customers_Switch_Collective_ Norwich City Council 2,711 354 Switching_and_Beyond_final__2_.pdf Sheffield City Council 8,120 709 DECC continues to support the development of new Broadland District Council 2,634 287 collective switching schemes that will help consumers East Riding Council 21,528 1,786 get the best deal, for example, we recently published Coventry City Council 2,955 163 updated guidance for organisers of collective switching Cheshire East Council 3,804 301 schemes. Woking Borough Council 11,102 1,043 North Norfolk District Council 2,851 295 Northumberland County Council 1,511 108 Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Blackburn with Darwen Borough 10,805 857 Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to Council investigate higher charges for non-direct debit domestic South Tyneside Council 1,447 123 customers of energy utility companies. [902739] Peterborough City Council 1,003 84 Wiltshire Council3 1,203 72 Gregory Barker: Energy companies are required under Oldham Council4 40,960 5,084 the terms of their licence to ensure any differences in London Borough of Tower Hamlets 698 73 charges to consumers, between different payment methods, (part of Big London Switch) reflect the costs to the supplier that particular form of Royal Borough of Kingston upon 24,551 2,124 Thames (Big London Switch)5 payment. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council 2,040 209 Ofgem are looking at payment differentials, including 1 Nottingham provided an instant switching service and a collective switching higher charges for customers who choose not to pay by service. These results are for both. 2 This data covers an auction in January and April. direct debit in the competition assessment, which will 3 This data covers an auction in April and June. be published this spring. 4 This data covers an auction in January and April. 5 This data covers an auction in April and June. Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department help vulnerable people reduce their energy bills. [902742] takes to (a) monitor the level of and (b) support (i) individual and (ii) collective switching of energy companies Michael Fallon: In December 2013 the coalition by customers. [188955] announced a package of policy changes to save families an average of £50 off their bills. Michael Fallon: Levels of individual switching are In 2013 the Energy Company Obligation made 290,000 monitored through the switching statistics released in low income vulnerable homes warmer and cheaper to the DECC publication Quarterly Energy Prices. These run through insulation and heating improvements. We figures are sourced from Ofgem and count switches are proposing to extend the scheme to 2017 and broaden between different suppliers. The latest available figures support available-making more low income areas eligible are for quarter 3 of 2013, and are available at the for support through the Carbon Saving Communities following link: Obligation, and encouraging delivery to a wider range https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quarterly- of homes including those off the gas grid. domestic-energy-switching-statistics Additionally, this winter over 2 million households On support for individual switching, Ofgem’s Retail have received help under the Warm Home Discount Market Review reforms provide all consumers with Government also makes winter fuel payments and cold clearer tariff choices. We recognise vulnerable consumers weather payments. may need extra help and advice to engage with the energy market and to give them the confidence to switch. DECC has recently announced a further £l million Forests funding for the Big Energy Saving Network to continue this programme of consumer outreach led by around Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for 500 specially trained energy advisers from voluntary Energy and Climate Change what consultations he organisations and community groups, into 2014-15. undertook before the announcement in December 2013 We have also announced plans to speed up the time it of the contribution by the Government of £75 million takes to switch energy supplier and we have recently to the new Sustainable Forest Landscapes initiative of taken a power in the Energy Act to require energy the World Bank’s Biocarbon Fund; and what the suppliers to provide key consumer data through QR outcome of those consultations was. [188838] 493W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 494W

Gregory Barker: There were many discussions with DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER stakeholders before the decision was taken to invest in the BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Electoral Register Landscapes (the Fund). There were discussions between DECC and a significant Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what number of expert stakeholders about the Fund. Some assessment he has made of the effect on the size of the of these discussions happened in the wider context of electorate of the removal from the electoral register of whether to test so-called jurisdictional REDD+ (Reducing electors who fail to fill in the household registration Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) approaches form for two successive years. [187379] at scale. Many NGO stakeholders provided evidence that further multilateral investment was needed in forests. Greg Clark: Electors are removed from the electoral DECC also tested interest in the Fund with key private register when the Electoral Registration Officer is satisfied sector stakeholders. Several major companies expressed that they are no longer resident at that address, or interest in working with the Fund to explore opportunities entitled to remain registered. to move to more sustainable production. Unilever, Mondelez International and Bunge Environmental Markets announced their interest in participating and partnering CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT with the Fund at the launch event in Warsaw. The Fund Manager, the World Bank, has also undertaken Diamond Jubilee 2012: Medals extensive consultation with businesses, governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to inform design Mike Thornton: To ask the Secretary of State for of the Fund. They also convened over 30 agribusiness, Culture, Media and Sport who set the eligibility criteria bank, investment fund, commodity broker and retail for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal; and whether business representatives for a workshop in May 2013 to consideration was given to making it available to assess their needs. veterans. [188876]

Nuclear Power Stations Mrs Grant [holding answer 26 February 2014]: The eligibility criteria for the Diamond Jubilee Medal were Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy agreed across Government and received Royal Assent. and Climate Change what assessment he has made of As with the Golden Jubilee, the Diamond Jubilee the carbon impact of new nuclear power plants as a medal was only to be issued to those who met the result of (a) obtaining uranium, (b) processing uranium eligibility criteria and who were in service on and including and (c) storing radioactive waste. [188922] 6 February 2012. Michael Fallon: New nuclear power stations will form Equality part of the UK’s low-carbon energy mix and the level of carbon emissions from nuclear is low when compared Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, with those from fossil fuels and comparable to those Media and Sport how many publications her Department from renewable technologies. Life cycle analyses of the has produced for the purposes of monitoring or promoting complete nuclear fuel cycle from uranium mining and staff equality and diversity in each of the last five years; processing to waste disposal are cited in the Nuclear and what the cost of producing such publications was White Paper and in the Regulatory Justification decisions in each such year. [188896] on the EPR and AP1000 reactors, copies of which were placed in the Library of the House. Mrs Grant [holding answer 26 February 2014]: During Warm Home Discount Scheme the last five years DCMS has not produced any publications for the purposes of monitoring or promoting staff equality and diversity. Information on staff diversity Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy 2011 has been published annually on the Department’s to extend the Warm Home Discount to include families website and, more recently, on data.gov.uk. The most where the parents are (a) unemployed and (b) have an recent information can be found at the following link: annual income of less than £10,000. [189251] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/237397/DCMS_Equality_Workforce Gregory Barker: Low income families are already _Data_2012-2013.csv/preview included in the warm home discount scheme. Families, including where the parents are unemployed and have Film: Ethnic Groups an annual income of less than £10,000, can access the scheme through their supplier under their broader group Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for criteria. In winter 2012-13, over 500,000 households Culture, Media and Sport how many feature films produced who qualified for the broader group received direct by ethnic minority film makers have been supported by rebates of £130 off their electricity bills from their BFI in the past year; and what proportion of total suppliers. Figures for winter 2013-14 will be available spending on feature film support such support was. later in 2014. [188978] We will be consulting this year on changes to the scheme for 2015-16 and will include considerations of Mr Vaizey: In 2012-13 the British Film institute how to ease access to the scheme for households in or at (BFI) funded six feature-length films written or directed risk of fuel poverty. by ethnic minority filmmakers, investing £3.31 million 495W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 496W in production. This represents 22.5% of total production Minister for Culture, Communication and Creative Industries: funding. A further £428,000 has been invested in the 1 x Grade A development of projects with black and minority ethnic 1 x Grade B talent during 2012-13. This represents 11.6% of total 1 x Grade C development funding. Minister for Women and Equalities: Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for 1 x Grade B Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department Sports: Finance provides for ethnic minority film makers; and if she will make a statement. [188980] Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State Mr Vaizey: The Department provides support through for Culture, Media and Sport how UK Sport’s the British Film Institute (BFI) Lottery Film Fund commitment to equality of opportunity, as set out in its which supports film development, production and Equality and Diversity Strategy, is implemented in its distribution for film makers from all backgrounds. The funding decisions. [188853] BFI also provides Lottery funding to its partner Film Mrs Grant [holding answer 26 February 2014]: UK London, which champions emerging Black, Asian and Sport funding decisions are based on its Investment Minority Ethnic film talent through its London Calling Principles, which can be found on its website here: Plus shorts scheme. The BFI has set diversity targets for all its funded schemes and delivery partners. http://www.uksport.gov.uk/pages/investment-principles/ All Olympic and Paralympic sports are given equal Football: Insolvency opportunity to make their case for investment either at the start of the Rio funding cycle (2013-17) or at each Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for annual review point in line with UK Sport’s Equality Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to bring and Diversity Strategy. forward legislative proposals to reform the Football Sports: Scholarships Association’s rule on football credits in insolvency cases. [188875] Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State Mrs Grant [holding answer 26 February 2014]: The for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of Financial Fair Play rules now introduced across football 5 February 2014, Official Report, column 303W, on which, combined with compliance checks that the FA sports: scholarships, when she expects a decision to and league administrators carry out on participating be made on the funding of the Talented Athlete clubs, aim to improve financial management and stability Scholarship Scheme after September 2014. [188852] across the leagues. Mrs Grant [holding answer 26 February 2014]: UK Legislation remains an option if the football authorities Sport and Sport England are working together on do not demonstrate that they can reform their own talent development in England and Sport England is governance of the game. due to discuss the future funding of TASS at its next The Government’s position on the football creditors board meeting. rule is clear. Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State Ministers’ Private Offices for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of the members of Team GB at the (a) London 2012 and (b) Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been Culture, Media and Sport what the size, in square supported by the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme. metres, of the offices assigned to each of her Department’s [189220] Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of her Department’s Mrs Grant: Team GB has the following number of Ministers. [188311] TASS supported athletes competing in the Olympic and Paralympics: Mrs Grant: The three Ministers offices are of the (a) London 2012—242 out of a total of 842 Team GB following sizes: athletes—of which 44 athletes won medals, 10 were multi medallists with 57 medals won overall. 49.5 square metres (b) Sochi 2014—29 out of a total of 71 Team GB athletes—one 46.2 square metres athlete has won a medal, with the Paralympics still to take place. 46.2 square metres TASS supported athletes have won 79 Olympic and Breakdown of Minister’s private offices by grade: Paralympic medals since its inception to date. Principle Private Secretary: 1 x SCS Secretary of State: BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS 3 x Grade A 1 x Grade C Construction: Exports Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities: Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for 1 x Grade A Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he 2 x Grade B has taken to increase exports in the construction sector. 1 x Grade C [188721] 497W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 498W

Michael Fallon: The Industrial Strategy for Construction Maternity Leave was published in July 2013. It sets out high-level ambitions to be achieved by 2025, including a 50% reduction in Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the trade gap between total exports and total imports Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of for construction products and materials. The strategy is civil servants in his Department who were on maternity owned and driven by a range of key bodies from across leave in each of the last five years returned to work. the full breadth of the construction industry, and is [189054] underpinned by an action plan. Progress to date includes the establishment of a G2G Jenny Willott: BIS central records detailing the proportion entity (a Government-owned private limited company, of BIS civil servants who were on maternity leave, and the British Intergovernment Services Authority, to manage returned to BIS, are shown in the following table. government to government contracts) to provide this support to all sectors of industry including construction, Returned to work in BIS (percentage) and UK export finance services have been increased to provide further support to the sector. UKTI’s High 2009 96.43 Value Opportunities programme supports UK businesses 2010 90.79 of all sizes to access large-scale overseas procurement 2011 90.20 projects. In addition construction companies can also 2012 95.56 benefit from a wide range of UKTI services including 2013 97.83 Trade Show Access Programme funding; Passport to Export; Gateway to Global Growth and tailored advice We are unable to provide information on whether from international trade advisers. employees who went on maternity leave and did not return to work in BIS, were subsequently employed Construction: Industry elsewhere. Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of civil Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings he servants in his Department who had been on maternity has had with UK construction industry executives in leave were still employed in the civil service (a) six and each of the last three years. [188723] (b) 12 months after their return to work in each of the last five years. [189114] Michael Fallon: As Minister of State for Business and Energy I regularly meet with representatives from across Jenny Willott: BIS central records detailing the proportion industry, including the construction sector. of BIS employees who had been on maternity leave and were still employed in BIS after six and nine months are Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for shown in the following table. Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase innovation in the construction Percentage sector. [188724] Still employed after six months Still employed after 12 months

Michael Fallon: The Industrial Strategy for Construction, 2009 92.86 85.71 published in July 2013, identified a vision of where 2010 88.16 85.53 construction will be in 2025 including that the industry 2011 88.24 84.31 should be efficient and technologically advanced. To 2012 88.89 88.89 achieve this, the strategy included commitments (jointly 2013 97.83 97.83 owned by industry and government): to build the UK’s competitive advantage in smart construction We are unable to provide information on whether and digital design through the Digital Built Britain agenda; and employees who left BIS following maternity leave were to work with academic and research communities to bring forward subsequently employed elsewhere within the civil service. more research, development and demonstration to the wider industry and work to remove barriers to innovation. Skills Funding Agency Progress is being made, including holding two innovation workshops. Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, In addition the Technology Strategy Board, in Innovation and Skills how many colleges have satisfactorily collaboration with Industrial Strategy for Construction, submitted their student number returns as part of the announced in September it is to invest £60 million over Data Collections and Funding Transformation Programme the next five years helping UK businesses revolutionise to date. [188645] the way they approach building construction. The Low Impact Buildings Innovation Programme is expected to Matthew Hancock: The latest data collection returns attract an additional £60 million of industry investment from colleges were submitted on 6 February 2014. All over this time, plus another £30 million funding from colleges are paid on a standard monthly profile during across government and other agencies, such as research the year. Data submitted during the year by colleges is councils. not used to calculate payments. College payments are By encouraging innovations such as digital design reconciled at the end of each academic year. For 2013/14 and engineering, the funding will help the sector to this will be done on data submitted on 24 October 2014. reduce construction times, improve quality and make The data verified in the returns received on 6 February buildings more efficient. confirmed: 499W Written Answers27 FEBRUARY 2014 Written Answers 500W

All 329 colleges (100%) successfully submitted files to the Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, online data collections portal. Innovation and Skills when the Data Collections and 301 colleges (91.5%) successfully submitted files through the Funding Transformation Programme will be fully new Data Collections and Funding Transformation system. operational. [188647]

Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Matthew Hancock: The new Data Collection Funding Innovation and Skills how much has been paid to each Transformation systems are operational. The Skills Funding contractor for the delivery of the Data Collections and Agency (SFA) is dual running the new system alongside Funding Transformation Programme to date. [188646] the online data collections portal that it is replacing. This parallel running ensures any risks moving to the Matthew Hancock: Five contracts have been let to new system are mitigated and allows time for providers deliver and support the Data Collections and Funding to develop their knowledge and understanding of the Transformation Programme. new arrangements. All providers continue to be paid on 1. DCFT Hosting time; and performance management is only undertaken Contract awarded to: Fordway Solutions Ltd under the G-Cloud on robust data. Any provider who is concerned about Framework funding should contact their relationship manager with A two year contract for ‘Managed Infrastructure as Service’ the SFA or the Education Funding Agency. commenced on 27 March 2013 Payments to date-£598,995 inc. VAT Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the Skills Funding Agency 2. DCFT SI (Systems Integrator) Delivery budget is in each Core City per head of population. Contract FSC2313 awarded to: Capgemini UK plc under the [188651] ‘Connect’ ICT Services Agreement The work was delivered in full and a total payment made of Matthew Hancock: Overall funding for adult skills £2,392,368 inc. VAT for further education learners aged 19+ in the 2013-14 3. Data Collections and Funding Transformation-Application financial year is £4.081 billion, which includes elements Development that do not form part of the Skills Funding Agency Contract FSC2312 awarded to Capgemini UK plc under the budget and is presented in the Skills Funding Statement ‘Connect’ ICT Services Agreement 2013 to 2016: Capgemini sub-contracted with Trinity Experts Systems for https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding- delivery of the work. statement-2013-to-2016 The work was delivered in full and a total payment made of FE funding is demand led and participation in local £6,553,052 inc. VAT authorities is presented in the Data Annex of the document 4. Data Collections and Funding Transformation-Application provided above. Development and Support Students: Loans Contract FSC2311 awarded to: Capgemini UK plc under the ‘Connect’ ICT Services Agreement Capgemini sub-contracted with Amor Group for delivery of Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, the work Innovation and Skills how many applications for Advanced Learning loans have been (a) made and (b) issued to The work was delivered in full and a total payment made of £4,354,694 inc. VAT date. [188648] 5. Data Collections and Funding Transformation-Application Matthew Hancock: Information on the number of Management 24+ Advanced Learning Loan applications received Contract FSC2480 awarded to: Capgemini UK plc under the between 8 April 2013 and 31 December 2013 is published ‘Connect’ ICT Services Agreement online: Capgemini sub-contracted with Lockheed Martin for delivery https://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/fe_data_library/ of the work. other_statistics_and_research/24advancedlearningloans/ Note-Lockheed Martin took over the Amor Group in September Information on the number of learners participating 2013. in further education and skills with 24+Advanced Learning A 4 month contract for ‘Application Management’ commenced Loans in the first quarter of the 2013/14 academic year on 1 November 2013 is published online: Contract value £332,148 inc. VAT https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/learner- No payments have been made to date participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held 9MC Ministerial Corrections27 FEBRUARY 2014 Ministerial Corrections 10MC

Jane Ellison: There is no complacency on the Ministerial Correction Government Benches, and attendances are half what they were under Labour. Week after week we have Thursday 27 February 2014 heard those on the Opposition Front Bench come to the House to talk up a crisis in our NHS, but the NHS has responded incredibly well throughout the winter. I pay huge tribute to the staff of the NHS for what they have done in responding to this. The Government are taking HEALTH long-term action to reduce pressure on A and E; even the College of Emergency Medicine rebuts the Opposition Accident and Emergency Attendances line that there is a crisis in A and E this winter. The following is an extract given by the Under-Secretary [Official Report, 25 February 2014, Vol. 576, c. 157.] of State for Health, the hon. Member for Battersea (Jane Letter of correction from Jane Ellison: Ellison), to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish An error has been identified in the response given on (Andrew Gwynne), from Oral Question number 16 on 25 February 2014. 25 February 2014. The correct response should have been: Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): Ministers Jane Ellison: There is no complacency on the again deny that England’s A and E departments are in Government Benches, and waits to assessment are half crisis. The Secretary of State did so in response to my what they were under Labour. Week after week we have right hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) heard those on the Opposition Front Bench come to the earlier. It just will not wash any more. In the past two House to talk up a crisis in our NHS, but the NHS has weeks, 10,743 patients waited on trolleys for up to responded incredibly well throughout the winter. I pay 12 hours because no hospital beds were available and huge tribute to the staff of the NHS for what they have 52 patients waited for even longer. Does the Minister done in responding to this. The Government are taking really think that it is acceptable that patients are experiencing long-term action to reduce pressure on A and E; even the worst fortnight in A and E this winter while she is the College of Emergency Medicine rebuts the Opposition complacently sitting on her hands? line that there is a crisis in A and E this winter.

ORAL ANSWERS

Thursday 27 February 2014

Col. No. Col. No. ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 387 ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE—continued Community Energy...... 392 European Green Capital 2015...... 396 Energy Companies: Charges ...... 393 Extreme Weather Events ...... 400 Energy Company Obligation...... 387 Fuel Poverty...... 394 Energy Efficiency ...... 389 Household Energy Bills...... 397 Energy Market Competition ...... 401 Off-grid Homes: Fuel Bills ...... 398 Energy Meters...... 399 Smart Meters ...... 396 Energy Prices ...... 390 Tidal Energy ...... 395 Energy Prices ...... 398 Topical Questions ...... 403 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Thursday 27 February 2014

Col. No. Col. No. DEFENCE...... 25WS HOME DEPARTMENT...... 27WS Armed Forces Pay Review Body (Triennial Justice and Home Affairs Council...... 27WS Review) ...... 25WS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 29WS Contingencies Fund Advance ...... 29WS ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE ...... 30WS Parliamentary Question (Correction)...... 30WS JUSTICE...... 29WS Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps...... 29WS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 25WS TRANSPORT ...... 32WS Public Records: FCO Archives...... 25WS DVLA Review...... 32WS Local Tolled Crossings...... 33WS HEALTH...... 26WS WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 34WS Mitochondrial Donation...... 26WS Child Poverty Strategy 2014-17 ...... 34WS PETITION

Thursday 27 February 2014

Col. No. PRESENTED PETITION...... 5P Understanding and Funding for People with Eating Disorders...... 5P WRITTEN ANSWERS

Thursday 27 February 2014

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 496W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT— Construction: Exports...... 496W continued Construction: Industry...... 497W Homelessness...... 443W Maternity Leave...... 498W Housing Bond Guarantee Scheme ...... 444W Skills Funding Agency ...... 498W Housing: Construction...... 445W Students: Loans ...... 500W Planning Permission ...... 446W Planning Permission: Rushden Lakes...... 446W CABINET OFFICE...... 472W Property Development: Floods ...... 447W Children: Corby ...... 472W Right to Buy Scheme ...... 447W Temporary Accommodation ...... 448W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 440W Bellwin Scheme ...... 440W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT...... 494W Council Tax ...... 441W Diamond Jubilee 2012: Medals...... 494W Council Tax Benefits...... 441W Equality ...... 494W Council Tax: Plymouth ...... 442W Film: Ethnic Groups...... 494W Floods: Insurance ...... 442W Football: Insolvency...... 495W Fracking...... 442W Ministers’ Private Offices ...... 495W Hatfield...... 443W Sports: Finance...... 496W Col. No. Col. No. CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT—continued HEALTH—continued Sports: Scholarships...... 496W Fractures...... 461W General Practitioners ...... 462W DEFENCE...... 485W Health Services: Floods ...... 463W Burma...... 485W Health Services: Veterans...... 463W Navy ...... 486W Heart Diseases ...... 464W Unmanned Air Vehicles ...... 487W HIV Infection and Hepatitis ...... 465W Warships ...... 487W Hospitals...... 465W Hospitals: Construction...... 465W DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 494W Lung Diseases...... 466W Electoral Register...... 494W Ministers’ Private Offices ...... 466W Mortality Rates...... 467W EDUCATION...... 479W NHS England ...... 467W Academies...... 479W NHS: Fees and Charges ...... 470W Academies: Lincolnshire ...... 479W Obesity...... 470W Children: Cerebral Palsy ...... 479W Plastic Surgery ...... 471W Education: Assessments ...... 480W Specialised Healthcare Alliance ...... 471W Equality ...... 480W Parents: Education...... 481W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 428W Pre-school Education...... 481W Animal Experiments ...... 428W Schools: Standards...... 482W Crime: Football...... 429W Special Educational Needs...... 482W Drugs: Smuggling ...... 430W Teachers: Bureaucracy ...... 483W Equality ...... 431W Teachers: Surveys...... 483W Female Genital Mutilation...... 431W UN Committee on the Rights of the Child ...... 484W Foreign Workers...... 431W Hunting ...... 432W ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE ...... 452W Immigrants: Tuberculosis...... 432W Absent Voting ...... 452W Immigration Controls ...... 433W Electoral Register...... 453W Interpol...... 433W Maternity Leave...... 433W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 487W Members: Correspondence ...... 434W Climate Change ...... 489W Motorcycles ...... 434W Climate Change: Northern Ireland ...... 489W Offences Against Children ...... 434W Energy: Meters...... 490W Police: Ethnic Groups ...... 434W Energy: Prices ...... 490W Public Houses: Opening Hours ...... 437W Energy Suppliers: Switching...... 488W Re-employment...... 437W Energy Supply...... 489W Energy-intensive Industries ...... 488W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 453W Forests ...... 492W Bangladesh...... 453W Fuel Poverty...... 488W Burma...... 454W Fuel Poverty: North-East England...... 487W Developing Countries: Overseas Investment ...... 454W Household Energy Bills...... 487W Nuclear Power Stations...... 493W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 437W Warm Home Discount Scheme ...... 493W Equality ...... 437W Fisheries: Weather...... 437W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Television: Advertising...... 438W AFFAIRS...... 484W Trade Promotion...... 438W Bovine Tuberculosis ...... 484W Floods...... 484W SCOTLAND...... 440W Floods: Insurance ...... 484W Equality ...... 440W Thames Flood Barrier...... 485W Ministers’ Private Offices ...... 440W Water Supply ...... 485W TRANSPORT ...... 454W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE .... 425W Electric Vehicles ...... 454W Arms Trade: Treaties...... 425W High Speed 2 Railway Line ...... 455W British Nationals Abroad...... 425W Large Goods Vehicles ...... 455W Egypt ...... 426W Motor Vehicles: Registration...... 455W Equality ...... 426W Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance...... 456W Iraq...... 426W Roads: Bedfordshire...... 456W Pakistan ...... 427W Qatar...... 427W TREASURY ...... 449W Staff ...... 427W Beer: Imports ...... 449W Syria...... 428W Child Benefit...... 449W USA...... 428W Children: Day Care ...... 449W Consultants...... 449W HEALTH...... 457W Councillors: Allowances...... 450W Ambulance Services ...... 457W Economic and Monetary Union ...... 450W Avian Influenza...... 458W Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks...... 450W Cancer: Drugs...... 458W Excise Duties: Tobacco ...... 451W Cerebral Palsy: Children ...... 460W High Net Worth Unit...... 451W Floods: Health Hazards...... 460W Tax Allowances: Video Games...... 452W Col. No. Col. No. TREASURY—continued WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 473W Training ...... 452W Autism Act 2009 ...... 473W Written Questions: Government Responses ...... 452W Employment and Support Allowance ...... 473W Jobseeker’s Allowance: Glasgow ...... 474W Personal Independence Payment...... 474W WALES...... 439W Smoking: Motor Vehicles...... 474W Asbestos: Children...... 439W Social Security Benefits: Disability...... 475W Equality ...... 439W Telephone Services...... 475W Unemployment: Hartlepool ...... 475W Universal Credit...... 476W WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 472W Work Capability Assessment: Barrow in Furness... 477W Gender Recognition...... 472W Work Programme: Barrow in Furness...... 477W MINISTERIAL CORRECTION

Thursday 27 February 2014

Col. No. HEALTH...... 9MC Accident and Emergency Attendances ...... 9MC Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Thursday 6 March 2014

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CONTENTS

Thursday 27 February 2014

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 387] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Business of the House [Col. 409] Statement—(Mr Lansley)

Backbench Business Welfare Reform (Sick and Disabled People) [Col. 423] Motion—(John McDonnell)—agreed to Parliamentary Representation [Col. 475] Motion—(Dame Anne Begg)—agreed to

Post Office Museum and Post Office Railway [Col. 515] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall NHS Patient Data [Col. 173WH] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Statements [Col. 25WS]

Petition [Col. 5P] Presented Petition

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 425W] [see index inside back page]

Ministerial Correction [Col. 9MC]