Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016
This report shows written answers and statements provided on 27 May 2016 and the information is correct at the time of publication (03:33 P.M., 27 May 2016). For the latest information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements, please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/
CONTENTS ANSWERS 6 Corruption: Conferences 16 BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND Corruption: Crown SKILLS 6 Dependencies and British Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia 6 Overseas Territories 16 British Business Bank 6 Local Government: Iron and Steel 17 Cluster Munitions: Exports 7 Members: Correspondence 17 Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement 7 Mortality Rates 17 Energy: EU Law 8 UK Membership of EU: Referendums 18 Higher Education 8 Voluntary Work: Young People 18 Iron and Steel: Antidumping 10 Zero Hours Contracts: Young Iron and Steel: Import Duties 10 People 18 Iron and Steel: Manufacturing TREASURY 19 Industries 11 Children: Day Care 19 Iron and Steel: Research 11 Individual Savings Accounts: Leasehold 12 Young People 19 Overseas Trade 12 Public Private Partnerships 20 Students: Disability 12 Social Security Benefits: EU Tata Steel 14 Nationals 20 UK Trade and Investment 14 Soft Drinks: Taxation 20 CABINET OFFICE 15 Tax Collection: EU Law 21 Anti-corruption Summit 15 Welfare Tax Credits 21 Anti-corruption Summit: CHURCH COMMISSIONERS 22 European Parliament Members 15 Churches: Credit Unions 22 Chernobyl 15 Corruption 16
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COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL EDUCATION 32 GOVERNMENT 22 Academies 32 Coastal Communities Fund 22 Academies: Admissions 32 Floods: Urban Areas 23 Academies: Land Use 33 Housing: Older People 23 Academies: Performance Local Enterprise Partnerships 24 Standards 33 Owner Occupation 24 Academies: Sponsorship 34 CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT 25 Academies: Stafford 34 BBC 25 Academies: Uniforms 35 BBC: Public Opinion 25 Children: Cancer 36 Broadband: Finance 25 Children: Care Homes 36 Credit: Advertising 25 Children: Diseases 38 Ofcom: Trade Competitiveness 26 Cooperative Trust Schools 38 Tickets: Sales 26 Education: Assessments 38 DEFENCE 26 English Baccalaureate: Arts 39 Aircraft Carriers 26 Fertility: Medical Treatments 39 Armed Forces: Accidents 27 Free Schools 40 Armed Forces: Basic Skills 27 Intercountry Adoption 40 Armed Forces: Eastern Europe 27 Internet: Bullying 41 Armed Forces: GCSE 28 Local Safeguarding Children Arms Trade: EU Internal Trade 28 Boards Independent Review 41 EUFOR: Finance 28 Primary Education: Class Sizes 41 Mediterranean Sea: Human Private Education: Standards 42 Trafficking 28 Pupils: Exercise 43 Military Bases: Religious Schools Commissioner: Buildings 29 Exhibitions 44 Ministry of Defence: Food 29 Schools: Admissions 45 Ministry of Defence: Pay 30 Teachers: Training 45 Ministry of Defence: Public Teachers: Vacancies 47 Expenditure 30 Two Trees School Denton 48 Saudi Arabia: Military Aid 30 University Technical Colleges 49 South China Sea 31 ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE 49 Submarines: Arctic 31 Carbon Emissions 49 Yemen: Cluster Munitions 31 Coal Fired Power Stations 50
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Electricity Interconnectors 50 Breast Cancer and Heart Energy: Manufacturing Diseases: Alcoholic Drinks 64 Industries 51 Breastfeeding 64 Energy: Prices 51 Bronchitis: Medical Treatments 65 Green Deal Scheme 52 Clinical Trials 65 National Grid 52 Clinical Trials and Research 65 Renewable Energy: Storage 53 Dementia 66 Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs 53 Department of Health: Public Solar Power: Non-domestic Expenditure 67 Rates 53 Diabetes 67 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Doctors: Performance Appraisal 67 AFFAIRS 54 Drugs 68 Agriculture: Subsidies 54 Emergencies 68 Bovine Tuberculosis 54 Endometriosis 68 FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH Gastrointestinal System: Drugs 69 OFFICE 54 General Practitioners: Bangladesh: Religious Freedom 54 Manchester Withington 69 Crimea: Religious Freedom 55 Health Professions: Registration 70 Egypt: Counter-terrorism 55 Health Professions: Research 72 EU Staff: British Nationality 55 Health Professions: Training 73 Mexico: Religious Freedom 57 Health Services 74 Religious Freedom 57 Health Services: Children 75 Religious Freedom: Females 58 Health Services: Procurement 75 Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade 58 HIV Infection: Drugs 75 Sudan: Human Rights 59 Hospitals: Food 75 Turkey: EU Aid 59 Hospitals: Parking 77 Turkey: Politics and Hypertension: Alzheimer's Government 60 Disease 77 Turkey: Syria 60 Hypnosis: Children 78 HEALTH 60 Infectious Diseases 78 Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse 60 Kidneys: Research 78 Antidepressants 61 Life Expectancy 79 Autism 63 Long Stay Patients: Learning Blood: Contamination 63 Disability 80 Breast Cancer 63 Lung Diseases 80
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Lyme Disease 80 Home Office: Hotels 96 Medical Records: Databases 81 Home Office: Staff 96 Medical Treatments Abroad: Internet: Bullying 96 Europe 82 Social Networking 97 Members: Correspondence 82 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 97 Mental Health Services 83 Developing Countries: Females 97 Mental Health Services: Out of JUSTICE 98 Area Treatment 84 Bill of Rights 98 Mental Health Services: Young People 84 Legal Aid Scheme: Children and Young People 98 NHS: Coroners 84 Offenders: Employment 100 Obesity: Children 84 Prisons: Discipline 101 Orkambi 85 Suspended Sentences 103 Palliative Care 85 Young Offender Institutions: Palliative Care: LGBT People 86 Discipline 103 Pharmacy 86 PRIME MINISTER 105 Pharmacy: Yorkshire and the Anti-corruption Summit 105 Humber 87 SCOTLAND 105 Prescriptions: Fees and Charges 88 Scotland Office: Pay 105 Professions: Registration 89 TRANSPORT 106 Sepsis: Children 89 A14: Speed Limits 106 Social Networking and Technology: Young People 90 Aviation: North East 106 Stem Cells: Medical Treatments 91 Bus Services: Concessions 108 Stem Cells: Research 91 Bus Services: Disability 108 World AIDS Day 91 Cycling: Australia 109 Youth Services: Per Capita Cycling: Finance 109 Costs 92 Cycling: Railways 110 HOME OFFICE 92 Department for Transport: Food 110 Alternatives to Prison 92 Driverless Vehicles 111 Asylum: EU Law 92 Driverless Vehicles: EU Action 111 Cybercrime: Young People 94 Driving Instruction: Motorways 111 Fire and Rescue Services: East Coast Railway Line: Finance 94 Yorkshire and the Humber 112 Fraud 95 Electric Vehicles 112
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Foreign investment in UK: North WORK AND PENSIONS 120 East 113 Children: Maintenance 120 Govia Thameslink Railway: Employment Schemes: Mental Industrial Disputes 113 Illness 120 Horse Riding: Bridleways and EU Globalisation Fund 121 Roads 113 Jobcentres: Lytham St Annes 121 Large Goods Vehicles 114 Jobcentres: Standards 122 London City Airport 114 Joint Work and Health Unit 122 Motorways: Speed Limits 114 Offenders: Employment 123 Ports 114 Pensions: Advisory Services 124 Public Transport: Guide Dogs 115 Personal Independence Rapid Transit Systems: Leeds 115 Payment 124 Renewable Transport Fuel Social Security Benefits: Cancer 125 Obligation 116 Social Security Benefits: EU Roads: Repairs and Nationals 125 Maintenance 116 State Retirement Pensions: Rolling Stock: Procurement 117 British Nationals Abroad 126 Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling State Retirement Pensions: Stock 117 Females 126 Transport 117 State Retirement Pensions: Unmanned Air Vehicles: Uprating 127 Regulation 118 WRITTEN STATEMENTS 128 Vauxhall 118 CABINET OFFICE 128 Volkswagen 118 Indemnity for Petition Officers Walking: Finance 119 at Recall Petitions 128 WALES 119 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 129 Wales Office: Pay 119 Foreign Affairs Council for WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 120 Development (12 May 2016) 129 Females: Directors 120 TRANSPORT 130 Rail Franchising 130
Notes: Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant interest has been declared. Questions with identification numbers of 900000 or greater indicate that the question was originally tabled as an oral question and has since been unstarred.
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ANSWERS
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS
Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia Stephen Doughty: [38075] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will suspend the sale of arms to countries of the Saudi Arabian-led military coalition following the coalition's alleged use of cluster munitions in the Yemen conflict. Anna Soubry: The UK Government takes its export control responsibilities very seriously. All export licence applications are carefully assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. A licence will not be issued if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the Criteria. The suspension of licences will be considered by my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in circumstances where in the light of new evidence and information it would be considered that a proper risk assessment against the Consolidated Criteria would be difficult. At this time he considers that he does have sufficient information from a range of sources for a proper risk assessment to be made against the Criteria. The UK ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 4 May 2010 and does not licence the export of these weapons.
British Business Bank Mr David Lammy: [37498] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the British Business Bank's (a) total operating budget, (b) budget for communications and (c) expenditure on third party communications consultancy and public relations agencies was in (i) 2014, (ii) 2015 and (iii) 2016. Anna Soubry: The British Business Bank is a government-owned economic development bank that makes finance markets for smaller businesses work more effectively. It works with the market to increase awareness amongst smaller businesses about the available finance options. British Business Bank became fully operational on 1 November 2014. Therefore we are able to provide the information requested for the 5 month period ended 31 March 2015 and the 12 month period ended 31 March 2016. This is shown in the table below.
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EXPENDITURE ON 3 RD BUDGET FOR PARTY COMMUNICATIONS, TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET COMMUNICATIONS IN CONSULTANCY & PR IN £000(A) £000 (B) AGENCIES IN £000 (C)
5 months ended 31 9,606 280 280 March 2015
12 months ended 31 23,207 895 466 March 2016
* Please note that the Budget for Communications (b) includes salary related costs and Expenditure on 3 rd Party Communications Consultancy and PR Agencies (c) does not.
Cluster Munitions: Exports Neil Coyle: [38337] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether any cluster bombs have been exported under licence from the UK to Saudi Arabia or Yemen since 1989. Anna Soubry: Our electronic records show that since 1999 no licences have been granted to Saudi Arabia or Yemen for cluster bombs. Paper records prior to 1999 can only be searched at disproportionate cost.
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Caroline Lucas: [R] [37195] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations the Government has made to the European Commission on provisional implementation of the EU-Canada trade agreement. Caroline Lucas: [R] [37196] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to oppose the provisional implementation of the EU-Canada trade agreement when it is discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in June 2016. Anna Soubry: The EU–Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) will deliver jobs and growth for the UK, with independent analysis suggesting the deal could be worth up to £1.3 billion per year to the UK economy. We expect CETA to be a “mixed” agreement, covering areas of both EU and Member State competence. In this case, the EU Council could decide to provisionally apply the parts of CETA which fall within EU competence. The Government supports this approach as it will allow the UK to benefit from provisions such as reduced duties on
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imports and exports as soon as possible. This has been discussed with the European Commission on a number of occasions, most at the Trade Foreign Affairs Council that took place in Brussels this month. The Council will negotiate which provisions of CETA should be applied provisionally by the EU once the final text has been received. Caroline Lucas: [R] [37197] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans the Government has for parliamentary scrutiny of the EU-Canada trade agreement; and whether the Government will bring that agreement to the House for a vote. Anna Soubry: We expect that the EU–Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) will be a “mixed” agreement, covering areas of both EU and Member State competence. In that case, it will be subject to agreement by each EU Member State, the EU Council and the European Parliament. As part of this process the agreement will be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny before it is ratified by the UK. The complete draft text of the agreement would be laid before Parliament for at least 21 sitting days during which time MPs and Lords may debate the treaty in either or both Houses and vote against the proposed ratification. For the parts of the agreement within UK competence, the proposals for a Council decision on signature and, subsequently, conclusion will be subject to scrutiny in both Houses of the UK Parliament. In practice EU trade agreements which contain a mixture of EU and Member State competence are agreed by consensus, this means the UK must agree before the treaty can fully come into force.
Energy: EU Law Kevin Brennan: [37171] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what meetings he has had with the European Commissioner for Competition on EU state aid rules and support for energy-intensive industries. Anna Soubry: Over the past year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has met and called several times with Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, to discuss EU state aid rules and energy-intensive industries. I as Minister of State for Business, Industry and Enterprise attended the energy intensive industries high level stakeholder conference in Brussels in February. Senior officials from the Department have also had regular meetings with Commission Competition officials to discuss these issues.
Higher Education Gordon Marsden: [38079] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to his Department's White Paper, Success as a knowledge economy: teaching excellence, social mobility and student choice, published on 16 May 2016, what the minimum number of (a)
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students and (b) higher education students is which any new provider would have to have registered at their institution in order to be granted university teaching powers. Joseph Johnson: The Government’s intention is that – as now – in order to be eligible for taught degree awarding powers a provider must have the majority of its higher education students enrolled on study programmes which are recognised as being at level 6 or above of the Framework of Higher Education Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This requirement will be set out in detailed criteria and guidance on degree awarding powers on which there will be a consultation in due course. Gordon Marsden: [38080] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to his Department's White Paper, Success as a knowledge economy: teaching excellence, social mobility and student choice, published on 16 May 2016, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to higher education providers of the proposed student protection scheme. Joseph Johnson: The Higher Education and Research Bill will require all registered higher education providers to put in place student protection plans. These plans will ensure that students are able to continue to achieve their academic outcomes in the event of the provider not being able to fully deliver their course. An Impact Assessment will be published shortly. Gordon Marsden: [38081] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to his Department's White Paper, Success as a knowledge economy: teaching excellence, social mobility and student choice, published on 16 May 2016, what assessment his Department has made of the potential level of subscriptions which higher education providers will contribute to fund the Office for Students. Joseph Johnson: The Impact Assessment for the Higher Education and Research Bill will be published shortly. It will include estimates of the total contribution of higher education providers towards the costs of Office for Students. The Government will consult on the specific structure of the registration fees to ensure they are fair and affordable for the higher education providers. Gordon Marsden: [38082] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to his Department's White Paper, Success as a knowledge economy: teaching excellence, social mobility and student choice, published on 16 May 2016, what discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on the effect of the establishment of UK Research and Innovation on their policies and funding. Joseph Johnson: My officials have discussed the proposals in the White Paper, including the creation of UK Research and Innovation, with the Devolved Administrations. I look forward to continuing these discussions with my counterparts.
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Iron and Steel: Antidumping Kevin Brennan: [37178] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what powers are available to his Department to restrict dumping of steel imports in the UK; and which of those powers he has used. Anna Soubry: Trade defence is an EU competence. The EU’s anti-dumping procedures are set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 (the EU’s basic anti-dumping Regulation). The process is mainly initiated following requests from EU producers to the Commission. The Commission is responsible for considering requests for and, if appropriate, opening anti- dumping investigations. The UK, or any other EU member state, cannot unilaterally impose tariffs. It is for industry to demonstrate prima facie evidence of dumping to the European Commission. We encourage industry to present this evidence to the Commission where they have evidence of dumping. Where evidence is sufficient to justify an investigation the Commission will do so and present any proposals for imposing duties to Member States. The Government stands ready to assist all parts of UK industry in making its case to the Commission and has actively lobbied the Commission in support of UK steel producers in a number of recent cases, including reinforcing bar and cold-rolled flat products.
Iron and Steel: Import Duties Kevin Brennan: [37416] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make a comparative assessment of the effect of tariffs on steel imports in the EU and the US. Anna Soubry: Each anti-dumping case is different. Moreover the levels of dumping and injury occurring in EU and US markets may be very different. The Government examines the evidence in all EU anti-dumping cases closely before taking a view. The Government believes that effective trade defence measures should be proportionate, not protectionist, and strike a balance between removing the injury to producers caused by dumping, and avoiding imposing unnecessary costs on user industries, retailers, consumers and the rest of the economy. The evidence we have to date is that duties that have been imposed on imports of Chinese steel into the EU have been effective in delivering rapid, substantial and sustained reductions in imports. For example, imports of wire rod, organic coated steel and stainless steel flat products are down by more than 90%. Where the European Commission has set duties that we believe to be too low to remove the injury caused to EU industry by dumped imports, we will push for them to be increased, as we have done in the reinforcing bar and cold rolled flat products cases.
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Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries Kevin Brennan: [37175] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the contribution of the Materials Processing Institute to the development of a modern British steel industry. Anna Soubry: The Government is exploring all options to support steel and the foundation industries. We are interested to consider how we can develop the best way forward for the UK industry alongside all parties with steel expertise, including the Materials Processing Institute. Kevin Brennan: [37179] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of a UK withdrawal from the EU on the British steel industry. Anna Soubry: The UK is stronger, safer, and better off in a reformed EU, and this very much applies to our steel industry. The EU is our most important market for steel, buying over half our steel exports, and it is a powerful voice pushing for fair international trading conditions. Our membership provides access to a vast open market with a good system that balances the interests of producers and users. Outside the EU, we could find ourselves on the receiving end of EU tariffs, which would result in additional costs for the UK steel industry. In addition, we would be less able to defend ourselves against unfair competition from third countries. The Commission now has a record 37 measures against steel products, 16 of which are on Chinese imports.
Iron and Steel: Research Kevin Brennan: [37173] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of innovation, research and development to the future viability of the British steel industry. Anna Soubry: The UK is a world leader in advanced manufacturing sectors such as automotive and aerospace, which continue to grow rapidly. These industries all require high value, continually improving steel products in order to remain competitive, and therefore innovation will continue to play an important role in the future of the UK steel industry. The Steel Council recognises this; UK Steel are leading the Future Capacity and Capabilities working group which is currently undertaking work to better identify where innovation and R&D is needed to meet future requirements for steel products, and how industry and Government can work together to support this. Since 2010 we have been supporting the steel sector by offering grants totalling £29 million and loans totalling £33 million towards projects including:
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o The development of facilities, such as the R&D centre at Warwick University. o Development of new products. o And investment in training, skills and apprenticeships.
Leasehold Gareth Thomas: [38043] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what data the Land Registry holds on the number of leasehold domestic properties in (a) the London Borough of Harrow and (b) England in each of the last 10 years. Anna Soubry: The data requested is on the attached spreadsheet. Land Registry has also provided data relating to both the number of leasehold titles and the number of transactions affecting leasehold titles in Harrow and in England in each of the last 10 years.
Attachments: 1. Attachment to 38043 [Attachment to 38043.xlsx]
Overseas Trade John Woodcock: [37872] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) discussions and (b) meetings each Minister named as part of the UK Trade and Investment Strategic Relations programme overseen by his Department has had with their paired businesses listed in that scheme since 7 May 2015. Anna Soubry: The UK Trade and Investment Strategic Relations (SRM) programme has a coordination role across government to encourage better communication between the various departments in government and businesses. More information, including a list of the 86 companies involved and contact Ministers can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ukti-strategic-relations-team Details of Ministerial meetings, including with SRM companies, are published quarterly on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keywords=ministerial+meetings&publicati on_filter_option=transparency- data&topics%5B%5D=all&departments%5B%5D=all&official_document_status=all&wo rld_locations%5B%5D=all&from_date=&to_date=
Students: Disability Tim Farron: [38015] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that academic staff are aware of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 to make provision for the needs of disabled students.
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Joseph Johnson: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have clear legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to support their students, including those with disabilities. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has produced a range of guidance for institutions on their obligations under the Equality Act 2010, including technical guidance setting out the detail of the law. Guidance is also produced by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU), a higher education sector body that supports equality and diversity for staff and students across the UK, including for disabled staff and students on managing “reasonable adjustments”. The ECU also published a report on the implications for institutions of the key issues contained in the Equality Act 2010. In addition, to support higher education providers to prepare for the changes to Disabled Students’ Allowances that come into effect from academic year 2016/17, the Department has facilitated the establishment of a senior sector-led group. The group’s focus is communication with senior leaders of higher education providers, including provision of information about their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students. Tim Farron: [38019] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will allow the Quality Assurance Agency to include an assessment of how well universities are meeting the needs of disabled students in their remit. Joseph Johnson: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with the potential has the opportunity to benefit from higher education, irrespective of their background or mode of learning. In the last year we saw record numbers of applicants and entrants to higher education, and record application rates among students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Universities expect to spend more than £745 million through access agreements agreed with the Director of Fair Access on measures to improve access and success for students from disadvantaged groups, including disabled students - up significantly from £404 million in 2009. Under the Equality Act 2010, higher education institutions have a role and responsibility for promoting equality, including for students with disabilities. The UK Quality Code promotes an inclusive approach by embedding consideration of equality and diversity throughout higher education institutions. Promoting equality for disabled students can include eliminating arbitrary and unnecessary barriers to learning and offering learning opportunities that are equally accessible to them. The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) looks for evidence that universities promote equality when making assessments of higher education institutions in line with the UK Quality Code.
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Tata Steel Kevin Brennan: [37177] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he has taken to (a) improve customer confidence in and (b) ensure continuity of client contracts with Tata steel. Anna Soubry: Tata have confirmed to us that they working closely with all of their customers and suppliers at this time, and HMG is supporting Tata to make sure that their customers and suppliers are fully aware of all the efforts the Government is making to secure a sale of their UK facilities. The Government has also written a letter to Tata’s supply chain and customers highlighting our commitment to the UK steel sector, and the steps we are taking to support the industry.
UK Trade and Investment Mr David Lammy: [37522] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what UK Trade and Investment's total (a) operating budget, (b) communications budget and (c) expenditure on third party communications consultancy and public relations agencies was in (i) 2014, (ii) 2015 and (iii) 2016. Anna Soubry: UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) total (a1) operating budget, (b) communications budget and (c) expenditure on third party communications consultancy and public relations agencies in (i) 2014, (ii) 2015 and (iii) 2016 was as follows in the table below. We have also provided additional figures (a2) to reflect UKTI total associated operating costs which were allocated by parliament to UKTI’s parent departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills prior to 2015/16. These costs have been increasingly consolidated into UKTI operating budget over the last two years:
2013/14(£M) 2014/15(£M) 2015/16 (£M)
A1 166.4 271.9 343.0
A2 209.6 90.4 -
376.0 362.3 343.0
B 12.6 4.1 4.1
C 0.5 3.8 1.4
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CABINET OFFICE
Anti-corruption Summit Jonathan Ashworth: [37820] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government's Anti-Corruption Tsar addressed the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016. Jonathan Ashworth: [37849] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role the Anti-Corruption Tsar had in the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016. Matthew Hancock: The Anti-Corruption Champion attended the anti-corruption summit on 12 May and hosted a delegate’s breakfast. He also addressed the Tackling Corruption Together conference, organised by civil society and business, and attended a reception for summit delegates at No10 Downing Street the day before. In addition, he had a number of bilateral meetings with some of the delegates. Jonathan Ashworth: [37934] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36373, which overseas territories and Crown dependencies declined the invitation to attend the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016. Matthew Hancock: None.
Anti-corruption Summit: European Parliament Members Jonathan Ashworth: [37886] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Members of the European Parliament were invited to the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May 2016. Matthew Hancock: Eva Joly MEP was invited in an expert capacity and attended one of the panel discussions. Ms Joly is a renowned Franco-Norwegian Judge who joined the High Court of Paris in 1990 as an investigating judge to lead a number of high-profile corruption cases.
Chernobyl Paul Flynn: [37612] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Civil Contingencies Unit has made of levels of radioactive contamination in upland areas across the UK from radioactive fallout in May 1986 as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Mr Oliver Letwin: The Civil Contingencies Secretariat does not make assessments of the current levels of radioactive contamination existing in upland areas across the UK. However, the Food
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Standards Agency (FSA) coordinates a report on radiological monitoring across the UK on behalf of Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Natural Resource Wales and Northern Ireland Environment Agency. This is reported annually in the report on Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE). The most recent report can be found at: http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/rife-20.pdf Between 1986 and 2012, the Food Standards Agency and its predecessors managed controls and routine monitoring of sheep in certain upland areas of the UK in order to protect food safety. Following a review of the evidence (which included an assessment of the levels of radio caesium in sheep within the restricted areas) and a 12-week public consultation, the Board of the Food Standards Agency agreed the lifting of the last of these controls with effect on 1 June 2012. See: http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/radiologicalresearch/radiosurv/chernobyl
Attachments: 1. Attachment [37612 Attachment.pdf]
Corruption Jonathan Ashworth: [37887] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what funding the Government provides its Anti- Corruption Tsar to tackle corruption. Matthew Hancock: The Anti-Corruption Champion co-chairs the Inter Ministerial Group on Anti-Corruption, which oversees the government’s work to tackle corruption domestically and internationally Officials from the Cabinet Office provide support to the Group and the Anti-Corruption Champion as part of wider Anti-Corruption work.
Corruption: Conferences Jonathan Ashworth: [37797] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 10 May 2016 to Question 36307, what the total cost was of (a) the Anti-Corruption Summit held on 12 May 2016 and (b) the Tackling Corruption Together Conference held on 11 May 2016. Matthew Hancock: The full costs of the preparation and delivery of the Anti-Corruption Summit are still to be confirmed and this information will be made available in due course.
Corruption: Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories Jonathan Ashworth: [37822] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what visits the Government's Anti-Corruption Tsar has taken in an official capacity to the British Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies since his appointment to that role.
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Matthew Hancock: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office manages the UK's relationship with the Overseas Territories, and the Ministry of Justice manages the relationship with the Crown Dependencies. The Anti-Corruption Champion is in close contact with both departments on those issues that relate to his work. The details of visits will be published in due course.
Local Government: Iron and Steel Kevin Brennan: [37417] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the level of procurement of British steel by local authorities in the UK. Matthew Hancock: The Government has not made an assessment of the level of procurement of British steel by local authorities in England and it does not collect or hold this information centrally. Last year Government issued guidance across central government, which sets out how government buyers should source steel for major projects in a more strategic and transparent way. This is underpinned by more detailed guidance explaining how Government departments should take into account the social impacts of competing suppliers as well as environmental factors for certain procurements involving steel. In April 2016, Government announced that the guidance on procuring steel would be extended to the wider public sector. We are working with key stakeholders to take this forward so that we can maximise take-up of the guidance across the wider public sector. As local government procurement policy is a devolved matter, it is for the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to determine how they will conduct any assessment for their local authorities.
Members: Correspondence Richard Burden: [37392] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library copies of his letter to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield of 4 May 2016 on local government and ethical procurement. Matthew Hancock: I will place this correspondence in the Library as requested, following the end of the pre- referendum period.
Mortality Rates Ian Blackford: [37194] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the main reasons for recent changes in the death rate.
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Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Attachments: 1. Referral Letter [UKSA Response to 37194 (2).pdf]
UK Membership of EU: Referendums Tim Loughton: [37839] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of all advertising of the Government's position on the EU referendum on social media to date. John Penrose: The Government published details of the cost of the producing, distributing and publicising its EU Referendum leaflet and associated website on 6th April 2016 The total cost was £9.3 million, with the breakdown of these costs as follows: • production – £458,500 • print and delivery to over 27 million homes across the UK in 2 waves – £5,947,436 • digital promotion and website – £2,894,064
Voluntary Work: Young People Jeremy Lefroy: [37898] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many young people in Stafford constituency participated in the National Citizen Service in each of the last two years. Mr Rob Wilson: I am pleased to report that over 1,200 young people in Staffordshire have participated in NCS over the past two years. The NCS Trust does not collect data at a constituency level. Therefore, the figures below are for the local authority area of Staffordshire: 2014 - 465 participants 2015 - 738 participants
Zero Hours Contracts: Young People Jeff Smith: [37879] To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people under the age of 25 in (a) England, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) Manchester, Withington constituency are employed on zero-hours contracts. Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Attachments: 1. Referral Letter [UKSA response to 37879 (2).pdf]
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TREASURY
Children: Day Care Craig Williams: [37261] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 6.9 of the Childcare and early years survey of parents 2014-15, what progress HM Revenue and Customs is making in raising awareness of the tax-free childcare scheme. Damian Hinds: The Government will publicise the scheme in good time ahead of its introduction through a range of digital and non-digital channels. HM Revenue and Customs will also work with the childcare industry and representative groups who interact regularly with parents to raise awareness of the scheme. Craig Williams: [37264] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government's review of Atos contracts will affect the preparations for the launch of tax-free childcare. Damian Hinds: We do not anticipate that the review of Atos contracts will affect the preparations for the launch of Tax-Free Childcare. The Cabinet Office will write to the PAC summarising the findings of the review and it will be completed in summer 2016. Craig Williams: [37265] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what dates in 2017 tax-free childcare is planned to be made available to children aged (a) 0-2, (b) 3-4, (c) 5-6, (d) 7-8, (e) 9-10 and (f) 11-12 years. Damian Hinds: Tax-Free Childcare will be launched from early 2017. To roll out the scheme in a safe and managed way, we will be gradually opening up the scheme to all eligible parents within 12 months. We will provide further details of the exact plans for this rollout in due course and in good time for parents and childcare providers to prepare for the introduction of Tax-Free Childcare.
Individual Savings Accounts: Young People Ian Blackford: [38340] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2016 to Question 37150, what assessment he has made of the effect of new lifetime ISA on changes in the levels of pension savings amongst young people. Mr David Gauke: The new Lifetime ISA is an additional flexible savings product which will complement pensions to give savers greater freedom and choice to save for the long-term in a way that works for them.
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With automatic enrolment set to help nine million with their pension, the Government remains committed to supporting people who save in different ways. The Lifetime ISA supports the Government’s ambition to encourage a regular savings habit amongst young people and to create a culture of long-term saving. The Lifetime ISA is a voluntary product. For further information on the costing of this policy, please see page 9 of the Budget 2015 Policy Costings document: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508147/P U1912_Policy_Costings_FINAL3.pdf
Public Private Partnerships Steve McCabe: [37462] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 14 April 2016 to Question 33354, who is responsible for (a) initial negotiation and (b) any renegotiation of centrally-supported PF1 and PF2 projects. Greg Hands: Pursuant to the answer given on 14 April 2016 to PQ UIN 33354, it is the contract parties that are responsible for the initial negotiation or any renegotiations of PFI and PF2 projects.
Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals Mrs Anne Main: [37943] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of annual claims made for (a) tax credits and (b) child benefit by EU nationals who remain in the UK for less than one year in each of the last three years. Mrs Anne Main: [37945] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the income tax paid each year by EU nationals who remain in the UK for less than one year in each of the last three years. Damian Hinds: The information requested is not available.
Soft Drinks: Taxation Richard Fuller: [38335] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data or research by industry analysts were used to inform the decision to introduce a soft drinks industry levy. Damian Hinds: Health experts have identified sugar sweetened soft drinks as a major source of sugar in children’s and teenagers’ diet, and a cause of childhood obesity. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommends that sugar only forms 5% of daily calories; however, for children, it is currently around 15%.
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The most recent published National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) reports that sugar sweetened soft drinks are the a major contributor to daily sugar intake for children, accounting for about 30% of the daily sugar intake alone. The soft drinks industry levy will encourage producers to reformulate soft drinks so that they contain less sugar. Industry data was used for the policy costing of the soft drinks industry levy announced at Budget 2016. Details are available at page 12 in the Budget 2016 policy costings document available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508147/P U1912_Policy_Costings_FINAL3.pdf Richard Fuller: [38342] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how he plans to fund the cost of implementation of the soft drinks industry levy in its first year. Damian Hinds: We will consult on the appropriate compliance arrangements for the levy and will plan resource allocation in due course.
Tax Collection: EU Law Andrew Stephenson: [37088] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been collected by other EU countries on behalf of the Government through the Mutual Assistance Recovery Directive in each year since that Directive came into effect. Andrew Stephenson: [37089] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HM Revenue and Customs has collected from UK citizens through the Mutual Assistance Recovery Directive in each year since that Directive came into effect. Mr David Gauke: This information is not published by the UK Government or by the EU Commission.
Welfare Tax Credits Paul Blomfield: [37798] To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many enquiries have been made by hon. Members to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on tax credits claims in the last 12 months; and what the average time taken was for HMRC to respond to those enquiries. Damian Hinds: HMRC receives enquiries from Hon Members about tax credit awards in a number of different ways. HMRC seeks to answer every one as a high priority. No comprehensive figures are held for the time taken to answer all enquiries.
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CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Churches: Credit Unions Mr Robin Walker: [38145] To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, how many credit unions have approached churches or church organisations as a result of the Archbishop of Canterbury's #TOYOURCREDIT initiative. Mrs Caroline Spelman: Churches across England have responded to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s call to support credit unions and other forms of responsible credit and savings. At least 31 out of 40 dioceses have been actively involved in supporting over 50 credit unions in various ways, such as: • promoting the local credit union in their congregation and wider community • recruiting credit union volunteers • hosting training sessions • opening church premises as credit union access points • encouraging payroll savings schemes among local employers • helping to set up school savings clubs Through the Church Credit Champions Network, one of the core initiatives of the Archbishop’s Task Group on Responsible Credit and Savings, the pilot scheme has engaged over 350 churches in London and Liverpool alone and trained more than 260 Credit Champions to date. Other creative diocesan responses include the Murston Community Bank in Canterbury diocese, Lichfield’s Funeral Project, Southwell & Nottingham’s 100x100 scheme are all designed to raise local awareness of credit unions. The other core initiative, the LifeSavers programme, is working with eight credit unions across the country to set up savings clubs in primary schools, alongside an integrated programme of financial education. Following a successful pilot, the programme is being rolled out to 120 church and non-church primary schools over the next three academic years with financial support from Virgin Money. Additional funding from Government will help extend the coverage to many more primary schools through a dedicated LifeSavers website.
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Coastal Communities Fund Mr Douglas Carswell: [37969] To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36275, if he will make it his policy to ensure that disbursements from the Coastal Communities Fund are allocated to the regions of England on the basis of population share.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 23
Mr Mark Francois: Our policy is that every coastal community should have the chance to bid for a share of the Coastal Communities Fund to help them with projects that will have a real and lasting impact on their local economy. The 118 Coastal Community Teams (CCTs) in England now provide an important new local context for considering these bids, so that the Fund helps to deliver community-led Economic Plans. Each bid is considered on its merits and allocating the Fund to regions on the basis of their population share would not necessarily ensure best value for money.
Floods: Urban Areas Craig Whittaker: [37637] To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to work with local authorities whose areas experienced flooding over winter 2015-16 in order to support their local high street economy. James Wharton: DCLG launched a funding package in December worth £100 million to directly support flooded householders and businesses by: • launching the Bellwin Fund so that local authorities incurring costs over the threshold can apply; • making a grant of up to £500 for each household available through local authorities to help with recovery costs; • exempting households from paying council tax for the entire time they are out of their home; • making a grant equivalent to £2,500 per business available through local authorities to help businesses to recover from loss of trade; • and giving business rates relief to those that have had their trading disrupted. Our Recovery Package also supports homes and businesses to protect their properties against future floods through the Property Level Resilience Scheme. In addition to this bespoke recovery package, we’re taking action to help high streets thrive through a range of targeted tax breaks, sensible planning changes and measures to ensure fairer parking for motorists. At the Budget, we announced the biggest ever cut in business rates in England – worth £6.7 billion over the next five years and cutting business rates for all ratepayers, meaning 600,000 of the smallest businesses won’t have to pay business rates again.
Housing: Older People Thangam Debbonaire: [37629] To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what monitoring his Department has undertaken of the adequacy of supply of suitable and affordable
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accommodation for older people who want to live independently but with some support on- site. Thangam Debbonaire: [37662] To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on meeting the health and social care needs of older people who need affordable and accessible homes where they can live independently but with support when needed. Brandon Lewis: Decisions on how to meet the health and social care needs of older people who need affordable and accessible homes and monitoring the supply of such accommodation are best made by local authorities. Government believes that local planning authorities remain best placed to determine the extent to which provision of more accessible housing is necessary and appropriate in their local area, and have appropriate powers to introduce development plan policies to meet these needs, having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Guidance and other relevant matters. The National Planning Policy Framework & Planning Guidance requires local authorities to plan for a mix of housing based on current and future demographic trends, and the needs of different groups, including elderly people, in their area.
Local Enterprise Partnerships Daniel Zeichner: [37805] To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 26 April 2016 to Question 34525, if he will publish the (a) outcomes of his Department's regular discussions with local enterprise partnerships on their progress with local growth programmes and (b) annual performance review with the Local Enterprise Partnership. James Wharton: We are clear in the Local Enterprise Partnership Assurance Framework that Local Enterprise Partnerships should operate transparently, giving people confidence that decisions made are proper, based on evidence, and capable of being independently scrutinised. How each Local Enterprise Partnership will achieve this is set out in their local assurance framework. In accordance with this approach, Government does not publish outcomes of regular discussions with Local Enterprise Partnerships or of annual reviews.
Owner Occupation Mr Jim Cunningham: [37927] To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 12 May 2016 to Question 33770, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of households that will own their home in each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 25
Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not publish forecasts of home ownership. However, the Government’s manifesto pledged to help one million more people own a home of their own. The Housing & Planning Act will underpin a number of measures, such as the introduction of Starter Homes, which will help achieve this.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
BBC Maria Eagle: [37964] To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost to his Department was of commissioning and publishing the report, entitled BBC television, radio and online services: An assessment of market impact and distinctiveness, published in March 2016. Mr Edward Vaizey: The costs of this piece of independent research was £98,900 excluding VAT.
BBC: Public Opinion Maria Eagle: [37963] To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost to his Department was of commissioning and publishing the report, entitled Research to explore public views about the BBC, published in May 2016. Mr Edward Vaizey: The cost for this piece of independent research was £108,085 excluding VAT.
Broadband: Finance Alex Chalk: [38162] To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much of the funding allocated by Broadband Delivery UK to Fastershire remained unspent at the end of the Phase 1 broadband delivery period. Mr Edward Vaizey: To date, Fastershire have spent almost £17m of the £18.2m BDUK funding allocation. The project is on track to complete by December 2016.
Credit: Advertising Alison Thewliss: [37470] To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Financial Conduct Authority is taking to enforce rules which prevent misleading advertisement by credit brokers.
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Mr Edward Vaizey: This Government supports the system of co-regulation and self-regulation, overseen by the independent Advertising Standards Authority and underpinned by consumer protection legislation. This regulatory system is independent of the Government and is ultimately responsible for setting the standards in advertising, ensuring that all adverts, wherever they appear, are legal, decent, honest and truthful. The Government believes the system has worked well, suitably serving consumers and is sufficiently flexible to deal with both technological advances and new evidence.
Ofcom: Trade Competitiveness Jesse Norman: [38331] To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to make an announcement on Ofcom's review of the Terms of Trade. Mr John Whittingdale: The independent television production sector in this country is a fantastic success story, generating around £3 billion in revenue each year. I have considered carefully Ofcom’s report on the television production sector and decided that the regulations continue to be effective and play a key role in supporting a diverse and vibrant production sector. We have therefore decided to make no change.
Tickets: Sales Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [37568] To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to publish the responses received by the review on secondary ticketing as required by section 94 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. David Evennett: The plan is to publish responses to the Call for Evidence in due course.
DEFENCE
Aircraft Carriers Steven Paterson: [37573] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the then Secretary of State for Defence of 6 November 2013, Official Report, column 291, whether the estimated build and commissioning costs of the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers remains within the £6.2bn budget. Steven Paterson: [37584] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether HMS Queen Elizabeth remains on schedule to be handed over and commissioned into the Royal Navy in 2017.
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Mr Philip Dunne: The approved cost of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers is £6.2 billion, as announced by the previous Defence Secretary on 6 November 2013 (Official Report, column 251). Whilst there are cost pressures, the Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with Industry to drive the programme to remain within the approved cost. We expect the First of Class, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, to be accepted from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance in 2017 and, as reported in the NAO's Major Project Report 2015, the ship remains on schedule to enter service with the Royal Navy in February 2018. We remain on course to undertake Platform Sea Trials in 2017, commence Fixed Wing Flying Trials with the F35B Lightning II in 2018 and deliver Initial Operating Capability (Carrier Strike) in 2020.
Armed Forces: Accidents Brendan O'Hara: [37271] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Section 104 Order covering fatal accident inquiry military deaths will come into force. Penny Mordaunt: The Section 104 Order aims to make a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) mandatory for any Service personnel who are killed in the course of their duties in Scotland. This provision will bring Scotland in line with the equivalent position in England and Wales. The Order is scheduled to be made in December 2016 subject to agreement from both UK and Scottish Ministers.
Armed Forces: Basic Skills Stephen Timms: [37926] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2016 to Question 34910, what qualifications are required by his Department for English and mathematics tutors teaching functional skills in numeracy and literacy. Mark Lancaster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 May 2016 to Question 37111.
Attachments: 1. QnA extract on Armed Forces GCSEs [20160425_37111_Armed_Forces_GCSE[1].docx]
Armed Forces: Eastern Europe Emily Thornberry: [37344] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK military personnel are currently deployed to NATO force integration units in (a) Bulgaria, (b) Estonia, (c) Latvia, (d) Lithuania, (e) Poland and (f) Romania. Penny Mordaunt: The UK has one officer in each of the six NATO Force Integration Units.
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Armed Forces: GCSE Stephen Timms: [38070] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what opportunities the Department offers to trainee soldiers under the age of 18 to re-sit GCSEs as part of their elective personal development. Mark Lancaster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 May to Question number 37109.
Attachments: 1. QnA extract on Armed Forces GCSEs [20160523_37109_Armed_Forces_GCSE[1].docx]
Arms Trade: EU Internal Trade Mrs Anne Main: [37625] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the value of the UK defence industry's total exports to the EU in each of the last three years. Mr Philip Dunne: Official Government statistics do not differentiate exports to the European region between EU and non-EU countries. In 2013, UK defence exports to the European region accounted for 12% of total sales by value, approximately £1.3 billion. In 2014, UK defence exports to the European region accounted for 10% of total sales by value, approximately £800 million. Official statistics for 2015 will be released later this year.
EUFOR: Finance Mrs Anne Main: [37642] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the UK's financial commitment to the EUFOR has been in each of the last three years. Mr Julian Brazier: EUFOR ALTHEA is a European Union Common Security and Defence Policy operation, conducted under EU-NATO Berlin Plus arrangements, that contributes to a safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The Government regards it as a central part of its policy towards BiH. The UK committed £3.1 million in 2013, £2.8 million in 2014, and £1.9 million in 2015 to the operation.
Mediterranean Sea: Human Trafficking Mrs Anne Main: [37643] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK's naval contribution to EU anti-people trafficking operations in the Mediterranean. Penny Mordaunt: The UK is contributing HMS ENTERPRISE to Operation SOPHIA and eight staff to the Operational Headquarters. HMS ENTERPRISE has been valuable in developing a picture of the maritime environment and smuggling routes. UK assets have destroyed 27 vessels
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to prevent re-use and identified nine smugglers to the Italian authorities. Furthermore, UK ships have rescued over a quarter of the total number of migrants saved by the entire operation - 3,700 out of 13,700. More broadly, we assess that Operation SOPHIA has left the smugglers unable to operate with impunity in international waters. This is progress on which we can build. We remain committed to working with the Libyan Government of National Accord to move to the later phases of the operation once the right conditions are in place and prevent the smugglers from putting people to sea.
Military Bases: Religious Buildings Mrs Madeleine Moon: [37516] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 35843, whether chapels owned and administered by the Ministry of Defence are part of the pilot project exploring the registration of civil marriages and partnerships, including same-sex unions. Penny Mordaunt: No chapels owned or administered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are part of the pilot project exploring the registration of civil marriages and partnerships or same-sex unions. The MOD supports same-sex marriage and is committed to ensuring that couples are not disadvantaged by their service. We have concluded a study of serving LGBT personnel to obtain their view on this matter. Should a same-sex military couple wish to have a civil marriage ceremony on the Defence Estate, it is a requirement that the same access must be granted to all members of the public. The project is attempting to indentify suitable sites for this purpose. Should a same-sex couple from the Armed Forces wish to get married in a military Chapel they must follow the rules surrounding the marriage of same sex couples (Military or Civilian) in Military chapels, which are laid out in 'The Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Use of Armed Forces' Chapels) Regulations 2014'. At present none of the Churches that send Chaplains to the Armed Forces have opted into the provision of marriage for same-sex couples. Some may seek to change their policy in the future.
Ministry of Defence: Food Nick Smith: [37818] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 15 July 2013 to Question 164762, what the annual budget is for food produced for his Department's offices; and what proportion of food produced for his Department was sourced from British producers in the latest period for which figures are available. Nick Smith: [37819] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 15 July 2013 to Question 164762, what the annual budget is for food produced for the armed forces; and
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what proportion of food produced for the armed forces was sourced from British producers in the latest period for which figures are available. Mr Philip Dunne: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Ministry of Defence: Pay Greg Mulholland: [38217] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average hourly earnings were of his Department's (a) BME and (b) non-BME employees in (i) 2015 and (ii) 2016. Penny Mordaunt: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Ministry of Defence: Public Expenditure Mrs Anne Main: [37738] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect on his Department's expenditure of the UK leaving the EU. Mrs Anne Main: [37739] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding the Government provided for the EU battlegroup in each year since 2010. Mrs Anne Main: [37740] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what operational contingency plan his Department has made in the event of the UK leaving the EU. Michael Fallon: None.
Saudi Arabia: Military Aid Stephen Doughty: [38063] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 21 January 2016 to Question 23632, whether UK military personnel providing training and education for military personnel in Saudi Arabia on the subjects of compliance with international humanitarian law and transparency address the use of cluster munitions. Michael Fallon: We have provided education and training courses to Saudi Arabian military personnel under existing Government-to-Government arrangements. These courses expose Saudi military personnel to UK policy, compliance with International Humanitarian Law and the conventions relating to the Law of Armed Conflict. We take our obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions seriously and continue to encourage Saudi Arabia, as a non-party to the Convention, to accede to it.
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South China Sea Andrew Rosindell: [38378] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential security implications of China's naval expansion into the South China Sea; and what steps his Department is taking in response to such expansion. Michael Fallon: The UK is concerned about tensions in the South China Sea and the effect that these could have on regional peace and security and global prosperity. We have every interest in maintaining regional stability, respect for freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight. We call on all parties to refrain from activity likely to raise tensions, including land reclamation, construction and militarisation. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and behave responsibly, employing dialogue and diplomacy rather than force or coercion.
Submarines: Arctic Emily Thornberry: [37338] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions a Royal Navy submarine was deployed to the Arctic region in each of the last six years. Emily Thornberry: [37339] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy personnel took part in under-ice training in each of the last six years. Emily Thornberry: [37448] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the Royal Navy's Astute-class submarines for under-ice operations. Penny Mordaunt: The Astute class submarines are the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy, combining world-leading sensors, design and weaponry in a versatile vessel. The Royal Navy maintains world-wide deployability with its submarines, this includes under-ice capability. We do not discuss the detail of such submarine operations, as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Yemen: Cluster Munitions Catherine West: [38041] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether cluster bombs used in the Yemeni civil war are of British manufacture. Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to the Urgent Question tabled by the hon. Member for Ochil and South Perthshire (Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh) on 24 May 2016 (Official Report, column 401).
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Attachments: 1. Hansard extract on Yemen: Cluster Munitions [20160524_UQ_on_Yemen_Cluster_Munitions[1].docx] Stephen Doughty: [38064] To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 15 March 2016 to Question 30727, what knowledge UK military personnel based in the command and control centre for Saudi Arabian airstrikes in Yemen had on the alleged use of cluster munitions in that conflict. Michael Fallon: The UK is aware that Saudi Arabia has used cluster munitions in the current conflict in Yemen, as the Saudis have themselves publicly confirmed. Based on all the information available to us we assess that no UK-supplied cluster weapons have been used, nor have UK-supplied aircraft been involved in the use of cluster weapons, in the current conflict in Yemen.
EDUCATION
Academies Catherine West: [37970] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the press notice entitled Next Steps to spread educational excellence everywhere announced, published on 6 May 2016, how long before she made the announcement of her decision to change her policy on schools becoming academies that decision was made. Edward Timpson: When our White Paper Educational Excellence Everywhere was published, we were clear that we would be listening and reflecting on discussions with MPs and the education sector about all of the proposals in the White Paper. Following these discussions, we have decided it is not necessary to take blanket powers to convert good schools in strong local authorities to academies at this time. We remain committed to the vision of a dynamic high-performing education system where every school is an academy. We believe that this is the best way to tackle underperformance and ensure the best schools expand their reach.
Academies: Admissions Steve McCabe: [37443] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 18 April 2016 to Question 33136, whether her Department provides guidance to academies on the consultation of local people on admission policies. Nick Gibb: All state funded schools, including academies, are required to comply with the Statutory School Admissions Code. The Code provides clear guidance on how admission
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authorities are required to consult on their admission arrangements, including the requirement to consult locally, for a minimum of six weeks, before making any changes to admission arrangements, and where no changes are proposed, the requirement to consult at least once every seven years, to ensure that the admission arrangements continue to meet local need.
Academies: Land Use Ian Austin: [37528] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many applications from academy trusts to use land for purposes other than education have been (a) approved and (b) refused in each year since 2011. Ian Austin: [37530] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many applications she has received from academy trusts wishing to use land for purposes other than education in each year since 2011. Edward Timpson: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: The data is not held in the format requested. Any academy wishing to dispose or permanently change the use of its land must obtain the Secretary of State’s consent. However, whilst continuing to hold their land for educational purposes in accordance with their charitable status, academies may allow others to make occasional or limited use of their land, for example, by using this flexibility to play an important role in supporting their local communities. Only a minority of academies hold the freehold to their sites; the majority lease the land from local authorities and only the freeholder authority would have the power to request the Secretary of State’s consent to either dispose of or permanently change the use of land. The local authority, as the land owner, would also need to seek consent from the Secretary of State should the land be appropriated for other non-educational purposes.
Academies: Performance Standards Jess Phillips: [37664] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy schools that are currently rated as inadequate have been waiting longer than six months to be re-brokered to another academy sponsor. Edward Timpson: As at 31 March 2016, there are currently 123 inadequate academies and free schools. The Department does not hold information on the number of academies which are awaiting re-brokerage. Regional Schools Commissioners will work with schools in a number of ways before considering moving them to a new sponsor.
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Academies: Sponsorship Jess Phillips: [37729] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 11 May 2016 to Question 35798, on Academies Sponsorship, how many of the re-brokered schools in each year since 2010 had been graded inadequate by Ofsted. Edward Timpson: 60 of the 130 academies and free schools that have been re-brokered since 2010 had been graded inadequate by Ofsted. The remaining academies and free schools were re-brokered because Regional Schools Commissioners identified weaknesses in those schools that could be better addressed by a new sponsor.
Academies: Stafford Jeremy Lefroy: [37947] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of (a) trends in the take-up of academy places and (b) the performance of academies in Stafford constituency. Edward Timpson: The number of pupils on roll in academies in the Stafford Constituency from January 2012 to January 2015 was as follows:
2012 2013 2014 2015
The Weston Road 824 819 797 813 Academy
The Rural N/A 40 84 94 Enterprise Academy
Rowley Park N/A N/A N/A 161 Primary Academy
John Wheeldon N/A N/A N/A 428 Primary Academy
Source: School Census, January 2012 to 2015 The percentage of pupils achieving level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths at key stage 2 in 2015 (the first year for which the academies had results) for primary academies in Stafford constituency was as follows:
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2015
Rowley Park Primary Academy 83%
John Wheeldon Primary Academy 62%
Source: School Performance Tables The percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and maths GCSEs at key stage 4 in 2014 to 2015 of the secondary academies in Stafford constituency was as follows:
2014 2015
The Rural Enterprise Academy 22% 40%
The Weston Road Academy 55% 51%
Source: School Performance Tables The Weston Road Academy also has a Sixth Form where 79% of pupils passed at least 3 A-Levels (A*-E) in 2015. Data for key stage 4 for years before 2014 are not comparable due to reforms to qualifications, notably the removal of many previous equivalent vocational qualifications and counting only the first attempt at a qualification in the performance tables in English Baccalaureate subjects.
Academies: Uniforms Dan Jarvis: [37369] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department gives to schools which are converting to academy status on whether that school should adopt a new uniform; and what information she holds on the number of schools which have adopted a new uniform when converting to academy status. Nick Gibb: Decisions on school uniform rest with the academy trust (or the governing body in the case of maintained schools) of each individual school. The Department has published best practice guidance on school uniform for all schools which is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform The guidance recommends governing bodies (or the academy trusts) consider the timeframe for introducing a new uniform policy or amending an existing one, taking into account the views of parents and pupils on significant changes to school uniform policy.
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The Department does not provide specific school uniform guidance to schools converting to academy status or collect information about the number of schools which have adopted a new uniform on conversion to academy status.
Children: Cancer Thangam Debbonaire: [37589] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance she provides to local authorities, schools and colleges on helping child survivors of cancer and leukaemia to return to education. Nick Gibb: The Department for Education provides statutory guidance for schools and academies about their duties in relation to supporting compulsory school age pupils with medical conditions, including those who are survivors of cancer and leukaemia. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/484418/s upporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf We also provide statutory guidance for local authorities to ensure a good education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs, including cancer and leukaemia. Local authorities are responsible for arranging suitable full-time education for children of compulsory school age who, because of such illness, would not receive suitable education without such provision. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269469/ health_needs_guidance__-_revised_may_2013_final.pdf We emphasise in the SEN Code of Practice that long-term health conditions such as cancer are subject to the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. Where they require special educational provision, they are also covered by the SEN definition and duties.
Children: Care Homes Ann Coffey: [37345] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children were placed in regulated children's homes within each local authority boundary in the year ending 31 March 2015; and how many and what proportion of children in regulated children's homes within each local authority boundary were the responsibility of that local authority in that year. Edward Timpson: The information requested is attached.
Attachments: 1. No._children_placed_in_regulated_homes_by_LA [37345 Attachment.xlsx] Ann Coffey: [37346] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) local authority-run and (b) private or voluntary sector children's homes there were in each local authority area in 31 March 2015.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 37
Edward Timpson: Ofsted publishes information on the provision of children’s homes. This information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childrens-social-care-in-england-2015 Information on provision levels at 31 March 2015, by sector and local authority, is attached.
Attachments: 1. Provision_levels_by_sector_and_LA [37346 attachment.xlsx] Ann Coffey: [37347] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on (a) local authority and (b) non-local authority residential care provision per week and per child in each local authority in the latest year for which figures are available. Edward Timpson: Local authorities submit annual outturn statements to the Secretary of State for Education on actual expenditure for their education and children’s social care functions. The most recent outturn figures can be found on GOV.UK[1]. The file named “S251 outturn 2014 to 2015: individual LA expenditure data” enables reported annual expenditure by each local authority to be viewed at an individual local authority level. There is a distinct line for residential care. The information on residential care spend is attached. Total annual spend by each local authority is broken down to show spend on: • Own provision • Private provision • Other public provision (this includes other local authorities); and • And voluntary sector provision. It is not possible to measure spend on provision within each local authority. This is because the location of the provision provided is not captured in the section 251 financial return.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/section-251-outturn-2014-to-2015- data
Attachments: 1. Residential_care_spend [37347 attachment.xlsx]
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Children: Diseases Thangam Debbonaire: [37588] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to review the system of provision of schooling for children being treated for childhood cancer, leukaemia and other serious life-threatening and long-term illnesses. Nick Gibb: Each local authority has a legal responsibility to arrange education for any child of compulsory school age for whom they are responsible, and whose illness prevents them from attending school. If a child is able to attend school, the school must ensure that arrangements are in place to support them. Statutory guidance applies to maintained schools and academies in supporting pupils at school with medical conditions, this is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/484418/s upporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdf
Cooperative Trust Schools Mr Gavin Shuker: [37158] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to encourage the establishment of co-operative schools. Nick Gibb: The Government’s ambition is to provide an excellent education for all, through an autonomous, self-improving system. Good co-operative schools with strong governance are and will continue to be a part of this system. As increasing numbers of schools are opting to become academies, we have worked with the Society for Co-operative Schools (SCS) to update our model articles of association for co-operative trusts. This will ensure that co-operative schools are able to convert to academy status and form multi-academy trusts (MATs) using a model based on robust governance structures that also reflects co-operative principles. The new co-operative model articles will be published shortly.
Education: Assessments Nic Dakin: [37790] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she still plans to introduce compulsory resit tests in (a) English reading and (b) mathematics for year 7 pupils who do not reach the required standard at the end of key stage 2. Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State has already announced the Government’s plans to introduce resits in Year 7. This announcement can found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nicky-morgan-no-tolerance-of-areas-where- majority-of-pupils-fail.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 39
We have been clear that the resits will not be implemented in the next academic year and that we will engage with the education sector to make sure the tests are introduced in a way that works for schools. Further information will be provided in due course.
English Baccalaureate: Arts Thangam Debbonaire: [37357] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what impact assessment was conducted to identify the consequences of not including arts in the English Baccalaureate. Nick Gibb: The Government’s ambition is that at least 90% of pupils in mainstream secondary schools will enter GCSEs in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects of English, maths, science, history or geography, and a language. The EBacc has been designed to be limited in size to provide a rigorous academic core whilst leaving space in the curriculum for other subjects. On average, pupils in state- funded schools enter nine GCSEs and equivalent qualifications, rising to more than ten for more able pupils.[1] For many pupils, taking the EBacc will mean taking seven GCSEs; and for those taking triple science, it will mean taking eight. This means that there will continue to be room to study other subjects, including arts subjects. A good foundation in the EBacc subjects helps to keep options open for work and further study. Since the EBacc was first introduced the proportion of pupils in state-funded schools taking at least one GCSE in an arts subject has increased, rising from 46 per cent in 2011 to 50 per cent in 2015. On 3 November 2015 the Secretary of State for Education launched a public consultation seeking views on the government’s proposals for the implementation of the English Baccalaureate.[2] The consultation closed on 29 January 2016 and the government’s response will be published in due course. [1] https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by- type?step=phase&geographic=all®ion=0&phase=secondary&for=Key%20stage%20 4%20performance&basedon=Exam%20entries&show=All%20pupils&&schoolTypeFilter =allSchools [2] https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/implementing-the-english- baccalaureate
Fertility: Medical Treatments Steve McCabe: [37471] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of variations in levels of provision of fertility treatment on (a) adoption uptake and (b) fostering services; and whether such variations are being considered by the Child Protection Taskforce. Edward Timpson: Information on the provision of fertility treatment is not collected centrally. We do not hold information on this issue.
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Free Schools Jess Phillips: [37379] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free schools spent more than one year in temporary accommodation in each year since 2011. Edward Timpson: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: Since the start of the programme in 2011, around 200 free schools have opened in some form of temporary accommodation. The majority of these schools have spent one to two years in temporary accommodation before moving to their permanent site. Opening free schools in temporary accommodation has ensured that we have been able to meet a need for places and support free school trusts to open much needed new schools at the earliest opportunity. Jess Phillips: [37382] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free schools are in temporary accommodation. Edward Timpson: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: As at 23 May 2016, 110 free schools were in some form of temporary accommodation. Some of these schools will be open in temporary accommodation on their permanent site as part of a phased transition. Opening free schools in temporary accommodation has ensured that we have been able to meet a need for places and support free school trusts to open much needed new schools at the earliest opportunity.
Intercountry Adoption Mr Nicholas Brown: [37888] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans the Government has to amend adoption rules to facilitate the adoption of children resettled under the Immigration Act 2016. Edward Timpson: The Government has no plans to amend adoption legislation to facilitate the adoption of children resettled under the Immigration Act 2016. The United Nations and other humanitarian charities advise that no new adoption applications should be considered in the period after a disaster or from a war zone before the authorities in that State are in a position to apply the necessary safeguards. This is because it is not uncommon in an emergency or unsettled situation for children to be temporarily separated from their parents or other family members who may be looking for them. So whilst some lone refugee children may come to the UK for temporary care, we would wish to support them to be reunited with their parents or other relatives where this is possible.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 41
Internet: Bullying Andrew Percy: [37991] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that all children are taught in schools about online abuse and how they should report such abuse to the police. Edward Timpson: E-safety is covered at all key stages in the computing curriculum since its introduction in September 2014. Children in primary schools are taught how to use technology safely and respectfully, how to keep personal information private, and where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet, such as online abuse or other online technologies. Pupils in secondary schools are taught a range of ways to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly and securely, including protecting their online identity and privacy, how to recognise inappropriate content, contact and conduct and how to report concerns. All schools can choose to teach children about the dangers of social media in an age-appropriate way. Schools are also able to teach pupils about e-safety in personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons. The PSHE Association’s non-statutory programme of study for health and well- being includes ways of keeping physically and emotionally safe, including online.
Local Safeguarding Children Boards Independent Review Ann Coffey: [37460] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish Alan Wood's report on local safeguarding children's boards' roles and functions. Edward Timpson: Alan Wood’s independent review of the role and functions of Local Safeguarding Children Boards has now been published. It can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wood-review-of-local-safeguarding- children-boards
Primary Education: Class Sizes Michael Dugher: [37096] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Key Stage 1 children in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley local authority area and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber were in classes of more than 35 children in the academic year beginning September (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2013, (iv) 2014 and (v) 2015. Michael Dugher: [37097] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Key Stage 1 children in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber were in classes of more than 30 children in the academic year beginning September (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2013, (iv) 2014 and (v) 2015.
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Nick Gibb: Information about the number of pupils in infant classes with more than 30 pupils is available at school level in the underlying data of the ‘schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistics.[1] Information on class sizes for the academic year beginning September 2015 is not yet available and is due to be released in June 2016. [1] Data from January 2011 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics- january-2011 in the file called ‘School_level_classes_2011’ within the underlying data download Data from January 2012 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics- january-2012 in the file called ‘School_level_classes_2012’ within the underlying data download Data from January 2013 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics- january-2013 in the file called ‘School_level_classes_2013’ within the underlying data download Data from January 2014 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics- january-2014 in the file called ‘SFR15_2014_school_level_classes_UD’ within the underlying data download. Data from January 2015 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics- january-2015 in the file called ‘SFR16_2015_Schools_Classes_UD’ within the underlying data download.
Private Education: Standards John Pugh: [37188] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools founded since 2015 are compliant with section 5 of the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010. Nick Gibb: The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 were replaced by the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, which came into force on 5 January 2015. 58 fee paying independent schools have been registered since 1 January 2015. Not all of these have been inspected since registration. The normal procedure is for an independent school to be inspected in their first year of operation.
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14 schools have had a standard inspection since registration, and two schools have had material change inspections. Three of the standard inspections do not yet have a report available due to them having taken place very recently. Of the 11 inspection reports available, only one shows a failure to meet standard 5. All schools will have been inspected prior to registration and judged likely to meet all of the standards. Schools are not permitted to register unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that the school is likely to meet all of the standards on registration. John Pugh: [37189] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many enforcement actions have been initiated by her Department for contravention of the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 section 5 since 2015. Nick Gibb: The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 were replaced by the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, which came into force on 5 January 2015 and set out more demanding standards that independent schools must meet. Standard 5 places requirements on schools on pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The Department commissions Ofsted or one of the approved independent inspectorates to inspect independent schools and report on whether or not they are meeting the standards. Where a school fails to meet the standards, the Department issues a statutory notice requiring an action plan to rectify the failings. In nearly all cases the school improves to meet the standards and regulatory action can stop. However, in rare cases where a school fails to make the required improvements the Secretary of State can take enforcement action: to impose a relevant restriction or to remove the school from the register of independent schools. More information on how the Department regulates the independent sector is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulating-independent-schools Since 2015, the Secretary of State has taken enforcement action against two fee-paying independent schools for a failure to meet standard 5. Both schools were also failing to meet a number of the other standards.
Pupils: Exercise Philip Davies: [37254] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the trial of Active Movement in schools in Newbury; and if she will roll out Active Movement to other parts of the country. Edward Timpson: We want all pupils to be healthy and active. We welcome schemes such as Active Movement which encourage pupils to participate more in physical activity. This Government gives schools the freedom to choose how to use the primary PE and sport premium to improve their PE and sport provision. PE remains a compulsory subject at all
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four key stages in the national curriculum. The national curriculum sets out the expectation that pupils should be physically active for sustained periods of time. Through the primary PE and sport premium, the Government has provided over £450 million of ring-fenced funding to primary schools to improve PE and sport[1]. As announced in the 2016 Budget, revenue from the soft drinks industry levy will be used to double the primary PE and sport premium to £320 million a year from September 2017, enabling them to further improve the quality and breadth of PE and sport they offer. This is part of a wider government commitment to cut obesity rates, together with DCMS’ recent Sports Strategy and DH’s forthcoming Childhood Obesity Strategy, which is expected to be launched in summer 2016. [1] Across the academic years 2013/14 to 2015/16.
Schools Commissioner: Exhibitions Jess Phillips: [37917] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the budget is for the National Schools Commissioner Roadshow during June and July 2016. Jess Phillips: [37918] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people she expects to attend each of the National Schools Commissioner Roadshow events during June and July 2016. Jess Phillips: [37919] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been allocated for travel and subsistence costs for officials of her Department related to the National Schools Commissioner Roadshow during June and July 2016. Jess Phillips: [37920] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many officials of her Department are (a) involved in organising and (b) expected to attend the National Schools Commissioner Roadshow during June and July 2016. Jess Phillips: [37921] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been allocated to advertise the National Schools Commissioner Roadshow during June and July 2016. Nick Gibb: The cost of the nine National Schools Commissioner Roadshows during June and July 2016 will be met from within Schools Commissioner’s Group (SCG) allocated programme budget. The programme budget is to cover the costs related to events and other communications activities. For the 2016/17 financial year, this budget is £425k. It is expected that approximately 1,500 system leaders will attend the nine National Schools Commissioner Roadshows taking place in June and July 2016.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 45
There was no specific allocation made for travel and subsistence costs for officials related to the National Schools Commissioner Roadshows during June and July 2016. These costs will be met from within SCG allocated administrative budget. An official in each of the RSC offices has been involved in organising the nine National Schools Commissioners roadshows, supported by a lead in SCG. We expect approximately five officials to attend each roadshow, plus the National Schools Commissioner and the relevant Regional School Commissioner (RSC). There has been no budget allocated to advertising the National Schools Commissioner Roadshows.
Schools: Admissions Clive Lewis: [37020] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy that parents will retain the right to remain anonymous from the school in question when they object to a schools admission arrangements under the School Admissions Code after the forthcoming review of that code. Nick Gibb: Regulations allow the Schools Adjudicator to withhold the name and address of a person making an objection to a school’s admission arrangements from the other parties to that objection. We have no plans to change this.
Teachers: Training Jess Phillips: [37549] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) mathematics and (b) physics teacher training places have been allocated in each available teacher training route for the 2016-17 school year; and how many of those places allocated have been filled. Nick Gibb: There are no caps on the number of mathematics and physics trainees that universities, School Direct lead schools and school-centred initial teacher training providers can recruit. We changed the approach to ITT allocations for 2016/17 by not allocating places to individual organisations for postgraduate ITT courses. We will publish the number of trainees starting courses in the 2016/17 academic year when we publish the ITT Census in November 2016. Nic Dakin: [37791] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the statutory framework is for the accreditation of teachers in England; and whether her Department has plans to change that framework. Nick Gibb: All teachers recommended for the award of qualified teacher status (QTS) must demonstrate that they meet the Teachers’ Standards in full, at the appropriate level
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(available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-standards). Trainees undertaking a course of initial teacher training must also satisfy the requirements of the Secretary of State’s Criteria for ITT (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher-training-criteria), including having passed the professional skills tests in literacy and numeracy. Our recent White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, set out our proposals to replace the current QTS with a new, more challenging accreditation based on teachers’ effectiveness in the classroom. We will be setting out further detail of how and when we intend to implement the new system shortly. Nic Dakin: [37930] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.28 of the White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, published in March 2016, how her Department plans to determine which universities will be able to establish a centre of excellence in initial teacher training. Nic Dakin: [37931] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.28 of the White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, published in March 2016, with which (a) individuals, (b) organisations and (c) universities she has had discussions regarding the establishment of centres for excellence in initial teacher training. Nic Dakin: [37932] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.28 of the White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, published in March 2016, when her Department plans to consult sector bodies on the proposed creation of centres for excellence for initial teacher training; and how that consultation will take place. Nick Gibb: The Government’s White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, confirmed that we intend to use a new set of quality criteria to determine how initial teacher training (ITT) places are allocated to training providers in future, ensuring that training is concentrated with the highest-quality providers. On the basis of these criteria, which will include factors such as the quality of trainees recruited, the quality of the training programmes, and the quality of outcomes for trainees, we will designate some providers as Centres of Excellence. We expect to set out further details of the quality criteria that will apply for the 2017/18 training year, and which providers will be designated as Centres of Excellence, when we confirm the methodology for allocating places, which is currently under discussion. The Department for Education has actively been engaging the ITT sector in discussions about the proposals in the White Paper, including the establishment of ITT Centres of Excellence. Engagement to date has included a series of roundtable discussion events for university- and school-led providers and their representative bodies, such as the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) and the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT).
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 47
We expect to confirm the allocations methodology for 2017/18 after further consultation with providers and their representative organisations over the summer, in time for the start of recruitment in the autumn term.
Teachers: Vacancies Craig Whittaker: [37574] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on trends in the number of vacancies for teachers in primary schools in (a) Calderdale, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) nationally since 2005. Nick Gibb: The following table provides the number of vacancies for full-time teaching posts in state-funded primary schools in (a) Calderdale local authority and (b) West Yorkshire and (c) England in November 2010 to 2014. Vacancy data is not available on a comparable basis prior to 2010. Data for November 2015 will be available at the end of June 2016.
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate
Calderdale 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0
West 15 0.2 11 0.1 19 0.2 15 0.2 17 0.2 Yorkshire
Source: School Workforce Census Published national figures for the full time series is available from Table 14 in the statistical first release ‘School Workforce in England, November 2014 available at the following web link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in- england-november-2014 Craig Whittaker: [37632] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on trends in the number of vacancies for teachers in secondary schools in (a) Calderdale, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) England since 2005. Nick Gibb: The following table provides the number of vacancies for full-time teaching posts in state-funded secondary schools in (a) Calderdale local authority and (b) West Yorkshire and (c) England in November 2010 to 2014. Vacancy data is not available on a comparable basis prior to 2010. November 2015 data will be available at the end of June 2016.
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Calderdale 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.1 1 0.2 4 0.6
West 15 0.2 14 0.2 11 0.1 12 0.2 25 0.3 Yorkshire
Source: School Workforce Census Published national figures for the full time series is available from Table 14 in the statistical first release ‘School Workforce in England’, November 2014 available at the following web link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in- england-november-2014
Two Trees School Denton Andrew Gwynne: [37464] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what procedures she will follow in consideration of applications for the disposal for development of the former Two Trees High School in Denton. Andrew Gwynne: [37465] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what account she will take of the loss of playing fields in consideration of applications for the disposal for development of the former Two Trees High School site in Denton. Andrew Gwynne: [37466] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to consult (a) alternative educational providers, (b) the public and (c) the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish over applications for the disposal for development of the former Two Trees High School site in Denton. Andrew Gwynne: [37467] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment of need for (a) additional school places, (b) a new academy or (c) a new free school she plans to carry out in connection with applications to dispose for development of the former Two Trees High School site in Denton. Andrew Gwynne: [37468] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has received an application from Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to release the former Two Trees High School site in Denton for development. Edward Timpson: The Education Act 2011 requires that the Secretary of State must give consent prior to the disposal of land which has been used for any school or academy in the last eight
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 49
years. A key consideration for the government is whether the land proposed for disposal could be suitable for use by a new academy or free school. School playing fields are also protected by Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Schools and local authorities must obtain the Secretary of State’s approval before they can dispose of their land. Applications to dispose of school playing fields are first considered by the school playing fields advisory panel, who make a recommendation to the Secretary of State, before she then makes her final decision. At this time I am not aware of an application by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to seek approval to dispose of the former Two Trees Sports College, including the playing fields. Should an application be submitted, the Secretary of State would take into account any groups or organisations with permission to use the playing fields and what suitable alternative provision they may have been offered. Local schools, which are deficient in playing field land, should also be offered the opportunity to use the playing field before any application is presented. She will also take into account local school place needs and any academy requirement.
University Technical Colleges Nic Dakin: [37334] To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students were on the roll of university technical colleges in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015 and (d) 2016. Nick Boles: According to published January census data, the number of pupils on roll in all University Technical Colleges (UTCs) was 795 in academic year 2012/13, 2,946 in 2013/14 and 6,363 in 2014/15. The census data for January 2016 has not yet been published. However, the 2015 October census data shows 9,454 pupils on roll in all UTCs in the 2015/16 academic year.
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Carbon Emissions Barry Gardiner: [37844] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when the National Emissions Target Board met to discuss setting the fifth carbon budget; and who attended those meetings of that board. Barry Gardiner: [37845] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many times the National Emissions Target Board has met since April 2013.
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Andrea Leadsom: Some of the governance arrangements related to carbon budgets were amended last year. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster now chairs an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Clean Growth, which considers issues relating to air quality and decarbonisation, where these have a cross-departmental aspect. The group meets as and when required. Its members include ministers and officials from the relevant departments, including Defra, DECC, DfT, DCLG and BIS.
Coal Fired Power Stations Sir William Cash: [37050] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with the European Commission on the application of EU state aid rules related to the provision of (a) Supplementary Balancing Reserve and (b) other Black Start ancillary support contracts provided by the National Grid to Eggborough, Fiddler's Ferry and Drax power plants; and if she will make a statement. Amber Rudd: The Supplementary Balancing Reserve and Black Start services are procured directly by the System Operator, National Grid and the Government has no involvement in the tendering, or award of Supplementary Balancing Reserve or Black Start contracts. As such DECC has not discussed these with the European Commission in relation to their application to State Aid. Philip Davies: [38114] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which coal-fired power stations are either currently producing electricity or are on standby to do so if the need arises; and if she will make a statement. Andrea Leadsom: The following coal fired power stations currently retain Transmission Entry Capacity and are therefore capable of supplying electricity into the wholesale market when it is economic for them to do so: Aberthaw B, Cottam, Drax (units 1,4,5 & 6), Fiddler’s Ferry (units 1,2 & 3) Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Uskmouth, West Burton and Rugeley. The owner of Rugeley has announced its intention to close the station by the end of June 2016. Eggborough and Fiddler’s Ferry (unit 1) are currently part of National Grid’s Supplementary Balancing Reserve, and are capable of supplying electricity if the need arises.
Electricity Interconnectors Sir William Cash: [37064] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with the European Commission on EU state aid related to UK interconnector operations.
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Amber Rudd: All interconnector projects apply to Ofgem to operate under a regulatory regime. Their regulation is compatible with EU rules and there are no state aid issues
Energy: Manufacturing Industries Jim Shannon: [38096] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle increases in energy costs for manufacturing companies in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the rest of the UK. Andrea Leadsom: The Government is ensuring the continued international competitiveness of energy intensive industries in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom by providing relief to mitigate the impact of energy and climate change policy on electricity bills. In addition to the £160 million of compensation already provided since 2013, Government began paying compensation to eligible companies for renewable energy policy costs earlier this year, following state aid clearance. Companies in Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for this compensation. A Great Britain-wide consultation on replacing this compensation with an exemption was launched on 1 April and the Northern Ireland Executive will consult separately on this in the future. We are also acting to reduce electricity costs at the most fundamental levels through both short-term cost control measures and investment in new energy infrastructure.
Energy: Prices Jim Shannon: [38097] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to make available to people without online access guidance on comparisons of energy prices among different energy providers. Andrea Leadsom: Consumers without access to the internet can shop around to find a better deal for their energy by using a price comparison company, which is accredited to the Confidence Code operated by Ofgem and provides a free telephone price comparison service. In addition Citizen Advice offers advice and support on energy switching. The following companies offer such a service: Energyhelpline 0800 074 0745 Moneysupermarket 0800 177 7087 SimplySwitch 0800 011 1395 UK Power.co.uk 0800 188 4906 uSwitch 0800 051 5493 Energylinx 0800 849 7077
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Green Deal Scheme Anna Turley: [37787] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what support her Department is providing to recipients of Green Deal funding who have had their home improvements interrupted because the contracting companies have ceased trading. Andrea Leadsom: Under the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF), where applicants had their home improvements interrupted, they were free to engage another approved installer to undertake the work within the six month validity period of their voucher. The GDHIF scheme was designed to provide a financial incentive for work to be done at the applicant’s instigation. Installers were required to come from an approved list but applicants were responsible for engaging an installer. The same response applies where vouchers expired before home improvements were completed; the responsibility rests with the applicant to ensure works were completed before the voucher expired. Anna Turley: [37941] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what support her Department is providing to recipients of Green Deal funding whose vouchers expired before their home improvements were completed. Andrea Leadsom: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 26 May 2016, Question number 37787.
National Grid Mr David Anderson: [38275] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the cost to the public purse was of the Notifications of Inadequate System Margin issued on 9 May 2016 by the National Grid; and if she will make a statement. Andrea Leadsom: There was no cost to the public purse resulting from the Notice of Inadequate System Margin issued on 9 May. Mr David Anderson: [38276] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what measures she is putting in place to minimise the number of Notifications of Inadequate System Margin issued by the National Grid; and if she will make a statement. Andrea Leadsom: A Notice of Inadequate System Margin is one of the tools National Grid use to maintain margins in the system and can happen at any time for a variety of reasons. Issuing a NISM does not mean that demand is about to outstrip supply: it is a notice to the market to bring forward further capacity. National Grid issue NISMs ahead of dispatching capacity from its supplementary balancing reserve, which will include
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3.5GW of dispatchable generating capacity next winter. This will give any remaining capacity in the market first opportunity to respond but does not signal any significant risk of shortages. National Grid’s objective is to secure supplies and the NISM is an important tool to achieve that objective with minimum distortion to the market.
Renewable Energy: Storage Jim Shannon: [38094] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what funding her Department has allocated to help develop clean energy storage. Andrea Leadsom: Energy storage is one way to provide flexibility to the energy system and to help make best use of our low carbon electricity generation. DECC has provided more than £18m of innovation funding since 2012 for development and demonstration storage technologies; including funding for four storage technology demonstration projects. In the Budget 2016 announcement, the government confirmed that it would allocate at least £50 million to help innovation in energy storage, demand-side response (DSR) and other smart technologies over the next five years.
Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs Clive Lewis: [38027] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what her latest estimate is of the amount of solar PV that will be installed under the Feed-in Tariff scheme in 2016-17. Andrea Leadsom: Detailed deployment projections (in terms of capacity and number of installations) for solar PV under the revised feed-in tariff scheme in 2016-17 are set out in Annex B of the impact assessment published alongside the FIT Review government response. This can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486084/I A_-_FITs_consultation_response_with_Annexes_-_FINAL_SIGNED.pdf
Solar Power: Non-domestic Rates Clive Lewis: [38163] To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect on the solar industry of the Valuation Office Agency's proposals to increase business rates for solar PV FIT and RO installations dating back to 2010. Andrea Leadsom: Business rates are calculated based on a property’s ‘rateable value’. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for determining the rateable values in line with existing legislation and case law. The VOA is currently consulting with the solar industry over how those rateable values will apply to solar installations from 1st April 2017.
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ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Agriculture: Subsidies Daniel Kawczynski: [37414] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the proportion of farmers who have received (a) a payment and (b) full payment from the Rural Payments Agency under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. George Eustice: The Rural Payments Agency estimates that as of 22 May 2016, 86375 (99%) claimants have received a payment on their 2015 BPS claim. Of these 79,633 have received a claim payment; 6561 bridging payments; and 181 a manual hardship payment. There are a number of claims where processing has been completed successfully but they have not resulted in a payment for reasons such as the claim being under minimum claim size, or the Agency awaiting information on probate cases. The Rural Payments Agency will continue to make full payments throughout the remainder of the payment window up to the end of June 2016.
Bovine Tuberculosis Kerry McCarthy: [38105] To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) expressions of interest and (b) applications Natural England has received for a badger control licence; and what the timetable for decisions is on applications received. George Eustice: Natural England has received (a) 21 expressions of interest; and (b) 8 applications for badger control licenses. Decisions will be announced before the start of each year’s badger control operations.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Bangladesh: Religious Freedom Mr Gavin Shuker: [37160] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to engage with international partners to tackle the persecution of secularists or of people with no faith in Bangladesh. Mr Hugo Swire: As I said to the House on 24 May, there is more we can do to help the Government of Bangladesh to tackle the challenges they face. I raised my concerns about the situation there most recently with the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 24 May. Our High Commission in Dhaka regularly meets international partners to discuss the treatment of secular activists and minority groups in Bangladesh. Most recently, on 22 May, our High Commissioner met Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Abul Hassan Mahmud
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Ali, with other EU Ambassadors, to discuss signs that intolerance across Bangladesh is increasing In September 2015, officials from the British High Commission in Dhaka met Heiner Bielefeldt, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, during his visit to Bangladesh. We urge the Government of Bangladesh to implement the recommendations in his report, which includes a call for the government to “protect the vibrant civil society and pluralistic society in Bangladesh”.
Crimea: Religious Freedom Mr Gavin Shuker: [37365] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on alleged violations of freedom of religion or belief in Crimea by the Russian authorities; and if he will make a statement. Mr David Lidington: I am aware of concerning reports of violations of freedom of religion and belief in Russia. The Jehovah’s Witnesses community, for example, has found itself under attack in several parts of Russia, often through misuse of legislation designed to combat extremism. As set out in the FCO Human Rights Report, the UK is deeply concerned about the deteriorating environment for human rights in Russia. We will continue to offer our support to all those who seek peacefully to pursue their freedom of religion and belief.
Egypt: Counter-terrorism Ann Clwyd: [37635] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of Egypt's compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law in its counter-terrorism operations in Sinai. Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not made a formal assessment. In 2015 we shared NATO counterinsurgency doctrine with the Egyptian Government and we hope to discuss this further with them, through a planned upcoming Egyptian visit to the UK Centre for counterinsurgency doctrine.
EU Staff: British Nationality Stephen Timms: [37107] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals were employed by the European Parliament in each year since 2010; and how many such people were employed at administrator grade. Mr David Lidington: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: The European Parliament does not publish statistics on numbers of permanent staff by nationality. According to our own records, the total the
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numbers of UK nationals employed by the European Parliament in each year since 2010 is: 2010: 290 2011: 306 2012: 306 2013: 291 2014: 271 2015: 251 The latest figure available is for May 2016 and is 263. Stephen Timms: [37108] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals were employed by the European Commission in each year since 2010. Mr David Lidington: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: Whilst the European Commission provides staffing numbers by nationality they do not break them down between permanent and temporary agents. In total the numbers of UK nationals employed by the European Commission in each year since 2010 is: April 2010: 1284 April 2011: 1162 April 2012: 1134 April 2013: 1079 April 2014: 1053 April 2015: 1008 The latest figure available is for Feb 2016 and is 982. UK representation has been falling across EU institutions as UK officials retire and are not replaced by the same number of new UK entrants. The Government is committed to reversing this picture, recognising that this will require a sustained effort. The EU Staffing Unit, established in April 2013, promotes EU careers across the UK and supports candidates through the application process. It has increased secondments in positions of strategic importance to the UK. The European Fast Stream within the Civil Service has also been re-launched. Stephen Timms: [38068] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals have been on the staff of the European Commission in each year since 2010. Mr David Lidington: [Holding answer 26 May 2016]: Whilst the European Commission provides staffing numbers by nationality they do not break them down between permanent and temporary agents. In total the numbers of UK nationals employed by the European Commission in each year since 2010 is: April 2010: 1284 April 2011: 1162 April 2012: 1134 April 2013: 1079 April 2014: 1053 April 2015: 1008 The latest figure available is for Feb 2016 and is 982. UK representation has been falling across EU institutions as UK officials retire and are not replaced by the same number of new UK entrants. The Government is committed to reversing this picture, recognising that this will require a sustained effort. The EU Staffing Unit, established in April 2013, promotes EU careers across the UK and supports candidates through the application process. It has increased secondments in positions of
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strategic importance to the UK. The European Fast Stream within the Civil Service has also been re-launched Stephen Timms: [38069] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals have been on the staff of the European Parliament in each year since 2010; and what proportion of such staff in each such year were of administrator grade. Mr David Lidington: [Holding answer 26 May 2016]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Mexico: Religious Freedom Mr Gavin Shuker: [37310] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he made and received during his visit to Mexico in May 2016 on upholding the right to freedom of religion or belief in that country. Mr Hugo Swire: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised human rights and the rule of law in meetings with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Education, Social Development and the Attorney General. Discussions focused on the significant security and justice challenges Mexico faces, particularly in terms of impunity. He also raised concerns relating to the disappearance of 43 students in Iguala in September 2014. He did not raise freedom of religion or belief on this occasion. I also raised our human rights concerns with the Minister for Public Administration during his visit to London on 12 May. Our Embassy in Mexico regularly discusses the full range of human rights and rule of law issues, including freedom of religion and belief, with Mexican counterparts and civil society.
Religious Freedom Mr Gavin Shuker: [37363] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what resources his Department allocates to promoting and upholding freedom of religion or belief within the countries with which it works. Mr David Lidington: Human Rights are part of the everyday work of all British diplomats. We work intensively on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) through the UN, the EU and the OSCE; and in individual countries, prioritising what works in local circumstances. In many parts of the world, we have supported projects through the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy. In the current financial year, we have allocated almost £900,000 to projects in this area.
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Mr Gavin Shuker: [37364] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department takes to ensure that its policies do not encourage discrimination of religion or belief. Mr David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office carefully assesses the probable impact of all policy decisions and actions, and avoids taking any decision or action likely to encourage discrimination of any kind, including on grounds of religion or belief.
Religious Freedom: Females Mr Gavin Shuker: [37367] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of violations of freedom of religion or belief on women; and what his Department is doing to tackle such violations. Mr David Lidington: There are clear examples where the impact of violations of freedom of religion or belief falls particularly heavily on women – such as treatment of women by Daesh. Under the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, FCO funds projects to defend freedom of religion or belief, including the protection of the rights of women. For example, the FCO recently agreed to fund a project this financial year that tackles gender- based violence and discrimination in Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia.
Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade Mr Roger Godsiff: [38054] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on arms export licences to Saudi Arabia of the recent reports that a BL755 cluster bomb made by UK firm Hunting Engineering Ltd was found to be in use against civilians in Yemen. Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of recent reports that the Coalition may have used cluster munitions in Yemen. We have raised this issue with the Saudi Arabian authorities and, in line with our obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, continue to encourage Saudi Arabia, as a non-party to the Convention, to accede to it. The UK Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application. A licence will not be issued for any country, including Saudi Arabia, if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the mandatory Criteria, including where we assess there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.
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The Government is confident in our robust case-by-case assessment and is satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the UK’s export licensing criteria. The conflict in Yemen is being monitored closely, and relevant information gathered from that monitoring is taken into account as part of the careful risk assessment for the licensing of exports to Saudi Arabia. Minister for Defence Procurement, Philip Dunne, responded to an urgent question on the reports of UK manufactured cluster bombs in Yemen on Tuesday 24 May.
Sudan: Human Rights Mark Durkan: [37634] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the reported raid of Nabil Adib's office by Sudan's national security and intelligence services and the alleged assault and arrest of people in that office. James Duddridge: The International Federation for Human Rights, World Organisation Against Torture and African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies have all reported on the alleged raid on Nabil Adib’s office on 5 May. We have raised our concerns about this case directly with the Government of Sudan, most recently during the visit of the UK Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan on 11 to 12 May. We will continue to monitor this case closely.
Turkey: EU Aid Mr Douglas Carswell: [37928] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to other EU member states at the Council of the EU on cessation of Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance II funding to Turkey in 2014-20. Mr David Lidington: The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance funding is used to promote political reform and human rights, cut corruption and strengthen the rule of law and to bring Turkey - and other EU accession countries - up to EU standards, economically and politically. It has also been used to help Turkey respond to the migration crisis. It promotes cooperation on issues that matter to the UK, such as the rule of law, organised crime and migration. Improving the business environment in Turkey and other EU accession countries will lead to more commercial opportunities for British goods and investment. As the Prime Minister has made clear, Turkey’s EU accession is not remotely on the cards for many years to come. Turkey has to negotiate 35 different chapters. Since EU accession negotiations with Turkey started in 2005, only one chapter has been closed. Decisions to open chapters, to agree that conditions have been met and to close chapters all require the unanimous agreement of EU Member States. Once all chapter negotiations have been completed and closed, there must be another unanimous decision on accession. All 28 Member States then have to ratify an accession treaty, and the European Parliament has to
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approve the accession. Some EU Member States have already committed to undertake a referendum on Turkey’s accession to the EU. In the case of the UK, under the European Union Act 2011, ratification cannot take place without an Act of Parliament to approve the new accession. We can therefore ensure that our requirements are respected in any future EU enlargement.
Turkey: Politics and Government Dr Paul Monaghan: [37860] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will summon the ambassador of Turkey to explain why the Co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party, Kamuran Yuksek, has been arrested and charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation. Mr David Lidington: The PKK continues to mount deadly terrorist attacks in Turkey, particularly in the country’s south-east. In the course of security operations in that region, a number of Democratic Regions Party officials have been detained, including Kamuran Yuksek. We regularly urge the Turkish authorities to respect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, in the course of anti-terror operations, and to support the rule of law. We will continue to monitor these issues closely.
Turkey: Syria Stephen Kinnock: [37556] To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent reports that Turkish border guards have shot and killed Syrians crossing the border to seek asylum in Turkey. Mr David Lidington: We are aware of the allegations of the use of lethal force against civilians trying to cross the border from Syria into Turkey. We are unable to verify these allegations, as is the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The allegations have been strongly refuted by the Government of Turkey. We regularly raise with the Government of Turkey issues relating to the management of the border with Syria and the treatment of refugees. Turkey is hosting over 2.7million Syrian refugees and we understand that the Turkish government has made preparations to accept more Syrian refugees should conditions in Syria make that necessary, but that its priority is to enable humanitarian aid to be provided to affected populations inside northern Syria.
HEALTH
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse Mr Alistair Carmichael: [37666] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy that when revised UK Chief Medical Officers' Guidelines on keeping health risks from drinking alcohol to a low
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level, published in January 2016, are communicated to the public they are placed in the context that moderate alcohol consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle for people that choose to drink. Jane Ellison: The UK Chief Medical Officers’ alcohol guidelines give the public the latest and most up to date scientific information so that they can make informed decisions about their own drinking. It is however important that the new guidelines are clear and understandable and take into account the responses to the consultation.
We will publish the final guidelines and the government response to the consultation as soon as possible.
Antidepressants Luciana Berger: [38059] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions for anti-depressants were dispensed in each region in each year since 2010. Alistair Burt: Prescribing data for anti-depressants is available at prescription item level. On a prescription form, each item written on the form is counted as a single prescription item. Data is available for each financial year from 2011/12 to 2015/16 and is shown in the table below.
ANTIDEPRESSANTS PRESCRIPTION ITEMS DISPENSED IN THE COMMUNITY IN NHS ENGLAND REGIONS IN ENGLAND BY FINANCIAL YEAR, AS DEFINED BY BRITISH NATIONAL FORMULARY SECTION 4.3 ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS.
Prescription items (000’s)
NHS England Financial Financial Financial Financial Financial Region Name 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16
South (Wessex) 2,513.0 2,643.9 2,841.3 2,989.1 3,147.0
London 4,289.4 4,532.8 4,862.7 5,166.5 5,463.3
North 5,365.7 5,706.4 6,130.0 6,583.4 7,044.6 (Yorkshire And Humber)
North 4,585.0 4,846.7 5,197.6 5,540.8 5,870.2 (Lancashire And Greater Manchester)
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ANTIDEPRESSANTS PRESCRIPTION ITEMS DISPENSED IN THE COMMUNITY IN NHS ENGLAND REGIONS IN ENGLAND BY FINANCIAL YEAR, AS DEFINED BY BRITISH NATIONAL FORMULARY SECTION 4.3 ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS.
North (Cumbria 3,989.8 4,240.3 4,560.8 4,917.5 5,258.6 And North East)
North (Cheshire 2,665.3 2,833.3 3,034.5 3,234.7 3,458.2 And Merseyside)
Midlands And 3,167.7 3,368.7 3,617.9 3,890.8 4,146.9 East (North Midlands)
Midlands And 3,157.8 3,348.2 3,577.8 3,838.4 4,102.3 East (West Midlands)
Midlands And 3,822.1 4,086.7 4,363.9 4,703.3 5,036.6 East (Central Midlands)
Midlands And 4,224.9 4,496.9 4,879.3 5,221.7 5,600.0 East (East)
South (South 3,035.9 3,241.8 3,484.5 3,737.5 3,982.9 West)
South (South 3,636.1 3,874.2 4,112.4 4,351.2 4,592.1 East)
South (South 2,933.4 3,076.6 3,280.6 3,504.4 3,706.2 Central)
Unidentified 19.8 37.7 64.4 91.0 150.9
England 1 47,405.8 50,334.2 54,007.5 57,770.1 61,559.7
Source: The Prescribing Analysis and CosT tool (PACT) system provided by the NHS Business Services Authority Note: 1 Totals may not add up due to rounding.
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Autism Mr Laurence Robertson: [38072] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funds his Department is providing from the public purse to deliver its autism strategy in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire; whether that funding is ring-fenced; and if he will make a statement. Alistair Burt: Think Autism, the updated Cross Government strategy for adults with autism in England was published in 2014. A focus of the strategy is for public services and organisations to think about and engage with people who have autism more effectively and make reasonable adjustments or adaptations to improve outcomes and make better use of existing public resources. The Department made available revenue and capital funding of £4.5 million to support innovation and awareness in 2014/15 but no funds are individually ring-fenced. Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire local authorities both received £18,500 seed corn capital funding to make environments more autism friendly, and South Gloucestershire was awarded £8,300 for an Autism Innovation Fund project.
Blood: Contamination Gordon Henderson: [37036] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the current scheme of discretionary top-up payments provided by the Macfarlane Trust to its beneficiaries will be removed as a result of the Government's proposed changes to its scheme of support for people affected by contaminated blood. Jane Ellison: The consultation on reforming the current payment schemes for those affected by HIV and/or hepatitis C through National Health Service-supplied blood/blood products closed on 15 April. The analyses of responses are still being considered by Ministers and no decisions on changes to the schemes have been taken. An announcement will be made in due course.
Breast Cancer Jim Shannon: [38108] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with medical organisations on using DNA tests to help in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Jane Ellison: We are not aware of any discussions with medical organisations on using DNA tests to help in the diagnosis, and treatment, of breast cancer.
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Breast Cancer and Heart Diseases: Alcoholic Drinks Jim Shannon: [37309] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with clinical bodies on potential links between moderate alcohol consumption and levels of (a) heart disease and (b) breast cancer. Jane Ellison: Departmental officials have regular discussions with individuals and organisations, including clinical bodies, in which a wide range of topics are discussed. There have been no meetings specifically to discuss the potential links between moderate alcohol consumption and levels of heart disease and breast cancer. However, the UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) have made an assessment of the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease and breast cancer as part of their review of the alcohol guidelines. The advice that the UK CMOs give on how the public can limit their risks from drinking alcohol can be found at Gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/health-risks-from-alcohol-new-guidelines
Breastfeeding Dr Sarah Wollaston: [37801] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to continue monitoring breastfeeding rates following the abolition of the infant feeding survey; and if he will make a statement. Dr Sarah Wollaston: [37802] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department were working on breastfeeding in each year from 2010 to 2016. Dr Sarah Wollaston: [37903] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the implications for his policies are of the findings in The Lancet Series on breastfeeding, published in January 2016; and what steps his Department is taking to increase breastfeeding rates. Ben Gummer: Following the discontinuation of the Infant Feeding Survey, the Department has been exploring with Public Health England (PHE) and other key stakeholders alternative methods and sources of information to monitor the impact of its policy on infant feeding. In future, the Maternity and Children’s Dataset will regularly capture data on breastfeeding initiation and prevalence from all women using NHS services rather than using a survey sample. This means that local service providers and commissioners can have up-to-date (e.g. quarterly) information about outcomes for their local populations, enabling service provision to be more agile, responsive and targeted.
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The Government is committed to supporting breastfeeding through the Healthy Child Programme. Breastfeeding is also included in the Public Health Outcomes Framework so that the improvements can be tracked, and action taken as needed. Since 2010, we have recruited more than 2,100 additional midwives who will provide women with the information, advice and support they need with breastfeeding. A further 6,000 midwives are in training. There are also 3,400 more health visitors than in 2010. The Department is working with PHE, NHS England and UNICEF to try and encourage women to breastfeed for the first six months, although we recognise that not all mothers choose to or are able to breastfeed. Support and information is currently available to health professionals and parents through NHS Choices, the National Breastfeeding Helpline, UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative, the Start4Life Information Service for Parents and local peer support programmes. The Department has not retained a record of how many full-time equivalent staff there were with a specific focus on breastfeeding between 2010 and 2016; breastfeeding policy has always formed part of the larger maternity policy for which the Department has the policy lead. Resources to cover this policy area would have fluctuated according the level of work required at any one time.
Bronchitis: Medical Treatments Jim Shannon: [38110] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with medical organisations on treatment of chronic bronchitis through the freezing of lungs. Jane Ellison: There have been no such discussions.
Clinical Trials Andrew Gwynne: [38126] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent guidance his Department published to commissioners on meeting excess treatment costs for clinical trials. George Freeman: In November 2015, NHS England published new guidance to help clarify the rules and expectations on the funding of excess treatment costs incurred during a non-commercial research study. The guidance is provided for clinical commissioning groups and commissioners of specialised services.
Clinical Trials and Research Derek Thomas: [37795] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure all patients have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials and research.
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George Freeman: The NHS Constitution includes the following pledge: “The NHS commits to inform you of research studies in which you may be eligible to participate”. The Department, via the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), has a number of initiatives to deliver on the pledge, including the UK Clinical Trials Gateway (https://www.ukctg.nihr.ac.uk/) which is a public website where patients, carers and clinicians can find out about clinical studies current studies underway. The NIHR runs an annual national campaign called ‘Ok to ask’, to encourage the public to ask their clinician about research participation; more specifically, in 2014, the NIHR launched Join Dementia Research to encourage 100,000 people to volunteer to participate in dementia research by 2020; finally, through the NIHR Clinical Research Networks, last year 618,000 patients were recruited by NHS Providers into clinical trials.
Dementia Mark Menzies: [37186] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support innovation in assistive technology for use by people with dementia. Jane Ellison: Dementia is a key priority for the Government. That is why in February 2015, the Prime Minister launched his Challenge on Dementia 2020. The Government will implement the Prime Minister’s Challenge in full to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020. As part of the 2020 Challenge, we want to see greater provision of innovative and high quality dementia care, delivered in a way that is personalised and appropriate to the specific needs of the person with dementia, their family and carers. This includes providers incorporating new ideas including technology solutions into everyday practice. We also want to see research on assistive technologies and assisted living, including research on how information and communication technologies can best help people with dementia and carers. The Department and NHS England recently launched seven ‘Test Bed Sites’ in England. These sites will evaluate the real world impact of technologies, testing them together with innovations in how the NHS services are delivered, to improve health and care outcomes. Three of the Test Beds will have a focus on dementia. A number of programmes have been launched to support usage of technology for the benefit of people including those with dementia and their carers. These include: - The Technology Enabled Care Services (TECS) Programme; - A TECS resource for Commissioners; and - The Small Business Research Initiative Healthcare and Regional Innovation Fund initiative.
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Department of Health: Public Expenditure Heidi Alexander: [38046] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department exceeded its expenditure limit in 2015-16. Alistair Burt: Confirmation of the spending outturn against all expenditure limits will be provided in the Department of Health’s Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16, due to be published in July 2016.
Diabetes Jim Shannon: [37294] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to encourage people to reduce the symptoms of diabetes using exercise and diet. Jane Ellison: In March 2016, Public Health England (PHE) launched One You, an integrated social marketing campaign to engage adults in making changes to improve their own health and so help them reduce the risk of conditions such as diabetes. The programme encourages adults in mid-life to make a number of lifestyle changes including taking more exercise, improving diet, stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption. Additionally, PHE’s Change4Life campaign encourages families across England to “eat well, move more, live longer”. Type 2 diabetes is highlighted in the campaign as a potential health consequence of poor diet and inactivity.
NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK have been working together on the Healthier You: the Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP). By 2020, the programme will be made available to up to 100,000 people at risk of diabetes each year across England. Those referred will get tailored, personalised help to reduce their risk including education on healthy eating and lifestyle and bespoke physical exercise programmes.
Doctors: Performance Appraisal Charlotte Leslie: [38115] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the annual cost to the NHS of General Medical Council appraisals. Ben Gummer: In November 2012, the Department published an analysis of the costs and benefits of medical revalidation in England: “Medical Revalidation – Costs and Benefits”. This estimated that revalidation would result in additional costs of £97 million per year in England, over the ten-year period starting in 2013.
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Drugs Andrew Gwynne: [37422] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with NICE on changes to its current methodology for evaluating new drugs. George Freeman: Departmental officials are in regular contact with officials in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) about a range of issues, including NICE’s methodologies for the assessment of new drugs and other technologies. The Accelerated Access Review is expected to make a series of recommendations which may include reforms to NICE’s processes and methods pathways and mechanisms in connection with innovative treatments.
Emergencies John Glen: [37630] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 35866, what the capital spend by (a) the Health Protection Agency on its National Incident Coordination Centre in 2011 at Buckingham Palace Gate and (b) Public Health England on its National Emergency Operations Centre in Wellington House was in 2015. Jane Ellison: Public Health England was established in 2013. Therefore the Department has not been able to specifically identify the historical costs of creating the National Incident Coordination Centre (NICC) in 2011. The works to install the NICC was part of a wider refit of 5th Floor North in Wellington House. The project cost for this refit was £43,000; the cost of installing the NICC cannot be specifically identified.
Endometriosis Nusrat Ghani: [38272] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36176, what steps his Department is taking to support research to develop a non- invasive diagnostic technique for endometriosis. George Freeman: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including diagnosis of endometriosis. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. The Director of the NIHR Diagnostic Evidence Cooperative Oxford, University of Oxford, provided mentorship and methodological expertise to support a recent systematic review
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and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of cancer antigen 125 for endometriosis. This was published in May this year in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Gastrointestinal System: Drugs Andrew Percy: [38002] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people with (a) Crohn's disease and (b) ulcerative colitis have been treated with biological drugs in each of the last five years. Andrew Percy: [38003] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the extent of access to biological treatments for people with inflammatory bowel disease. George Freeman: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended four different biological drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the collective term for Crohn’s disease and colitis, for use after the failure of conventional therapies or in patients for whom such therapies are not appropriate. The National Health Service is legally obliged to fund medicines and treatments recommended by NICE's technology appraisals. Although information concerning the exact number of people with IBD who have been treated with biological drugs in each of the last five years is not available, and no specific assessment of access has been made, some data are collected as part of the IBD audit. The IBD audit programme is commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership on behalf of NHS England and Wales (with additional funding from Healthcare Improvement Scotland), as part of the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme, and carried out by the Royal College of Physicians. The biological therapies part of the IBD audit aims to assess nationally: the efficacy of biological therapies in the treatment of IBD; the safety of biological therapies in the treatment of IBD; and IBD patients' views on their quality of life at defined intervals throughout their use of biological therapies. The latest round of audit findings, published in September 2015, showed treatment continued to be effective and that patients were receiving treatment with biological therapies at earlier stages of disease. More information can be found at the following link: www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/ibd-biological-therapy-audit
General Practitioners: Manchester Withington Jeff Smith: [37877] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients are registered at each GP surgery in Manchester, Withington constituency; what the capacity of each of those surgeries is; and how many of those surgeries are oversubscribed. Alistair Burt: These data are not collected centrally.
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Data on numbers of patients registered with general practitioner (GP) practices is published quarterly by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) in a report entitled 'Number of Patients Registered at a GP Practice'. The latest available version is April 2016 and is available from the HSCIC website at: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB20480
Health Professions: Registration Karin Smyth: [37978] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications for registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Council were rejected from candidates trained (a) in England, (b) in the European Economic Area (EEA) and (c) outside the EEA in each year since 2009-10. Karin Smyth: [38065] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications for registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Council were withdrawn by the applicant before they were assessed from candidates trained (a) in England, (b) in the European Economic Area (EEA) and (c) outside the EEA. Ben Gummer: The information requested in relation to the number of applications for registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is not held centrally. The NMC is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and is responsible for nurse and midwife registration. It has informed the Department that it does not collect data on how many applications for registration are rejected or withdrawn before they were assessed. Karin Smyth: [37979] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of time taken by the Nursing and Midwifery Council was to process applications for registration from candidates trained in (a) in England, (b) in the European Economic Area (EEA) and (c) outside the EEA in each year since 2009-10. Ben Gummer: The information requested in relation to the number of applications for registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is not held centrally. The NMC is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and is responsible for nurse registration. Statistical information provided by the NMC on the average length of time taken to process applications is set out in the table below. This information is based on applications for initial registration and does not include renewals or readmission requests.
2009/20 2010/20 2011/20 2012/20 2013/20 2014/20 2015/2 Avera --- ge 10 11 12 13 14 15 016
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length UK** 0.3 0.3 3.7 1 4.8 3.5 4.2 of time in European days* Economic 0.6 0.8 2 2.2 5.8 12.6 12 Area
Overseas* 0.4 0.4 1.8 1 13.8 31.9 27.6 **
UK 19,687 19,376 19,148 20,905 22,731 20,349 19,133
Volum EEA 1,975 2,716 3,137 3,436 5,388 7,519 9,389 es
Overseas 550 1,144 1,155 869 840 666
*Processing timings relate to the very final stage of the process, which was amended in August 2013 to include face to face ID verification and document scrutiny meetings for overseas applicants and additional checks for EEA applicants, in support of improved regulatory rigour and enhanced public protection. ** Information is collected on a UK rather than an England basis. ***In January 2013 the overseas application process was suspended for a period while the robustness of the process was subject to review. When the process was restarted additional scrutiny steps had been added, while a new overseas process was developed. The NMC are currently operating two processes for overseas registration. Those who applied pre October 2014, are subject to the Overseas Nursing Programme route to registration, which may involve a practice placement of up to one year. The final entry to these programmes will be October 2016. Those applying post October 2014 are subject to the new Test of Competence, which means overall processing times will reduce as all applicants move onto the new process. Karin Smyth: [37980] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of applications for registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Council were accepted within 90 days for candidates trained in (a) in England, (b) in the European Economic Area (EEA) and (c) outside the EEA in each year since 2009-10. Ben Gummer: The information requested in relation to the number of applications for registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is not held centrally. The NMC is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and is responsible for nurse registration. Statistical information provided by the NMC on the proportion of applications for registration that were accepted within 90 days is set
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out in the table below. This information is based on applications for initial registration and does not include renewals or readmission requests.
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16
UK** 100 100 100 100 100 99.9 99.8
%* EEA 100 100 100 100 99.9 98.3 100
Overseas*** 100 100 100 100 99.9 95.3 98.2
* Measurements reflect the proportion of completed applications, where we have registered within the 90 day period. An application is deemed complete once all of the required documents have been submitted and confirmed. ** Information is collected on a UK rather than an England basis. *** Overseas and European Economic Area applicants undertake a multi stage process to join the register. Full information of the percentage completing this within 90 days is not available for this end to end process, without further detailed analysis. This above table provides the information on the percentage accepted and registered at the very final stage of the registration process, within 90 days.
Health Professions: Research Derek Thomas: [37792] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support healthcare professionals working in the NHS to continue to undertake research. George Freeman: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) improves the health and wealth of the nation through research. Part of the NIHR is the Faculty. The Faculty empowers and develops the NIHR community of research professionals, to improve the nation’s health, wellbeing and prosperity. The Faculty achieves this by creating a sense of common purpose and identity around shared values that cut across organisational and professional boundaries. The NIHR Faculty comprises three categories of membership: Investigators (including Senior Investigators), Associates and Trainees. The Faculty encompasses research, clinical and support staff from all relevant professional backgrounds. Since 2006 the NIHR: ― has made Senior Investigators awards to 338 individuals through nine competitions; ― has supported 0,5931 unique trainees through fellowships and through the NIHR Infrastructure;
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― has supported 5,920 unique Investigators through research contracts and the NIHR Infrastructure; ― has supported 2,355 unique Principal Investigators through research contracts; ― has supported 3,926 unique Investigators within the NIHR Infrastructure; and ― has supported 4,652 Associates in the NIHR Infrastructure. The number of eligible clinical professional groups able to benefit from the training programmes targeted at allied health professionals and nurses has increased by 50% since 2006.
Health Professions: Training Justin Madders: [37815] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to replace bursaries for medical and dental students with loans. Justin Madders: [37840] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36629, on health professions: training, if he will make available a copy of the advice he received from leading nursing professionals. Justin Madders: [37841] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36629, on health professions: training, if he will list the stakeholders who were consulted about proposed changes to NHS bursaries. Justin Madders: [37882] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed replacement of NHS bursaries by student loans on the number of mature students enrolling on nursing, widwifery and allied healthcare courses. Ben Gummer: The Government does not plan to change the funding arrangements for medical and dental students who are already on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills student support system for the first four years of their degrees. A preliminary Equality Analysis was published alongside the public consultation document on the 7 April 2016. This document provides the assessment of the potential effect of the replacement of National Health Service bursaries by student loans for all the protected characteristics of the Public Sector Equality Duty (Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). The Equality Analysis and the government consultation can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changing-how-healthcare-education-is- funded
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As with all policy development, to inform decision-making, Ministers were briefed internally by relevant Departmental officials, including nursing profession leads. The Department received joint correspondence from the Council of Deans of Health and Universities UK about a number of issues relating to healthcare education funding in England. A copy of the letter is attached. The Department received a number of representations from organisations, including Royal Colleges, professional bodies and representatives of universities, about a number of issues relating to healthcare student education funding in England including a potential move from the current system of funding to student loans.
Attachments: 1. Council of Deans of Health and Universities UK [PQ37815 37840 37841 37882 Council of Deans of Health and Universities UK Joint Statement.pdf]
Health Services Andrew Gwynne: [38129] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what methodology and data NHS England plans to use to determine which services it will commission at the specialised commissioning prioritisation process in June 2016. Andrew Gwynne: [38130] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many services which have been approved by NHS England's Clinical Priorities Advisory Group are planned for discussion at the NHS England prioritisation round in June. George Freeman: The Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG) will agree recommendations as to which proposals for new investments in specialised services should be considered by NHS England in the prioritisation round for 2016/17. CPAG is scheduled to meet between 6 and 9 June 2016. NHS England is currently considering the outcome of a public consultation that it held between April and May 2016 on a proposed method for the relative prioritisation of new investments in specialised services. The consultation guide that it published described the proposed method and the types of data that would be considered. Many detailed submissions were made by respondents to consultation, and they will all be carefully considered. NHS England is expecting to make a decision on the eventual method that will be adopted for 2016/17 in May 2016. The consultation guide can be found at the following address: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/investment- decisions/supporting_documents/consultationguide.pdf
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Health Services: Children Mr Laurence Robertson: [37916] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the average waiting time for therapy referrals and appointments for children with special needs (a) nationally and (b) in Gloucestershire in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. Alistair Burt: This information is not held centrally. Currently in Gloucestershire, 94% of patients are accessing Speech and Language therapy and 99% of patients are accessing Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy within eight weeks of referral.
Health Services: Procurement Nic Dakin: [37785] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) science- related contracts and (b) outsourced activities in the health sector are awarded to organisations that demonstrate a commitment to high professional standards and invest in the professional development of their scientific workforce. George Freeman: All procurement processes must identify key objectives, performance indicators and critical success factors and ensure these are reflected in the tender documents against which organisations are invited to bid. Where appropriate, specific ongoing training and development needs can be included as specific terms in the final signed contract.
HIV Infection: Drugs Jim Shannon: [37303] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total expenditure by the NHS on HIV drugs was in each of the last five years. Jane Ellison: The indicative spend for NHS England commissioned HIV services for 2014/15 is £539 million. This figure is for the total indicative spend on HIV not just drugs, as it is not possible to extract the spend on HIV drugs alone for 2014/15. Accurate data on spend on HIV drugs from previous years is not available.
Hospitals: Food Rebecca Long Bailey: [38193] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has conducted on the effect on levels of food waste in hospitals of changing provision of food from in-house kitchen preparation to a cook-chill or cook-freeze system.
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George Freeman: The Department has not conducted research on the subject requested. Data on unserved patient meals was collected through the Estates Returns Information Collection until 2013-14, but it excluded data on waste generated during food production and waste from uneaten patient meals. The question was removed from the 2014-15 collection onwards as the data did not present an accurate picture for all food waste. Rebecca Long Bailey: [38196] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to promote onsite preparation and cooking of fresh food in hospitals. Rebecca Long Bailey: [38212] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has conducted of the (a) nutritional values and (b) texture, taste and smell of hospital food prepared using a cook- chill or cook-freeze system. Rebecca Long Bailey: [38383] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) outsourcing of the preparation and cooking of hospital food and (b) the use of cook-chill systems by contractors meet the nutritional standards set within NHS outsourced food contracts. George Freeman: The Department has worked with NHS England to ensure that food standards are written into the NHS Standard Contract 2016/17, the key document governing the purchase and provision of National Health Services. Irrespective of the food service type, all National Health Service providers are obliged, under the terms of their legally-binding contracts with commissioners, to adhere to the hospital food standards for the National Health Service as recommended by the Hospital Food Standards Panel in August 2014. The recommendations are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/establishing-food-standards-for-nhs- hospitals It is for local NHS providers to determine which food service type they use. Whilst the Department has not conducted specific research, the Patient-led Assessments of the Care Environment does include questions relating to: - Compliance with the following food standards relevant to patient nutrition and hydration: ― The 10 Key Characteristics of Good Nutritional Care, (NHS England) ― Nutrition and Hydration Digest, (British Dietetic Association) ― Malnutrition Universal creeningS Tool or equivalent, (British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) ― Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services, (Defra)
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― Food quality including taste, texture and temperature - the menu as being approved by a registered dietitian as being capable of providing an appropriate balanced diet for all patients.
Hospitals: Parking Justin Madders: [37814] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of hospitals have a policy of charging (a) blue badge holders and (b) carers for parking. Alistair Burt: Data is not collected centrally in the exact format requested. Data on car parking is collected annually through two collections. The Estates Return Information Collection asks whether organisations charge for the use of designated disabled parking spaces. Of the 1,038 sites that have designated disabled car parking spaces 87% do not charge. The Patient Led Assessment of the Care Environment asks about the number of sites that offer car parking charge concessions in accordance with the National Health Service patient, visitor and staff car parking principles. Of the 372 sites that charge for car parking, 86% offer concessions, which include either free car parking or reduced charges or caps.
Hypertension: Alzheimer's Disease Jim Shannon: [38112] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with medical organisations on the potential link between high blood pressure in people of 30 to 40 years of age and the development of Alzheimer's disease. Jane Ellison: The Department has had no such discussions. Dementia is a key priority for this Government. That is why on 6 March 2016, we published the Implementation Plan to support the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020. As part of the Plan, we will transform our approach to risk reduction, using the NHS Health Check programme to educate more people earlier about the risks of developing dementia – and the steps they could take to reduce those risks. In March 2016, we announced that Public Health England, in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK, will pilot approaches to the dementia awareness and risk reduction component of the NHS Health Check, specifically with the younger age group, aged 40-64.
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The Government has also signed up to the Blackfriars’ Consensus, which, made clear that individuals can reduce their risk of dementia by living healthier lives by not smoking, drinking less, keeping physically active and better managing diabetes.
Hypnosis: Children Jim Shannon: [37295] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS uses hypnosis to improve dietary and exercise habits in children. Jane Ellison: NHS England does not hold this information centrally.
Infectious Diseases Heidi Alexander: [38044] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding his Department will make available for Public Health England's awareness campaign on the symptoms of serious infections; and what proportion of that funding will be spent on sepsis awareness. Jane Ellison: The Department funds Public Health England to undertake a range of social marketing campaigns to support behaviour change and public awareness. This work will be funded within the annual budget as will the work on other infections, such as influenza, as well as non-infectious diseases. Further planning work will be undertaken to determine the budget for this activity.
Kidneys: Research Derek Thomas: [37799] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of overall health research funding was invested in renal research in each year since 2010; and what plans he has to increase funding for such research in the next five years. George Freeman: Spend on research funded directly by the Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is categorised by Health Research Classification System (HRCS) health categories. NIHR expenditure on research infrastructure and systems where spend cannot be attributed to health categories is excluded. The following table shows NIHR spend in the ‘Renal and Urogenital’ category as a proportion of total categorised spend and as a proportion of total revenue expenditure.
NIHR SPEND IN ‘RENAL AND UROGENITAL’ HRCS HEALTH CATEGORY
Proportion of total categorised NIHR spend % Proportion of total NIHR revenue spend %
2010/11 1.6 1.0
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NIHR SPEND IN ‘RENAL AND UROGENITAL’ HRCS HEALTH CATEGORY
2011/12 1.7 1.1
2012/13 2.0 1.5
2013/14 2.3 1.7
2014/15 1.9 1.6
NIHR data for total 2015/16 spend on renal and urogenital research is not yet available. Total NIHR spend in future years on renal research depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including renal research. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and the National Health Service, value for money and scientific quality.
Life Expectancy Jim Shannon: [38109] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with medical organisations on addressing the effect of (a) loneliness and (b) broken sleep on longevity. Alistair Burt: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets regularly with medical organisations to discuss a wide range of issues, including loneliness and how feeling lonely can have a significant impact on a person’s health and wellbeing. The Secretary of State addressed this issue in a keynote speech he made in 2013 at the National Children and Adult Services Annual Conference. The text of the speech is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-forgotten-million Evidence is still limited for effective interventions which address loneliness. Public Health England’s (PHE) Behavioural Insights Team in collaboration with local government, clinical commissioning groups, general practitioners (GPs), and the third sector have designed a low cost, scalable and evidence-informed intervention. This helps to identify older people in primary care who are at risk of social isolation and loneliness and support them through services that draw on the best available evidence of ‘what works’. PHE will pilot this intervention, engaging GPs. There have been no discussions held with medical organisations on the effect of broken sleep on longevity.
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Long Stay Patients: Learning Disability Luciana Berger: [38060] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people with learning disabilities residing in long-stay hospitals in each year since 2013. Alistair Burt: The number of patients in an inpatient setting with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and/or behaviour that challenges on 30 September 2013 was 3,250, on 30 September 2014 was 3,230 and on September 2015 was 3,000 (Learning Disability Census: England 2013/14/15).
Lung Diseases Mark Menzies: [37187] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps his Department has taken to (a) improve the provision of care for patients with lung disease and (b) increase funding for research into lung diseases. Jane Ellison: Respiratory disease is specifically covered in the NHS Outcomes Framework and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published Quality Standards for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and lung cancer setting out the markers of high-quality, cost-effective care. Expenditure by the Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on research relating to respiratory disease has increased from £15.7 million in 2009/10 to £25.5 million in 2014/15 (the latest available figure). The NIHR has launched a new, open competition for biomedical research centre funding from April 2017 to March 2022. In this competition, a number of clinical areas of particular strategic importance to the health of patients are highlighted including respiratory disease.
Lyme Disease Teresa Pearce: [38038] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of Lyme disease amongst medical professionals. Teresa Pearce: [38039] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness of Lyme disease and of the measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of infection. Teresa Pearce: [38055] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many diagnoses of (a) Lyme disease and (b) chronic Lyme disease have been made in each of the last five years.
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Jane Ellison: The existing National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance supports primary care doctors in managing Lyme disease but to further strengthen the evidence base we have commissioned NICE to develop guidelines for the recognition and treatment of Lyme disease; this is expected in June 2018. Public Health England (PHE) provides information on Lyme disease and tick awareness to the medical profession and the public, holds regular medical training days, and works with Lyme Disease Action to support the needs and interests of patients. NHS Choices also publishes information on its website to raise awareness of Lyme disease and encourage timely medical consultation because early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease is the best way of limiting complications from infection. The number of human cases can be reduced by raising public awareness of how to avoid tick bites, and by environmental measures in public places to reduce the long grass and scrub which harbor ticks. PHE works with interested local authorities to raise tick awareness, and has produced joint public information with local authorities in areas such as the New Forest with a significant incidence of Lyme disease. The number of laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales varies annually, in 2013 there were 878 and in 2014 there were 730, but the majority of diagnoses are made clinically by general practitioners and those figures are not recorded. Patients with late or complicated Lyme disease may be diagnosed in a variety of specialist clinics, and the numbers are not recorded. Based on the clinical information supplied with the laboratory request, only a small proportion of the annual number of cases fall into this category. There is no clear definition for chronic Lyme disease, and no general acceptance of what the term means, so no data is available.
Medical Records: Databases Joan Ryan: [37885] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect on patient confidentiality of the decision by NHS Royal Free Foundation Trust to grant DeepMind access to NHS patient records; and if he will make a statement. George Freeman: Individual organisations providing National Health Service care are the data controllers for the information that they hold, and are responsible for ensuring that there is a legal basis for sharing confidential patient information with a third party. Individual organisations must ensure that where patient consent is the basis for information sharing that patients are fully informed about the purposes for which personal information might be processed and with whom they might share information. Where a NHS organisation has contracted a third party to process personal information on its behalf to support the provision of direct care to patients the individual
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organisation must ensure that it has contractual safeguards in place to prevent the third party from using the data for purposes other than those determined by the NHS organisation. NHS organisations should not share confidential patient information where the patient has objected – except in cases where there is a legal requirement to share data or an overriding public interest. Chi Onwurah: [37968] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data has been shared between Google DeepMind and the NHS; what plans there are for further data sharing under that partnership; and if he will make a statement. George Freeman: In law, individual organisations providing National Health Service care are the legal data controllers for the information that they hold, and need to take the necessary action to prevent data from being accessed inappropriately. In addition, the proper use of informatics in medical research, diagnostics, treatment and condition management is central to the NHS’s ability to deliver safe and high quality patient care. There are national standards and protocols for monitoring and maintaining data security across the NHS.
Medical Treatments Abroad: Europe Mr Ben Bradshaw: [37721] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of whether UK citizens would retain the automatic right to hold the European Health Insurance Card during the period prior to the completion of Article 50 negotiations relating to the Lisbon Treaty in the event of the UK voting to leave the EU. Alistair Burt: The procedure governing a country’s departure from the European Union is set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This provides for a period of two years for the negotiation of exit terms. EU law would continue to apply to the departing Member State until the Article 50 agreement had entered into force, or for two years if no agreement had been reached and no extension to the two year period had been granted. A request for an extension could only be granted with the unanimous agreement of the remaining Member States. The Government's position is that the United Kingdom will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.
Members: Correspondence Sir Gerald Kaufman: [37035] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he intends to answer the letter to him dated 23 March 2016 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mr C Costigan.
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Jane Ellison: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health responded to the Rt. hon. Member’s letter of 23 March 2016 on 22 April 2016.
Mental Health Services Luciana Berger: [38247] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the NHS will distinguish between sexuality and gender identity in the collection of data for people accessing Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services. Alistair Burt: The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies dataset does not currently make the distinction between sexuality and gender identity. The dataset has two fields that may be of relevance to this question: Sexual orientation, which is the current sexual orientation of a person and has the following valid codes:
1 HETEROSEXUAL
2 Homosexual Gay/Lesbian
3 Bi-sexual
4 Person asked and does not know or is not sure
9 Unknown
Z Not stated (Person asked but declined to provide a response)
Gender, which is the current gender of a person. Note that the classification is phenotypical rather than genotypical; i.e. it does not provide codes for medical or scientific purposes. It has the following valid codes:
0 NOT KNOWN
1 Male
2 Female
9 Not specified
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Mental Health Services: Out of Area Treatment Luciana Berger: [38246] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to define a target for the number of out-of-area placements for non-specialist mental health care. Alistair Burt: In April 2016, the Government announced a national ambition to eliminate inappropriate out of area treatments for adult acute inpatient care as a result of local acute bed pressures by 2020/21 at the latest. We expect areas to put in place local action plans and achieve year on year reductions from 2016/17.
Mental Health Services: Young People Mr Barry Sheerman: [38299] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has plans to encourage mental health providers to use social technology as a part of therapeutic treatments for young people. Alistair Burt: Future in Mind suggests there is a need to incentivise self-care by designing mental health apps targeted at children and young people to strengthen resilience, support and individual capacity for self-care. This has been achieved by establishing a children and young people’s category within the new NHS England Innovation fund for mental health to develop apps for cognitive behavioural therapy and self-harm and suicide prevention, amongst others. In conjunction with this work we are also assessing the potential need for quality assurance controls for mental health apps. The Department is currently considering providing access to both high quality and reliable information and support online through a national branded portal established on NHS Choices.
NHS: Coroners Luciana Berger: [38058] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS has incurred in costs for legal advice and representations at inquests, by cause of death, in each year since 2010. Ben Gummer: This information is not available centrally.
Obesity: Children Dr Eilidh Whiteford: [37727] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what account he plans to take of dietary inequality and food insecurity in the planned childhood obesity strategy.
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Jane Ellison: Our Childhood Obesity Strategy, which will be launched in the summer, will look at everything that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese.
Orkambi Dan Jarvis: [37867] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust's proposal for collaboration between the NHS and Vertex to widen access to the treatment Orkambi on the treatment of the patients with that disease. George Freeman: The Department has received the Cystic Fibrosis Trust’s proposals for an arrangement that would potentially allow access to Orkambi (lumacaftor in combination with ivacaftor) as part of a Managed Access Scheme in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) appraisal of Orkambi. I have encouraged the Trust and the manufacturer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, to engage with NICE to consider whether there remains scope for this, or any other, proposal to be taken into account in its appraisal and the Department is also engaging with the manufacturer directly on this matter.
Palliative Care Robert Flello: [38117] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were subject to do not resuscitate orders in the last year for which figures are available. Ben Gummer: This information is not collected centrally. Robert Flello: [38118] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides to district nurses on discussing do not resuscitate orders with patients and next of kin. Robert Flello: [38119] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides to hospitals on discussing do not resuscitate orders with patients and next of kin. Ben Gummer: The Department has not itself issued guidance on this subject, but has commended to National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts guidance for healthcare professionals prepared jointly by the British Medical Association, the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the Royal College of Nursing entitled Decisions relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The latest version of the guidance was published in October 2014 and took account of the Court of Appeal’s judgment, handed down in June 2014, in the case of R (on the application of Tracey) v (1) Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2) Secretary of State for Health. The Court of Appeal
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concluded that there was duty to consult a patient, or those close to the patient, about a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation decision unless that consultation is likely to cause physical or psychological harm to the patient.
Palliative Care: LGBT People Andrew Percy: [37997] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Advanced Cancer Care Equality Strategy for Gender and Sexual Minorities study in improving palliative and end-of-life care for LGBT people. Andrew Percy: [37998] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to improve palliative and end-of-life care for LGBT people. Ben Gummer: We are committed to ensuring that everyone who is at, or approaching, the end of life has access to high quality, compassionate care that is tailored to their individual needs and preferences. Many people already receive excellent end of life care but, as shown by the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) recent review of inequalities in end of life care, A different ending: Addressing inequalities in end of life care, there is clearly more that can be done to ensure that all patients experience good quality care, regardless of their age, gender, race, condition, sexual orientation or gender identity. We welcome the CQC’s review and we will work together with NHS England to use its findings, and those of the ACCESSCare: Advanced Cancer Care Equality Strategy for Sexual Minorities study, when it is published, to inform ongoing work to reduce inequalities in access to care.
Pharmacy Neil Coyle: [37710] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of his proposals for the future of community pharmacy on care for elderly people. Neil Coyle: [37711] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of his proposals for the future of community pharmacy on care for vulnerable patients. Alistair Burt: Community pharmacy is a vital part of the National Health Service. We want to see a high quality community pharmacy service that is properly integrated into primary care and public health in line with the Five Year Forward View. We want to make pharmacists a pivotal part of primary care for all patient groups, including the elderly and vulnerable, by increasing the number who bring their skills to general practitioner (GP) practices, care homes, urgent care and public health settings.
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We have consulted on how best to introduce a Pharmacy Integration Fund to help transform how pharmacists, their teams and community pharmacy will operate in the NHS, bringing clear benefits to patients and the public. Our aim is to ensure that those community pharmacies upon which people depend continue to thrive. We are consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme, which will provide more NHS funds to certain pharmacies compared with others, considering factors such as location and the health needs of the local population. The community pharmacy proposals for 2016/17 and beyond, on which we have consulted, are being considered in respect to the public sector equality duty, the family test and relevant duties of the Secretary of State under the NHS Act 2006. An impact assessment will be completed to inform final decisions and published in due course.
Pharmacy: Yorkshire and the Humber Mr Nick Clegg: [37745] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of planned budget reductions for community pharmacy on patient and health services in (a) Sheffield and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber. Alistair Burt: We are consulting the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, other pharmacy bodies and patient and public representatives on our proposals. An impact assessment will be completed to inform final decisions and published in due course. NHS England has a statutory duty to ensure the adequate provision of National Health Service pharmaceutical services across England and will ensure that duty continues to be met in Sheffield. Community pharmacy is a vital part of the NHS and can play an even greater role. In the Spending Review, the Government re-affirmed the need for the NHS to deliver £22 billion in efficiency savings by 2020-21 as set out in the NHS’s own plan, the Five Year Forward View. Community pharmacy is a core part of NHS primary care and has an important contribution to make as the NHS rises to these challenges. The Government believes efficiencies can be made without compromising the quality of services or public access to them. Our aim is to ensure that those community pharmacies upon which people depend continue to thrive and so we are consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme, which will provide more NHS funds to certain pharmacies compared to others, considering factors such as location and the health needs of the local population. The Government’s vision is for a more efficient, modern system that will free up pharmacists to spend more time delivering clinical and public health services to the benefit of patients and the public.
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Prescriptions: Fees and Charges Jeff Smith: [37876] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many fines have been issued for claiming free prescriptions without a valid exemption certificate in each (a) month and (b) year since the NHS Business Services Authority began checking eligibility for free prescriptions in September 2014. Alistair Burt: Since September 2014, when the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) took on responsibility for the service, a total of 747,790 penalty charge notices have been issued where someone claimed exemption on the basis that they held a valid exemption certificate but this could not be verified by the NHSBSA. A further 278,053 surcharge letters have been issued to follow up on penalty charge notices which have not been resolved through payment, cancellation (due to correction of erroneous information, for example) or waiving of the penalty charge. The annual and monthly breakdown is set out below. Annual breakdown of Penalty Charges Notices and Surcharge letters
PENALTY CHARGE NOTICES SURCHARGE LETTERS
September 2014 – December 59,564 20,562 2014
January 2015 – December 2015 430,971 171,065
January 2016 – April 2016 257,255 86,426
Total 757,790 278,053
Monthly breakdown of Penalty Charge Notices and Surcharge letters
PENALTY CHARGE NOTICES SURCHARGE LETTER
September 2014 5,298 1,733
October 2014 5,007 1,697
November 2014 23,511 8,344
December 2014 25,748 8,788
January 2015 53,668 11,445
February 2015 21,706 7,969
March 2015 15,316 6,182
April 2015 12,687 5,032
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 89
PENALTY CHARGE NOTICES SURCHARGE LETTER
May 2015 20,122 8,189
June 2015 22,472 8,984
July 2015 18,249 6,550
August 2015 39,626 17,282
September 2015 57,661 24,634
October 2015 56,952 25,075
November 2015 64,573 28,655
December 2015 47,939 21,068
January 2016 82,881 36,766
February 2016 55,650 24,079
March 2016 49,767 20,340
April 2016 68,957 5,241
Total 747,790 278,053
Professions: Registration Nic Dakin: [37783] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy that scientists and technicians working in the health sector should be registered with a professional body such as the Science Council. Ben Gummer: There are no plans to require scientists and technicians working in the health sector to register with a professional body such as the Science Council. While voluntary registration schemes, such as those overseen by the Science Council, provide an important mechanism for assuring the standards of professional staff, it is a matter for individual staff and their employing organisation as to how they make use of the assurance provided by voluntary registration schemes.
Sepsis: Children Heidi Alexander: [38045] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information is provided to new mothers on spotting the signs and symptoms of sepsis in young children and infants.
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Jane Ellison: Health visitors are able to provide information to parents on the signs and symptoms of sepsis. Public Health England (PHE) is working with health visiting professional organisations to ensure health visitors have easy access to up to date advice to share with parents. General information about the signs and symptoms of sepsis is available on the NHS Choices website at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Blood-poisoning/Pages/Introduction.aspx NHS Choices also includes more specific information on the signs and symptoms of septicaemia caused by meningitis at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Meningitis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx We have also asked PHE to develop an awareness campaign for parents that focuses on the symptoms of serious infections, including meningitis, septicaemia, and sepsis.
Social Networking and Technology: Young People Mr Barry Sheerman: [38295] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has made an assessment of the (a) mental and (b) physical health risks to young people of social media and technology. Alistair Burt: The Department has made no formal assessment of the risks to mental or physical health presented to young people by social media and related technologies. However, the Department, working with Xenzone (a provider of online counselling services) has funded the development of an online risk module for health professionals, designed to give them an understanding of the digital world, so that they can learn to distinguish between ‘normal online behaviour’ and potentially dangerous activity. The Department has commissioned the Health and Social Care Information Centre to carry out a survey of the mental health of children and young people. Public consultation on the content of that survey called for the inclusion of questions on the impact that social media may be having on the mental health of children and young people. A national report on the findings of the survey will be published in 2018, the first such survey since 2004. The clearest physical health risk arises from the fact that children and young people who spend long periods online are not exercising during that time. The four Home Country Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) published United Kingdom-wide guidelines for the amount of physical activity required across the life-course (including children and young people) in July 2011. The CMOs also included advice to restrict sedentary behaviour (long periods of sitting) including use of computers, for all age groups.
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Stem Cells: Medical Treatments Fiona Bruce: [37884] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been treated with adult stem cells in the UK in each of the last 10 years. George Freeman: The Department does not hold data on the number of patients receiving stem cell treatments.
Stem Cells: Research Fiona Bruce: [37883] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of embryonic stem cell research for the development of treatments for patients. George Freeman: Treatments based on the use of stem cells including those obtained by embryos must be demonstrated to be both safe and effective before they can receive authorisation. Fiona Bruce: [37946] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department invested in research using adult stem cells in 2015. George Freeman: The information requested is not available. Spending on research is not categorised by specific technology type.
World AIDS Day David Mackintosh: [37075] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to raise awareness of World AIDS Day before 1 December 2016. Jane Ellison: In preparation for World AIDS Day 2016 Public Health England (PHE) will publish the annual HIV in the UK situation report and associated data tables in mid-November 2016. This report will include the latest HIV epidemiology for the United Kingdom, providing national and local systems essential information to inform their World AIDS Day 2016 awareness campaigns. Alongside this HIV Prevention England, co-ordinated by Terrence Higgins Trust and commissioned by PHE will provide a national HIV testing campaign ‘HIV Testing week’. This will commence prior to World AIDS Day and run for one week from the 19 November 2016.
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Youth Services: Per Capita Costs Dr Rupa Huq: [37358] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment the Government has made of the extent of variation between local authorities in their (a) per capita spending on physical activity services and (b) facilities for children and young people. Dr Rupa Huq: [37359] To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of spending by each local authority was allocated to provision of facilities and services for children's and young people's physical activity in each of the last three years. Jane Ellison: Information on local authorities’ total spending on physical activity services and facilities for children and young people is not collected centrally. The decision on how much is spent on specific local public health services rests with individual authorities who are best placed to assess local population needs and priorities. Local authorities are required to undertake Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and to develop Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies which must inform local authority commissioning plans.
HOME OFFICE
Alternatives to Prison Royston Smith: [37907] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how community resolution agreements are recorded in crime statistics. Mr John Hayes: The Home Office publishes the number of Community Resolutions issued and recorded by police forces as part of its Crime Outcomes in England and Wales statistical releases. These show Community Resolutions that have been delivered in accordance with the College of Policing guidance on the Use of Community Resolution Incorporating Restorative Justice. The latest figures show that in year ending December 2015 there were 120,002 Community Resolutions recorded by police forces in England and Wales.
Asylum: EU Law Mr David Lammy: [37247] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of her Department's full- time equivalent officials are seconded to (a) France, (b) Italy, (c) Greece and (d) any other EU country in order to identify and support Dublin III asylum transfer requests; and what plans her Department has to second further staff to identify and support such requests.
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Mr David Lammy: [37248] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of her Department's officials are working on processing Dublin III asylum transfer requests; and what plans her Department has to increase the number of such staff. Mr David Lammy: [37249] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to increase the resources available for the processing of Dublin III asylum transfer requests. Mr David Lammy: [37250] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to simplify application and processing systems to expedite the processing of Dublin III asylum transfer requests. Mr David Lammy: [37499] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's Written Statement of 21 April 2016, HCWS687, on refugees and resettlement, what (a) additional steps she has taken and (b) further steps she plans to take to implement and streamline the Dublin III Regulation process and to quickly identify children who qualify for family reunion across Europe. James Brokenshire: We continue to work with a number of EU Member States and the European Asylum Sup-port Office (EASO) to ensure Dublin works effectively. We are in ongoing discussions with France, Italy and Greece, as well as the UNHCR, to ensure that we continue to have the right processes in place and the resources to make them work effectively. We have recently deployed two UK experts to the Greek Dublin Unit. We are currently providing bilateral support to the Italian Dublin Unit through a long term secondment. We are also due to deploy an additional UK expert to the Italian Dublin Unit shortly. Our work with France including the permanent official contact group and a recently sec- onded senior UK official to the French Dublin Unit to assist with the identification and transfer of cases has shown results of our collaborative efforts. The Home Office has a unit processing Dublin III asylum transfer requests from and to the United Kingdom. This unit comprises 78.34 full time equivalent managers, caseworkers and support staff. Staffing levels will remain in line with anticipated volumes. As announced on 4 May we are now looking to transfer children who were already present in Europe before the EU-Turkey deal came into force on 20 March, where it is in their best interests. It is important that we ensure we fulfil our obligations to children who are already in UK, as well ensuring we have the right support for those who may be brought to the UK from Europe. We are working with the relevant Member States, the UNHCR and other Non-Governmental Organisations and local authorities to establish
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the best way to implement the provisions of the Immigration Act 2016 for the transfer of unaccompanied refugee children from Europe to the UK.
Cybercrime: Young People Mr Barry Sheerman: [38298] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to deter young people from committing cyber crime. Mr John Hayes: The Government’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy (2013) sets out our approach to deterring people from becoming involved in serious and organised crime, including cyber crime. In March 2015, the Home Office published additional guidance to support local partners to understand pathways into serious and organised crime and put in place Prevent interventions for individuals at risk. The Home Office works closely with law enforcement, in particular the National Crime Agency (NCA) , to understand the drivers behind young people committing cyber crime. Working to the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, the NCA aims to prevent young people from becoming involved in cybercrime in the first place, moving deeper into cyber crime and/or reoffending. The NCA works with both domestic and international partners to raise awareness of what activity is illegal, what are the consequences and the many positive career pathways available for those with technical cyber skillsets.
Fire and Rescue Services: Finance Sammy Wilson: [37552] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government made available to fire and rescue authorities over the last five years; how much such funding the Government plans to make available to such authorities over the next five years; and what assessment her Department has made of the effect of changes in levels of funding over the next five years on each fire and rescue authority area. Mike Penning: Like all other local authorities fire and rescue authorities have had to play their part in reducing the national deficit. Fire and rescue services have coped well with savings to date: the numbers of incidents and fire deaths and injuries have all fallen to an historic low. The 2013 Knight Review provided clear evidence of the scope for fire and rescue authorities to make further efficiencies. The table below shows the funding provided to single-purpose fire and rescue authorities.
SINGLE PURPOSE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITIES FUNDING
2011-12 £0.996 bn
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 95
SINGLE PURPOSE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITIES FUNDING
2012-13 £1.014 bn
2013-14 £1.083 bn
2014-15 £1.005 bn
2015-16 £0.917 bn
2016-17 £0.869 bn
County councils that include fire and rescue services will decide for themselves how to fund those services. However, we expect that county councils in this position will ensure that their fire and rescue services are able to maintain the same quality and breadth of services as single purpose authorities. In 2013-14 the Government introduced a new funding system for local government. Under this system the sector retained 50% of business rates. It is therefore inappropriate to compare these amounts over time due to differences in the way that funding was provided in each year. For the first time ever, the Government offers the opportunity of financial certainty for fire and rescue authorities, with the offer of a firm four-year settlement in return for robust efficiency plans. Indicative funding allocations for 2017-18 to 2019-20 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/498722/ Key_info_for_local_authorities.xlsx
Fraud Jim Shannon: [37302] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the level of trends in (a) online and (b) telephone fraud in the last five years. Mr John Hayes: The Home Office collect statistics from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) on the number of fraud offences recorded and these are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in Tables A4 and A5 of the quarterly crime statistics at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crime inenglandandwalesappendixtables Although Action Fraud requests information on enablers (e.g. online, telephone, post) when frauds are reported, it is voluntary for victims to provide it and not verified. As a result there is likely to be a significant number of offences that should have been flagged as, for example, online but are not, as well as incorrectly classified offences.
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NFIB intend to revisit this issue once their new management information system has been launched. The ONS recently added new fraud and cyber crime questions to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). As part of this development, they also added a question to ask victims whether the internet or any type of online activity related to any aspect of the offence experienced. As such, it should be possible to estimate the level of online fraud against individuals from this and ONS are developing their plans for publishing this information.
Home Office: Hotels Mr Jim Cunningham: [37639] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of hotel bookings her Department made for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in each of the last five years. Karen Bradley: We refer the Honourable Member to the answer to PQ 37638, given by the Cabinet Office.
Home Office: Staff Paul Blomfield: [37513] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff are employed in the Higher Education Audit Team; and what plans she has to change that number. James Brokenshire: There are currently five staff working in the Higher Education Assurance Team (HEAT). The team is part of the Home Office's wider Sponsor Compliance Network which is currently under review. Until that review is complete it is not possible to confirm the team's eventual size and structure but its role and responsibilities will continue to be delivered within the Compliance Network's operating structure.
Internet: Bullying Andrew Percy: [37990] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on tackling online abuse in schools. Karen Bradley: The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) is co-chaired by Ministers from Department for Education, Home Office and Department for Culture Media and Sport. This brings together industry, law enforcement, academia, charities and parenting groups to help to keep children and young people safe online. As part of this work, the UK’s Communications regulator, Ofcom, published best practice guidance for social media platforms to encourage responsible practice from industry in December 2015.
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The Department for Education recognises that educating young people is key to tackling cyberbullying and protecting children from online abuse. All schools must have a behaviour policy which includes measures to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying. To help schools to develop effective measures the Department for Education has produced advice which provides a definition of cyberbullying and outlines the steps schools can take to deal with bullying. Search powers included in the Education Act 2011 have given teachers stronger powers to tackle cyber-bullying (via text message or the internet) by providing a specific power to search for and, if necessary, delete inappropriate images (or files) on electronic devices, including mobile phones. The Department has also issued advice for parents and carers on cyberbullying which specifies the tell-tale signs that it is happening and includes advice on what do when it occurs. The Government has invested £3.85 million in a new phase of our This is Abuse campaign, which tackles abuse within teenage relationships and was launched in March. The National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) has developed a comprehensive education programme, called Thinkuknow, which provides targeted advice to children, parents and carers, including on how to use social media safely.
Social Networking Andrew Percy: [37988] To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of online abuse on (a) Facebook, (b) Twitter and (c) all other social media have been reported to the police since 2010. Mr John Hayes: The Home Office do not hold the information requested. However, we have introduced an ‘online flag’ as part of the police recorded crime data collection. This allows police forces to record online instances of abuse and other crimes such as stalking, harassment, sexual offences and others. These offences could have taken place solely online, or had an online element to them. These data are currently still in development but will be published in due course. However, it will not be possible to split the data according to type of social media used (if any).
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Developing Countries: Females Ms Diane Abbott: [37769] To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the implications are of the findings of the report from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, entitled DFID's efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls, published on 17 May 2016, for her
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Department's work on strengthening women's rights organisations and networks in the developing world. Justine Greening: I welcome ICAI’s recent review, which awarded my Department their highest rating, a green review score, for our work on tackling violence against women and girls. The review highlights the important contribution UK Aid makes to the lives of women and girls around the world and recognises the significant achievements of DFID to date on this vtial issue. My Department will provide a formal response to the ICAI findings in due course.
JUSTICE
Bill of Rights Dr Lisa Cameron: [905095] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Crown dependencies on the Government's plans to introduce a British Bill of Rights. Dominic Raab: The government was elected with a mandate to reform the UK’s human rights framework. The Crown Dependencies are not part of the UK but are self-governing dependencies of the Crown. This means they have their own directly elected legislative assemblies, administrative, fiscal and legal systems and their own courts of law. Although the Bill of Rights will not apply to the Crown Dependencies we have undertaken to fully engage with them.
Legal Aid Scheme: Children and Young People Andy Slaughter: [37654] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) children under 18 years of age and (b) young people aged 18 to 24 applied for legal aid under the Exceptional Case Funding Scheme in (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16. Andy Slaughter: [37655] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) children under 18 years of age and (b) young people aged 18 to 24 were granted legal funding under the Exceptional Case Funding Scheme in (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16. Andy Slaughter: [37656] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) children under 18 years of age and (b) young people aged 18 to 24(i) applied for legal aid through the Exceptional Case Funding Scheme (ECF) and (ii) were granted ECF in immigration cases in (A) 2013-14, (B) 2014-15 and (C) 2015-16.
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Mr Shailesh Vara: The purpose of the Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) scheme is to provide funding where it is legally needed. It does not provide a general power to fund cases which fall outside the scope of legal aid. Legal aid is a vital part of our justice system, but we cannot escape the continuing need to reduce the deficit. We still have a very generous system - last year we spent £1.6bn on legal aid, around a quarter of the department’s expenditure. Every ECF application is carefully considered by the Legal Aid Agency on an individual basis.
Applications to the Exceptional Case Funding scheme, by age of applicant, April 2013 to December 2015
FY APPLICATION RECEIVED UNDER 18 18-24 UNKNOWN
Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 55 86 698 2
Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 27 116 67
Apr 2015 - Dec 2015 1 31 82 78
1 Statistics for Jan-Mar 2016 are exempt for future publication on 30 June 2016 2 Please note: Age data for Exceptional Case Funding were collected from October 2013 onwards, hence the greater proportion of unknowns in 2013-14 compared to the other years. Applications to the Exceptional Case Funding scheme, which were granted 3 , by age of applicant, April 2013 to December 2015
FY APPLICATION RECEIVED UNDER 18 18-24 UNKNOWN
Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 1 4 13 2
Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 8 20 3
Apr 2015 - Dec 2015 1 12 40 23
1 Statistics for Jan-Mar 2016 are exempt for future publication on 30 June 2016 2 Please note: Age data for Exceptional Case Funding were collected from October 2013 onwards, hence the greater proportion of unknowns in 2013-14 compared to the other years. 3 Granted by 29 February 2016 Applications to the Exceptional Case Funding scheme for immigration cases, by age of applicant, April 2013 to December 2015
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FY APPLICATION RECEIVED UNDER 18 18-24 UNKNOWN
Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 - 12 133 2
Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 14 39 16
Apr 2015 - Dec 2015 1 11 33 25
1 Statistics for Jan-Mar 2016 are exempt for future publication on 30 June 2016 2 Please note: Age data for Exceptional Case Funding were collected from October 2013 onwards, hence the greater proportion of unknowns in 2013-14 compared to the other years. Applications to the Exceptional Case Funding scheme for immigration cases, which were granted 3 , by age of applicant, April 2013 to December 2015
FY APPLICATION RECEIVED UNDER 18 18-24 UNKNOWN
Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 - - 1 2
Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 4 8 1
Apr 2015 - Dec 2015 1 10 22 12
1 Statistics for Jan-Mar 2016 are exempt for future publication on 30 June 2016 2 Please note: Age data for Exceptional Case Funding were collected from October 2013 onwards, hence the greater proportion of unknowns in 2013-14 compared to the other years. 3 Granted by 29 February 2016
Offenders: Employment Andy Slaughter: [37067] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding has been received from the European Social Fund via the National Offender Management Service Co-Financing Organisation to help employer roadshows at HM Prison (a) Sudbury, (b) Drake Hall and (c) Wayland. Andy Slaughter: [37068] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding has been received from the European Social Fund via the National Offender Management Service Co-Financing Organisation to help set up and finance The Employers' Forum for Reducing Re-offending. Andy Slaughter: [37069] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding HM Young Offender Institution (a) Werrington, (b) Feltham and (c) Cookham Wood has received from the European Social
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Fund via the National Offender Management Service Co-Financing Organisation in each year since January 2010. Andy Slaughter: [37070] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding his Department has received from the European Social Fund to fund the National Offender Management Service Co- Financing Organisation in each year since January 2010. Andrew Selous: Money received from the European Social Fund (ESF) by the NOMS Co-financing Programme is published in the NOMS Annual Report and Accounts. No ESF funding has been used to finance employer roadshows at Sudbury, Drake Hall and Wayland prisons. Neither has any ESF money been awarded direct to HM Young Offender Institutions Werrington, Feltham or Cookham Wood. It is a condition of any award of core ESF funding to the NOMS Co-financing programme that it has to be spent on front line services for offenders (excluding the administration budget. Because of this, a separate application was made under the Technical Assistance grant to fund, among other things, the setting up and running of the Employers’ Forum for Reducing Re-offending (EFRR). The aim of the Technical Assistance grant is to fund services that will support the objectives of the main programme – employability of offenders. The amount spent from the ESF Technical Assistance fund on the EFRR from 2010 to 2015 was £280,403.
Prisons: Discipline Andy Slaughter: [37078] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 13 January 2016 to Question 20908, on prisons: discipline, how many days were added in each prison establishment as a result of adjudications in 2015. Andrew Selous: The number of awards of additional days and the number of days given in each prison establishment as a result of adjudications in 2015 can be found in Table 1 attached. For context, the total number of awards and days given in the last 5 years can be found in Table 2 below.
TABLE 2 – NUMBER OF INSTANCES AND DAYS OF ADDITIONAL DAYS FOR ALL PRISON ESTABLISHMENTS (1,2) , ENGLAND AND WALES, 2010 - 2015
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Number 13,788 8,690 9,537 9,125 10,265 13,000 of awards where additional
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TABLE 2 – NUMBER OF INSTANCES AND DAYS OF ADDITIONAL DAYS FOR ALL PRISON ESTABLISHMENTS (1,2) , ENGLAND AND WALES, 2010 - 2015
days were given
Number of days for which additional days were given (2)
247,630 147,869 153,253 134,672 156,070 215,348
1 - Figures relate to all proven adjudications and include suspended and prospective punishments
2 - Figures correspond to the sum of the number of days given for each punishment received after an incident of misbehaviour.
If an offender receives 2 punishments as a result of an assault against a prison officer and each punishment attracts 20 days,
then the offender will have received a total of 40 days of additional days
Data Sources and Quality
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to
possible errors with data entry and processing.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 103
Attachments: 1. Number of Instances 2015 [37078 - Table 1.xls]
Suspended Sentences Philip Davies: [37669] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of suspended sentences is that one person currently has without receiving a prison sentence in a (a) magistrates court and (b) Crown court. Philip Davies: [37670] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of suspended sentences is that one person has received before receiving a prison sentence in a (a) magistrates court and (b) Crown court. Dominic Raab: Where the court imposes a custodial sentence of two years or less it may suspend the sentence, for up to two years, and also impose one or more community requirements. This is a decision for the independent judiciary. If the offender breaches a suspended sentence order, there is a statutory presumption that the custodial sentence will be given effect, unless it would be unjust to do so in view of all of the circumstances. Repeat offenders can expect to go straight to prison if they commit a serious offence. Offenders serving suspended custodial sentences, however, have a lower re-offending rate than offenders serving immediate, short custodial sentences. The highest number of suspended sentences received by one person who has not also received an immediate custodial sentence, as recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC) up to 31 December 2015, and the latest sentencing occasion being (a) in a magistrate’s court was 10 and (b) in the Crown Court was 6. The highest number of suspended sentences received by one person, as recorded on the PNC up to December 2015, before receiving an immediate custodial sentence in; (a) a magistrate’s court was 9 and (b) the Crown Court was 8.
Young Offender Institutions: Discipline Andy Slaughter: [37079] To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answers of 25 January 2016 to Question 22862 and of 26 June 2015 to Question 2890, for what reasons additional days were added as a result of adjudications to sentences served by children under the age of 18 in each year since 2010. Mike Penning: The table below provides the reasons additional days were added as a result of adjudications to sentences served by children under the age of 18 in each year since 2010.
104 Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS
Although youth crime is down, reoffending rates are far too high and the care and supervision of young offenders in custody is not good enough. That is why the Justice Secretary has asked Charlie Taylor to conduct a review of youth justice. He will report back later this year with recommendations on how to improve the treatment of young people in our care. I also plan to appoint a Youth Custody Improvement Board who will work across the youth secure estate in each Secure Training Centre and Young Offender Institution that holds children, including those currently run by NOMS and will look particularly at the safety of young people and behaviour management techniques.
NUMBER OF AWARDS OF ADDITIONAL DAYS, BY REASONS FOR JUVENILES, IN ALL PRISON ESTABLISHMENTS, ENGLAND AND WALES, 1 2010 - 2015
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Number of awards 98 78 108 146 282 208 where additional days were given
Violence 53 50 66 83 164 145
Escapes or absconds 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disobedience or 15 11 15 19 45 25 disrespect
Wilful damage 14 4 2 17 14 7
Unauthorised 11 10 8 9 18 16 transactions/possessions
Other offences 5 3 17 18 41 15
1 - The figures relate to all proven adjudications and include suspended and prospective punishments
Data Sources and Quality
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors
with data entry and processing.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 105
PRIME MINISTER
Anti-corruption Summit Paul Flynn: [37609] To ask the Prime Minister, which leaders in civil society, business and government were invited to attend the anti-corruption conference, Tackling Corruption Together, which he hosted in London on 11 May 2016. Mr David Cameron: The Tackling Corruption Together conference was organised by civil society organisations, businesses and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Paul Flynn: [37610] To ask the Prime Minister, whether he invited the President of Panama and the Prime Minister of the British Virgin Islands to attend the Anti-Corruption Summit held in London on 12 May 2016; and what criteria he used in deciding which political leaders to invite. Mr David Cameron: The Anti-Corruption Summit was the first of its kind, bringing together world leaders and anti-corruption champions in business and civil society. 44 countries and seven international organisations attended, including 11 heads of state or government and the heads of the World Bank, IMF and UNDP. Leaders from those Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories that had agreed to automatic exchange of beneficial ownership information were among those invited. We agreed a Global Declaration, a Summit Communique and a set of country statements with ambitious commitments to expose, punish and drive out corruption. These are published on the gov.uk website.
SCOTLAND
Scotland Office: Pay Greg Mulholland: [38227] To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the average hourly earnings were of his Department's (a) BME and (b) non-BME employees in (i) 2015 and (ii) 2016. David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join, do so on assignment, loan or secondment from other government bodies, principally the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government, who remain the employer. Detailed information in relation to average hourly earnings of BME and non-BME staff would be a matter for these bodies. The Scotland office does not hold the information requested.
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TRANSPORT
A14: Speed Limits Daniel Zeichner: [37659] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he made of the (a) time and (b) financial cost to motorists and road hauliers of the 40mph limit on the A14 for recent road improvement works. Andrew Jones: The work on the A14 involved replacing central reserve safety barriers, necessitating a 40mph speed limit restriction for safety reasons whilst the barrier remained incomplete. As this was essential safety work Highways England did not carry out an assessment of the delay costs.
Aviation: North East Anna Turley: [37794] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many annual flight movements between airports in the North East and (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick Airport took place in each year between 2000 and 2015. Mr Robert Goodwill: Information on the number of flights between the North East and Heathrow and Gatwick are contained in the tables below:
YEAR HEATHROW GATWICK
2000 6,300 3,610
2001 6,070 3,240
2002 6,090 2,950
2003 6,080 2,870
2004 6,420 2,790
2005 6,910 2,870
2006 6,270 3,140
2007 6,450 1,810
2008 6,020 1,970
2009 4,310 2,430
2010 3,590 2,300
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 107
YEAR HEATHROW GATWICK
2011 4,090 2,100
2012 3,980 1,900
2013 3,910 1,770
2014 4,070 1,210
2015 4,180 260
REPORTING AIRPORT HEATHROW GATWICK
Last/next airport Durham Tees Newcastle Durham Tees Newcastle Valley Valley
2000 2,430 3,870 40 3,570
2001 2,090 3,980 - 3,240
2002 2,080 4,010 - 2,950
2003 1,990 4,090 - 2,870
2004 2,120 4,300 - 2,790
2005 2,150 4,750 100 2,770
2006 2,010 4,260 500 2,650
2007 2,390 4,070 10 1,800
2008 1,990 4,030 - 1,960
2009 450 3,860 - 2,430
2010 - 3,590 - 2,300
2011 - 4,090 - 2,100
2012 - 3,980 - 1,900
2013 - 3,910 - 1,760
2014 - 4,070 - 1,210
2015 - 4,180 - 260
Source: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
108 Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS
Bus Services: Concessions Daniel Zeichner: [37658] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 15 March 2016 to Question 29991, what estimate he made of the total amount local authorities have spent on delivering concessionary bus fares since 2011. Andrew Jones: Figures for net current expenditure on concessionary travel in England between 2011-12 and 2014-15 (the latest for which data is available) are available in Table BUS0811b which is published on the Department’s statistics page on the GOV.UK website. The total net current expenditure refers to expenditure on all aspects of concessionary travel, including the statutory bus concession for older and disabled people, discretionary concessions, youth concession schemes and administrative costs.
Bus Services: Disability Daniel Zeichner: [37657] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 26 November 2015 to Question 16942, for what reason his Department does not publish statistics on the number of buses in England that are fitted with audio-visual systems; and whether the Buses Bill will make provision to do so. Andrew Jones: The Department’s annual survey of local bus operators was amended in 2013/14 to include a question on the number of buses providing audio/visual information. In line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, statistics should be produced to a level of quality that meets users’ need. To date, the statistics relating to this question have not been published by the Department because of concerns about the robustness of the data. The Department, as part of it’s statistical quality management process, will take steps to improve the quality of the audio/visual data. Once these quality concerns are met so that what is produced does not risk misleading users, the Department will look to publish the information, in line with the majority of data collected through the local bus survey. The Government, therefore, does not consider it necessary to legislate on this issue through the Bus Services Bill. Daniel Zeichner: [37796] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 26 November 2015 to Question 16941, on bus services: disability, what the different potential solutions for achieving better audio-visual information on buses are; and what steps he is taking to achieve better audio-visual information on buses.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 109
Andrew Jones: Accessible on-board information helps many people to feel more confident in taking the bus, safe in the knowledge that they will know when to alight. The technology for providing information on upcoming stops is evolving, and recent trials have tested lower cost alternatives to traditional systems, wearable devices and smartphone applications. The Department is supportive of such initiatives, and continues to review the options available, encouraging the bus industry to take the lead in recognising the potential benefits for all passengers and in delivering improvements in accessible on-board information.
Cycling: Australia Alberto Costa: [37596] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government's response on the e-petition entitled, To introduce a permanent, minimum passing distance when overtaking cyclists, what assessment his Department is planning of cycle passing spaces in South Australia and by when he plans to complete that assessment. Mr Robert Goodwill: The introduction of a legally enforceable minimum passing distance between cyclists and other vehicles in South Australia is relatively recent. As a result, there is limited information available regarding the impacts both positive and negative following this change in the law. As with other changes of this type introduced overseas, we remain interested in the change and are keeping it under review. The Highway Code already has a requirement for motorists to give cyclists plenty of room when overtaking.
Cycling: Finance Daniel Zeichner: [37870] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department plans to spend on cycling in each year from 2016 to 2021. Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department’s spending on cycling programmes is stated in the table below.
PROGRAMME 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 TOTAL
Cycling £185.2m £202.6m £119.0m £93.0m £58.7m £658.5m
The totals shown above include the Department’s core cycling programmes plus spending by local bodies on cycling projects using sums from within current Local Growth Fund and the Integrated Transport Block allocations. Not all of the Local Growth
110 Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS
Fund is currently allocated, so as future allocations of the Local Growth Fund are made to Local Enterprise partnerships, the amount supporting cycling projects through to 2020/21 is likely to rise. In addition to the above, from within the record £6 billion allocated to local highways authorities between 2015 and 2021 for road maintenance, this funding can help maintain footways cycleways. Further, from 2018/19 the plan is to change the formula used to allocate local highways maintenance capital funding so that it also takes into account footways and cycleways as well as the roads, bridges and street lighting, which it is currently based on. Once implemented, around 9% of the funding will be based on footway and cycleway lengths.
Cycling: Railways Mr Robin Walker: [38146] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to better connect cycling and rail infrastructure to support more active travel. Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department is funding £14.3 in 16/17 to improve integration between cycle and rail through the provision of new cycle facilities at railway stations. This includes new high quality cycle parking, cycle hire and improved access to stations and will support more active travel. In conjunction with this, a revised version of the Cycle Rail Toolkit was published on 19 May 2016 which will help those implementing cycle-rail facilities to ensure that high- quality infrastructure is in place to encourage new users and to ensure that cycling to stations becomes easy and convenient and the natural choice for short trips to the station.
Department for Transport: Food Nick Smith: [37835] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the annual budget is for food produced for his Department's offices; and what proportion of food produced for his Department was sourced from British producers in the last period for which figures are available. Mr Robert Goodwill: The requested information is not recorded in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. My department follows the Government Buying Standard for food and catering to be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/418072/ gbs-food-catering-march2015.pdf.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 111
Driverless Vehicles Richard Burden: [37864] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the suitability of the UK's existing (a) road infrastructure and (b) skills in the workforce for the anticipated rise in the number of autonomous vehicles. Andrew Jones: Autonomous vehicles could potentially have significant impacts on congestion, safety, and efficiency. The Government recognises that this is an important issue and needs to be better understood to properly inform long-term policy and investment decisions. For this reason, the Department for Transport is currently engaging with interested parties and conducting research and development to understand the specific requirements on the road infrastructure needed for the deployment of these technologies. The Transport Systems Catapult is developing a report on current and future skills for the fast-growing Intelligent Mobility sector, which includes autonomous vehicles. This report will be complete in early summer. This work is ongoing, and forms part of a much wider programme of research and development that the Government is supporting to examine the issues associated with these technologies.
Driverless Vehicles: EU Action Richard Burden: [37863] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the implications are for the UK's autonomous vehicle technology industry of the Declaration of Amsterdam signed by Transport Ministers on 14 April 2016. Andrew Jones: The Declaration of Amsterdam aims to encourage the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) through setting the strategic agenda for the discussion on CAVs and ensuring interoperability is discussed at an early stage in the development process. The declaration, which is supported by the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders made specific calls to industry, asking them to work with government to highlight the barriers for deployment, and develop the technologies with interoperability in mind.
Driving Instruction: Motorways Richard Burden: [38010] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to launch the Government's proposed consultation on changing the law to allow learner drivers to drive on motorways with instructors.
112 Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS
Andrew Jones: The Government expects to launch a consultation on proposals to allow learner drivers to drive on motorways, with an approved driving instructor in a car that has dual controls, later this year.
East Coast Railway Line: Yorkshire and the Humber Rachel Reeves: [37813] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Long Term Economic Plan for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, published in February 2015, what progress has been made on assessing the case for providing the required infrastructure for new East Coast InterCity Express trains to run at 140 mph. Claire Perry: The complex infrastructure requirements for 140mph operation on the East Coast Main Line are being assessed by Virgin Trains East Coast and the wider rail industry as a potential scheme for the longer term. Nicola Shaw’s recent report promoted greater private sector financing for railway enhancements and my Department will be interested to see these proposals from the industry in due course.
Electric Vehicles Jim Shannon: [37545] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure electric car charging points are accessible across the UK. Andrew Jones: Plug-in vehicles are generally charged at home and overnight, and so the Government provides grants of up to £500 for the installation of domestic chargepoints. More than 60,000 have been installed to date. The UK also has over 11,000 publicly accessible chargepoints; in streets, car parks and motorway service areas. This includes almost 900 rapid chargepoints that can charge a car in 20-30 minutes – the largest network in Europe. The Department’s Roads Investment Strategy includes funding of £15m to improve the network of chargepoints on the strategic road network, and the Go Ultra Low city scheme is expected to deliver around 750 more publicly accessible chargepoints in UK towns and cities by 2020. We will announce further targeted support for plug-in vehicle chargepoints in due course. Government-funded chargepoints must meet a minimum common standard for chargepoint outlets, and include ‘pay as you go’ functionality.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 113
Foreign investment in UK: North East Anna Turley: [37793] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of airport expansion at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick Airport on the level of foreign direct investment to the North East. Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is currently considering the large amount of very detailed analysis contained in the Airports Commission’s final report. The Government is not providing a running commentary on this work and nor would it be appropriate to outline specific pieces of evidence before an announcement. Any work to inform an announcement will be set out in subsequent publications and associated consultation.
Govia Thameslink Railway: Industrial Disputes Lilian Greenwood: [37520] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether revenue risk on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise will be borne by the franchisee or the public purse in the event of industrial action. Claire Perry: The Govia Thameslink Railway franchise was let on the basis that farebox revenue belongs to the Department, therefore any risk and opportunity in relation to passenger revenue resides with the Department, including in the event of strike action.
Horse Riding: Bridleways and Roads Mr Andrew Smith: [38030] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve the safety of and access for horse riders on roads and bridlepaths. Andrew Jones: The Department takes every opportunity to remind motorists of their responsibilities towards vulnerable road users - including horse riders - through publications such as the Highway Code and THINK! Road Safety campaigns. THINK! officials are currently working with the British Horse Society following their recently launched ‘Dead Slow’ campaign. Plans for the summer include publicity on TV, radio, online and social media advising motorists on how to pass horses safely.
We do not provide advice on access to bridleways, as this falls within the remit of Natural England (a non-departmental public body).
114 Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS
Large Goods Vehicles Richard Burden: [37865] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on improving road-side facilities for hauliers on the strategic road network. Andrew Jones: Since the beginning of the year Transport Ministers and DfT officials have received five letters from MPs and six letters from the public calling specifically for an improvement in roadside facilities for hauliers. I have asked officials to see what can be done to work with the industry to improve the provision and quality of roadside facilities.
London City Airport Ian Paisley: [37444] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what account he plans to take of the construction of C-Series planes by Bombardier in Northern Ireland in any decision on London City Airport accommodating C-Series or similar planes on its proposed new taxiway. Mr Robert Goodwill: Ministers have a statutory role in the planning process with regard to transport related planning applications raised on appeal. It would therefore be seen as prejudicial, to comment on or discuss, matters relating to London City airport that are subject to a planning inquiry.
Motorways: Speed Limits Mr Jim Cunningham: [37410] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many motorists were fined as a result of motorway average speed cameras in each year since 1985 for which figures are available; and how much was collected in fines in each such year. Andrew Jones: Highways England does not hold information on how many motorists were fined as a result of motorway average speed cameras, nor how much were collected in fines, as they are not an enforcement agency. Enforcement is undertaken by the respective police forces.
Ports Richard Burden: [37821] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on maritime exports from UK ports to the EU of the UK voting to leave the EU. Mr Robert Goodwill: At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government's position is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 115
If the outcome of the EU Referendum is a vote to leave, the effect on maritime exports from UK ports to the EU would depend on the relationship agreed between the EU and the UK. This would have to be negotiated using the detailed processes set out in the EU Treaty. The Government has published several information documents, setting out the Government's views on UK membership of the EU, the process for withdrawing from the EU and alternatives to EU membership. The documents can be viewed at www.eureferendum.gov.uk.
Public Transport: Guide Dogs Neil Coyle: [37900] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to make public transport more accessible for people with guide dogs. Andrew Jones: The Department is committed to building transport networks which work for everyone, including ensuring that disabled people have the same opportunities to travel as other members of society. From the 1 st January this year all single deck buses designed to carry over twenty two passengers on local and scheduled routes have had to comply with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR), which require vehicles to include contrasting handrails, priority seating and other features of benefit to visually impaired people. At least one priority seat on each bus must have sufficient space to accommodate an assistance dog with its owner. Double deck buses must comply with PSVAR by the 1 st January 2017. Positive interactions with staff can also give visually impaired people the confidence to use bus services. We are working with Mott MacDonald to review disability awareness training from across the transport sector, and to produce best practice guidance by the end of 2016, to help equip bus drivers with the skills and knowledge they need to provide disabled passengers with a first class service.
Rapid Transit Systems: Leeds Greg Mulholland: [38208] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the £40 million that was allocated to the Supertram scheme for Leeds that was cancelled in 2005 was spent. Greg Mulholland: [38209] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the £68 million that was allocated to the the New Generation Trolleybus scheme for Leeds was spent. Claire Perry: The Department of Transport did not provide any funding for the Leeds Supertram or Leeds New Generation Trolleybus schemes. Any expenditure committed so far is the
116 Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS
responsibility of the promoters - West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Council.
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Mike Kane: [37948] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to include producers of aviation fuel within the ambit of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport are assessing the benefits of making sustainable aviation biofuel eligible for certificates under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). We aim to publish a consultation on legislative amendments to the RTFO later this year including proposals for aviation biofuels. Mike Kane: [37949] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage investment in (a) sustainable aircraft fuels and (b) other renewable technology. Mr Robert Goodwill: The UK wants to ensure that the aviation sector makes a significant and cost-effective contribution to reducing global emissions. The Government supports a range of measures to achieve this, including the use of sustainable alternative fuels, technological improvements to aircraft, operational improvements in air traffic management, and market-based measures. Sustainable fuels have an important role to play in reducing carbon emissions from transport, particularly in sectors where there are limited alternatives for decarbonisation such as aviation. We are assessing the benefits of making sustainable aviation fuels eligible for certificates under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). We aim to publish a consultation on legislative amendments to the RTFO later this year including proposals for aviation biofuels.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance Daniel Zeichner: [37957] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of potholes that have been filled from the Pothole Action Fund since November 2015. Andrew Jones: The Pothole Action Fund is worth £250 million over the next five years to local highway authorities in England, outside London, and enough to repair up to more than 4 million potholes.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 117
On 7 April 2016, the Government announced the share each local highway authority will receive from the £50 million available for 2016/17. Further details, including the share of the funding allocated to each local highway authority, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cash-for-councils-to-fill-almost-1-million-potholes It is for each local highway authority to determine how this funding is spent based on their needs and priorities. This funding is in addition to just under £6 billion the Government is providing to local highway authorities for local highway maintenance in England, outside London.
Rolling Stock: Procurement Lilian Greenwood: [37789] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the overall financial value is of rolling stock orders placed by franchised operators since May 2010; and what the overall financial value is of such orders for rolling stock to be manufactured or assembled in the UK. Claire Perry: The value of contracts are a commercial matter between the operator and the rolling stock owner. However, private investment in new and refurbished rolling stock since 1994 is in excess of £7.5 billion pounds.
Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock Lilian Greenwood: [37807] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the first Thameslink Class 700 train to enter revenue-earning service. Claire Perry: The new Class 700 Thameslink trains built by Siemens will first enter service on the Brighton to Bedford route. It is important that when the trains are introduced that they operate reliably on these heavily used sections of the rail network. It is to this end that the trains are currently undergoing extensive testing on the Thameslink routes. They are also being used for driver training by Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd and operational testing of new infrastructure at stations on the Thameslink routes. This phase of testing is nearing completion and the trains are expected to enter passenger service in due course.
Transport Richard Burden: [37862] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish a draft of the Modern Transport Bill announced in the Queen's Speech. Mr Robert Goodwill: The final date for the introduction of the Modern Transport Bill will be announced in due course.
118 Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS
Unmanned Air Vehicles: Regulation Richard Burden: [38311] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the regulation of drones to protect the public from their misuse. Mr Robert Goodwill: I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given on 9 May 2016 UIN 36085 regarding the regulations addressing the criminal use of drones, and to my answer given on 9 May 2016 UIN 36086 regarding privacy. The Government is planning to consult on a range of measures on drones over the summer, and will then seek any further appropriate legislative measures through the Modern Transport Bill.
Vauxhall Stewart Malcolm McDonald: [38121] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will direct Vauxhall to extend the vehicle safety recall of Zafira B models to include those equipped with automatic climate control. Andrew Jones: There are no plans to tell Vauxhall to extend the vehicle safety recall of Zafira B models to include those equipped with automatic climate control. The secondary safety recall (R/2016/104) affects only Vauxhall Zafira B vehicles equipped with a manual control heating and ventilation system. Vauxhall Zafiras fitted with automatic climate control use a different resistor pack that is not affected by manipulation or degradation, so their inclusion in the safety recall is unnecessary.
Volkswagen Jeff Smith: [37875] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 1 March 2016 to Question 27610, on Volkswagen, what response he has received from Volkswagen on the difference in compensation offered to US and UK customers. Andrew Jones: We continue to engage with Volkswagen on the issue of compensation for UK consumers. The Secretary of State summoned the Managing Director of VW UK to a further meeting earlier this month to discuss the issue. Volkswagen’s position is that there is no evidence that drivers in the UK have suffered a loss, and so they maintain there is no need for compensation.
Daily Report Friday, 27 May 2016 ANSWERS 119
Walking: Finance Daniel Zeichner: [37869] To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department plans to spend on walking in each year from 2016 to 2021. Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department’s spending on walking programmes is stated in the table below.
PROGRAMME 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 TOTAL
Walking £97.0m £89.8m £69.3m £44.5m £23.3m £323.9m
The totals shown above include the Department’s Sustainable Transport Transition Year and Access Fund plus spending by local bodies on walking projects using sums from within current Local Growth Fund and Integrated Transport Block allocations. Not all of the Local Growth Fund is currently allocated, so as future allocations of the Local Growth Fund are made to Local Enterprise Partnerships, the amount supporting walking projects through to 2020/21 is likely to rise. In addition to the above, from within the record £6 billion allocated to local highways authorities between 2015 and 2021 for road maintenance, this funding can help maintain footways cycleways. Further, from 2018/19 the plan is to change the formula used to allocate local highways maintenance capital funding so that it also takes into account footways and cycleways as well as the roads, bridges and street lighting, which it is currently based on. Once implemented, around 9% of the funding will be based on footway and cycleway lengths.
WALES
Wales Office: Pay Greg Mulholland: [38230] To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the average hourly earnings were of his Department's (a) BME and (b) non-BME employees in (i) 2015 and (ii) 2016. Guto Bebb: The Wales Office is not an employer in its own right and is subject to Ministry of Justice (MOJ) policies for pay purposes.
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WOMEN AND EQUALITIES
Females: Directors David Mackintosh: [37143] To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent steps she has taken to increase the number of women represented on the executive boards of FTSE 100 companies. Caroline Dinenage: I am delighted that we exceeded Lord Davies’s target of 25% women on boards of the FTSE 100 last year. However, we know that there is more to be done, and we will support and promote Lord Davies’s recommendation for a business-led 33% target for FTSE 350 boards by 2020. That’s why we’ve appointed Sir Philip Hampton, Chair of GlaxoSmithKline, and Dame Helen Alexander, Chair of UBM plc, as Chair and Deputy Chair of a new review which will focus on increasing the number of women in the executive layer of the FTSE 350.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Children: Maintenance Richard Burden: [38312] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Government will extend the payment of child maintenance to the carers of children looked after under a special guardianship order. Priti Patel: A person caring for a child or children under a Special Guardianship Order is entitled to apply for statutory Child Maintenance if they satisfy the relevant legislative criteria.
Employment Schemes: Mental Illness Steve McCabe: [37473] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 13 April 2016 to Question 32812, whether the figures provided for sums to be spent annually and in total are additional to each other; and if he will make a statement. Priti Patel: The 2015 Spending Review agreed funding rising to £130m per year for the Work and Health Programme, focussing support for people with a disability or health condition and the long term unemployed (over 24 months). This figure is separate and in addition to the Prime Minister’s announced plans to provide further support and funding for people with mental health issues to retain or regain employment.
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EU Globalisation Fund Anna Turley: [37786] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government has applied to the European Commission Globalisation Adjustment Fund; and whether each such application was successful. Anna Turley: [37808] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the Government did not apply to the European Globalisation Fund to secure financial support for those affected by the closure of SSI Redcar in 2015. Anna Turley: [37810] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria the Government considers before making an application to the European Globalisation Fund. Mr Shailesh Vara: The UK has not made any applications to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). The European Globalisation Fund (EGF) provides a financial contribution for active labour market measures, aimed at reintegrating those made or at risk of being made redundant in the labour market. EGF Regulations state that these measures must complement actions at national, regional and local level. The EGF Regulations also set out strict criteria and eligibility for potential applicants with regards to the number of redundancies that take place over a given period of time and the link between these redundancies and globalisation or the global financial and economic crisis. The UK already offers a broad range of personalised support to workers made redundant through its Rapid Response Service and Jobcentre Plus, which could therefore not be duplicated or substituted by EGF. The Rapid Response Service and the Jobcentre Plus Core Offer are effective reintegration tools which represent good value for money and are our primary and most effective means of response to support the industry. In addition to this, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills also announced packages of support worth up to £80 million for SSI in Redcar. It has, therefore, not been necessary to make an application for EGF funding to provide complementary support.
Jobcentres: Lytham St Annes Mark Menzies: [37651] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2016 to Question 36891, whether it is his Department's policy to retain a Jobcentre Plus in Fylde; and for what reasons officials in his Department did not inform the hon. Member for
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Fylde of his Department's plans to redevelop the Jobcentre Plus at Westmoreland House in Lytham St. Annes. Priti Patel: The department is in the process of reviewing all of its estates requirements as the current contract for most of the estate comes to an end on 31 March 2018. As building contracts come to an end landlords may explore what options are available to them, including making planning applications. In many cases this will be a sensible commercial decision even if the landlord intends on continuing to let their property to DWP. In this case the landlord of Westmorland House has acted independently of DWP in applying for planning permission. No decision has been made on the future of this Jobcentre Plus. Commercial negotiations are underway on the entirety of our estate at this time and it is not appropriate to comment further on individual sites while negotiations are in progress.
Jobcentres: Standards David Mackintosh: [37072] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to ensure that the quality of service is consistent at jobcentres around the country. Priti Patel: There are comprehensive operational instructions available that all Jobcentres are expected to adhere to. This is monitored through internal checking to ensure processes and the quality of our interaction with claimants meets the required standard. Alongside the checking of results, other sources of data, such as DWP Customer Survey and complaints data, are exploited to ensure services meet the required standard. Continuous improvement is a key factor in our approach and examples include providing coaching/training, improving operations instructions and making better use of technology.
Joint Work and Health Unit Ben Howlett: [37093] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consultations the Joint Work and Health Unit has undertaken with external groups on its work since its creation. Ben Howlett: [37094] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what workstreams have been established by the Joint Work and Health Unit; and when each such workstream is expected to report.
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Ben Howlett: [37095] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress the Joint Work and Health Unit has made on its priority of (a) productivity and growth in the economy, (b) halving the disability employment gap and (c) reducing health inequalities relating to gender, age and geographies; and if he will make a statement. Priti Patel:
The Work and Health Unit has been established to lead the drive for improving work and health outcomes for people with disabilities and long term health conditions, as well as improving prevention and support for people absent from work through ill health and those at risk of leaving the workforce. Since Q1 2014 the number of disabled people in employment has increased by around 365,000 people, with a total of 3.3million disabled people now in work as of Q1 2016. The Unit will build on this progress by improving integration across healthcare and employment services as well as supporting employers to recruit and retain more disabled people and people with long term health conditions. We have set up work-streams focused on delivery workforce, fitness for work, culture change and stakeholder engagement, employers and building the evidence base through developing a ‘test and learn’ approach. We have been seeking and listening to the views of people that use current health, care and employment services, engaging with charities and other stakeholders, to understand what works and what needs to change and will continue to engage at all levels over the coming months. The Work and Health Unit is leading the process for preparing a green paper which will be published later this year that will begin the consultation about how to improve support for people with disabilities and long term health conditions.
Offenders: Employment Andy Slaughter: [37087] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many ex-offenders have been helped into employment in each year since January 2010. Priti Patel: My department is committed to supporting ex-offenders into employment as a key part of individual rehabilitation and the Government’s prison reform and rehabilitation programme. Information on the total number of ex-offenders helped into employment is not readily available. Prison-leavers who claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) in advance or within 13 weeks of release are mandated onto the Government’s Work Programme. The latest available data shows that between March 2012 when mandation was introduced and the end of
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December 2015, 8,270 JSA prison-leavers on the Work Programme have achieved a job outcome. The latest data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/work-programme-data-to-december-2015 Administrative data shared between the Ministry of Justice, Department for Work & Pensions and Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/experimental-statistics-from-the-2013-moj- dwp-hmrc-data-share These statistics include information on the benefit and employment status of offenders prior to and after their conviction/caution or release from prison.
Pensions: Advisory Services Rachel Reeves: [38024] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve take-up of the Pension Wise guidance service. Justin Tomlinson: Since launch, there have been over 2.4 million visits to the Pension Wise website and over 61,000 appointments, with the latest data showing a record number of appointments in March. To drive awareness of the service, Pension Wise has run three national marketing campaigns across TV, radio, print and digital media, the latest of which finished in April 2016. In addition, pension providers are required to signpost to Pension Wise when issuing retirement wake-up packs and Pension Wise guiders engage with local businesses and services to further raise awareness of the service. The Government recognises that people should have the freedom to access information in a way that is suitable to them.
Personal Independence Payment Frank Field: [37506] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions has the personal independence payment (PIP) telephone has been unobtainable to the public in 2016; and how many people calling to enquire about PIP have been affected by those incidents. Justin Tomlinson: The total number of calls made to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Claims and Enquiry lines that were unable to access our services due to heavy demand at peak periods including customers receiving a busy or engaged tone are set out below, this covers the period 1 January to 30 April 2016:
CALLS RECEIVED CALLS NOT CONNECTED % NOT CONNECTED
PIP Claims 411,147 168 0.04%
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CALLS RECEIVED CALLS NOT CONNECTED % NOT CONNECTED
PIP Enquiries 1,113,803 18,949 1.70%
The department employs the following contingency arrangements to reduce the level of unanswered calls:: • assigning staff that are undertaking clerical work to take calls for busy periods, • opening extra hours and ask for staff to volunteer to take additional calls • postponing non-priority offline time (L+D, team meetings etc.) to meet the demands of the customers • increasing the amount of open lines before a call is blocked by the network.
Social Security Benefits: Cancer Thangam Debbonaire: [37553] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to review the system of benefits for the parents of children with cancer and leukaemia. Justin Tomlinson: The benefits available to the parents of children with cancer and leukaemia will depend on the particular circumstances of their household. Extra support is available to those parents who have had to give up full-time work to care for a child with a health condition or disability through benefits such as Carer’s Allowance, Income Support and Universal Credit. Disability Living Allowance may also be payable for children with a long-term health condition or disability as a contribution towards the extra costs they may incur.
Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals Frank Field: [37077] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the taper arrangements will be for the proposed phasing in of EU migrants' entitlement to in-work benefits. Mr Shailesh Vara: I refer the right hon. Member to the February European Council Conclusions. The restrictions on in-work benefits will apply to each newly arriving EU worker for a period of four years from the commencement of employment, with the limitation tapered “from an initial complete exclusion but gradually increasing access to such benefits to take account of the growing connection of the work with the labour market of the host Member State”. Precise details are a matter for the implementation of the proposal, and further announcements will be made in due course.
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State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad Ian Blackford: [37312] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on what other OECD member states do not uprate the pensions of its pensioners living abroad; and if he will make a statement. Justin Tomlinson: The Department does not hold the information requested. Mr Ben Bradshaw: [37724] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether UK citizens will have automatic right to mutual recognition of pension contributions in EU countries in the event of the UK leaving the EU and prior to the completion of exit negotiations under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Stephen Crabb: At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government's position is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU. If the result of the referendum is a decision to leave, the Government would have two years under the Article 50 process to seek to negotiate the terms, including those concerning pensions, of the UK’s exit, with the possibility of extending this time frame with the agreement of the other 27 Member States.
State Retirement Pensions: Females Ian Blackford: [37193] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on potential mitigation measures for women that have witnessed an increase in their pensionable age. Justin Tomlinson: The Secretary of State is in regular contact with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a range of pensions issues. The State Pension age changes, which were made to put pensions on a more financially sustainable footing given increases in life expectancy, were fully debated and voted on when the legislation was before Parliament. During the Pensions Act 2011 a concession, worth £1.1 billion, was introduced to limit the impact of the rising State Pension age on those women most affected. These transitional arrangements capped the maximum delay at 18 months rather than two years, relative to the previous timetable. Unwinding any of these changes means asking young people to assume more of the cost, and after they’ve already borne their fair share of the tough decisions made last Parliament to bring Government spending under control.
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Therefore, the Secretary of State is clear that there are no plans to bring forward further concessions or changes. Ian Blackford: [37311] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will (a) review and (b) slow down the rate of increase in pensionable age for women. Justin Tomlinson: The State Pension age changes, which were made to put pensions on a more financially sustainable footing given increases in life expectancy, were fully debated and voted on when the legislation was before Parliament. During the Pensions Act 2011 a concession, worth £1.1 billion, was introduced to limit the impact of the rising State Pension age on those women most affected. These transitional arrangements capped the maximum delay at 18 months rather than two years, relative to the previous timetable. Unwinding any of these changes means asking young people to assume more of the cost, and after they’ve already borne their fair share of the tough decisions made last Parliament to bring Government spending under control. Therefore, the Secretary of State is clear that there are no plans to bring forward further concessions or changes.
State Retirement Pensions: Uprating Ian Blackford: [37274] To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with which other EU countries the UK has a bilateral arrangement for the payment of annual uprating of pensions that would remain in force in the event of the UK leaving the EU. Justin Tomlinson: The terms of the UK’s bilateral social security agreements with EU Member States, some of which date from the 1950s, are generally superseded by EU Regulations. The Government’s position is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU. If the result of the referendum is a decision to leave, then the Government will have two years under the Article 50 process to seek to negotiate the terms, including the payment of pensions, of the UK’s exit, with the possibility of extending this time frame with the agreement of the other 27 Member States.
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WRITTEN STATEMENTS
CABINET OFFICE
Indemnity for Petition Officers at Recall Petitions Minister for Constitutional Reform (John Penrose): [HCWS35] It is normal practice, when a government department proposes to undertake a contingent liability in excess of £300,000 for which there is no specific statutory authority, for the Department concerned to present to Parliament a Minute giving particulars of the liability created and explaining the circumstances; and to refrain from incurring the liability until fourteen parliamentary sitting days after the issue of the Minute, except in cases of special urgency. Insurance for specific elections has historically provided extremely poor value for money, with claims made under such cover being smaller than the cost of the insurance premium. An indemnity therefore provides better value for money and this approach has been taken for elections since 2009. On this basis, I have today laid a Minute setting out the Cabinet Office’s proposal to indemnify petition officers for claims that arise out of the conduct of their duties in relation to the Recall of MPs Act 2015. This Act requires a recall petition to be held if one of the provisions under section 1 of the Act is met in relation to an MP. The responsibility for the conduct of the petition will rest with the petition officer for the constituency in which the petition is to be held. Section 6 of the Recall of MPs Act 2015 provides that every constituency is to have a petition officer for a recall petition and identifies who the petition officer is for each constituency: in England and Wales, it is the person who is the acting returning officer for UK Parliamentary elections for the relevant constituency; in Scotland it is the returning officer for UK Parliamentary elections for the relevant constituency. The petition officer is an independent entity, separate from both central and local government. We will also provide a certificate confirming that we will bear any employee liabilities of the returning officer which would otherwise be covered by insurance procured under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. An indemnity was previously provided by the Home Office to returning officers for the 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner elections and Cabinet Office regularly provides indemnities for UK Parliamentary and European Parliamentary elections. HM Treasury has approved the indemnity in principle.
Attachments: 1. Associated Minute [20160526 WMS - Indemnity for Petition Officers Minute.docx]
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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Foreign Affairs Council for Development (12 May 2016) Minister of State for International Development (Mr Desmond Swayne): [HCWS33] My Noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Baroness Verma) has made the following statement: On 12 May, I attended the Foreign Affairs Council for Development in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini. She also hosted a joint lunch with the Afghan Minister of Finance, Eklil Hakimi, which discussed the preparations for the upcoming Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, in September this year. A provisional report of the meeting and Conclusions adopted will be deposited in the Library of the House for the convenience of members. Revision of the European Consensus of Development in light of the 2030 agenda The Council discussed the prospects of updating the 2005 European Consensus on Development – the EU’s overarching development strategy. Discussion of a new European Consensus on Development in light of Agenda 2030 focused on the links between development policy and the areas of security, humanitarian, migration. I led calls for a long- term approach, with our commitment to 0.7% and the “Beyond Aid” agenda at the heart of implementation. Also discussed was the need for modernised, innovative financial instruments, with general support for a greater role for the European Investment Bank (EIB). Trade, Private Sector and Sustainable Development Council Conclusions on Global Value Chains, which the UK had strongly supported, were adopted with agreement on the integral role of the private sector and trade for sustainable development. The Garment Initiative was held up by Development Commissioner Mimica as a good example of a multi-stakeholder and the “policy coherence for development” approach. I highlighted the UK’s promotion of the involvement of the private sector in sustainable development in recent years, and argued that it is clear that to achieve the 2030 Vision for sustainable development more investment capital is needed from the private sector. Afghanistan Conference Discussions were held on the forthcoming Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, and Council Conclusions on this subject were adopted with the UK’s full support. The Brussels Conference on Afghanistan in October 2016 is a key opportunity for the international community to reaffirm their ongoing commitment to Afghanistan’s security and development. During the lunchtime session, Afghan Finance Minister Hakimi presented the Afghan National Unity Government’s new National Development Strategy to the Council. Joint Programming Council Conclusions on joint programming were agreed, which stated that the approach will remain voluntary. I emphasised the point that local context is key when discussing the
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suitability of a particular programme. Consideration of this should drive decisions, and joint programming should complement, not replace, bilateral relationships and programmes. This view was echoed by a number of other Member States and supported by the Council Conclusions. Migration and Development Council Conclusions on forced displacement were agreed by the Council. More broadly on the subject of migration, Commissioner Mimica said that the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa agreed at the Valetta Summit in November 2015 was an important tool, and urged Member States to support and contribute to it. I set out the UK’s support for the Trust Fund, but called for greater consistency in its operation, as well as an ongoing commitment to strong oversight. I also noted that the EIB could play a key role in responding to the causes of the migration crisis. Preparation of the World Humanitarian Summit Conclusions were adopted by the Council concerning preparations for the World Humanitarian Summit, which took place from 23-24 May in Istanbul. It was the first global summit on humanitarian issues, and it came at a time of unprecedented need. The Council were agreed that the Summit would be an important opportunity to take ambitious and practical steps that will drive real change on the ground.
Attachments: 1. Outcome of the 3462nd Council Meeting [Outcome of the 3462nd Council Meeting Foreign Affairs Development Issues 12 May 2016.pdf]
TRANSPORT
Rail Franchising Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick McLoughlin): [HCWS34] I am pleased to inform the house that my department has published its refreshed programme for rail franchising. Through this my department is setting out an ambitious plan for new rail franchises that will give passengers high-quality rail services. It is making it clear to the whole rail industry that competition for rail franchises is the best way to secure services for passengers at good value for the taxpayer. Through our plan for the railways we are making journeys better for everyone – we are reducing crowding, cutting journey times and improving trains and stations across the country. This supports our regional economies, creating jobs and opportunities and connecting people to business. During this Parliament my department has already delivered the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises which will oversee a massive £1.2 billion private-sector investment in our rail services. This includes hundreds of brand-new modern trains, thousands more seats, more services. Together this will deliver a modern, 21st century service for passengers, help to close the economic gap between north and south and help
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bring the Northern Powerhouse to life. We expect to continue to deliver similar results for our upcoming franchise competitions. Private sector competition is good for passengers, local communities and taxpayers. That is why as part of our latest schedule we have started the competition for new franchises for the InterCity West Coast, East Anglia, South Western, East Midlands and West Midlands. I am confident that, through these franchises we will deliver the rail network this country needs. I am placing a copy of the franchising schedule in the libraries of the House.
Attachments: 1. Franchising Schedule [Rail Franchise Schedule.pdf]