Western Sahara
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 67W, on Western Sahara, what groups have de facto control over that part of Western Sahara not under Moroccan control. [107830]
Alistair Burt: There is no clear consensus as to who exercises de facto control over that part of Western Sahara not under Moroccan control. The UK regards the Polisario Front as a party to the UN-led political negotiations in support of efforts to find a mutually acceptable political solution providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
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Health
Substance Misuse
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of 18 years and resident in the London borough of Bexley were receiving treatment for (a) alcohol and (b) drug dependency in the latest period for which figures are available. [107649]
Anne Milton: 24 young people under the age of 18 received a specialist substance misuse intervention in Bexley in 2010-11 according to the latest figures from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System. Of these, 10 were treated primarily for an alcohol problem, and 14 were treated primarily for a drugs problem.
Most young people receiving treatment for substance misuse are not dependent as many have not been taking substances for long enough to develop dependence.
Dependence describes a compulsion to continue taking a drug, including alcohol, in order to feel good or to avoid feeling bad. When this is done to avoid physical discomfort or withdrawal, it is known as physical dependence; when it has a psychological aspect (the need for stimulation or pleasure, or to escape reality) then it is known as psychological dependence.
Babies
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his policy is on the use of pulse oximetry testing for all newborn babies; [107954]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of pulse oximetry testing for newborn babies; [107955]
(3) what steps he is taking to improve early diagnosis of heart conditions in newborn babies. [107956]
Anne Milton: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.
The UK NSC is currently reviewing the evidence for newborn screening for heart conditions using pulse oximetry against its criteria. It is expected that a public consultation on the screening review will open at the end of the year.
As part of the NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme all pregnant women are offered a mid pregnancy ultrasound scan. The main purpose of this scan is to look for abnormalities in the unborn baby, including serious cardiac abnormalities.
It has been good practice for many years for all babies to have a careful physical examination after birth. On the advice of the UK NSC, the Department has set up a programme centre to oversee the implementation of a high quality and consistent NHS Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) screening programme. The NIPE screening programme offers parents the opportunity to have their child examined shortly after birth (within the first 72 hours). The examination includes a general physical check as well as examination of the baby's eyes, heart, hips and, for boys, testes. A general
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examination of the baby's heart will be carried out by a clinician. As some conditions can develop later, the examination is repeated at six to eight weeks of age usually by a general practitioner.
Breast Cancer: Screening
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote the use of innovative digital mammography technology in the NHS. [108653]
Paul Burstow: Local national health service breast cancer screening programmes in England are replacing their current analogue (film) systems with digital systems (direct digital mammography—DDM). As at May 2012, 74 (92.5%) local programmes have at least one direct digital x-ray set and 53 (66%) are fully digital.
Local programmes have been advised to implement direct digital as quickly as possible as the independent Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening has said that running both film and digital systems together is inefficient. Six programmes (7.5%) are still to implement digital mammography.
Breasts: Plastic Surgery
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he had with Ministers in the Welsh Government prior to publishing his response to the Sixteenth Report from the Health Committee Session 2010-12, on PIP Breast Implants and Regulation of Cosmetic Interventions. [107948]
Mr Simon Burns: None, but departmental officials shared a copy of the draft response with colleagues in the Welsh Government in advance of publication. The response relates solely to the national health service in England and makes no comment on policies for the NHS in the devolved administrations.
Cancer
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 30 April 2012, Official Report, column 1288W, on cancer, what funding earmarked for cancer networks was included in the Strategic Health Authority bundle for (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2012-13. [107823]
Paul Burstow: The amounts included in the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) bundle for cancer networks for 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 20012-13 can be found in the following table:
| Cancer network funding | |
| £ million | |
These allocations are based on estimates of the funding required to deliver cancer networks. However, it is for each SHA to determine how the total amount they receive in the SHA bundle is allocated to specific services, such as cancer networks, taking into account the needs of local populations.
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Care Homes
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what systems are in place to minimise the impact of provider failure on users of care and nursing homes; [107521]
(2) who is responsible for oversight of the financial viability of private companies that provide care and nursing home services. [107522]
Paul Burstow: The responsibility for providing or arranging residential care rests with local authorities, which have specific duties of care to their populations under section 21(a) of the National Assistance Act 1948 and Section 47(5) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.
The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 gives local authorities the powers to provide or arrange care services for anyone in urgent need. Were a care home to fail, no resident—whether publicly or self-funded—would be left homeless or without care. In an emergency, a local authority could provide residential accommodation to anyone—publicly or self-funded—who had an urgent need for it. A local authority would continue to provide care for any self-funding resident who was unable to find or arrange care for themselves.
As commissioners and providers of care services, local authorities have a responsibility to manage the care sector in their areas in order to ensure there is a suitable range of provision available to meet local need.
Social care is a devolved matter; different oversight and regulatory mechanisms are in place across the United Kingdom. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has responsibility for the regulation of adult social care in England. As such, it contributes to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of people who use social care services. All providers of regulated activities in England must be registered with the CQC and meet the registration requirements, which are set out in regulations made under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
The regulations include a requirement to take all reasonable steps to carry on the regulated activity in such a manner as to ensure the financial viability of the carrying on of that activity. This requirement does not apply to local authorities or NHS bodies. The CQC can take enforcement action, including cancellation of registration, if the registration requirements are not met.
In October 2011, the Department published a discussion paper, “Oversight of the Social Care Market”, which outlined the issues facing the social care market and possible options for strengthening oversight of the largest and most complex providers. A copy has already been placed in the Library. This has provided a valuable opportunity for us to hear views on this area and reflect on the best approach.
We have considered the responses to the consultation paper, and intend to address the issue of market oversight in the forthcoming White Paper on Care and Support.
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of not increasing the means test capital limit for residential care on (a) businesses, (b) charities and (c) voluntary bodies in the sector; [107941]
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(2) what savings have accrued from maintaining the means test capital limit for residential care at the same level since 2010. [107942]
Paul Burstow: The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of not increasing the means test capital limit for residential care on businesses, charities and voluntary bodies in the sector.
The decision in the spending review 2010 not to increase capital limits was taken in order to help local authorities, at a time of financial stringency, to maintain the level of services they provide. The spending review 2010 covers Government spending up to April 2015. However, the capital limits are being kept under review in order to monitor the impact of not increasing them.
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department had any communication with representatives of Terra Firma about the company's short and long term plans for the care and nursing home group, Four Seasons, prior to its recent takeover of Four Seasons; and if he will make a statement. [108416]
Paul Burstow: There were no meetings before the take-over. Departmental officials met with representatives of Terra Firma on 1 May, after the announcement of the takeover, to discuss the company's plans and intentions.
The Department welcomes any development that will help give security to the residents and employees of Four Seasons' care homes. This has always been the Government's priority.
Childbirth
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his policy is on the provision of cardiotocography machines in response to requests from women during labour; [108081]
(2) what advice his Department has issued on the availability of cardiotocography machines during childbirth. [108082]
Anne Milton: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published ‘Intrapartum care’ guide in 2007, which provides evidence-based information for healthcare professionals and women and includes the statement that continuous electronic foetal monitoring should be available at a woman's request.
There is no specific advice on availability of cardiotocography machines, but we would expect all maternity services to have adequate machines to enable them to follow NICE guidelines on foetal heart assessment.
Cystic Fibrosis
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has been made of the merits of exempting people with cystic fibrosis from prescription charges. [107678]
Mr Simon Burns: In 2009, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore carried out a review to consider how to extend free prescriptions to all those with long-term conditions. This review made a number of proposals, and was published in May 2010 by the Government.
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We announced in the spending review, published in October 2010, that to ensure spending in the national health service is focused on priorities, some programmes announced by the previous Government would not be implemented—including proposals to extend free prescriptions to all those with long-term conditions.
We are continuing to look at options for creating a fairer system of prescription charges and exemptions, which takes into account the overall NHS financial context and introduction of universal credit. We have no current plans for a further review of the list of medical conditions that confer exemption.
Depressive Illnesses
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the London borough of Bexley were diagnosed with depression in the most recent period for which figures are available. [108204]
Paul Burstow: Data published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre for 2010-11 show a total of 13,372 patients with a diagnosis of depression on registers within NHS Bexley under the Quality and Outcomes Framework for general practitioner practices.
Diabetes
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National implementation plan for diabetes will be published. [108614]
Paul Burstow: We are developing an outcomes strategy for long-term conditions. A companion document will be published on diabetes alongside this strategy by the end of 2012. We are also developing a cardiovascular outcome strategy, and that will set out the important links between cardiovascular disease and diabetes and this will also be published before the end of 2012.
Drugs: Regulation
Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the level of regulation governing the sale of motion sickness tablets for the purpose of improving access. [107847]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government are keen to increase access to medicines, in the interest of public health, when it is acceptably safe to do so. To this end, as part of the Better Regulation of Medicines Initiative, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is developing proposals to simplify and speed the regulatory process that supports reclassification from prescription only to pharmacy or general sale availability.
The vast majority of medicines authorised for the prevention or treatment of travel sickness are classified as P medicines, which means they can be sold or supplied without prescription from registered pharmacy premises by or under the supervision of a pharmacist. The involvement of a qualified health care professional helps to ensure these medicines are used safely and effectively.
For a medicine such as those for motion sickness to be available as a GSL (general sales list) medicine on self-selection in general retail outlets, Ministers must be satisfied that it can be used safely without the involvement of a pharmacist. A company may, at any time, submit
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to the MHRA an application to reclassify a product from P to GSL which would need to demonstrate that access to professional advice is not required for the safe use of the medicine.
Epilepsy
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the generic substitution of prescribed medication is not placing people with epilepsy at unnecessary risk. [107721]
Mr Simon Burns: There are no national dispensing generic substitution arrangements. Pharmacists must supply medicines as specified by a prescriber on the prescription form. Prescribers are encouraged to prescribe rationally and to make the best possible use of national health service resources. It has long been the Department's policy to encourage the prescribing of medicines by their generic name, where possible. It is for doctors' clinical judgment as to which product they prescribe for their patient and providing a product is not listed in schedule 1 or 2 of the NHS (General Medical Service) Regulations 2004, doctors can prescribe any product, which they consider essential for the patient to receive.
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many unplanned hospitalisations patients with epilepsy had in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012. [107722]
Paul Burstow: The information is shown in the following table.
| Count of finished admission episodes (1) (FAEs) where the patient had a primary diagnosis (2 ) of epilepsy and was admitted as an emergency for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11, (3) and provisional data from April 2011 to January 2012 (4) . | ||||
| April 2011 to January 2012 (4) | 2010-11 | 2009-10 | 2008-09 | |
| (1) Finished admission episodes (FAE) A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Primary diagnosisThe primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. ICD10 codes used: G40: Epilepsy G41: Status Epilepticus. (3) Assessing growth through timeHES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in national health service practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. (4) Provisional dataThe data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, that is November from the (month nine) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Data qualityHES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Health and Social Care Information Centre. | ||||
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Epilepsy: Drugs
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on how many patients prescribed branded anti-epileptic drugs were switched to generic brands in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012. [108561]
Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally.
Hepatitis: Prisoners
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to improve access to screening and treatment for hepatitis C in prisons; [107531]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners in England (a) with hepatitis C, (b) screened for hepatitis C upon entering prison and (c) with hepatitis C undergoing treatment. [107532]
Paul Burstow: Offender Health has worked with Professor Martin Lombard, National Clinical Director for Liver Disease, to survey hepatitis C services in prisons in England. The aims of the survey were: to map existing service provision for prisoners in relation to hepatitis C testing and treatment; to develop a national database of services providing hepatitis C treatment for prisoners; and, to use the survey to develop a national hepatitis C prison network to share good practice across England and help to develop a model for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C in prison.
A survey report is due to be published soon and is expected to demonstrate that prisons in England are providing access to screening and treatment for hepatitis C.
Information is not collected centrally about the number of people living with hepatitis C in England and is therefore not available in respect of prisoners in England with hepatitis C, or being screened for hepatitis C upon entering prison or for prisoners with hepatitis C who are undergoing treatment.
Offender Health have begun to collect quarterly data on the total number of tests carried out in prisons in England for Hepatitis C for the Prison Health Quality and Performance Indicators dataset. Data are available from April 2010 only and the number of tests performed per quarter in reporting prisons and the percentage of total new receptions to those prisons this figure represents is shown in the following table.
| Number of hepatitis C tests performed in prisons in England since April 2010: per quarter and as a percentage of total new receptions | |||
| Number | Percentage | ||
| Source: NHS South West | |||
However, this data may not reflect the total number of tests performed on people in prison as testing may also be carried out in sexual health services for example, which is not captured in this dataset.
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Hospital Beds: Southwark
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were provided for NHS patients in hospitals in the London borough of Southwark in each of the last five years. [108239]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested.
Bed availability is collected from national health service providers at organisation level. The following table provides data for Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and King's College NHS Foundation Trust.
| Average daily number of available beds, 2007-08 to 2011-12 | ||||
| Quarter | Overnight | Day only | ||
| Note: The KH03 was an annual return up to and including 2009-10. In 2010-11 the KH03 became a quarterly return. The KH03 return was mandated for foundation trusts in 2011-12 and prior to this King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust chose not to submit a return for some quarters. Source: Department of Health KH03 | ||||
Hospitals: Consultants
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to the public purse was of the hospital consultants clinical excellence and distinction awards system in each of the last five years. [108631]
Mr Simon Burns: The total national health service spend in England for national level clinical excellence and distinction awards for the last five financial years is shown in the following table:
| Financial year | Spend (£ million) |
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| Notes: 1. These costs include monies for employer contributions to national insurance and pensions. 2. The costs include payments for non-hospital academic consultants employed on honorary national health service contract. 3. The information above does not include information on local clinical excellence awards (employer based awards) which are paid by trusts. This information is not held centrally. 4. The information above does not include national clinical excellence awards that are paid from central funds to consultants holding a national health service contract and employed in the Department or arm’s length bodies. 5. The reduction in expenditure in 2008-09 reflected a scrutiny exercise which identified a number of consultants who had retired without notifying the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (any excess payments in 2007-08 were to trusts only and those monies were available for patient care. No consultants received payment to which they were not entitled). | |
Hospitals: Greater London
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) Camberwell and Peckham constituency and (b) the London borough of Southwark waited longer than 18 weeks for a consultation for secondary services in each of the last five years. [108238]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested.
The following tables show information on the number of non-admitted patients who waited more than 18 weeks from referral to start of treatment during the month, for Southwark Primary Care Trust (PCT), from August 2007 (when the data were first collected) to February 2012. The tables also show the percentage of non-admitted patients who started their treatment within 18 weeks over the same period, for Southwark PCT.
| Southwark PCT 2007-09 | ||
| Referral to treatment (RTT) non-admitted patients treated during the month that waited more than 18 weeks | Total | Percentage in 18 weeks |
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| Source: Department of Health, Knowledge and Intelligence | ||
| Southwark PCT 2010-12 | ||
| RTT non-admitted patients treated during the month that waited more than 18 weeks | Total | Percentage in 18 weeks |
| Source: Department of Health, Knowledge and Intelligence | ||
Mental Illness
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to assess the outcomes of clinical interventions for soldiers with (a) post traumatic stress disorder and (b) other mental health issues. [107666]
Mr Robathan: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
The Defence Medical Services (DMS) mandate the use of evidence-based mental health treatments that have been rigorously reviewed and approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
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(NICE), unless specifically authorised for reasons such as clinical research. NICE only approves treatments which have been subject to rigorous scientific investigation to ensure that they are effective and do not cause harm.
A recent enhancement to the electronic health records maintained by the Defence Medical Information Capability Programme (DMICP) enables clinicians to input data on patients being treated by our Departments of Community Mental Health at every clinical contact. In future, this will enable us to measure much more accurately the clinical outcomes for each patient, including the treatment they received, when they are returned to full fitness, and whether they subsequently require further treatment.
Multiple Sclerosis: Death Certificates
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 16 April 2012, Official Report, column 127W, on multiple sclerosis, if he will make it his policy that where multiple sclerosis is recorded on a medical certificate as a condition which contributed to the cause of death it is listed first. [108558]
Paul Burstow: Doctors are required to start with the immediate, direct cause of death and then go back through the sequence of events or conditions that led to death, until they reach the one that started the fatal sequence. This initiating condition will usually be selected as the underlying cause of death, according to the International Classification of Diseases coding rules.
People with multiple sclerosis do not die directly from the condition, but if they are severely affected the risk of dying from a multiple sclerosis related complication (like an infection) is greater. Research suggests that, on average, life expectancy of people with multiple sclerosis is around 10 years lower than that of the general population.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many quangos his Department has (a) abolished and (b) established since May 2010. [108692]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not abolished any arm’s length bodies (ALBs) since May 2010. The Alcohol Education and Research Council, National Patient Safety Agency, and the General Social Care Council will be closed in July 2012. A number of other ALBs will close later in 2012 or early 2013.
Two new ALBs—the Health Research Authority and the NHS Commissioning Board Authority have been established.
Nurses: Birmingham
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed in the NHS in South Birmingham in May 2010; and how many nurses are employed in the NHS in South Birmingham. [107027]
Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. The number of full-time equivalent general practice and qualified nursing staff in the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in 2010-11 is shown in the following table:
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| West Midlands SHA | ||
| 2010 | 2011 | |
|
Hospital and community staff, including midwives and other qualified nursing staff |
||
| Source: The Information Centre for health and social care | ||
Palliative Care
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effects of electronic palliative care co-ordination systems on choice at the end of life; [107674]
(2) what plans his Department has to encourage the use of electronic palliative care co-ordination systems. [107676]
Paul Burstow: With support from the National End of Life Care Programme, the Department piloted Electronic Palliative Care Co-ordination Systems (EPaCCS), formerly known as End of Life Care Locality Registers, in eight localities. Ipsos MORI was commissioned to undertake an evaluation of these pilots. Their report, “End of Life Locality Registers Evaluation: Final Report (June, 2011)” identified the key challenges to developing such a system and how these were addressed via a range of approaches and solutions. The evaluation report is available at:
www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/publications/localities-registers-report
When this report was published, only the Weston Area Health Trust and NHS South West pilot had outcomes data on the impact of the register. These early findings showed that, in tandem with other end of life care initiatives, particularly providing training in advance care planning, use of the register could significantly reduce deaths in hospital and enable many more people to die in their preferred place. Since then, the experiences of other EPaCCS implementers have reinforced these findings. The National End of Life Care Programme is currently collating outcomes data from all implementers, and will make these available to health and social care commissioners and providers to inform future service development.
The National End of Life Care Programme, with support from the Department, has been taking forward a range of other work to support the wider uptake of EPaCCS. It has led on the development of an End of Life Care Co-ordination: Core Content Information Standard, which was approved by the Information Standards Board on 20 March 2012. The standard will underpin the development and use of EPaCCS, and details are available at:
www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/strategy/strategy/coordination-of-care/end-of-life-care-information-standard
The National Programme is also working through the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) end of life care workstream, which identifies the importance of EPaCCS as a tool to support identification of people approaching the end of life and planning for their care, including advance care planning. In tandem with the Department's QIPP digital team, a series of events have been run around the country to share learning about EPaCCS, and to seek feedback on the technical work that can be undertaken nationally to support wider implementation.
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Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to improving access to social care to improve choice for people at the end of life. [107675]
Paul Burstow: We recognise the need to ensure that the care people receive at the end of life is compassionate, appropriate and supports the exercise of choice by care users. Improved access to social care and better integrated palliative care will be central to delivering improved choice, and this is an important part of the work we are doing to implement the Department's End of Life Care Strategy.
One of the recommendations of the independent Palliative Care Funding Review was that, once a patient reaches the end of life stage, and is put on the end of life care locality register, all health and social care should be funded by the state and be free at the point of delivery. We are testing all the recommendations of the review through the eight Palliative Care Funding pilots we have set up, which will inform the development of a new funding system for palliative care from 2015.
We have committed to publishing a social care White Paper shortly, alongside a progress report on funding reform. The Department jointly led the “Caring for our future” engagement last year, together with the care and support sector, which sought the views of people who use care and support services, carers, local councils, care providers and the voluntary sector, about the priorities for improving care and support. The White Paper will set out the Government’s plans for transforming the care and support system.
Pancreatic Cancer
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government is taking to improve awareness of pancreatic cancer and to encourage early diagnosis. [107902]
Paul Burstow: We are committed to improving outcomes for all cancer patients, including those with pancreatic cancer. Achieving earlier diagnosis of cancer is key to our ambition to save an additional 5,000 lives a year from cancer by 2014-15 and we have provided more than £450 million over the spending review period to improve general practitioner (GP) access to key diagnostic tests; support campaigns to raise public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and to encourage people to visit their GP when they have persistent symptoms; and to pay for more treatment and testing in secondary care.
We know that some types of cancer can be difficult diagnose, often because their symptoms are shared with more common, benign conditions. To better understand the barriers to early diagnosis and to discuss possible solutions, departmental officials met with a range of cancer charities during spring and summer 2011, including two pancreatic cancer charities. This work has been fed into the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative. I also met with Pancreatic Cancer UK on 17 December 2011 to hear their concerns in more detail and I will be attending the charity's early diagnosis workshop in June 2012.
To further address the need to improve awareness of rarer cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, consideration also is being given to piloting a symptom-based approach
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awareness campaign covering multiple cancers. A final decision on campaign work in 2011-12 will be subject to funding and Efficiency and Reform Group approval.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the process is for referring a former soldier who may have post traumatic stress disorder to a trauma unit; [107665]
(2) what proportion of veterans in the community with post traumatic stress disorder are also addicted to alcohol or drugs; [107667]
(3) what the monthly cost is of residence at a trauma unit for former military personnel; [107669]
(4) what estimate he has made of the proportion of veterans in the community with post traumatic stress disorder. [107670]
Mr Simon Burns: With regard to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), overall, primary and secondary mental health services are organised around local need as determined by primary care trusts and foundation trusts. A number of trusts have developed specialist trauma services to deal with complex PTSD. Outside this group there are a number of reputable services and psychological therapies services that also offer National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence concordant interventions for complex PTSD. These services marry well with primary care services and the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) group. The large investment in IAPT services has meant that these services are managing all people with less complicated PTSD presentations.
All local services will have a strategy for managing alcohol and other substance use disorders.
In addition, the Armed Forces Networks (based on the previous 10 strategic health authority areas) have been putting in place increased resources and mental health professionals focussed on providing services to veterans with mental health problems.
The Department does not collect information in relation to numbers of veterans with drug and alcohol addictions centrally.
It is not possible to give ‘general’ figures in relation to residence at a trauma unit, as these would vary depending on the unit in question, the resident's needs, the length of stay, etc.
Data provided by the Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health, King's College London, suggest that 4% of armed forces not deployed report symptoms of probable PTSD and 4% of those deployed report symptoms of probable PTSD (being deployed itself is not associated with PTSD among regulars). This reflects the level of PTSD within the wider population as a whole. Based on current evidence, 7% of those who deploy in a combat role are likely to report symptoms of PTSD at some point post-deployment. Information is not available on the number of armed forces personnel suffering from complex PTSD and/or acute stress.
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Prescription Drugs
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to enable local pharmacies to supply prescription medicines to patients without delays in sourcing the medicines. [107672]
Mr Simon Burns: Pharmaceutical services in Scotland are the responsibility of the Scottish Government. In England pharmacies make their own commercial arrangements with suppliers and the Department has agreed with stakeholders joint best practice for ensuring the efficient supply and distribution of medicines to patients. The Department continues to work collaboratively with medicines supply chain stakeholders (including those representing community pharmacists) to better understand and mitigate the impact of supply difficulties so that patients receive the medicines they need promptly.
Procurement
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of payments made by his Department to small and medium-sized enterprises have been paid late since May 2010. [107786]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department operates standard contractual payment terms of 30 days. However, the Department has also signed up to the Government's prompt payment policy under which the target is to pay all valid supplier invoices that are received at the nominated address within five days of receipt. Performance against this target is published on the Department's website within six days of the previous month.
While the question makes specific reference to paying small and medium-sized enterprises, Departments and their agencies have agreed to bring forward payments to all businesses, given the role of larger businesses in the supply chain.
The proportion of invoices paid late in accordance with our contract terms (30 days) and after five days of receipt (the prompt payment target) each month since May 2010 is as follows:
| Percentage | ||
| Paid later than 30 days | Paid later than five days | |
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Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of his Department's expenditure on procurement has gone to small and medium-sized enterprises since May 2010. [107808]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department's expenditure with small and medium-sized enterprises has been reported in the Cabinet Office report, “Making Government business more accessible to SMEs—One Year On”:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/making-government-business-more-accessible-smes-one-year
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department next expects to undertake a spend recovery audit to identify overpayments to suppliers caused by fraud or error. [107920]
Mr Simon Burns: Following an announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General on 6 February 2012, the Department, along with all other central Government Departments, is required to undertake a spend recovery audit by December 2013.
The Department has not undertaken a spend recovery audit to date and is taking direction from the Cabinet Office, who are currently identifying procurement options that will enable Government Departments to commission spend recovery audits in an efficient manner, securing best value for money for the taxpayer.
Radiotherapy
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the NHS has to replace old radiotherapy equipment in the next three years; whether those plans include an exclusive national price agreement with one radiotherapy equipment supplier; and how he plans to ensure that radiotherapy equipment replacement programmes are compatible with the requirement for openness and transparency under the provisions of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. [108211]
Paul Burstow:
Decisions regarding renewal of radiotherapy machines are taken locally and need to be assessed against local priorities. It is the responsibility of each individual organisation to ensure that it adopts good asset management and financial planning. However,
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national teams such as the National Cancer Action Team and NHS Improvement provide support to help providers plan for their equipment needs.
The Department has recently worked with NHS Supply Chain to launch a new procurement scheme that allows trusts to access high-value medical equipment at significantly discounted prices. The scheme allows NHS Supply Chain to purchase equipment up front through use of a central capital fund, and then pass on discounts to trusts. The scheme does not limit choice or supplier.
Within the Cancer Peer Review programme, the radiotherapy measures require local organisations to agree an equipment replacement programme with their cancer network. The outcome of the Peer Review programme is shared with commissioners.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of cancer patients in each primary care trust area in England who have to travel for more than 45 minutes in order to access their nearest radiotherapy treatment centre. [108227]
Paul Burstow: We have made no estimate of the number of cancer patients in each primary care trust area in England who have to travel for more than 45 minutes in order to access their nearest radiotherapy treatment centre.
The National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG) report ‘Radiotherapy: developing a world class service for England’, published in 2007, provided clear guidance to support commissioners in the provision of radiotherapy services. The NRAG report recommended that, where possible, patients should not travel more than 45 minutes for radiotherapy treatment. A copy of this report has already been placed in the Library.
Since the publication of the NRAG report, the National Cancer Action Team has continued to provide advice to commissioners and providers to help them assess travel times for their patients and plan the location of new services.
Schizophrenia
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of people with schizophrenia who rely on a family member or carer to manage their condition; [107936]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effects of schizophrenia on families and carers; and how much funding his Department plans to allocate to support these families. [107937]
Paul Burstow: We do not collect the information requested centrally. However, in 2009-10, the Department commissioned the National Health Service Information Centre to undertake a survey of carers in households as part of its Carers' Strategy programme. Over 2,000 carers were interviewed and were asked a question to establish why the people they cared for needed their help, including their health needs. 13% of the responses indicated that the cared for person required help ‘for a mental health problem’.
The cross-Government mental health outcomes strategy No Health Without Mental Health, published in February 2011, sets out the Government's commitment to improving mental health and mental health services. The strategy
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implementation framework focuses on improving outcomes, quality and value for money, and on ensuring that people who use mental health services, their families and carers, are fully involved in all aspects of services.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to improve diagnosis, treatment and access to long-lasting injectables for people in prison with schizophrenia; [107938]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the number of prisoners (a) with schizophrenia, (b) receiving treatment for schizophrenia and (c) released with schizophrenia in England in each of the last five years. [107939]
Paul Burstow: Offenders are entitled to expect, and receive, the same quality of treatments and services from the national health service as anyone else. All prisons have access to on-site health care teams, which can treat most mental health problems and issue prescriptions required by prisoners.
From 2013, the National Health Service Commissioning Board (NHSCB) will be responsible for commissioning of health services for those in custody. The NHSCB will assume commissioning responsibilities for mental health services for those in prison and other detained settings.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence updated its schizophrenia guidelines in 2009. They cover the care, treatment and support that adults, aged 18 and older, with schizophrenia should be offered. The guidelines recommended Cognitive Behavioural Therapy be offered in an acute episode of schizophrenia. These guidelines apply to all adults, including prisoners.
The NHS is responsible for commissioning health care in prisons where prisoners are entitled to receive the same level of care as people in the community. The services provided are based on a health needs assessment undertaken by the NHS commissioner and the prison, but all prisons have access to mental health care delivered by primary care and specialist mental health services.
The information requested about schizophrenia services and morbidity is not collected centrally. However, a survey by the Office for National Statistics in 1997 estimated that around 90% of adult prisoners had at least one of the five disorders considered in the survey (personality disorder, psychosis, neurosis, alcohol misuse and drug dependence). This is an aggregate figure so the data will include adult prisoners with schizophrenia but the exact proportion of prisoners with schizophrenia is not known.
The Department is currently setting up an audit of the mental health needs of offenders, both in prison and where possible in community settings. A feasibility study for this work is due to start later this year and a fuller research study is expected to be commissioned in 2013.
Streptococcus
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve awareness of Group B streptococcus. [108085]
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Anne Milton: A midwife offers every woman testing for asymptomatic bacteria at booking in pregnancy and this includes looking for Group B streptococcus (GBS).
Information for women on GBS (early and late onset) is available on the NHS Choices website at:
www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/2037.aspx?categoryid=54& subcategoryid=137
including a link to the Group B Strep Support charity.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has produced patient information, “Preventing group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies (information for you)”, for women and their families who are expecting a baby or are planning to get pregnant. Advice from that guidance also features on the NHS Choices website.
The RCOG has a Green-top guideline, Prevention of Early onset Group B Streptococcal Disease, which provides guidance for obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists on the prevention of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Portsmouth South constituency were (a) tested for, (b) diagnosed with and (c) treated for Group B streptococcus in the latest period for which figures are available. [108086]
Anne Milton:
Data on how many people are tested, diagnosed and treated for infections caused by Group B streptococcus are not collected within constituency boundaries. 170 cases of Group B streptococcus blood stream infection were reported to the Health Protection Agency in 2010 through routine laboratory surveillance
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for the South East region population. This covers all age groups. Data on testing and treatment are not collected.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS Trusts offer enriched culture medium testing; [108087]
(2) what steps he plans to take to increase the number of NHS trusts offering enriched culture medium tests. [108088]
Anne Milton: Information on the number of national health service trusts which offer testing for group B streptococcus carriage (GBS) in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test is not held centrally.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the NHS in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for GBS carriage in pregnancy. In 2008-09 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. The UK NSC is currently reviewing the evidence for screening for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test against its criteria again. A public consultation on the screening review will open in June 2012.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died from bacterial infection stemming from Group B streptococcus in each of the last 10 years. [108089]
Anne Milton: Information on the number of people who have died from group B streptococcal infection for the last 10 years for which data are available is in the following table.
| Number of deaths (1,2) where the underlying cause is Streptococcus B, England and Wales, 2001-10 | |||||
| ICD-10 A40.1 Septicaemia due to streptococcus B | ICD-10 J15.3 Pneumonia due to streptococcus B | ICD-10 P23.3 Congenital pneumonia due to streptococcus B | ICD-10 P36.0 Sepsis of newborn due to streptococcus B | Total | |
| (1) Figures for 2001-05 are based on death occurrences. (2) Figures for 2006-10 are based on death registrations Source: Office for National Statistics | |||||
International Development
Developing Countries: Malnutrition
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to tackle malnutrition in developing countries. [108091]
Mr O'Brien: The UK is scaling up to reach 20 million pregnant women and children under five with nutrition interventions by 2015. Our support includes providing minerals such as iron which can reduce mother and infant deaths, and vitamin A to prevent blindness.
We have also increased spending to improve nutrition in developing countries from an estimated £57 million to £152 million per year from 2008-09 to 2011-12. Our spending on nutrition-related research has gone from £6.1 million to £20.4 million over the same period.
In line with the G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, the UK is already supporting the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement—the most promising mechanism to bring the international community together behind a common vision for tackling under-nutrition, and intervening in the ‘1,000 day window’ of life to prevent stunting.
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Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to raise malnutrition and problems associated with physical and intellectual growth at the forthcoming G8 summit; and if he will make a statement. [108243]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Improved nutrition in developing countries is an important element of the new G8 Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, and a priority for the UK Government.
At the food security symposium preceding Camp David on 18 May, I emphasised the importance of ensuring that improved nutrition was an outcome of our collective efforts under the new alliance.
Israel
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterparts on international disaster response efforts. [108196]
Mr Duncan: The UK holds regular discussions at official level with the Israeli authorities on disaster response planning for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In February 2012, UK and Israeli officials participated in the annual United Nations Disaster Assessment and Co-ordination network (UNDAC) Board meeting. UNDAC is an international response tool which provides rapid response and co-ordination facilities in the case of international disasters.
Departmental Staff
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time equivalent employees his Department employed in May 2010; and how many it employed at the latest period for which figures are available. [108160]
Mr Duncan: DFID employed the following full-time equivalent employees:
| Home civil servants | Staff appointed in country | Total | |
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time equivalent employees have (a) left and (b) been recruited to his Department in the last two years. [108184]
Mr Duncan: The following full time equivalent employees have (a) left and (b) been recruited by DFID in the last two years:
| (a) Left DFID | (b) Recruited to DFID | |
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North Africa and Middle East
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department supports in North Africa and the Middle East on (a) women's social and political participation, (b) women's health and (c) reduction of female genital mutilation. [108096]
Mr Duncan: The UK is supporting the empowerment of women to play a full role in the political, economic and social life across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). As part of the UK's national action plan to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security we have a specific action plan for the MENA region:
(a) In terms of women's social and political participation, the UK's Arab Partnership is supporting women's political participation in the MENA region. For example, in Egypt we are working with the Electoral Reform International Services (ERIS) to promote the participation of women candidates in Egyptian local council elections and engagement of communities with their local councillors. The tri-department Conflict Pool has a suite of programmes in Libya encouraging women's participation in the Libyan political process.
In our bilateral aid programmes in Yemen and Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) we have also ensured women's empowerment is taken into account. For example, our support to the Yemeni Social Fund for Development (SFD) is contributing to increasing girls’ participation and access to education, and improving economic opportunities for women through micro finance and labour intensive works projects. In the OPTs, our statebuilding programme is also boosting citizen's rights by helping the Palestinian Authority to be more accountable and responsive to the public, including improving their services for female victims of violence.
(b) Our bilateral programmes in Yemen and the OPT, also improving women's health. For example, UK support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) provides essential services, including female healthcare, to Palestinians living in the OPTs and Palestinian refugees across the near region. In 2011, our support to UNRWA helped provide maternal healthcare to 263,000 women, while our funding to the PA supports over 2,000 women a year to give birth assisted by skilled health personnel. In Yemen, our support will also help deliver access to basic health care for 50,000 girls and women and access to health care for approximately 38,000 women.
(c) The Government is clear that the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) needs to end. While we do not have any specific FGM programmes in the MENA region, we are making a clear contribution to global measures to eliminating FGM through our core support to UN organisations working on this issue, namely the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of renewable energy and recycling in the Middle East and North Africa. [108223]
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Mr Duncan: The UK's main focus in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is to support economic and political transition.
We are funding projects through our Arab Partnership Economic Facility which are encouraging investment in renewable energy and recycling in the MENA. For example the UK is providing £5 million between 2012 to 2015 to support the work of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the MENA region. One of EBRD's priority areas is renewable energy and energy efficiency investments.
The UK is providing £10 million between 2009 and 2014 for the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) work in MENA, which includes a study on clean energy opportunities for the private sector in six energy scarce MENA countries, as well as supporting two large electricity distribution companies in Jordan to explore opportunities to promote energy efficiency and clean energy.
Overseas Aid
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the areas of aid policy in which the European Commission has a competitive advantage over the UK. [108249]
Mr O'Brien: DFID's multilateral aid review called for EU aid to be more poverty and results focused. The coalition Government is working tirelessly to reform the EU system and hold it to account on behalf of UK taxpayers. We are also pressing the EU to focus on areas where it can add the most value, such as working with the private sector to improve the business environment in developing countries and help people pull themselves out of poverty. The EU's size means it has the ability to implement large scale regional projects—such as roads, rail and energy infrastructure. We are working to ensure EU aid supports effective regional integration, particularly in Africa.
The EU has a strong record on humanitarian response—for example, its reaction to the recent famine in the Sahel. We are working to ensure a stronger EU focus on resilience and disaster mitigation. We are also pushing the EU to prioritise support to girls and women, who are fundamental to development. Of course, development is not just about aid. One of the EU's greatest strengths is its potential to deliver a co-ordinated approach that brings together aid, trade and foreign policy. We are working with European partners to make EU policies more coherent so they better support poor, vulnerable and fragile states around the world.
Procurement
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of payments made by his Department to small and medium-sized enterprises have been paid late since May 2010. [107788]
Mr Duncan: The proportion of payments made by DFID to small and medium-sized enterprises between April 2011 and March 2012 that have been paid late is 0.90% (less than 1%).
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DFID did not track its spend with small and medium-sized enterprises prior to April 2011 when the Department's internet based supplier portal was launched and as a result we are unable to provide the proportion of payments that were paid late to SMEs for the period between May 2010 and March 2011.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's expenditure on procurement has gone to small and medium-sized enterprises since May 2010. [107796]
Mr Duncan: The proportion of the Department for International Development's expenditure which has gone to small and medium-sized enterprises since April 2011 to March 2012 is 29%.
DFID did not track its spend with small and medium-sized enterprises prior to April 2011 when the Department's internet-based supplier portal was launched and as a result we are unable to provide the proportion of spend that is with SMEs for the period between May 2010 and March 2011.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department next expects to undertake a spend recovery audit to identify overpayments to suppliers caused by fraud or error. [107914]
Mr Duncan: DFID is aware of the cross government requirement to introduce spend-recovery audits. Cabinet Office is leading on the initiative but DFID will be fielding an individual to co-ordinate work within our own Department and attend the associated workshops. The output of these workshops is expected to provide guidance into the way in which spend-recovery audits are rolled out across central Government, in order to meet the December 2013 deadline.
DFID currently has system-based controls and monthly internal procedures, which are used throughout the year to identify possible duplicate payments. In addition, as part of the external audit process of the annual report and accounts our external auditors carry out an audit of our transaction system to identify possible duplicate payments.
Sahel
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Government spent on responding to the food crisis in the Sahel region of Africa in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [108505]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The amount allocated by the Government to food security in the Sahel in 2010, 2011 and 2012 is as follows:
| £ | |
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Funds allocated in 2010 and 2012 were provided in response to the food crisis in those years. There was no food crisis in the Sahel in 2011—funds shown as allocated in 2011 were utilised for ongoing recovery programmes following the 2010 crisis.
UK officials continue to monitor current the situation closely, and liaise with their opposite numbers to ensure that other countries take their fair share of the response.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what priorities he has set for responding to the food crisis in the Sahel region of Africa. [108506]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK has responded early to the food crisis in the Sahel. To ensure maximum impact from UK funds in supporting the most vulnerable, we will support over 400,000 people across the region in 2012. This will achieve the following results:
(a) 155,000 children and women will benefit from improved nutrition, including 87,000 children under five to be treated for severe acute malnutrition;
(b) 153,000 people will receive food; and
(c) over 100,000 people will benefit from community livelihood support such as animal food and vaccinations and cash transfers.
UK officials continue to monitor the situation closely.
South Sudan
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department plans to take to encourage a change in attitudes that tolerate and perpetuate violence against women and girls in South Sudan. [108236]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: In South Sudan, the UK is working to expand women's opportunities and, over time, transform attitudes towards them. Our South Sudan programming includes planned work on girls' education, through which we intend to support 200,000 girls in school, including by tackling cultural attitudes which limit girls' attendance of school. This will likely include work in communities and a media campaign. We are also considering a programme to help improve access to justice for South Sudanese women within their own communities, using both formal and informal systems. These programmes should benefit the individual girls and women concerned, but also raise women and girls' status and address attitudes that tolerate and perpetuate violence.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how his Department's Strategic Vision for Women and Girls will be applied in South Sudan. [108237]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
The South Sudan Operational Plan includes an assessment of the situation of women and girls in South Sudan. This analysis confirms the importance of the four pillars of DFID's strategic vision—economic empowerment, health, education, and tackling violence against women and girls—in South Sudan. Girls and women frequently face domestic violence, and violence related to conflict and insecurity. South Sudan has the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, and was recently categorised as one of the 10 worst
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places in the world to be a mother. There is also a significant gender gap in education, with less than 20% of South Sudanese women being literate.
In response to these massive challenges the coalition Government has put support for girls and women at the centre of our development work in South Sudan. We are developing planned programmes which should support the education of 200,000 girls, provide antenatal care to at least 21,500 women, start at least 10,000 people on family planning, and help to improve access to justice for 250,000 women.
Deputy Prime Minister
Executive
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward legislative proposals to lower the limit on the number of Government Ministers in line with his proposed reduction in the number of parliamentary constituencies. [107730]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The Government have been clear that they recognise the principle that there is a link between the legislature and the size of the executive; but this issue does not need to be resolved now, since the reduction in the size of the House of Commons would not take effect until 2015. The Government intend to reflect on the arguments made during the passage of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, and set out their plans once there is greater clarity on the composition of the second Chamber, including how many Ministers would be drawn from there. The Government remain committed to strengthening Parliament in relation to the Executive.
House of Lords: Reform
Mr Spellar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the Government's estimate of the cost of setting up and running the House of Lords as envisaged in his draft Bill. [106968]
Mr Harper: The costs of a reformed House of Lords will depend on a number of variables. In particular the number of members and the transitional arrangements will affect the cost of members' salaries and allowances. We are considering the report of the Joint Committee on the Government's draft Bill before finalising our proposals for reform. We will publish full costs when we introduce a Bill.
Trade Unions
Priti Patel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) when he plans to bring forward legislation to reform political party donations in respect of the political levy paid by trade union members; [106962]
(2) if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require trade unions to receive consent on an annual basis from each of their members to (a) deduct a political levy from their membership subscriptions and (b) use the political levy to make donations to a political party. [106963]
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Mr Harper: The Government is committed to pursuing agreement on limiting donations and reforming party funding. The Deputy Prime Minister has established cross-party discussions to identify a way forward, as far as possible on the basis of consensus. These discussions are ongoing.
Voter Identification
Nick de Bois: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to introduce legislation to require photo-identification at polling stations; and if he will make a statement. [108193]
Mr Harper: The Government has no current plans to legislate to require photographic identification to be produced by voters at polling stations. We are taking steps within the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill to strengthen the security of the electoral system, most notably by speeding up the introduction of individual electoral registration.
Any further significant changes to the way elections are administered would need careful consideration to ensure an effective balance between accessibility and security is maintained.
Cabinet Office
Average Earnings
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will estimate the average earnings of full-time employees in Pendle constituency for April in each year since 2000. [108982]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated May 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office to estimate the average earnings of full-time employees in Pendle constituency for April of each year since 2000. (108982)
Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom.
The following table shows the median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in Pendle constituency for April of each year from 2000 until 2011, the latest period for which figures are available.
| Median gross weekly earnings for full-time employee jobs (1) : Pendle constituency from 2000 to 2011 | |
| £ | |
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| (1) Full-time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. As at April of each year. (2) 2004 results excluding supplementary survey for comparison with 2003. (3) 2004 results including supplementary survey designed to improve coverage of the survey. For more information see National Statistics website: www.statistics.gov.uk (4) 2006 results with methodology consistent with 2005. (5) 2006 results with methodology consistent with 2007. (6) 2011 results based on Standard Occupational Classification, 2000. (7) 2011 results based on Standard Occupational Classification 2010. Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. Key: * CV >5% and <= 10% Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics 2000 to 2011 | |
Billing
Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what mechanisms are in place to ensure that payments are made within 30 days to public sector contractors hired by his Department. [108492]
Mr Maude: In line with Government policy, the Cabinet Office aims to pay all invoices within 10 working days of receipt. Cabinet Office's standard terms and conditions state that payment should be made within 30 days.
Charities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will estimate the potential additional funding that charitable trusts and foundations would distribute if a five per cent minimum payout threshold were introduced; and if he will make a statement. [107717]
Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office does not hold this information. The Government considered this reform in the Giving Green Paper. The response we received from the sector was largely negative, and we decided not to introduce a minimum payout clause at this current time.
Community Development
Michael Dugher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many senior community organisers his Department expects to train in each quarter to 2015. [107833]
Mr Maude: The Government is committed to training 500 senior community organisers over the course of this Parliament.
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Employment: Disability
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many disabled people were in paid work in (a) Birmingham Ladywood constituency and (b) Birmingham city council area in each of the last five years. [108611]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many disabled people were in paid work in (a) Birmingham Ladywood constituency and (b) Birmingham City Council area in each of the last five years. (108611)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
Due to small sample sizes estimates are not available for Birmingham Ladywood constituency. Table 1 shows the number of people identifying themselves as disabled who were in employment and resident in Birmingham, for the 12 month periods ending in September for 2007 to 2011, from the APS.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
| Table 1: Number of disabled (1) people in employment resident in Birmingham in each of the last five years | |
| Thousand | |
| (1) People who are DDA disabled or have a work-limiting disability. (2) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey | |