Written Answers to Questions
Monday 8 October 2007
Solicitor-General
Crown Prosecution Service: Information Officers
The Crown Prosecution Service employs seven press officers at its headquarters. These consist of: four information officers; two senior information officers; and one chief press officer.
Home Department
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner: Information Officers
This is a matter for the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.
Antisocial Behaviour: Cambridgeshire
The number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) is given in the following table. There have been no individual support orders (ISOs) issued in Cambridgeshire up to the end of December 2005 which is the latest period for which data are available. In April this year we completed a survey of 60 areas on support available for young people on ASBOs. The headline results support anecdotal information from practitioners that where ISOs are not being made it is mostly because they are already receiving other interventions from the Youth Offending Team (YOT). The courts are obliged to consider making an ISO every time they make an ASBO on a 10 to 17-year-old and must give a reason in open court if they decide not to do so. The use of ISOs continues to be actively promoted by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and the Home Office as an aid to helping YOTs fulfil their role in tackling antisocial behaviour.
Number CJS area—Cambridgeshire April 1999 to May 2000 1— June to December 2000 0 2001 1 2002 2 2003 10 2004 3 2005 14 Total 30 1 No age details available for the period April 1999 to May 2000. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
The information is shown in the following table.
Number of ASBOs issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, by period and where restrictions are imposed within local authority areas, up to 31 December 2005CambridgeshireEast Cambridgeshire DC2South Cambridgeshire DC31 April 1999 to 31 December 2005101671 April 1999 to 31 May 200015n/an/a1 June 2000 to 31 December 20001——1 January 2001 to 31 December 20012——1 January 2002 to 31 December 20022——1 January 2003 to 31 December 200315——1 January 2004 to 31 December 200426——1 January 2005 to 31 December 20055067 n/a = not available1 Between 1 April 1999 and 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area (pfa).2 Three orders cover all E and W.3 Two orders cover all E and W.Notes:1. This local authority area table differs from criminal justice system area (cjsa) tables in that an issuing court can be outside the area in which the have been imposed. For example, an issuing court may be in Hampshire (cjsa) but restrictions apply solely to a local authority area within Dorset.2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
The information is shown in the following table.
Total ASBOs breached in: CJS area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Cambridgeshire — 3 2 8 14 22 1 Some of the ASBOs in the table have been breached in more than one year and have therefore been counted more than once. Breaches are counted in this table in the area of breach. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
Assaults on Police
The information requested is given in the table.
London4 2000-01 — 2001-02 1,500 2002-03 1,941 2003-04 2,397 2004-05 2,667 1 Data collated on behalf of and published by HMIC in its Chief Inspector of Constabulary’s Annual Reports. 2 Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. 3 Data for 2005-06 and 2006-07 have been collated but have not yet been validated. HMIC have advised that they will no longer be publishing this dataset in their annual report. 4 Metropolitan police and City of London police. Metropolitan police was unable to provide data for 2000-01.
Assets Recovery Agency: Information Officers
This is a matter for the director of the Asset Recovery Agency.
Association of Chief Police Officers: Information Officers
This is a matter for the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Asylum: Eritrea
The safety on return of unsuccessful asylum seekers from Eritrea is, as with all other nationalities, considered on an individual basis against the background of current information from a wide range of well-recognised sources about the situation in Eritrea. Those who are found not to be in need of international protection and have no legal basis of stay in the UK may return voluntarily. Where an individual does not return voluntarily, removal may be enforced. Enforced removals will only be undertaken where we are satisfied the individual has no protection needs.
Border and Immigration Agency
For the period 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2007, 183 complaints of lost documentation were recorded centrally. However, there will be instances where individuals will have written direct to various business areas which will not have been recorded centrally. It is not possible to state a more precise figure.
Such a level of detail is not required for the purposes of our ordinary financial reporting or accounting. This information is therefore not routinely available from one source within the Department and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.
In the period 1 January to 31 March 2007, the last period full data is available for, the average length of time it took the Border and Immigration Agency to reply to a letter from an hon. Member was 17.34 working days.
The Border and Immigration Agency’s target is to respond to 95 per cent. of Members’ letters on immigration and nationality related matters within 20 working days. The Agency has already improved significantly from 34 per cent. in 2004 to 54 per cent. in 2005, 78 per cent. in 2006 and should achieve more than 85 per cent. in 2007.
Cannabis
In 2005 the Government asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to carry out a review of the classification of cannabis which took into account the harms from cannabis use on both physical and mental health, and the levels of cannabis use following reclassification. The evidence it reviewed is set out in Annex 4 of its Report, Further consideration of the classification of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, together with prevalence data extracted from the British Crime Survey.
Central Police Training and Development Authority: Information Officers
The Central Police Training and Development Authority (Centrex) ceased to exist on 1 April 2007.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre: Information Officers
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
Computers: Waste Disposal
The core Home Office, including the Border and Immigration Agency, does not own information technology (IT) assets other than internally developed software. Hardware is leased under service contracts.
For the financial year 2006-07, the only IT asset disposal within the Home Office group, including executive agencies, occurred in the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) which received a total of £2,781.73 from the disposal.
The IPS uses a company called RD Trading on an ad-hoc basis to remove information technology equipment that is no longer required.
Contracts
Home Office procurement policy is to comply with its legal obligations, including those under the EU procurement rules, and public procurement policy. Goods, works or services are acquired through competitive tendering unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary, and all purchasing should be based on value for money criteria having regard to propriety and regularity.
Tendering processes may be omitted with regard to small, irregular, low value spot purchases such as individual travel and expense transactions where tendering costs outweigh the value for money benefits of a tendering process.
Criminal Record Bureau
A basic disclosure is the lowest level of disclosure. This would contain details of convictions considered to be unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 or state that there are no such convictions. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does not currently provide a basic check.
There are two levels of disclosures currently available from the CRB, known as standard and enhanced. The two checks are available in circumstances where an employer is entitled to ask exempted questions under the ROA. This includes any organisation whose staff or volunteers work with children or vulnerable adults.
Standard disclosures are available to anyone working with children or vulnerable adults, as well as certain other occupations and entry into professions as specified in the ROA. They show spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer. If the post involves working with children or vulnerable adults, the following may also be searched:
Protection of Children Act (POCA) List.
Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) List.
Information that is held under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002 (formerly known as List 99).
Enhanced disclosures are available to anyone involved in regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults. They are also available for certain licensing purposes and judicial appointments. Enhanced disclosures contain the same information as the standard disclosure with the addition of any relevant information held by local police forces and disclosed at their discretion.
It is ultimately for each employer and not the CRB to determine what level of check is required for specific employment positions. Such determination is based on their legal and other responsibilities and subject to any statutory requirements as set by their own regulatory authorities.
Detection Rates
The content of the annual bulletin on crime is reviewed each year and as part of this a decision was made that it would be more appropriate to focus this bulletin on crime and victimisation and to plan to produce a separate bulletin specifically on detections rates.
Given the work involved in producing the crime bulletin it was not feasible to produce the bulletin on detections at the same time. However, some information on detections was included in Appendix 3 of the annual bulletin that appeared on 19 July.
The statistical bulletin on detection of crime by the police in 2006-07 was published on 20 September 2007. The information is too large to be included within the Official Report but it can be accessed on-line at the following web addresses. I will arrange for the relevant tables to be placed in the Library of the House.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/bcu2-0607.xls and
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/bcu3-0607.xls
Driving Under Influence: Peterborough
Data collected centrally relate to police force areas only and are not available at constituency level.
Driving: Insurance
The latest figures are for the period 1997 to 2004 and are given as follows. Figures for 2005 will be available later this year.
Total proceedings 1997 12,470 1998 11,837 1999 13,296 2000 13,195 2001 12,504 2002 12,309 20032 12,951 2004 11,685 1 An offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s. 143 (2). 2 As from 1 June 2003, “driving a motor vehicle while uninsured against third party risks” became a fixed penalty offence. Notes: It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences may be less than complete. Work is underway to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system currently being implemented by the Ministry of Justice reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.
Drugs
The following projects (a) undertaken by Home Office researchers looked at the effectiveness of attempts to reduce the availability of drugs at street level:
An evaluation of the Street Level Up Approach Pilot Project in four sites in England, assessing the use of intelligence to disrupt drug trafficking. The final report was not published but circulated on a restricted basis.
An evaluation of three initiatives established to tackle “middle market” drug trafficking: Operation Middle Market, Merseyside Middle Market Drugs Unit and Tarian Regional Task Force. A report summarising learning from the research was published for a police audience. Copies of the report are only available on request from the relevant Head of the Research Unit.
The following research projects (b) commissioned by the Home Office looked at the effectiveness of attempts to reduce the availability of drugs at street level:
A study of retail drug markets and the local action taken against them in eight deprived neighbourhoods. A report is available on the Home Office RDS website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors240.pdf
A project examining the implementation of new powers to close “crack houses” in four case study areas. Findings were published on the Home Office RDS website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/dpr42.pdf
An estimate of the size of the UK illicit drug market for six categories of illicit drugs for the reference year 2003-04. A report is available on the Home Office RDS website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/rdsolr1606.pdf.
(2) what indicators her Department uses to measure the impact of changing the status of a drug within the ABC classification system on (a) levels of illicit drug use and (b) levels of drug-related harm; and if she will make a statement.
The indicators used to measure illicit drug use and drug-related harm are not predicated on the Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) classification system.
Indicators on prevalence of illicit drug use among the general adult population in England and Wales are set out in reports based on the annual British Crime Survey. Indicators relating to children of school age are published in reports of the annual survey of smoking, drinking and drug use among secondary schoolchildren in England. The Drug Harm Index (DHI) provides an overall measure of the level of drug-related harm and how it changes over time. The operation of the DHI is set out in Measuring the harm from illegal drugs using the Drug Harm Index (Home Office Online Report 24/05).
Since 1997 only two drugs have changed in status within the Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) classification system—cannabis in 2004 and methamphetamine in January 2007. The Government undertake several surveys to monitor evidence of trends in availability and price, but these are not predicted on the ABC classification system.
The Arrestee Survey and the annual survey of drug use, smoking and drinking among young people in England provide data on the perceived availability of drugs. Data on price at street level has in the past been collected by the National Criminal Intelligence Service, using information generated during the course of police operations. The Drug Harm Index (DHI) provides an overall measure of the level of drug-related harm and how it changes over time. The operation of the DHI is set out in Measuring the harm from illegal drugs using the Drug Harm Index (Home Office Online Report 24/05).
Drugs: Offences
US citizens and other non visa nationals do not require a visa if seeking entry as a visitor to the UK for six months or less, however they are required to satisfy an Immigration Officer that they intend to stay for the period they have stated and that they do not intend to work or claim public funds.
In the event that the Immigration Officer becomes aware that the passenger has a criminal record or has been involved in criminal activity then they may be refused leave to enter.
Fixed Penalties
I have been asked to reply.
In 2004 (latest available) 3,435,254 motoring fixed penalty notices were issued. 2005 data will be available later this year.
Information on recipients of motoring offences fixed penalty notices who elect to challenge the penalty in court is not identifiable separately within the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.
In addition, penalty notice for disorder (PND) may be issued to offenders aged 16 and over for a specified range of minor disorder offences. PNDs have a 21 day suspended enforcement period during which the recipient must either pay the penalty shown on the notice in full or request a court hearing.
In 2005 146,481 PNDs were issued, of which 1,588 were contested in court. The equivalent information for 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007.
Foreign Workers: Care Homes
Work permits are issued where employers are able to justify that the work permit criteria are met.
The Border and Immigration Agency has held meetings with the Department of Health since January 2007 to develop updated guidance for issuing work permits for senior care workers.
The Border and Immigration Agency has consulted via correspondence with the Scottish Executive Health Department; Care Council for Wales (on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government); and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland since April 2007 to develop updated guidance for issuing work permits for senior care workers.
The Border and Immigration Agency has conducted normal business correspondence relating to individual work permit applications and meetings with individual employers at their request. The purpose of such meetings is to discuss issues specific to work permit applications submitted by that employer.
The Border and Immigration Agency holds quarterly Sector Advisory Panel meetings with representatives from key industry bodies (including Sector Skills Councils) and other Government Departments. A key feature of each meeting is to discuss labour market issues affecting the relevant industry such as training, recruitment, skills and pay.
The Border and Immigration Agency has also held meetings with Skills for Care and Development, which is the Sector Skills Council for the social care work force in the UK, since January 2007 to develop updated guidance for issuing work permits for senior care workers.
The Border and Immigration Agency published updated guidance regarding work permit applications for senior care workers on 13 August 2007.
This guidance is available on the website:
http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/news/announcements/senior_care_workers_guidance.html
Genetics: Databases
The Home Office Forensic Science and Pathology Unit conducted a review in 2005-06. In April 2007 responsibility for the National DNA Database transferred to the National Policing Improvement Agency who are currently conducting an equality impact assessment on the database.
The National Policing Improvement Agency has consulted with representatives from the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), including the CRE director of legal services. The ongoing equality impact assessment of the National DNA Database will include a programme of consultation with minority communities and in particular young black people.
Human Trafficking
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Home Secretary will be launching Operation Pentameter 2 with ACPO on 3 October. It will be a multi agency operation, UK wide, and will involve all 55 police forces co-ordinated by the UK Human Trafficking Centre.
The theme of the operation will be the same as last year and will aim to tackle trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The operation will be funded through existing resources. The UK Human Trafficking Centre receives a budget of £5 million per annum to support counter trafficking activity among local forces.
Immigrants: Criminal Records
[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The information requested could be obtained only by conducting police national computer checks and liaising with foreign governments for all individuals held in immigration detention centres which would incur a disproportionate cost.
Immigrants: Skilled Workers
The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency responded to the letter she received from the Commission for Racial Equality on 6 July. I am placing a copy of her response in the Libraries of both Houses.
Independent Police Complaints Commission: Information Officers
This is a matter for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Overseas Students
Since 1 January 2005, only overseas students who can show that they have a place to study or are already studying at an institution which appears on the Register of Education Providers (REP) have been granted entry clearances or extensions of stay as students. The REP is operated by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the application process requires institutions to prove that they operate out of registered premises etc. The REP has been very successful in combating bogus colleges, particularly those which were entirely fictitious. In 2004, some 1,200 were visited ahead of the REP being implemented and 25 per cent were found not to be genuine and were prevented from registering. A further 69 colleges have so far been removed from the Register through a combination of visits conducted by compliance officers in the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) as well as removals instigated by DIUS. Since July 2007, as the BIA has expanded its compliance resource in preparation for the introduction of the new points based system (PBS) for managing migration, officers have also begun to make more pro-active visits to colleges applying to get on the REP to prevent the registration of those found not to be bona fide.
Under the PBS we have plans to go even further. Under Tier 4: (Students) of the PBS, all education institutions will need to be registered on a new register of sponsors in order to recruit international students. No private educational institution will be able to qualify for the sponsor register unless they can demonstrate that they have been independently inspected or accredited by one of a limited number of BIA-approved accreditation bodies. As announced by DIUS on 24 July 2007, accreditation will be used to provide an independent qualitative check on an institution to demonstrate it is a genuine education provider. Tier 4 is expected to replace the current system for students in the first quarter of 2009. Unaccredited educational institutions have some 16 months to obtain the necessary accreditation in order to continue bringing international students to the UK after that date and we are confident that less reputable education providers will not be able to pass this additional test.
The immigration rules set out provisions for international students to study at a bona fide private education institution which is included on the Register of Education and Training Providers. A definition of a bona fide private education institution is contained in the rules. Where it is found that an institution fails to meet this definition, it is prohibited from enrolling any more international students by being removed from the Register. Where the students at such institutions are unable to continue their studies, or where students are dissatisfied with the tuition at a college, the student rules permit them to move to another institution which is included on the Register of Education and Training Providers.
Such students may also wish to report their circumstances to their local Trading Standards Office or seek legal advice about the loss of their fees. Where a student has more serious concerns that an institution is facilitating illegal migration, then they should also contact the police.
The immigration rules permit those studying in the UK with a student visa to work part-time term-time and full-time in vacations.
Police Stations
The management of the police estates in London are operational matters for the Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police.
Police: Cambridgeshire
The data are available are from 2002-03 to 2005-06 and are given in the table.
Traffic Proportion of total officer strength 2002-03 85 6.1 2003-04 99 7.0 2004-05 101 7.1 2005-06 99 6.8 Notes: 1. This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. 2. Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The traffic function includes staff who are predominantly employed on motorcycles or in patrol vehicles for the policing of traffic and motorway related duties. The does not include officers employed in accident investigation, vehicle examination and radar duties.
Prisoners: Deportation
(2) how many foreign national prisoners were deported in each of the last 10 years.
The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 14 June. A copy of this letter is available from the Library of the House.
Statistics on the deportation of foreign nationals were last published in 2002. These data are available through the Home Office’s Research Development and Statistics website at:
www.archive2.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm60/6053/6053.htm
Published information on persons removed as a result of deportation action has not been available from 2003 onwards due to data quality issues. The Border and Immigration Agency is putting in place new systems to improve its data collection systems for the future in this area.
The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 14 June in which she provided an update on progress being made with foreign national prisoners. A copy of this letter is available in the Library of the House.
Prisons: Drugs
I have been asked to reply.
Prison governors may occasionally visit overseas prisons to examine aspects of their penal system. No records are kept of prison governors specifically visiting prisons abroad in order to examine prison drug treatment systems.
Repatriation
(2) what monitoring of Libyan prisoners has taken place following their repatriation under the Repatriation Agreement;
(3) what monitoring of Lebanese prisoners has taken place following their repatriation under the Repatriation Agreement;
(4) what monitoring of Jordanian prisoners has taken place following their repatriation under the Repatriation Agreement;
(5) what monitoring of Algerian prisoners has taken place following their repatriation under the Repatriation Agreement.
The repatriation arrangements to which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, referred in his statement to the House on 25 July are the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on deportation which were signed with Jordan, Libya, and Lebanon in 2005, and the separate arrangements we have agreed with Algeria. Copies of the MoUs, and of the exchange of letters between the previous Prime Minister and the President of Algeria, are in the Library.
The terms of the MoUs signed with Jordan, Libya and Lebanon provide for the independent monitoring of assurances. Such monitoring has however not yet been needed as the Jordanian and Libyan individuals we wish to deport from the United Kingdom on national security grounds under the MoUs are still within the process of appealing against our decisions.
Since July 2005, eight men have been deported to Algeria on grounds of national security. There are no formal arrangements for post-deportation monitoring. However, the eight individuals concerned were given details of how to contact the embassy in Algiers, and were asked if they wished to provide details of next of kin who could be contacted by the embassy. Two chose to take up this offer, a third merely wanted us to let his relatives know his arrival details.
(2) which countries the Government are in negotiations with about a Repatriation Agreement;
(3) what conditions are placed by the UK on a country before a repatriation agreement can be signed.
The agreements referred to are the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on deportation with assurances (DWA) agreed with Jordan, Libya and Lebanon in 2005, and the separate arrangements under which we are able to obtain assurances in respect of people we are seeking to deport to Algeria.
These questions seek information about the numbers of prisoners deported under the arrangements and what monitoring has taken place.
The ongoing appeals process means we have not yet deported anyone under the MoUs with Jordan and Libya, and we have not yet found it necessary to seek assurances under the MoU with Lebanon. Although monitoring arrangements are in place for all three countries, to date, no actual monitoring has occurred.
Since July 2005, eight men have been deported to Algeria on grounds of national security. (A further individual who held dual Algerian and French nationality was deported to France on national security grounds). The arrangements with Algeria do not provide for formal monitoring following deportation. The deportees are given details of how they can contact the British embassy in Algiers, and are also asked if they wish to provide the details of next-of-kin who can serve as a contact point. Two of the eight opted to maintain contact with the embassy, a further individual merely asked for his relatives to be informed of his flight details.
All the men deported to Algeria were detained and questioned following their return, as provided for under Algerian law. Six were subsequently released; two are still detained in custody and are now facing criminal charges.
The terms of the draft answer have been cleared with LAB, OSCT and the FCO's Counter-Terrorism Policy Department.
Resettlement: Iraq
The Government are aware that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Amnesty International have called for countries to resettle some Iraqi refugees in the region. The Border and Immigration Agency has started discussions with UNHCR regarding the feasibility of resettling some of the Iraqi refugees in the region to the UK. The UK’s resettlement programme, the Gateway Protection Programme, currently resettles 500 refugees a year from across the world.
Security Industry Authority: Information Officers
This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority.
Serious Organised Crime Agency: Information Officers
This is a matter for the Director General of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Terrorism
It has been the longstanding practice of successive Governments not to comment on the operational activities of the security and intelligence agencies.
Visas: Iraq
The Prime Minister commissioned a ministerial review on 8 August 2007 of assistance that might be offered to members of locally engaged staff in Iraq. We will announce the outcome of that review shortly.
Water Supply: Security
The security of water bowsers during a national emergency is an operational matter for local chief officers of police, in consultation with water authorities.
Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre
Visitors to Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre are not fingerprinted. A new security system is being used which takes an electronic scan of a visitor's thumbprint and recognises a number of points on the thumb to enable the centre operator to maintain a record of who is in the visits room at any time. This ensures that only visitors leave at the end of a visit. The technology does not enable a fingerprint to be reproduced and the information on the system is not passed to either the Border and Immigration Agency or the Police. The thumbprint is not retained.
The percentages of prospective employees at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre who did not pass pre-employment checks in the last five years are as follows:
Percentage 2002 2 2003 2 2004 2 2005 3 2006 6
Individuals seeking employment at any immigration removal centre, including Yarl’s Wood are required to undergo pre-employment checks on their immigration and financial background, counter-terrorist checks and criminal record checks to enhanced level are also carried out. Applicants must pass all of these checks before they can be accredited.
Handcuffs can be applied to adult detainees following a risk assessment indicating that an individual presents a control or security risk, or in response to an immediate incident. The purpose of handcuffing is to reduce the risk of: absconding; harm to the public, other detainees or staff; damage to property; preventing removal from the United Kingdom; or attempting to prevent the removal of another detainee. Handcuffs are only used when necessary and not as a matter of routine.
Young Offenders: Drugs
Young offenders are one of the key risk groups identified as more at risk of developing substance misuse problems. Government Departments consider new reports and studies as part of their daily activity to ensure that current policies are based on up to date information and evidence. Recent and current research on the effect of drug education and prevention work on young offenders' drug use and drug related harm is as follows:
The National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention, funded through the Department of Health, produced a review in 2006 of evidence on interventions for vulnerable groups including young offenders.
The Young People's Substance Misuse Service (YPSMS) for under-18s in custody was launched in 2004. Its development and delivery has been evaluated since 2004, undertaken by Galahad on behalf of the Youth Justice Board (YJB). This evaluation is due to be published in September 2007.
Justice
Absent Voting
The Government are committed to the principle that 100 per cent. of returned postal votes should be checked. The Government will wish to move to 100 per cent. checking when it is appropriate and safe to do so, and in particular when there is deemed to be sufficient supplier capacity for checking all returned postal votes. We will work closely with the Electoral Commission and the Association of Electoral Administrators in order to establish when this position has been reached.
Animal Welfare: Prosecutions
There is no specific offence for torture of animals.
However, information on the number of defendants prosecuted for animal cruelty in England and Wales for the years 2001 to 2005 can be viewed in the following table.
Detailed information on court proceedings for 2006 will be published in the autumn of 2007.
Prosecuted 2001 975 2002 1,006 2003 999 2004 984 2005 1,061 1 These data are on the principal offence basis. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Statute is as follows: Protection of Animals Act 1911. 4 Source: Court proceedings database—Office for Criminal Justice Reform Source: RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice
Antisocial Behaviour: Milton Keynes
Parenting orders were piloted between 30 September 1998 and 31 March 2000 but data showing the breakdown by area are not available. Parenting orders were commenced in England and Wales in June 2000. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has since April 2000 collected the number of parenting orders by youth offending team (YOT) area, as reported to it by youth offending teams including education-related orders where the YOT has been involved. The number of parenting orders relating to crime or antisocial behaviour from April 2000 until March 2007 and those related to non-attendance of children at school until March 2004 reported to the YJB by Milton Keynes YOT are shown in table A:
Youth offending or antisocial behaviour Non-attendance where YOT involved 2000-01 0 0 2001-02 1 1 2002-03 0 0 2003-04 0 0 2004-05 2 see table B 2005-06 0 see table B 2006-07 0 see table B
Since September 2004, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has collected data on the number of parenting orders in England related to non-attendance of children at school and exclusion from school at local authority level. Between 1 September 2004 and 13 April 2007 Milton Keynes did not report any applications to the courts for parenting orders in the case of exclusions.
The number of parenting orders made following truancy prosecution between 1 September 2004 and 13 April 2007 is shown in table B.
School year Number 2004-05 0 2005-06 2 2006-07 0
Data on parenting contracts in cases of antisocial behaviour and criminal conduct is collected by the Youth Justice Board as reported by YOTs. Since recording began in April 2004 of the number of final warnings with an intervention or relevant court disposal supported by a parenting contract, Milton Keynes YOT has reported no parenting contracts in the period April 2004 to March 2007.
Recording of the number of final warnings with an intervention or relevant court disposal supported by a voluntary parenting intervention, without a parenting contract, also began in April 2004. Milton Keynes YOT reported 31 such voluntary parenting interventions in the year April 2004 to March 2005, 41 in 2005-06 and 54 in 2006-07.
DCSF also collects data on the number of parenting contracts agreed with parents following bad behaviour/ truancy in school. The number of parenting contracts agreed in the case of poor attendance (truancy) at school between 1 September 2004 and 13 April 2007 is shown in table C.
School year Number 2004-05 0 2005-06 19 2006-07 9
The number of antisocial behaviour orders as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service where prohibitions have been imposed in the Milton Keynes borough council local authority area is shown in table D.
Number 1 April 1999 to May 2000 n/a 1 June 2000 to 31December 2000 0 2001 3 2002 0 2003 4 2004 13 2005 2 Total 22 n/a = Not available. Notes: 1. Between 1 April 1999 and 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: As reported to the Home Office by the Court Service.
Asylum: Birmingham
It would be inappropriate to identify individual asylum seekers who may fall into the categories requested as it would breach their right to privacy and compromise the anonymity of Judge J.
Bail
It is not possible to make a precise calculation for full implementation of the provisions for reversing the presumption in favour of bail in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 because of the limited data held centrally and because significant assumptions have to be made about the characteristics of the cases affected.
We are pursuing a carefully phased implementation taking account of prison capacity, starting with the most serious offences.
Claims Management Services
As at 4 October 2007, 1,476 businesses have been authorised to provide a regulated claims management service in at least one of the regulated sectors which include personal injury, employment, financial services and products, criminal injuries compensation and industrial injuries disablement benefit. Names and addresses of authorised businesses are listed on the claims management website at www.claimsregulation.gov.uk under the authorised business search tab. This register is updated daily.
The Claims Management Regulator has not provided any specific guidance to authorised businesses on the level of fees charged for accessing consumer files. It is a mandatory condition of authorisation that authorised businesses comply with the Rules of Conduct. These specifically require a business to "ensure all information given to a client is clear, transparent, fair and not misleading". If a claims business has a contractual relationship with a client then it must specify "any charge the business makes".
Since April the Claims Management Regulator has met the Law Society once, the Solicitors Regulation Authority three times and the Legal Complaints Service once. The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority are also members of the Regulatory Consultative Group on Claims Management which has met three times since April. There have been numerous other types of communications with these organisations since April.
There have been no communications between the Claims Management Regulator and the Serious Fraud Office since April. As necessary the Regulator has communicated with other law enforcement agencies including various police forces and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Community Service Orders
(2) how many offenders completed their unpaid work orders in each supervising court in England and Wales in each of the last three years.
Unpaid work requirements were introduced under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which came into effect on 4 April 2005. They can be made under Community Orders or Suspended Sentence Orders, and are supervised by the National Probation Service. Information on the number of unpaid work requirements which (a) were not completed and (b) completed in each of the last two financial years, by individual probation area, can be found in the following tables. Given the recent introduction of these requirements, it follows that the number of terminations will increase significantly over the first few years. Information on those specifically summoned back to court is not held centrally
This information has been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
2005-06 Area Revoked (further offence) Revoked (on application) Revoked (failure to comply) Revoked (failure to comply on another req) Terminated (other reasons) Total Avon and Somerset 13 17 63 3 6 102 Bedfordshire 15 6 19 0 15 55 Cambridgeshire 20 5 22 0 4 51 Cheshire 11 12 26 7 9 65 Cumbria 14 15 27 5 17 78 Derbyshire 23 9 51 2 3 88 Devon and Cornwall 25 16 93 5 12 151 Dorset 3 0 10 1 1 15 Durham 21 7 15 0 1 44 Dyfed-Powys 19 14 22 3 1 59 Essex 23 25 33 1 15 97 Gloucestershire 5 8 9 0 3 25 Greater Manchester 90 24 302 11 33 460 Gwent 18 8 15 1 7 49 Hampshire 42 37 140 6 12 237 Hertfordshire 11 9 30 1 15 66 Humberside 42 18 60 1 27 148 Kent 21 24 74 3 11 133 Lancashire 45 44 47 7 16 159 Leicestershire 15 11 31 5 13 75 Lincolnshire 10 15 27 0 4 56 London 85 25 128 9 171 418 Merseyside 7 18 71 0 56 152 Norfolk 13 13 38 2 8 74 North Wales 12 6 11 1 7 37 North Yorkshire 34 15 54 7 15 125 Northamptonshire 15 6 12 1 2 36 Northumbria 37 36 40 8 11 132 Nottinghamshire 34 20 119 7 13 193 South Wales 42 26 65 6 8 147 South Yorkshire 31 23 112 4 13 183 Staffordshire 26 9 34 3 5 77 Suffolk 17 9 41 0 12 79 Surrey 13 11 43 3 5 75 Sussex 18 8 42 2 4 74 Teesside 16 18 38 1 7 80 Thames Valley 20 6 15 0 22 63 Warwickshire 4 5 26 3 5 43 West Mercia 20 5 45 1 4 75 West Midlands 74 11 64 2 24 175 West Yorkshire 74 27 184 13 22 320 Wiltshire 10 3 21 5 2 41
Area Revoked (further offence) Revoked (on application) Revoked (failure to comply) Revoked (failure to comply on another req) Terminated (other reasons) Total Avon and Somerset 76 104 273 17 55 525 Bedfordshire 66 45 98 1 3 213 Cambridgeshire 62 41 81 3 13 200 Cheshire 59 45 166 36 80 386 Cumbria 57 112 129 29 65 392 Derbyshire 101 23 314 14 16 468 Devon and Cornwall 68 70 309 7 38 492 Dorset 22 44 85 7 113 271 Durham 66 47 72 5 14 204 Dyfed-Powys 70 37 69 7 23 206 Essex 118 119 136 9 46 428 Gloucestershire 45 65 46 4 20 180 Greater Manchester 325 224 999 29 98 1675 Gwent 119 64 124 11 73 391 Hampshire 125 140 447 14 72 798 Hertfordshire 54 83 179 26 25 367 Humberside 91 104 164 8 164 531 Kent 122 123 309 6 18 578 Lancashire 175 120 437 20 233 985 Leicestershire 123 148 202 5 98 576 Lincolnshire 81 70 106 3 37 297 London 432 201 977 55 433 2098 Merseyside 81 49 546 3 139 818 Norfolk 63 62 193 1 12 331 North Wales 59 55 54 7 35 210 North Yorkshire 79 77 167 10 92 425 Northamptonshire 50 33 85 11 15 194 Northumbria 176 115 248 42 42 623 Nottinghamshire 166 153 480 23 23 845 South Wales 188 144 268 19 145 764 South Yorkshire 133 115 423 18 86 775 Staffordshire 72 59 211 25 20 387 Suffolk 44 29 115 8 38 234 Surrey 27 55 185 13 29 309 Sussex 55 82 248 11 20 416 Teesside 137 61 104 3 23 328 Thames Valley 124 106 181 7 52 470 Warwickshire 51 20 163 7 6 247 West Mercia 64 31 185 4 12 296 West Midlands 298 165 322 8 66 859 West Yorkshire 240 128 692 50 90 1200 Wiltshire 19 53 132 10 16 230
Courts: Greater London
Maintenance expenditure within London is planned in line with an agreed estate strategy which sets the priorities for maintaining buildings in line with business objectives whilst ensuring a safe and secure working environment. Annual maintenance budgets and programmes of work are agreed in line with this strategy and on the basis of identified business and building risks. Plans and programmes are reviewed quarterly in light of changing requirements and risks, with budgets and programmes amended accordingly. Total maintenance expenditure for 2006-07 (capital and revenue) was £19,145,895. Forecast expenditure (capital and revenue) for the financial year 2007-08 is currently £18,796,250, a reduction in overall expenditure of £349,645 over 2006-07. This reflects planned reductions in both the size of regional estate and efficiency savings achieved as a result.
Courts: Salisbury
The contract was signed with the developer on 1 October 2007 for the new courthouse in Salisbury. The developer plans to start on site during the week beginning 8 October 2007. The new courthouse is due to come into service in the summer of 2009.
Courts: Video Equipment
There are 239 courtrooms equipped with large video screens in England and Wales. These cover 63 Crown court centres and 59 magistrates courts. The courtrooms equipped with large screens are listed as follows:
Bristol Crown Court
Luton Crown Court
Teesside Crown Court
Carlisle Crown Court
Basildon Crown Court
Central Criminal Court
Inner London Crown Court
Kingston Crown Court (London)
Blackfriars Crown Court
Southwark Crown Court
Snaresbrook Crown Court
Manchester Crown Square Crown Court
Portsmouth Crown Court
Southampton Crown Court
Maidstone Crown Court
Preston Combined Court Ringway
Liverpool Crown Court
Newcastle Crown Court
Nottingham Crown Court
Cardiff Crown Court
Swansea St. Helens Crown Court
Sheffield Crown Court
Stoke Crown Court
Reading Crown Court
Birmingham Crown Court
Wolverhampton Crown Court
Bradford Crown Court
Leeds Crown Court
Bolton Crown Court
Cambridge Crown Court
Canterbury Crown Court
Chester Crown Court
Derby Crown Court
Durham Crown Court
Gloucester Crown Court
Ipswich Crown Court
Kingston-upon-Hull Crown Court
Lewes Crown Court
Northampton Crown Court
Norwich Crown Court
Peterborough Crown Court
Plymouth Crown Court
Stafford Crown Court
Swindon Crown Court
Truro Crown Court
Winchester Crown Court
Wood Green Crown Court
Oxford Crown Court
Croydon Crown Court
Warrington Crown Court (satellite of Chester Crown Court)
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court
Isleworth Crown Court
Chelmsford Crown Court
Harrow Crown Court
Newport Crown Court
Grimsby Crown Court
Mold Crown Court
Leicester Crown Court
St. Albans Crown Court
Coventry Crown Court
Bournemouth Crown Court
Woolwich Crown Court
Caernarfon Crown Court (satellite of Mold Crown Court)
Taunton Crown Court
Guildford Crown Court
Thames Magistrates Court
Feltham Magistrates Court
Acton Magistrates Court
Barnet Magistrates Court
Mansfield Magistrates Court
Knowsley Magistrates Court
Camberwell Green Magistrates Court
Bexley Magistrates Court
Solihull Magistrates Court
West London Magistrates Court
Havering Magistrates Court
Coventry Magistrates Court
Walsall Magistrates Court
West Bromwich Magistrates Court
Wolverhampton Magistrates Court
Manchester Magistrates Court
Oldham Magistrates Court
Rochdale Magistrates Court
Hull Magistrates Court
Blackburn Magistrates Court
Bath Magistrates Court
Croydon Magistrates Court
Waltham Forest Magistrates Court
Enfield Magistrates Court
Bridgwater Magistrates Court
Halesowen Magistrates Court
Rotherham Magistrates Court
Southport Magistrates Court
Balham Youth Court
Wigan Magistrates Court
Bolton Magistrates Court
Stockport Magistrates Court
Tameside Magistrates Court
Trafford Magistrates Court
Leyland Magistrates Court
Lancaster Magistrates Court
Preston Magistrates Courts
Blackpool Magistrates Court
Burnley Magistrates Court
St. Helens Magistrates Court
Liverpool Magistrates Court
Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court
Yate Magistrates Court
Reedley Magistrates Court
Weston Magistrates Court
Yeovil Magistrates Court
High Wycombe Magistrates Court
Berwick Magistrates Court
Alnwick Magistrates Court
Doncaster Magistrates Court
Barnsley Magistrates Court
Sheffield Magistrates Court
Gloucester Magistrates Court
Wimbledon Magistrates Court
Richmond (London) Magistrates Court
Criminal Cases Review Commission: Finance
The Criminal Cases Review Commission’s budget for 2007-08 allows the Commission to spend up to £6,858,000, as compared with £6,771,000 in 2006-07, despite a reduction in the overall envelope. Departmental officials meet with the senior management team of the Commission on a monthly basis to monitor their budget and performance against targets. I understand that the Commission are currently forecasting an under-spend overall as some expenditure has been postponed, although this may change later in the year.
Criminal Justice Act 2003
Implementation of sections 154 and 155 (magistrates sentencing powers) in conjunction with sections 181 and 182 (custody plus sentence) was deferred in July 2006. No assessment has been made of implementing the magistrates sentencing powers independently of the custody plus sentence.
Defamation: Internet
Information on the number of libel actions that have been brought in respect of claims made exclusively on websites in each year since 1997; and the number of these which were made (a) by a person or company considered to be based in the UK and (b) against a person or company considered to be based in the UK is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
There is no single database of High Court cases which could be consulted to provide the information requested; the only way that this information could be obtained would be to consult each case file.
The county courts use the CaseMan IT system to record case details primarily for case management purposes. The system does not hold sufficient detailed data to enable cases involving libel to be specifically identified. Again, this information could only be obtained by consulting court case files.
Information on the number of internet service providers who have been subject to libel actions in each year since 1997 is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
There is no single database of High Court cases which could be consulted to provide the information requested; the only way that this information could be obtained would be to consult each case file.
The county courts use the CaseMan IT system to record case details primarily for case management purposes. The system does not hold sufficient detailed data to enable cases involving libel to be specifically identified. Again, this information could only be obtained by consulting court case files.
Departments: Departmental Coordination
We have not set up any formal committees or permanent groups involving senior civil servants to liaise with the Minister for Women although we work closely with the Government Equalities Office on a range of issues.
Departments: Information Officers
(2) how many press officers are employed by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.
(2) how many press officers are employed by HM Court Service.
(2) how many press officers are employed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority;
(3) how many press officers are employed by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.
(2) how many press officers are employed by the Public Guardianship Office;
(3) how many press officers are employed by the Parole Board for England and Wales.
(2) how many press officers are employed by Criminal Justice Information Technology;
(3) how many press officers are employed by the National Archives.
(2) how many press officers are employed by the Law Commission.
The information requested is in the following table.
Press officers Ministry of Justice 21 Boundary Commission for England 10 Boundary Commission for Wales 10 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 2 Criminal Justice Information Technology 20 Her Majesty's Courts Service 2 Her Majesty's Land Registry 2 Law Commission 30 Legal Services Commission 4 National Archives 5 Office for Criminal Justice Reform 20 Office of the Information Commissioner 40 Parole Board 1 Public Guardianship Office 20 Youth Justice Board 4 1 The Boundary Commission for England or Wales have no dedicated press officers. However, press enquiries are dealt with by the general secretariat staff (primarily the Secretary to the Commission). 2 Media relations are handled centrally by the Ministry of Justice Press Office. 3 The Law Commission has a two-person communications team. It deals with press enquiries, the Commission's publicity and marketing, the Commission's website, and the publication of the Commission's reports and consultation papers. 4 The Office of the Information Commissioner has used the equivalent of 21 days of contracted press officer time. The information requested has been provided by the Information Commissioner's Office, an independent body created by statute with responsibility for handling complaints made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998.
Departments: Legislation
(2) what legislative provisions introduced by his Department since 1997 have not yet been brought into force.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was launched on 9 May 2007 and took on all responsibilities of the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and for the National Offender Management Service and Office for Criminal Justice Reform from the Home Office. The information requested across my Department's entire legislative responsibilities and for the last 10 years would necessitate considerable staff resource across the Department and so cannot be provided except at a disproportionate cost.
Departments: Publicity
The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007. It has no current plans for spending on advertising campaigns during 2007-08 so there are no costs relating to television, radio and print.
Its planned expenditure on integrated promotional campaigns through external public relations companies from 9 May 2007-31 March 2008 comprises:
£25,000 to increase understanding of the work of courts and their role in the justice system.
£12,500 for a public awareness campaign about the legal status of cohabitation.
£12,500 to publicise the Family Mediation Helpline.
£55,000 for a public awareness campaign on human rights.
£40,000 for a public awareness campaign on community orders.
It is likely that the Ministry will spend money relating to the Governance of Britain programme during 2007-08/2008-09, but no decisions on resources for this and for advertising and promotion on other issues have yet been made.
The Office of the Public Guardian is mounting a campaign to increase public awareness of the Mental Capacity Act. The campaign will comprise media engagement using a public relations consultancy and will cost approximately £30,000.
Plans for advertising and promotion by the Ministry of Justice for 2008-09 are not yet advanced enough to indicate spend.
Departments: Racial Harassment
The public sector Prison Service does not hold the information requested centrally in a format that would enable a detailed response to be provided.
From the information that is held on the central database, it is not clear if the individual making the allegation is a prisoner or a member of staff. It is also not possible to break the disciplinary outcome figures down any further as one investigation can involve a complaint being made against more than one person. In order to provide this information it would be necessary to recall and manually examine each individual report which would incur a disproportionate cost.
Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004
Pending the rollout of a new IT system, my Department introduced an interim system that captures the amount of victims surcharge receipts collected. Between April and August the Department accounted for £455,021 in receipts by this arrangement.
My Department does not currently hold statistical information that shows the number of victim surcharge impositions outstanding. Existing IT legacy systems do not allow any kind of national overview around numbers of individuals with fines, victim surcharge or other impositions.
Driving: Licences
Although this disposal is meant to be recorded as part of court proceedings statistics, investigation shows that the data requested is not sufficiently well recorded to be given in this reply.
The Ministry of Justice has started a programme of work looking at the quality of existing data on court sentencing and how this might be improved.
Drugs: Rehabilitation
Completion rates for Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) and Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs) have risen from 28 per cent. in 2003 to 44 per cent. in 2006-07.
Elections: Young People
The Government have not carried out any specific monitoring of these new provisions. I am aware that a number of persons aged 18 to 20-years-old have stood as candidates, and some have been elected. Allowing young people and children to accompany voters in polling stations will give young people the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the electoral process which will hopefully make them more likely to participate in future elections when they reach voting age.
Electronic Tagging: Life Imprisonment
The offender received a sentence of life imprisonment for rape and false imprisonment. The offender cannot be identified as this would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health of the victim and their family. Moreover, undertakings were given to all participating offenders involved in the satellite tracking pilots protecting their anonymity in the researching of the report.
Family Conciliation Services
Parties applying for public funding under the Community Legal Service are already required to attend a meeting with a mediator to consider mediation.
The Government continue to encourage the greater use of family mediation but do not believe that it should be made compulsory or that all parties in disputes over child residence and contact should be required to attend a meeting to consider its use.
The Government will make changes to court rules and application forms to facilitate referrals to family mediation where the court considers this would be beneficial.
The Children and Adoption Act 2006 when fully implemented will enable the court to direct parties to attend a meeting to learn about mediation in cases where it considers this is appropriate.
Fines: Compensation
During the consultation the Magistrates’ Association and the Justices’ Clerks’ Society were concerned about the operation of the scheme and its impact on judicial independence.
My Department worked with the Magistrates’ Association and the Justices’ Clerks’ Society to address these concerns via the Criminal Enforcement Policy Advisory Group.
Following those discussions the Magistrates' Association and Justices’ Clerks’ Society issued guidance on the application of the Victims’ Surcharge to magistrates through their members.
An internal audit on the operation of the Victims’ Surcharge process within the courts is currently being undertaken and my officials will continue to work with the Magistrates’ Association and the Justices’ Clerks’ Society on this matter.
Representations have been received by the Home Office, the former Department for Constitutional Affairs, and the new Ministry of Justice, since the surcharge was brought into force on 1 April 2007 on offenders whose sentence included a fine. The following information is the total received to date and updates the information given in the letter of 15 August 2007 by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Bridget Prentice) to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) and my written answer of 16 July, Official Report, column 151W, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House.
Members of Parliament forwarded to the Government 72 letters and emails from members of the public about the surcharge. Forty-five of these were from people identifying themselves as magistrates. Of these, one magistrate sent letters to five different MPs, and two magistrates wrote jointly to four different MPs. The Government also received a petition signed by 48 magistrates from the Calderdale (North and West Yorkshire) Magistrates' Bench.
The Government also received 13 letters directly from members of the public (eight of whom identified themselves as magistrates) and two letters from the Magistrates' Association.
Fixed Penalties
The police do not collect information on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) which were not processed because the victim sought compensation through the criminal courts. The Office for Criminal Justice Reform collect data only on the number of PNDs actually issued.
Fixed Penalties: Cambridgeshire
Data on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued for all offences paid (and the percentage of money collected), contested in court, and unpaid PNDs registered as fines at court, in Cambridgeshire police force area are provided in the following tables. Data are provided for the years 2004 and 2005, equivalent data for 2006 will be available in autumn 2007.
PNDs issued Resolved by police Resolved by HM courts service Other outcome3 Offence code Number Cash value (£) Paid in full Cash value (£) Percentage of cash value recovered Fine registered Cash value (£)2 Number Cash value (£) Higher tier offences (value (£80) Wasting police time 3 240.00 2 160.00 67 1 120.00 0 0.00 Causing harassment, alarm or distress 108 8,640.00 57 4,560.00 53 50 6,000.00 1 80.00 Throwing fireworks 2 160.00 0 0.00 0 2 240.00 0 0.00 Drunk and disorderly 45 3,600.00 26 2,080.00 58 17 2,040.00 2 160.00 Criminal Damage (under £500) 9 720.00 7 560.00 78 2 240.00 0 0.0 Theft (retail under £200) 6 480.00 5 400.00 83 1 120.00 0 0.00 Lower tier offences (value £40 January to October 2004; £50 November December 2004) Drunk and Disorderly 144 7,070.00 81 4,000.00 57 62 4,530.00 1 50.00 Trespassing on a railway 1 50.00 0 0.00 0 1 75.00 0 0.00 Drunk in a highway 34 1,540.00 26 1,190.00 77 8 525.00 0 0.00 Depositing and leaving litter 7 333.00 2 90.00 27 5 360.00 0 0.00 Total all offences 359 22,830.00 206 13,040.00 57 149 14,250.00 4 290.00 1 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it Is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 2 Includes the additional 50 per cent. of the value of the original PND, when they are fine registered at the courts. 3 Includes PNDs contested at court, cancelled and PNDs which were not reported to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform as resolved at the time of data submission Source: RDS - Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Ministry of Justice
PNDs issued Resolved by police Resolved by HM courts service Other outcome3 Offence description Number Cash value (£) Paid in full Cash value (£) Percentage of cash value recovered Fine registered Cash value (£)2 Number Cash value (£) Higher tier offences (value (£80) Wasting police time 6 480.00 4 320.00 67 2 160.00 0 0.00 Misuse of public telecommunications system 1 80.00 0 0.00 0 0 0.00 1 80.00 Causing harassment, alarm or distress 275 22,000.00 180 14,400.00 65 84 6,720.00 11 880.00 Throwing fireworks 2 160.00 1 80.00 50 1 80.00 0 0.00 Drunk and disorderly 357 28,560.00 218 17,440.00 61 125 10,000.00 14 1,120.00 Sale of alcohol to under 18 11 880.00 11 880.00 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 Delivery of alcohol to person under 18 2 160.00 2 160.00 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 Criminal Damage (under £500) 107 8,560.00 72 5,760.00 67 31 2,480.00 4 320.00 Theft (retail under £200) 148 11,840.00 85 6,800.00 57 59 4,720.00 4 320.00 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework 1 80.00 0 0.00 0 1 80.00 0 0.00 Lower tier offences (value £50) Drunk in a highway 90 4,500.00 54 2,700.00 60 33 1,650.00 3 150.00 Consumption of alcohol In public place 41 2,050.00 10 500.00 24 30 1,500.00 1 50.00 Depositing and leaving litter 4 200.00 2 100.00 50 1 50.00 1 50.00 Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on licensed premises 1 50.00 1 50.00 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 Total all offences 1,046 79,600.00 640 49,190.00 62 367 27,440.00 39 2,970.00 1 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it Is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 2 Includes the additional 50 per cent. of the value of the original PND, when they are fine registered at the courts. 3 Includes PNDs contested at court, cancelled and PNDs which were not reported to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform as resolved at the time of data submission Source: RDS - Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice
Foreigners: Prisoners
The figures requested are in the following table:
British nationals Foreign nationals Unrecorded nationality Total 2001 84,217 6,026 280 90,523 2002 86,114 7,018 483 93,615 2003 84,251 7,482 512 92,245 2004 84,579 8,355 392 93,326 2005 80,418 9,612 384 90,414
The figures provided in this table are for the number of sentenced receptions into prison establishments in England and Wales in each of the years in question and not the total prison population held in each of the years. The word “imprisoned” is taken to mean the numbers placed in prison under sentence during the 12-month period in each year, not the total numbers held in prison (including prisoners on remand and non-criminal prisoners), which would be answered by prison population figures1.
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.
1 The figures provided should not be interpreted or used to reflect totals for prison population or total prison capacity.
Comprehensive data in the form necessary to answer the question is not available on the electronic case management system. The information would need to be gathered from the paper files held on each prisoner and this would involve disproportionate cost.
Prisoners, whether UK citizens or foreign nationals, with close family living abroad receive a free five minute phone call once a month if they have not had a social visit in the preceding period. There is no centrally held information about the cost of free calls nor locally of the breakdown between UK citizens and foreign nationals. Therefore, it is not possible to provide this information. Each establishment pays for such calls from their local budget, and costs are dependent on the number of eligible prisoners as well as the country they wish to call.
House of Lords: Reform
I will reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Human Trafficking
The Government have funded the Poppy project to provide support to adult women trafficked for sexual exploitation since 2003. Poppy has 35 bed-spaces across London and an outreach service. The project accepts referrals from across the United Kingdom. Women who apply for asylum continue to be supported by the project but are accommodated through Asylum Support. Additionally, there are a number of independently funded voluntary organisations that are able to accommodate and support victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The following table details the number of women supported through the Poppy project in the last five years. Information on the number of women supported by the independently funded voluntary organisations is not held centrally.
Support and accommodation Outreach support 2007 (January to August) 43 57 2006 40 9 2005 34 1 2004 25 8 2003 25 12
Judicial Communications Office for England and Wales: Information Officers
The Judicial Communications Office for England and Wales has two press officer posts. The junior appointment is a job-share.
Legal Aid
The expenditure on legal aid in cash terms during each of the financial years since 1997-98 is set out in the following table.
£ million 1997-98 1,525 1998-99 1,623 1999-2000 l,551 2000-01 1,664 2001-02 l,716 2002-03 1,909 2003-04 2,077 2004-05 2,038 2005-06 2,028 2006-07 l,980
Legal aid is paid at a wide range of different rates reflecting the variety of cases funded under different schemes within the Criminal Defence Service (CDS) and Community Legal Service (CLS). Details of the rates currently payable for the various categories of legal aid are available on the Legal Services Commission's website.
It is not possible to state the number of hours of legal aid work carried out in each year since 1997, as this is not centrally recorded. By January 2008 the vast majority of legal aid work will be remunerated on a ‘ per case’ basis rather than by the hour, reflecting the progressive extension of fixed and graduated fees over recent years.
Offenders: Deportation
The United Kingdom has concluded prisoner transfer agreements with both Jamaica and Pakistan. The Agreement with Jamaica was signed in London on 26 June 2007; the Agreement with Pakistan was signed in Islamabad on 24 August 2007. Before these agreements come to force each country must complete their respective constitutional procedures.
In the United Kingdom this means that the text of the agreements must be laid before Parliament for 21 consecutive sitting days. It is intended that the Agreements with Jamaica and with Pakistan will be laid before Parliament when it reassembles after the summer recess.
Jamaica has not yet completed changes to its domestic legislation but UK officials in Kingston are following up progress with the Jamaican Ministry of National Security and the Attorney-General’s Office.
The Agreement with Pakistan has only recently been signed. We do not yet know what domestic procedures are necessary to enable the Pakistani Government to ratify it. The British High Commission will take this forward with the Pakistani Government.
Negotiations with Nigeria are ongoing. It is not possible to say when they will be concluded.
Parc Prison
I have arranged for my hon. Friend and interested parties to meet with prison representatives of HMP YOI Parc to discuss the case for a footpath to be built. A representative of HMP YOI Parc will contact my hon. Friend's constituency office to arrange this.
Parole
Her Majesty's Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts 2006-2007 details parole performance for the fiscal year 2006-07. Of those prisoners awarded parole, only 3 per cent. were subject to late release due to administrative delays. This is lower than in previous years and the Government are committed to ensuring that no prisoner is detained in prison beyond their parole eligibility date due to administrative delays.
Personal Records: USA
The European Union, on 23 July 2007, and the United States of America, on 26 July 2007, signed an agreement on the processing and transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data by air carriers to US authorities. The new agreement, which is binding, is in three parts:
(i) an agreement signed by both parties;
(ii) a letter which the US sent to the EU in which it sets out assurances about how the US handles the collection, use and storage of EU PNR data; and
(iii) a letter from the EU to the US acknowledging receipt of the assurances and confirming that it considers the level of protection of EU PNR data in the US as adequate.
The main features of the agreement and the accompanying letter are:
The purposes for the transfers are unchanged and are for preventing and combating (1) terrorism and related crimes; (2) other serious crimes, including organised crime, that are transnational in nature; and (3) flights from warrants or custody for crimes described above. PNR may be used where necessary for the protection of the vital interests of the data subject or other persons, or in any criminal judicial proceedings, or as otherwise required by law.
Data will be retained for seven years in an operational status and for a further eight years in a non-operational status. The new agreement imposes stringent conditions that it may be accessed only with the approval of a senior DHS official designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security and only in response to an identifiable case, threat or risk.
Sensitive personal data will be filtered out and will not be used by the DHS, except in exceptional cases where life is at risk. The DHS will maintain a log of any access to sensitive data and will inform the European Commission normally within 48 hours.
The Government believe that this agreement balances the need to prevent and combat crime with the need to provide data protection safeguards for UK passengers.
A copy of the agreement and the exchange of letters was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 4 August 2007.
Prison Accommodation
The following table shows the average in use certified normal accommodation (CNA) of the prison estate in England and Wales for each year since 1997.
In use CNA 1997 56,411 1998 61,439 1999 62,266 2000 63,245 2001 63,780 2002 64,158 2003 66,022 2004 67,678 2005 69,090 2006 70,658 2007 (as at 31 July) 71,247
The Government will ensure that there are sufficient prison places for those serious and dangerous offenders who ought to be in prison. The National Offender Management Service continues to investigate options for providing further increases in capacity. A programme to deliver 8,000 new prison places by 2012 was announced in July 2006, to be provided both in new prisons and by expansion at existing prisons.
A further 1,500 places were announced on 19 June 2007. Work started immediately on 500 of the extra places, the first of which will come into use in January 2008. The composition of the further 1,000 places will be decided in the light of Lord Carter’s forthcoming report into the long-term future of the prison estate and the supply and demand of prison places.
The National Offender Management Service is closely monitoring the prison population and spare capacity in the system.
We are reviewing the basis by which the current spare capacity is calculated and will make a further statement shortly.
Prison Accommodation: Cardiff
Prisoners were held overnight in court cells in Cardiff on 11-12 June 2007. This is the only occasion on which prisoners were held overnight in court cells in Wales during 2007.
Prison Service: Pay
The Director of Operations recommended that one member of his staff be paid required hours allowance. This was to reflect the individual's role as a duty officer in support of the Incident Command Suite and was in line with arrangements for other duty officers. There have been no other recommendations made during his tenure as Director of Operations or Deputy Director General.
Prison Service: Public Appointments
The current Deputy Director General sat on the following boards as Director of Operations:
Board 11 April 2003 Eastern Area Manager post 3 November 2003 Thames Valley, Hampshire and IoW Area Manager post 14 November 2003 Head of Personnel Management Group Head of Juveniles Group 30 June 2004 London Area Manager post 9 September 2004 Head of Performance Delivery post (Operations Directorate) 11 July 2005 West Midlands Area Manager post 11 July 2005 South West Area Manager post 12 July 2005 Casework Manager post (Operations Directorate) 3 March 2006 Budget Manager post (Operations Directorate) 2 August 2006 North East Area Manager post
On the following board commenced as Director of Operations and concluded as Deputy Director Genera (DDG):
16 November 2006/6 December 2006—Yorkshire Area Manager post
On the following board as DDG:
6 March 2007—Head of Women and Young Peoples Group
9 May 2007—HR Director post
Prisoners Release: Housing
Data are currently collected on the percentage of prisoners who move on to settled accommodation on discharge from custody. Details of those in temporary or of no fixed abode are not collected. Between 1 April and 31 July 2007, 80.2 per cent. of discharged prisoners moved to settled accommodation.
Prisoners Release: Reoffenders
The number of prisoners released under End of Custody Licence (ECL) conditions who have subsequently been recalled to prison for alleged re-offending in August is 30. This is based on those notifications to the National Offender Management Service received by the end of 21 September. The number of releases on ECL in August was 2,493.
These figures were published on the Ministry of Justice website on 28 September 2007.
ECL was introduced as a temporary measure and we will keep under review the length of time it will remain in use in the light of new prison capacity coming on stream and the review by Lord Carter. So far the data collected about ECL indicate that the scheme is working well.
Prisoners: Death
The precise impact on prisoners of increased prison populations and their overcrowding, alongside other factors, is unclear. Cell-sharing can be a protective factor and overcrowding itself does not explain why there are self-inflicted deaths in prisons. Most significantly, a high proportion of prisoners arrive in prison with risk factors that we know increase the risk of them harming themselves, such as substance withdrawal, uncertainty and anxiety about their own cases, the impact of and adjustment to imprisonment, family concerns, a history of previous abuse or self-harm, and mental health issues.
However, managing very high numbers of prisoners can hinder efforts to reduce prisoner suicide rates. For example, by causing an increase in transfers between prisons, some prisoners being located further from home and family support, a possible reduction in the time staff can spend with individual prisoners on care and risk assessment, and an increase in the length of time prisoners are locked in their cells, rather than engaged in regime activities, association and other purposeful activity.
Prisoners: Drugs
(2) how many prisoners received prescribed Bupranorhine in the last 12 months;
(3) how many prisoners received prescribed Natraxone in the last 12 months.
This information is not held centrally in the form requested.
Since April 2007, the Department has collected information on regular opioid prescriptions. These will predominately be methadone treatments, but may also include Buprenorphine. Prisons reported 4,458 such treatments from April to July 2007.
Prisoners: Mental Health Services
(2) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of provision of health services in prisons for older prisoners;
(3) what assessment he has made of the health of older prisoners compared with (a) older people in general and (b) younger prisoners.
The information requested is not held centrally.
A thematic review by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, ‘No problems—Old and quiet: Older prisoners in England and Wales’ (2004), examined the health care services available to older prisoners. It found that 85 per cent. of older male prisoners had one or more major illnesses documented in their medical records, and 83 per cent. reported at least one chronic condition. The most common documented illnesses were mental health issues and cardiovascular, musculo-skeletal and respiratory conditions.
A copy is available in the Library and on the Home Office website at:
http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons/thematic-reports1/hmp-thematic-older-04.pdf
The Department of Health will publish ‘Pathways to Care for Older Offenders: A Toolkit for Good Practice’ shortly. This good practice toolkit will help enable prison healthcare staff to develop services, backed by a formal, routine assessment process, that meet the health and social care needs of older offenders both during their stay in prison and following release back into the community. A copy will be placed in the Library.
Prisoners: Transport
(2) how much each prison in the south-west region spent on privately contracted transportation in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07; and what proportion of this cost was represented by taxi or private hire journeys.
Accurate information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, as it would require a search through a very large number of invoices, and interrogation of a number of accounting codes.
Prisons: Elderly
Since April 2006, commissioning responsibility for prison health services has been fully devolved to the national health service.
Primary care trusts work with prisons to assess the health care needs of their population, whatever their age, and develop services to meet those needs. Local partnership boards ensure that these are of an equivalent quality and range to that which the general public receives from the NHS.
Services for older prisoners should be made on the basis of the NHS National Service Framework for Older People—issued to all prisons under cover of a Prison Service Instruction in 2001. This requires staff to deliver comprehensive and well co-ordinated packages of care that meet the needs of older prisoners and ensure continuity of care for them on release.
An older prisoners action group has recently been established as part of the Care Services Improvement Partnerships health and social care in criminal justice programme. This will work to address the specific health and social care service inequalities for older offenders, including establishing national access protocols to services based on a common assessment of need.
Prisons: Overcrowding
The precise impact on prisoners of increased prison populations and their overcrowding, alongside other factors, is unclear. Cell-sharing can be a protective factor and overcrowding itself does not explain why there are self-inflicted deaths in prisons. Most significantly, a high proportion of prisoners arrive in prison with risk factors that we know increase the risk of them harming themselves, such as substance withdrawal, uncertainty and anxiety about their own cases, the impact of and adjustment to imprisonment, family concerns, a history of previous abuse or self-harm, and mental health issues.
However, managing very high numbers of prisoners can hinder efforts to reduce prisoner suicide rates. For example, by causing an increase in transfers between prisons, some prisoners being located further from home and family support, a possible reduction in the time staff can spend with individual prisoners on care and risk assessment, and an increase in the length of time prisoners are locked in their cells, rather than engaged in regime activities, association and other purposeful activity.
Similarly, there is no clear link between higher population levels and violence. For example, analysis of young offenders statistics, a prisoner group that can be associated with higher assault rates, has not been able to show any such link.
In respect of re-offending rates, the National Offender Management Service has not established a correlation between overcrowding and re-offending. Prison Service monitoring of the delivery of offending behaviour programmes has shown that less than 1 per cent. of those who started offending behaviour programmes in 2006-07 failed to complete them because of transfer, possibly indicating any increased prisoner transfers due to population levels or other factors are not hindering completion of offending behaviour programmes.
The information requested is provided in the following table.
2006 12007 Total self-inflicted deaths2 in custody 67 58 Self-inflicted deaths that occurred in prisons where the number of prisoners held in one or more cells exceeded Certified Normal Accommodation 59 46 1 up to and including 20 August only. 2 Self-inflicted deaths include all deaths where it appears that a prisoner has acted specifically to take their own life. Annual numbers may change slightly from time to time as inquest verdicts and other information become available (previously some 20 per cent. of these deaths have not received a suicide or open verdict at inquest).
Prisons: Visits
The Deputy Director General has visited the following establishments in the last 12 months. All the visits were announced.
Date Prison 12 September 2006 Askham Grange 19 September 2006 Sudbury 20 October 2006 Bedford 23 November 2006 Foston Hall 29 November 2006 Lancaster Farms 30 November 2006 Lancaster Castle 18 December 2006 Wormwood Scrubs 4 January 2007 Shepton Mallet 5 January 2007 Shrewsbury 7 March 2007 Buckley hall 8 March 2007 Stafford 8 June 2007 Gartree 22 June 2007 Wayland 26 July 2007 Holme House 1 August 2007 Kennet 22 August 2007 Dorchester 7 September 2007 Highpoint
Public Order Offences
Information on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued in 2006, broken down as requested will be available in November, when the data are published.
Road Traffic Offences: Prisoners Release
Data on the number of End of Custody Licence releases for the three specific sections of the Road Traffic Act 1998 are not collated centrally because the recording of offence details on prison IT systems is not sufficiently detailed. Collecting this information reliably to answer the question at the detailed level requested would involve collecting and checking data manually and therefore incur disproportionate cost.
Robbery: Sentencing
It is not possible to identify the number of convictions for personal robbery as court proceedings data do not differentiate between personal and commercial robberies.
The following table shows the number of convictions for “Robbery” in England and Wales in 1997 and 2005, as well as the number and percentage of community sentences and custodial sentences.
2006 data will be available in November 2007.
Of those sentenced 1997 2005 Found guilty 5,589 7,083 Sentenced 5,597 7,139 Community sentence 1,307 2,539 Percentage 23 36 Immediate custody 4,008 4,407 Percentage 72 62 1 Data provided on the principal offence basis 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Court proceedings database—Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice
Sentencing
Information on prisoners who maintain their innocence is not held centrally by the Pre-Release Section (PRS) in the National Offender Management Service, nor is it recorded on the Prison Service Inmate Information System. The information could be collected only at disproportionate cost by examining the individual case records of the 173 prisoners concerned. As the information requested is not recorded routinely it is unlikely that an examination of individual case files either by PRS or staff at the various prisons concerned would produce reliable or accurate information.
Denial of guilt itself is no bar to indeterminate sentence prisoners progressing through their sentences, or to ultimate release on licence. Prisoners may maintain their innocence for a wide variety of reasons and that stance may often change during sentence. Guidance on the management of life sentence prisoners who deny their guilt is contained in PSO 4700.
Sexual Offences: Children
Information on the number of people convicted of sexual offences against children for the years 1995 to 2005 can be viewed in the following table.
Information for 1980 to 1994 is being gathered and I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy in the Libraries of the House once available.
Court proceedings data for 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007.
Found guilty 1995 2,300 1996 2,599 1997 2,660 1998 2,557 1999 2,507 2000 2,286 2001 2,163 2002 2,284 2003 2,154 2004 2,399 2005 2,198 1 These data are on the principal offence basis. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 128 offences have been used In this table and include sections of the following statutes: Sexual Offences Act 2003, Sexual Offences Act 1956, Sexual Offences Act 1956 as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sexual Offences Act 1956 as amended by Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000, Sexual Offences Act 1956 as amended by the Sexual Offences Act 1967. 4 Some offences have been omitted as the vast majority of data will be against adults, and a minority will be against children. Source: Court proceedings database—Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice.
Stamp Duties
Her Majesty's Land Registry does not collate data relating to stamp duty land tax including number of new zero carbon homes that will qualify for a stamp duty land tax relief, because this data will be collated by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs who are responsible for administering stamp duty land tax.
Supreme Court
As announced on 14 June 2007 the estimated running costs of the UK supreme court is £12.3 million per annum at 2010-11 prices. The annual running cost includes a rental figure of £2.1 million per annum, increasing at a rate of 2.5 per cent. per annum. The rental figure covers the cost of the renovation and will be paid to Kier Group over a 30-year period.
There are additional set up costs of £5.9 million for the Ministry of Justice programme team over the five years of the implementation programme and £14.3 million for items such as Ministry of Justice professional adviser fees and the non-capital element of the fit-out costs including loose furniture, IT and library books.
As previously announced the running costs of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords were estimated at £3.2 million per annum at 2004 prices. This figure excludes building and services costs as it is not possible to extract these specific sums from the overall running costs of the House of Lords.
Tribunal Services: Interpreters
During 2006-07, £1.6 million was spent on interpreter services across the Tribunals Service.
Young Offender Institutions: Restraint Techniques
I will arrange to place a redacted copy of the manual in the Libraries of the House. The redaction is necessary in order to remove sensitive security information.
Treasury
Alcoholic Drinks: Greater London
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 5 September 2007:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) alcohol-related and (b) drug-related deaths there were in London in each of the last five years. I am replying in her absence. (154810)
The attached table provides the number of deaths in each year in the London government office region with (a) an alcohol-related underlying cause, from 2001 to 2006, and (b) a drug-related poisoning underlying cause, from 2001 to 2005 (the latest year available in each case).
Deaths (persons) Alcohol-related Drug-related 2001 787 428 2002 832 335 2003 826 338 2004 758 342 2005 744 399 2006 824 — 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific causes of death categorised as alcohol-related, and their corresponding ICD-10 codes, are shown in Box 1 as follows. 2 Figures on drag-related deaths relate to the number of deaths from poisoning with any drug or medicine (whether accidental or intentional) or certified as due to drug abuse or dependence. They do not include deaths which may be indirectly related to drug use, such as blood-borne viral infections or transport accidents. The causes of death categorised as drug-related were identified using the ICD-10 codes Fl 1-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14. 3 Based on boundaries as of 2007. 4 Figures are for deaths to residents of London GOR, registered in each calendar year.
Cause of death ICD-10 code(s) Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol F10 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol G31.2 Alcoholic polyneuropathy G62.1 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy I42.6 Alcoholic gastritis K29.2 Alcoholic liver disease K70 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified K73 Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver (excluding Biliary cirrhosis) K74 (excluding K74.3-K74.5) Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis K86.0 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X45 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X65 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent Y15
Bank Services
The Government set out in their March consultation document that dormant accounts would include bank and building society accounts where there has been no customer-initiated activity for a period of at least 15 years. On this basis, an assessment by banks and building societies suggests that between £250 million and £350 million lies currently unclaimed in banks, and up to £150 million unclaimed in the building society sector. These figures are for the United Kingdom. There are no specific estimates for Scotland.
The banks and building societies have committed to a comprehensive recruiting exercise in advance of the introduction of an unclaimed assets scheme in the UK. This will build on existing arrangements to help customers to track down their accounts.
Bank Services: Domicile
HMRC does not have an estimate of the number of UK-domiciled people with undeclared bank accounts abroad.
Cash Dispensing: Yeovil
As announced by my predecessor on 19 June, excellent progress has been made towards the goal of providing over 600 new free ATMs across the 1,707 low income target areas identified by the ATM working group as lacking convenient access to free cash withdrawals. Yeovil constituency is not one of the target areas identified by the working group because no areas in Yeovil constituency were found to fall within the most deprived quartile of areas in the UK according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. However, Yeovil constituency currently has 61 free ATMs, according to LINK data.
Child Benefit
Child benefit is paid for each week of entitlement at a fixed weekly rate. The amount of child benefit paid is solely based on the number of children for whom the claimant is responsible.
All eligible claimants of child benefit receive this full weekly entitlement in respect of all eligible children.
Child Benefit: Overseas Residence
All child benefit claims are processed centrally.
HMRC collects and publishes a great deal of information on tax credits and child benefit and this is available on its website. The data collected and published are kept under review to ensure that the most helpful information is made available wherever possible.
Child Trust Fund
The information is as follows:
AME accruals—I refer the hon. Member to the reply he received from my hon. Friend Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 542W, and to the reply he received from my right hon. Friend Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 17 October 2006, Official Report, column 1112W.
Administration costs—I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 2214W, to the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Greg Mulholland). Updated figures will be published later this year.
Clothing: China
The value of garments that originated in China and were imported to the UK from Bangladesh in 2006 was £9,069,751.71.
This figure is based on declarations made to HM Revenue and Customs.
Council Tax: Education
These modules of the Council Tax Toolkit (England) have been placed in the Library.
Departments: Advertising
The Treasury's only advertising in the last 12 months has been for the purpose of staff recruitment. Posts are only advertised externally where suitable candidates are not expected to be available internally.
The Treasury takes advice from its contracted advertising agency for the most suitable media for each job. The contract was awarded in April 2007 following a competitive tender via the Catalist Framework.
The media used are regularly reviewed for their effectiveness in terms of the quality and quantity of applications generated.
Departments: Consultants
This information requested is not centrally held and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departments: Contracts
The Government’s policy is to achieve value for money (vfm) in all their purchasing decisions. EU Procurement Directives provide the legal framework for public procurement. They set out the procedures which must be followed before awarding a contract when its value exceeds set thresholds. The EU rules reflect and reinforce the value for money focus of the Government’s procurement policy.
Where a tender process is not subject to the Directives (e.g. below threshold), EU Treaty-based principles of non-discrimination, equal treatment, transparency, mutual recognition and proportionality apply and some degree of advertising, appropriate to the scale of the contract, is likely to be necessary to demonstrate transparency.
Departments: Debts
Losses and special payments are subject to strict control procedures and notation arrangements as set out in “Government Accounting”. The Treasury complies with those arrangements and reports losses in its Resource Accounts as necessary. A more detailed breakdown than that shown in the Resource Accounts could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Copies of the Resource Accounts can be found at:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/resourceaccounts/
Departments: Departmental Reorganisation
The Department strives to follow best practice guidance in regard to FOI handling including internal reviews. The Treasury has robust systems to ensure a thorough and independent assessment of the original decision.
Departments: Information Officers
The information is as follows.
Four press officers are employed by the Bank of England.
No press officers are employed by the Royal Mint.
Four press officers are employed by National Savings and Investments.
The number of press officers employed within the Chancellors Department as at 1 July 2007 is as outlined as follows:
FTE HM Treasury 8 Office of Government and Commerce 2 DMO 0.66
Departments: Legislation
The information, in relation to Acts other than Finance Acts, is in the table. Since 16 July 2007 one further Act has received Royal Assent, but is not yet in force (the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007).
In relation to the Finance Acts, this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Act Provisions not yet in force Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Section 104 in relation to banking business transfer schemes Government Resource and Accounts Act 2000 Section 11 Sections 12 and 13 in relation to Wales Part of paragraph 24 of Schedule 1 (relating to provisions inserted in the Government of Wales Act 1998) Tax Credits Act 2002 Sections 1(1) and 1(2) (otherwise than for the purposes of Part 3 in respect of tax credits) Sections 25(1), 25(2) (otherwise than for the purpose of making regulations) Sections 25(6), 25(7) (otherwise than for the purpose of making regulations) (repealed)
Departments: Lost Working Days
Statistics on sickness absence of civil servants in Departments and agencies are published annually in ‘Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service; available at the following website:
http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/conditions%5 Fof%5Fservice/publications/
Departments: Marketing
Available Paybill costs in the financial year of 2006-07 were as follows:
£000 HMRC Brand Management 390 Brand Management 750 ONS Brand Management and Marketing 400 Royal Mint Brand Management 77.7 Brand Management 820.7
The Treasury does not have a brand management or marketing team. Maintaining the Treasury's corporate identity is one of the roles of the Communications team.
Information relating to GAD, DMO, OGC and VOA is not readily available and could be provided at disproportionate cost only.
The number of full-time equivalent staff employed by HMRC, HMT, ONS, DMO, Royal Mint, OGC, GAD and the VOA for (a) brand management and (b) marketing are:
Full-time equivalent staff HMRC 7 for Brand Management 20.42 for Marketing HM Treasury The Treasury does not have a brand management or marketing team. Maintaining the Treasury’s corporate identity is one of the roles of the Communications team. Office for National Statistics 6.5 Debt Management Office No figures provided Royal Mint 1.25 for Brand Management 25.18 for Marketing Office for Government Commerce No figures provided Government Actuary’s Department 0.60 FTE for Brand Management 0.80 FTE for Marketing Valuation Office Agency 16 staff work in the Valuation Office Agency’s Communications team covering all aspects of internal and external communications including maintenance of the Agency’s comprehensive public website. Team members are multi-disciplined and none are dedicated either to brand management or marketing. NS&I No response required not included in the scope of this question.
The following information is available without incurring disproportionate cost. All figures are presented in thousands, including irrecoverable VAT.
Department/agency £000 HM Revenue and Customs 2006-07 13,907 2005-061 16,262 2004-05 15,865 2003-04 18,767 2002-03 18,518 2001-02 12,910 2000-012 12,003 HM Treasury 2006-07 289 2005-06 258 2004-05 264 2003-04 308 2002-03 363 Office for National Statistics 2006-07 2,410 2005-06 1,870 2004-05 1,850 2003-04 1,624 2002-03 1,635 2001-02 1,329 2000-01 1,633 1999-2000 1,490 1998-99 n/a 1997-98 n/a Debt Management Office 2006-07 16 2005-06 17 2004-05 23 2003-04 17 2002-03 23 Royal Mint 2006-07 35 2005-06 34 2004-05 55 2003-04 66 2002-03 52 2001-02 49 2000-01 75 1999-2000 81 1998-99 62 1997-98 77 Office of Government Commerce 2006-07 82 2005-06 83 2004-05 101 2003-04 103 2002-03 115 2001-02 173 2000-01 191 Government Actuary’s Department 2006-07 42 2005-06 32 2004-05 26 2003-04 26 Valuation Office Agency 2006-07 422 2005-06 474 2004-05 696 2003-04 626 2002-03 573 2001-02 596 1 Figures for the years up to 2005-06 are an aggregation of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise. 2 Figures from the former Inland Revenue are for 19 October 2000 to 31 March 2001 only.
Estimates of the cost of complying with corporate identity guidelines are not held and could not meaningfully be performed without incurring disproportionate costs. The following information is available on the estimated costs of producing guidelines. Copies of the relevant guidelines have been laid in the Library of the House.
HM Treasury
HM Treasury’s guidelines on corporate identity were produced internally, at minimal cost.
HM Revenue and Customs
The estimated cost of producing HM Revenue and Customs’ style guide was £44,000.
Valuation Office Agency
The Valuation Office Agency’s guidelines on corporate identity were produced internally, at minimal cost.
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is introducing a new corporate identity and new guidelines for staff are expected to be available later this year. The estimated cost of producing the guidelines is £40,000.
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics has a set of guidelines for its corporate identity, produced in 1999-2000. The cost of producing them is not readily available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
National Savings and Investments
The latest version of NS and I’s corporate identity guidelines were produced in 2004 at an estimated cost of approximately £25,000.
Office of Government Commerce
The OGC design and web guidelines were produced in 2004 at a cost of £12,225.
OGCbuying.solutions
The cost of producing OGCbuying.solutions’ product brand guidelines in 2004 was £9,000. Due to a change in accounting system, the cost of producing the corporate guidelines in February 2003 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Debt Management Office does not produce corporate identity guidelines.
Departments: Mass Media
No such evaluations have been undertaken.
Departments: Pay
The overall figures for, (a) the total value of bonuses paid to staff and (b) the total number of bonus payments made to staff for the departments/agencies requested, are set out in the following tables.
£ million 2006-07 21,519,239 2006-06 12,711,896 2004-05 15,043,525 2003-04 2,819,801 2002-03 1,124,639
Number of bonuses paid 2006-07 42,719 2006-06 37,170 2004-05 65,075 2003-04 5,110 2002-03 867
Departments: Publicity
In 2006-07, HM Revenue and Customs spent £5,488 on advertorials. None of the other bodies had any spending on sponsoring supplements or funding advertorials.
Departments: Resignations
The six resignations in May 2007 were from staff in the following directorates:
Directorate Number of resignations International and Finance 1 Ministerial and Corporate Services 1 Public Services and Growth 4
Departments: Training
This information is not held centrally and would be available only at a disproportionate cost.
(2) how many days’ training on average were provided to each member of staff at (a) HM Revenue and Customs, (b) his Department, (c) the Office for National Statistics, (d) the Debt Management Office, (e) the Royal Mint, (f) the Office for Government Commerce, (g) the Government Actuary's Department and (h) the Valuation Office Agency in each of the last five years.
The information is not held centrally and would be available only at a disproportionate cost.
Most Departments do not record the cost of awaydays separately from other training and development costs. The following information is available without incurring disproportionate costs.
Department/agency 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 National Savings and Investments 33 58 35 Office of National Statistics 25 22 23
The Treasury only started to record awayday costs separately in 2005-06, when initial data collection indicated spend of £54,000 on awaydays. Due to changes to the accounting system more accurately to capture spend on awaydays, including associated training, recorded spend in 2006-07 was £192,000. This figure is therefore not directly comparable to the previous year.
Departments: Visits Abroad
For details of spending on overseas visits in 2006-07 by staff and Ministers of HM Treasury I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Financial Secretary to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 25 July 2007, Official Report, column 1186W. Information on spending on overseas visits is not separately identified in the accounting systems of National Savings and Investments or the Valuation Office Agency and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of spending by the other Departments and agencies is as follows:
Department/agency £000 Debt Management Office 17 Office of Government Commerce 75 OGCbuying.solutions 4 Royal Mint 316 Office for National Statistics 418 Government Actuary’s Department 71 HM Revenue and Customs 1,949
Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the “Civil Service Management Code” and the “Ministerial Code”.
Departments: Marketing
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today to Question 153923, on the cost of brand management. In addition to those costs, the following information is available without incurring disproportionate cost:
the Office of Government Commerce spent £15,000 in 2004-05 and £19,000 in 2006-07 on re-branding;
the Office for National Statistics spent £122,000 in 2003-04 and £53,000 in 2004-05
the Government Actuary's Department spent £21,000 in 2001-02 and £38,000 in 2006-07 on design of new logos and changes to stationery and signage following changes to its corporate identity;
the Royal Mint spent £79,000 in 2006-07 in respect of a one off exercise to introduce a new corporate identity, and
National Savings and Investments have spent approximately £58,000 in each year since 2004.
For HMRC spending, I refer to the answer given on 22 February 2007, Official Report , Column 836W.
Disabled: Employment
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 September 2007:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the number and proportion of disabled people who were in work in each year since 1997. (154673)
The attached table shows the number and proportion of disabled people of working age who are in employment for the three months ending June each year from 1999 to 2007. The disability question was first asked in 1999. Comparable estimates are not available for 2000. These estimates are not seasonally adjusted.
Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
In employment Three months ending June each year Level (Thousand) Rate (Percentage) 1999 3,022 46 2001 3,139 47 2002 3,294 48 2003 3,362 49 2004 3,485 50 2005 3,477 50 2006 3,537 50 2007 3,456 50 1 Includes those who have a long term disability which substantially limits their day-to-day activities and those who have a long term disability which affects the kind or amount of work they might do. 2 Includes men aged 16 to 64 and women age 16 to 59. 3 Disabled people in employment as a percentage of all disabled. Note: Comparable data are not available for 2000. Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS)
Domestic Rates: Northern Ireland
I understand that the information requested is obtainable from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, an agency within the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel.
The published terms of reference for Sir David’s review were
“To report on how current and future tax policy, including, the tax changes in the Budget 2007, can support the sustainable growth of businesses and long-term investment in Northern Ireland.”
Domicile: Taxation
HMRC has no evidence to suggest that the Offshore Disclosure Arrangements have affected the number of non-domicile tax claimants. The arrangements, which enable offshore account holders who registered by 22 June deadline to disclose any liability not previously included in their tax returns, are not an ‘amnesty’ because full tax, interest and penalties are all payable.
Environmental Trusts
(2) what total amount derived from landfill tax revenues is held in the largest 12 environmental trust accounts;
(3) what steps he (a) has taken and (b) is taking to make the bank accounts of environmental trusts which receive landfill tax monies more accountable;
(4) how much remains unspent in Environmental Trust bank accounts unable to be released due to the withdrawal of the education and research C and CC categories.
Any contributions made before 1 April 2003 for spending on sustainable waste management (object C and CC) projects that had a written agreement in place committing those funds to a specific project prior to 1 April 2007 can still be spent on that project. If there was not a written agreement in place by 1 April 2007, the funds should be released for spending on other qualifying objects.
This policy has been clearly communicated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Entrust to site operators and environmental bodies respectively.
Information provided by environmental bodies on their most recently submitted returns shows that the largest 12 environmental bodies held a total of approximately £97 million in their bank accounts at the end of the period in relation to contributions made under the Landfill Communities Fund. Environmental bodies must report to Entrust the amount of money held in their bank accounts relating to contributions made to them under the Landfill Communities Fund. Entrust verifies this information, according to risk, as part of its audit function. Entrust also provides quarterly reports to HMRC of contributions made and spent. HMRC keep a keen interest in the relationship between money contributed and spent.
Exchequer Secretary
I draw the ministerial salary of a Parliamentary Under-Secretary. I have five members of staff in my private office. I have no special advisers. An estimate of the annual costs of my office space, administrative support and other expenses could be made only at disproportionate cost.
Financial Services Authority: Information Officers
I understand that the Financial Services Authority has 10 press officers in total, including the head of department and two managers.
Financial Services Compensation Scheme: Information Officers
I understand that the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) employed two full-time people who acted as press officers as at 1 April 2007.
Fiscal Liaison Officers
HMRC currently employs a network of Fiscal Crime Liaison Officers, based overseas, with jurisdictional responsibility for some 48 countries. However, I cannot give details of the locations of HMRC Fiscal Crime Liaison Officers, as to do so could jeopardise current operations and potentially put the officers and their families at risk.
Fraud
HMRC undertakes research to establish whether accommodation addresses are exploited by fraudsters that covers various areas of the Department's activities. However, providing a full analysis would require reference to current criminal casework and intelligence, which is not in the public interest.
Grandparents: Parental Responsibility
The Government have not made an assessment of the contribution to the economy of grandparents who undertake child care roles.
HM Revenue and Customs: Contracts
HM Revenue and Customs is currently reviewing the two main strategic IT and Accommodation contracts, the ASPIRE and STEPS Contracts. The ASPIRE Review will be completed in March 2008. The STEPS Review will report internally in autumn 2007. HM Revenue and customs are not currently reviewing any other external contracts.
HM Revenue and Customs: Correspondence
[holding answer 12 September 2007]: The hon. Member's constituent's tax credit award is affected by the administrative problem with certain claims-as detailed in my written statement of 25 July 2007, Official Report, columns 62-63WS.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is in the process of writing to those claimants whose awards are affected. An HMRC official at the tax credit office telephoned the hon. Member's parliamentary office on 4 September 2007 with an update and an interim reply was issued on 14 September 2007.
HM Revenue and Customs: Information Officers
The HM Revenue and Customs press office currently employs:
Head of Media
10 press officers serving the national media;
5 press officers engaged on communications strategy and planning; and
11 press officers throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland serving the regional media.
HM Revenue and Customs: Internet
The monthly downloads since April 2007 are as follows:
Number April 2,414 May 1,370 June 919 July 1,073
The total production cost of the two HMRC podcasts launched in April 2007 was £5,300 plus £927.50 VAT.
HMRC carefully assesses the effectiveness of its podcasts by monitoring the number of downloads and customers who have registered for the subscription feed.
HM Revenue and Customs: Job Satisfaction
(2) what processes he has in place to measure staff satisfaction at HM Revenue and Customs.
HMRC takes staff satisfaction very seriously. To monitor this it conducts a staff survey twice a year which questions a sample of its staff.
The results of the November 2006 staff survey is published on the HMRC internet at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/
The June 2007 staff survey results are currently being finalised.
HM Revenue and Customs: Operating Costs
HM Revenue and Customs cannot supply the information requested as its provision would be at disproportionate cost.
HM Revenue and Customs: Productivity
HMRC has a range of performance measures at individual, team and departmental levels which provide staff productivity information.
Housing: Valuation
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister for Local Government to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 19 February 2007, Official Report, column 504W, which sets out the position in respect of valuations carried out by the Valuation Office Agency for council tax purposes. For other capital valuations, the effect will depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case.
The Valuation Office Agency (VGA) does not use the term “neighbourhood geo-code”. However, when developing the Automated Valuation Model (AVM) for the postponed Council Tax Revaluation in England, the VOA divided the country into approximately 10,000 localities. The precise number cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost. AVM functionality was not used in the Revaluation in Wales.
Inland Revenue: Reviews
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 381W.
Lone Parents
(2) pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2007, Official Report, column 2163W, on lone parents, how many lone parents there were in each local authority, expressed as a proportion of the working age population, in each year for which figures are available, broken down by five year age cohorts.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 8 October 2007:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking:
(a) how many lone parents there were in each local authority, expressed as a proportion of the working age population, in each year for which figures are available, broken down by five year age cohorts. (156270)
(b) how many lone parents there were in each local authority at the 1981 Census, expressed as a proportion of the working age population, broken down by five year age cohort. (156252)
I have been asked to reply in her absence.
Figures are provided for the 1981, 1991 and 2001 decennial censuses. As no published tables exist that provide the requested figures, the tables have been specially run and deposited in the House of Commons Library.
Manufacturing Industries: Manpower
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 8 October 2007:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the proportion of the working-age population employed in manufacturing industries in each local authority area. I am replying in her absence, (156269)
Tables giving the information requested have been placed in the House of Commons Library. The figures in the tables are estimates from the Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey, for the twelve months ending in March of each year from 1996 to 2007.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
Members: Correspondence
The chairman of HMRC replied to the hon. Member on 24 July 2007.
Office of Government Commerce: Information Officers
OGC currently has two press officer roles, providing media relations support for OGC itself and for OGC buying.solutions.
Office for National Statistics: Information Officers
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 5 September 2007:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many press officers are employed by National Statistics. I am replying m her absence. (154129)
As at 30 July 2007, the Office for National Statistics employed 7 press officers.
Older Workers
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 September 2007:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the number of people aged (a) 50 to 55, (b) 55 to 60, (c) 60 to 65, (d) 65 to 70 and (d) over 70 years were in work in each year since 1997. (154674)
The attached table gives the number of people aged (a) 50 to 54, (b) 55 to 59, (c) 60 to 64, (d) 65 to 69 and (d) over 70 years in employment for the three months ending June each year from 1997 to 2007. Comparable estimates are not available for 1998 and 2000. These estimates are not seasonally adjusted.
Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
Thousand Age Three months ending June each year All 16+ employed1 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70+ 1997 26,356 2,751 1,785 1,023 275 163 1999 26,876 2,995 1,946 1,017 304 158 2001 27,438 3,093 2,156 1,076 283 151 2002 27,617 2,986 2,358 1,086 314 164 2003 27,863 2,939 2,552 1,180 347 170 2004 28,024 2,902 2,603 1,243 366 183 2005 28,193 2,904 2,667 1,287 389 191 2006 28,339 2,934 2,688 1,384 425 198 2007 28,434 2,981 2,596 1,539 412 222 1 Includes other age bands. Note: Comparable data are not available for 1998 and 2000. Source: ONS Labour Force Survey
Personal Savings
HM Treasury continually monitors the level of household savings, and the implications for the wider economy are examined as part of the pre-Budget report and Budget forecasting process.
Since 1997 the Government have: introduced the Individual Saving Account (ISA) so that everyone has access to a tax-advantaged savings scheme; introduced the Child Trust Fund (CTF) so that in the future all children will enter adulthood with a financial asset regardless of family background, and piloted the Saving Gateway to explore ways in which matched funding can promote saving in lower income households.
PFI
The information requested is as follows:
(a) Projections of future cash payments under the private finance initiative were provided in Budget 2007 at table C19. This can be found on the HM Treasury website at the following address:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/3/2/bud07_c19.pdf
(b) The estimated capital value of signed PFI contracts can be found on the HM Treasury public website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_partnerships/ppp_PFI_stats.cfm
The latest estimate of the capital value of unsigned PFI contracts at the preferred bidder stage can be found in table C18 of Budget 2007:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/C/8/bud07_chapterc_288.pdf
Plastics: Taxation
The Chancellor continues to keep all taxes under review. The Government currently have no plans for a plastic bag tax or a chewing gum tax.
Public Participation: Elderly
As part of the long-term vision of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, the Government have consulted widely the implications of an ageing population on public services such as long-term care for the elderly. In addition to those listed, this work has benefited from the input of other groups with whom the Department of Health, the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Department for Work and Pensions and Her Majesty's Treasury have engaged on related issues.
Age Concern
Alzheimer's Society
Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations(ACEVO)
Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS)
Better Government for Older People (BGOP)
BUPA Care Home Services
Carer's UK
Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA)
Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care (University of Hertfordshire)
Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
Continuing Care Conference (CCC)
Council and Care
Crossroads Association
Disability Rights Commission (DRC)
English Community Care Association (ECCA)
Essex County Council
General Social Care Council (GSCC)
Help the Aged
Housing Corporation
Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA)
International Longevity Centre
Job Centre Plus
Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)
Kent County Council
Kings Fund
Local Government Association (LGA)
London Older People's Strategies Group (LOPSG)
London School of Economics
Long-Term Conditions Medical Alliance (LMCA)
Manchester City Council
National Care Homes Association
National Institute of Adult Continuing Learning (NIACE)
Personal Social Services Research Unit(PSSRU) (London School of Economics and University of Kent)
Parkinson's Disease Society
Princess Royal Trust for Carers
Registered Nursing Homes Association (RNHA)
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
Social Care Workforce Research Unit- Kings College London
Social Work Research and Development Unit- University of York
Transforming Services with Older People
United Kingdom Care Association
University of Stirling (Department of Economics)
Public Sector: Pensions
I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer my right hon. Friend the former Chief Secretary gave on 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 393W.
A new estimate will be published in the autumn.
Revenue and Customs: Manpower
With the exception of certain technical specialists, all HMRC frontline detection staff are employed as multifunctional Customs staff with a responsibility to tackle a range of risks at the border, including dealing with products of animal origin (POAO). None of them are employed with primary responsibility for detecting illegal imports of products of animal origin.
Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services
Statistics for HMRC's Customs Confidential Hotline are unavailable for the years 2000 to 2002. They are held for 2003 onwards and are:
Calls received 2003 29,581 2004 23,728 2005 31,389 2006 37,950 2007 (to end of July) 22,309
It is not possible to identify the number of charges resulting from these calls. Prosecution is one among a range of options that HMRC may take in relation to intelligence derived from Customs Confidential. In cases that lead to prosecution the intelligence received through Customs Confidential may be a small part only of that used during the course of the investigation.
Smuggling: Tobacco
(2) how many (a) counterfeit and (b) contraband cigarette seizures there were of (i) 0-250,000, (ii) 250,001-500,000, (iii) 500,001-750,000, (iv) 750,001-1,000,000, (v) 1,000,001-2,000,000, (vi) 2,000,001-3,000,000, (vii) 3,000,001-4,000,000, (viii) 4,000,001-5,000,000, (ix) 5,000,001-6,000,000 and (x) 6,000,001 or more cigarettes in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.
The latest HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Annual Report, available on the HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk covering the period 2001-02 to 2005-06, indicates that HMRC has seized more than 12 billion cigarettes since the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling Strategy was launched in 2000. Prior to 2002, HMRC did not estimate the proportion of counterfeit cigarettes seized.
From 2002 to 2004, data on seizures of cigarettes in quantities above 500,000 sticks, and from 2004, data on seizures in quantities above 250,000 sticks, are published in HMRC Annual Reports. No further breakdown of this information is available.
(2) how many people convicted of using their premises for the sale of unmarked tobacco products were fined in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many people convicted of trading in illicit tobacco not bearing a UK duty-paid fiscal mark were (a) given a fine and (b) prohibited to sell tobacco products for up to six months in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
(4) how many people convicted of (a) tobacco smuggling and (b) handling smuggled tobacco were given a (i) fine, (ii) community sentence and (iii) custodial sentence in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what the average time was between seizure of suspected illicit tobacco and cigarettes and criminal charges being issued for (a) tobacco smuggling and (b) handling of smuggled tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
(6) how many (a) seizures, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there were for the use of premises for the sale of illicit tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
(7) how many (a) seizures, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there were for trading in illicit tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
(8) how many (a) seizures, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there were for the handling of smuggled tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
(9) how many (a) seizures, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there were for smuggling tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
High level data on tobacco seizures, numbers of people sentenced and the value of confiscation orders made are published in HM Revenue & Customs Annual Reports—available on the HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk. The latest report contains details for years 2001-02 to 2005-06. However, the information is not collated and recorded in a way that would enable the level of detail requested to be identified.
The Government take very seriously the detection of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco and the fleet of scanners has made a vitally important contribution to the success of the tobacco smuggling strategy. The number of scanners that have been in operation since 2000 is:
Number 2000-01 3 2001-02 12 2002-03 12 2003-04 14 2004-05 14 2005-06 14 2006-07 14
Figures for the amount of hand-rolling tobacco (HRT) seized overseas have not been routinely compiled and published to date. Most seizures of illicit shipments of HRT take place in he UK as the criminal activity normally involves the smuggling of product which has been purchased duty-paid in other member states. These seizure statistics are published in HM Revenue and Customs annual reports—available on the HMRC website:
www.hmrc.gov.uk
The last report contains details of such seizures from financial years 2001-02 to 2005-06, and indicates that more than 1,150 tonnes of HRT have been seized since the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling Strategy was launched.
HM Revenue and Customs publishes its seizure statistics in its annual reports—available on the HMRC website:
www.hmrc.gov.uk
These statistics include details of the amount of seizures of illicit cigarettes made overseas as a result of HM Revenue and Customs overseas officers' engagement with their host agencies. The last report contained details of such seizures from financial years 2001-02 to 2005-06, indicating that HMRC has seized more than 12 billion cigarettes since the “Tackling Tobacco Smuggling Strategy” was launched in 2000.
(2) how much was spent in each year on the publicity campaign launched in March 2000 to increase public awareness of tobacco smuggling; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many people were employed to tackle tobacco smuggling in each year since 2000, broken down by job description; and if he will make a statement;
(4) how much was spent on tackling hand-rolled tobacco and cigarette smuggling communication campaigns in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.
The most recent HM Revenue and Customs estimate of the size of the illicit market for hand-rolled tobacco (HRT) is for 2004-05. Estimates for 2000-01 to 2004-05 were published in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2006" by HMRC in December 2006 and is available in the House of Commons Library.
An assessment of the HRT illicit market share estimate for 2005-06 will be available at the pre-Budget report 2007.
The full-time equivalents (FYE) of staff employed to tackle tobacco smuggling for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are shown in the table. Figures for 2000-01 to 2004-05 are not available.
Detection Investigation Intelligence Total 2005-06 1,406 319 325 2,050 2006-07 1,545 278 297 2,120
HMRC have invested just over £5.1 million (excluding VAT) in media campaigns to support the anti-smuggling cigarette and hand-rolling tobacco strategies since March 2000. The spend by year was:
Media spend (£) 2000-01 2,049,968 2001-02 865,772 2002-03 806,193 2003-04 672,449 2004-05 83,368 2005-06 556,382 2006-07 91,993
The estimated revenue loss to the Exchequer (duty plus VAT) from the consumption of hand-rolled tobacco supplied illicitly and from legitimate cross-border purchases and their respective market shares of total consumption for 2000-01 to 2004-05 are given in “Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2006” published by HMRC in December 2006, which is available in the House of Commons Library.
Since the measures requiring tobacco manufacturers to control their supply chains came into effect on 1 October 2006 the time taken to determine whether seizures of cigarettes or hand rolling tobacco notified to the tobacco manufacturers were counterfeit has been less than 30 days. Prior to this, the time taken varied but was rarely more than two months. The circumstances of each case determine what further action may be taken.
Contact with the main UK tobacco manufacturers and exchange of information has been a key part of the success of the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy. Officials of HM Revenue and Customs have met regularly and frequently with UK tobacco manufacturers in each year since 2000 to discuss tobacco smuggling and other issues.
HM Revenue and Customs estimates the market share of illicitly supplied cigarettes consumed in the UK and of cigarettes that have been legitimately cross-border shopped.
The estimated market share, and revenue loss to the Exchequer, of illicitly supplied and cross-border shopped cigarettes for 2000-01 to 2004-05 are given in “Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2006” published by HMRC in December 2006 and is available in the House of Commons Library.
Stamp Duties
(2) what records (a) his Department, (b) HM Revenue and Customs and (c) the Valuation Office Agency will collate on the number of house sale transactions that received the zero rate of stamp duty on zero carbon homes;
(3) what his Department's definition of a zero carbon residential dwelling is for the purposes of stamp duty.
The draft regulations, which set out (among other matters) the definition of a new zero-carbon home for stamp duty land tax purposes, were circulated to the Public Bill Committee on the Finance Bill in May. The Treasury consulted interested stakeholders on these draft regulations in June and July. It is intended that draft regulations will be laid before Parliament in October under the affirmative procedure with a view to being approved by the House of Commons coming into force.
It is proposed that the tax relief will apply retrospectively to acquisitions of homes that met the criteria occurring from 1 October 2007, in line with the Government's Budget commitment.
The tax relief will be claimed using the stamp duty land tax return, which will contain a specific code for this tax relief. HM Revenue and Customs will therefore be able to monitor the number of claims for tax relief and the amount of relief given. HM Treasury will have access to this data in an aggregated form. The Valuation Office Agency has no plans to collate information in respect of the relief.
Tax Allowances: Small Businesses
The annual investment allowance (AIA) was introduced as part of the Budget 2007 business tax reforms. The AIA will benefit all those small businesses that make capital investments, regardless of their legal form. There are around 4.3 million small businesses, 2.1 million of which are estimated to be making capital investments. For 95 per cent. of these, the AIA will mean that all of their capital expenditure can be written off in the year of investment.
Tax Credit Act 2002
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: As set out in my statement of 25 July, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimate that 250,000 awards will need to be reviewed. HMRC estimate that around £20 million in recovered sums will need to be refunded in total.
Tax Credits
For information on tax credit debt and recovery in years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, I refer the hon. Member to table 4, section 2, of the Comptroller and Auditor Generals Standard Report in the HM Revenue and Customs 2006-07 accounts, which is available on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/hmrcaccounts2007.htm
Information on overpaid tax credit awards and debt recovery for 2006-07 and 2007-08 will be published in future annual reports.
Information on the number of individuals who have had their tax credit overpayment recovered is not available except at disproportionate cost.
An estimate of the recovery of overpaid tax credits in 2007-08 is not available.
Tax Evasion: Telephone Services
(2) how many calls the Tax Evasion Hotline received in each month since its inception;
(3) what proportion of calls received by the Tax Evasion Hotline resulted in prosecutions for tax evasion in each month for which figures are available.
HM Revenue and Customs does not currently have a separate record of the cost to administer the Tax Evasion Hotline in each month since its inception. These data could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
The number of calls received by the Tax Evasion Hotline each month since its inception are detailed in the following table. HM Revenue and Customs advertising campaigns can significantly affect the volume of calls received in any month.
HM Revenue and Customs are unable to provide this information. The exemption at section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act on ‘law enforcement’ also provides an exemption from disclosure in respect of the proportion of calls received resulting in prosecution.
Month comm. Calls received 1 October 2005 417 1 November 2005 4,913 1 December 2005 5,426 1 January 2006 6,440 1 February 2006 11,244 1 March 2006 29,387 1 April 2006 11,148 1 May 2006 9,216 1 June 2006 8,554 1 July 2006 7,878 1 August 2006 7,965 1 September 2006 7,923 1 October 2006 7,088 1 November 2006 6,918 1 December 2006 4,540 1 January 2007 6,634 1 February 2007 7,597 1 March 2007 9,710 1 April 2007 7,218 1 May 2007 7,207
Taxation on Gambling
(2) what the effective rate of tax is for player-to-player poker played in a casino;
(3) how much VAT was paid by licensed bingo clubs in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
(4) how much VAT was paid by casinos in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Total VAT receipts are published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2007. It is not possible to give the breakdown requested. Player-to-player poker played in a casino is subject to VAT at the standard rate of 17.5 per cent. Duty is levied at 15 per cent. on gross profits from bingo and participation fees for mainstage bingo are subject to VAT at the standard rate. The casino and bingo industries are also subject to the usual taxes imposed on business.
Taxation: Overseas Residence
It is not possible to update these figures on a directly comparable basis due to changes in the methodology applied since the publication of the background paper. Specifically, whereas the figures set out in the background paper were based on a 10 per cent. sample of the self-assessment system, current data draws on all available self-assessment returns.
On that basis, data drawn from the 2005-06 self-assessment returns show that some 143,000 have a residence or domicile status which would enable them to benefit from the remittance basis of taxation. Of these, some 114,000 are non-domiciled residents, with the remainder being resident but not ordinarily resident.
The most recent analysis suggests that around 83,000 individuals completed an employment schedule with UK employment income of about £9.7 billion, giving an average annual employment income of just under £120,000. A smaller subset of 17,000 also returned foreign earnings totalling £900 million which were not remitted to the UK and therefore not liable to tax, giving an average foreign earnings figure of just over £50,000.
As the data contained in paragraph 2.15 of the background paper was the result of a one-off analytical exercise which has not been repeated, an update is therefore not available.
Terrorism: Finance
Since 2001, when the UN's terrorist asset freezing regime was established, 282 accounts totalling approximately £630,000 have been frozen in the UK. Approximately £25,000 has been unfrozen since 20021. The Treasury does not publish a historic breakdown of frozen or unfrozen funds for each year, due to the need to avoid the identification, directly or indirectly, of personal or operationally sensitive information. However, we make quarterly statements to Parliament on the operation of the asset freezing regime.
1 These figures include approximately $58,000 of suspected terrorist funds frozen in the UK and approximately $31,000 of unfrozen funds. This has been converted using current exchange rates. Future fluctuation in the exchange rate may impact on the contribution this sum makes to future totals of suspected terrorist funds frozen.
Trading Funds
We expect the experts commissioned to undertake the study to consult with all stakeholders they consider necessary to inform their work.
Valuation Office
The Valuation Office Agency’s Mineral Valuer provides advice to central Government Departments and public sector clients in respect of valuation issues arising from the re-development of contaminated or potentially contaminated and brownfield land.
The initial stage of the provision of such advice involves the collation of information from available record sources to establish the previous use history of the subject site.
The Agency procured the services of the Landmark Information Group as it considers their Enviro Check Report offers the Agency’s clients the most efficient and cost-effective solution to the gathering of this information at this time.
The Valuation Office Agency has not made any representations to have access to the energy performance certificate register.
Valuation Office Agency: Information Officers
The Valuation Office Agency employs two (full-time equivalent) people with press officer responsibilities.
Valuation Office: Vetting
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written answer that my right hon. Friend the former Paymaster General gave the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 6 February 2006, Official Report, columns 1036-37W.
Since April 2007, one in five of new staff has been subject to basic criminal record bureau checks in line with the HM Government baseline personnel security standards.
Water Charges: South West Region
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 September 2007:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the average proportion of household income spent on water bills in each county in the South West. (154767)
Estimates of household expenditure and income are based on the Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS), which is based on a sample of approximately 7,000 households in the UK. Statistics on household expenditure are published in ‘Family Spending’, the latest edition of which was published on 18th January 2007 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=361). An analysis of the household income data collected in the EFS also appears in the ONS analysis ‘The effects of taxes and benefits on household income’, the most recent analysis being published on 17th May 2007 (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits). The survey sample is not sufficiently large to allow reliable results to be produced for counties. However, using the data underlying these reports, estimates have been calculated of the proportion of household income spent on water bills in the South West region, compared to the UK as a whole.
In 2005/06, average household expenditure on water charges was £329 per year for the South West compared to £277 for the UK. In the same year, the average household disposable income in the South West of England was £25,197, compared to £26,039 for the UK as a whole. So the proportion of disposable household income spent on water bills was 1.3% in the South West and 1.1% for the UK as a whole.
Welfare Tax Credits
The total value of disputed overpayments in the UK written off as a result of official error was around the following:
Value (£ million) 2004-05 5.8 2005-06 180.0 2006-07 9.0
The value of disputed overpayments written off in 2005-06 was greater because HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) cleared a large number of cases from the first year of tax credits where error rates were much higher. HMRC details of the procedures adopted between April 2005 and 30 September 2005 were published in the Supplementary memorandum submitted by HMRC in the Treasury Select Commission’s report: “The administration of tax credits: sixth report of session 2005-06: Volume 2 Oral and written evidence (page Ev193), House of Commons papers 811-II 2005-06”.
The information requested is not available at county level or for England.
The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, information on the number of underpaid tax credit awards in 2005-06 by level of income used for calculating tax credit entitlement is available in Table 5 of the HMRC publication “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards 2005-06. Supplement on Payments in 2005-06”, which is available on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personaltax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm
Information on error and fraud in the Child and Working Tax Credits can be found on HMRC’s website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personaltax-credits/error-fraud.htm
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member on 19 December 2006, Official Report, column 1472W.
Ministers and officials update Parliament on tax credit staffing numbers as necessary and these are on the record. For the most recent figures on compliance staff available, I refer the hon. Member to the Committee of the Public Accounts 22nd report, of Session 2006-07, on tax credits and specifically to the oral evidence by HMRC officials on 23 October 2006 given at question 80.
Welfare Tax Credits: Illegal Immigrants
Persons subject to immigration control are not generally entitled to tax credits. This follows long standing Government policy. “Tackling Error and Fraud in the Child and Working Tax Credits” is available on the HMRC website. This document sets out what HMRC has been doing and will continue to do, to tackle error and fraud.
Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments
Around £2 million was overpaid in tax credits in each of the last three years, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, where the award ceased due to the death of an applicant.
This can occur due to the time taken to notify HMRC of a death.
HMRC are currently exploring whether added flexibility could be built in to mitigate overpayments in the circumstance.
Welfare Tax Credits: Scotland
HMRC will be reviewing approximately 16,000 awards in Scotland for 2003-04 and 2004-05, of which around 100 are in Orkney and Shetland.
Around 6,000 households in Scotland have been contacted about their 2005-06 awards, around 50 of which are in Orkney and Shetland.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Ascension Island
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not made a formal assessment of the application of the Human Rights Act 1998 to those who work and live on Ascension Island. It is a matter for the courts of St. Helena and dependencies to determine (under the English Law (Application) Ordinance and/or St. Helena Law (Application) Ordinance) whether UK Acts of Parliament should apply in these jurisdictions. However, the UK has extended the European Convention on Human Rights and the Right of Individual Petition to St. Helena and dependencies.
There are no plans for a ministerial visit to Ascension Island at present.
The programme of information and education about the benefits of participation in the democratic process is ongoing. The Governor held open public meetings to discuss governance and democracy issues in May and September. Public consultation, including an open meeting in May, has taken place on new draft entry control and harbours legislation. Public consultation has also taken place during 2007 on taxation reform, for which consultation papers were published and circulated. The Governor and the Ascension Island Administrator have consulted the Ascension Island Advisory Group on a number of issues, including policy on property and businesses.
Bermuda Housing Corporation
The Governor and the Premier issued a joint press statement on 7 June 2007 (available on the Government of Bermuda website, www.gov.bm). The Foreign and Commonwealth Office drew on this statement in answer to press inquiries.
Bermuda: Politics and Government
We are unaware of any alterations to protocol proposed by Dr. Ewart Brown, Premier of Bermuda in June.
Bermuda: Territorial Waters
We understand that the Bermuda Regiment currently has the following equipment in service: 23 ft Rigid Inflatable Boats and 17 ft Boston Whalers; the number of crafts are two Rigid Inflatable Boats and two Boston Whalers; and there are 16 part time soldiers in the Boat Troop.
The Bermuda Police Service currently has the following vessels in service: 27 ft Boston Whalers, 22 ft Boston Whalers, 24 ft Halmatic Rigid Hull Inflatables, 52 ft Austal Patrol Boat; the number of craft are two 27 ft and 22 ft Boston Whalers, two Halmatic Rigid Hull Inflatables and one Austal Patrol Boat; and there are 17 officers in the Marine Unit.
Bosnia: Politics and Government
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: We are concerned by the lack of political progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Elections in 2006 saw an increase in ethnic nationalist rhetoric. Since then, progress on the reform agenda has slowed. The priority is for BiH’s leaders to reach agreement on police reform, a key condition for conclusion of BiH’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. Longer-term, constitutional reform will also be necessary for BiH to deliver effective governance for its citizens and carry out the reforms that the EU accession process will require. However, there has been little progress on either of these issues since the elections.
We fully support High Representative/EU Special Representative (EUSR) Miroslav Lajcak and appreciate his efforts to unblock key reforms since he took up office in July. We regularly express our concern about the lack of progress to BiH’s leaders bilaterally, as well as through the EU and in conjunction with the Office of the High Representative/EUSR.
British Overseas Territories
(2) which Chief Ministers of overseas territories have indicated their support for the idea that Governors should be excluded from future meetings of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council; and if he will make a statement.
In advance of the November 2006 Overseas Territories Consultative Council, the Chief Ministers and equivalents of the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands proposed that governors should not attend the meeting. My noble Friend the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, subsequently agreed with Chief Ministers that governors should attend the meeting to help the discussions on issues where they were particularly closely engaged in the territories, including law enforcement, international financial regulation and disaster management. A successful Overseas Territories Consultative Council meeting was held on this basis.
Burma: Drugs
The UK does not conduct an independent assessment of levels of heroin production in Burma. We rely on the internationally accepted reporting from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) available at: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/world_ drug_report.html. According to their 2005 World Drugs Report it is estimated that 370 tons of heroin were produced in Burma in 2004. The UNODC did not provide figures for heroin production in Burma for 2005 or 2006.
Cayman Islands: Politics and Government
Each overseas territory constitution is different. The differences reflect the constitutional development of the territory at the time the constitution was agreed. The Cayman Islands constitution came into force in 1972.
In the Cayman Islands, the governor presides at meetings of the cabinet. This is the case in all other Caribbean overseas territories. In Bermuda, the Premier presides.
The office of Leader of Government Business was established by the Cayman Islands (Constitution) (Amendment) Order 2003 and the holder of this office performs a role similar to the Premier or Chief Minister in other overseas territories.
Chen Guangcheng
We monitor the case of Chen Guangcheng very closely, and have raised his case repeatedly with the Chinese Government, both bilaterally and through the EU. Following reports that Mr. Guangcheng was beaten in Linyi prison on 16 June, the UK supported an EU demarche on his case on 2 July. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, raised the case most recently during his visit to Beijing in August. We will continue to push for progress on his case at every available opportunity.
Colombia: Drugs
The UK does not conduct an independent assessment of levels of cocaine production in Colombia. We rely on the internationally accepted reporting from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. According to their World Drugs Report 2007 available at: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/world_drug_report.html, Colombian potential cocaine production in 2006 was estimated at 610 metric tons.
Cuba: Political Prisoners
It is difficult to estimate the number of political prisoners in Cuba as the Cuban Government maintains tight control over such information. However, Amnesty International's 2007 report identifies at least 69 “prisoners of conscience” in Cuba and they are currently reviewing the cases of dozens of other prisoners who could also be considered prisoners of conscience see:
http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/Regions/Americas/Cuba.
In a report dated 5 July 2007, the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCHRNR—a standard non-official source of human rights information in Cuba) documented 246 political prisoners. The CCHRNR has also reported that thousands of young Cubans are imprisoned on the charge of “peligrosidad predelictiva”, which means they have not committed a crime but are considered likely to do so. More information on the human rights situation in Cuba can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 2006 Annual Human Rights Report at:
www.fco.gov.uk/humanrights.
Cuba: Politics and Government
Last year's changes in the leadership in Cuba have not, so far, led to evidence of significant change in Cuban Government policy. UK policy continues to follow the 1996 EU Common Position, which aims to encourage a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights in Cuba. As part of this policy, the UK/EU also continues to pursue constructive engagement with both the Cuban Government and all other sectors of Cuban society, including members of the opposition.
We remain concerned about the political situation in Cuba, which is a one-party state with considerable restrictions on fundamental human rights. We continue to press the Cuban authorities to respect these human rights, including political freedoms.
On 30 April 2007, my right. hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, expressed concern about political prisoners and other human rights issues during a meeting with Cuban Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade Antonio Carricarte. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office raises human rights issues—including the release of political prisoners, freedom of speech and freedom of political expression—on a regular basis with the Cuban Government.
Departments: Contracts
Occasionally and exceptionally competitive tendering is not possible due to the nature of the goods and services being purchased. Such circumstances might arise as a result of the following:
when equipment being purchased needs to be compatible with existing equipment;
when only one company or supplier is known to have the special technical competence required to provide the service;
to repair an item and only the original manufacturer can do so;
when a repeat order needs to be placed and the original supplier holds the tooling, artwork, designs;
in cases of extreme urgency—but not if it arises because of inadequate planning; and
for contracts which must be accompanied by special security measures or when the protection of the essential interests of the security of the United Kingdom require it.
All proposals of this nature to contract with a single source (i.e. without undertaking a tendering exercise) with an estimated value in excess of 1,000 need careful consideration and specific approval. The supporting case should at a minimum cover the following factors:
why the supplier concerned is the only possible supplier of our requirements;
what is the basis for believing that the supplier concerned will provide value for money? What comparisons have been made in this area;
what market research has been carried out to identify other potential suppliers. And with what result;
what is the full estimated value of the contract. What breakdown of costs is available; and
is the award of this contract likely to lead to further similar business being awarded to the same supplier without competition.
Where single source tendering is proposed for purchases which exceed £1,000, a single source justification form must be completed and include an assurance that value for money will be achieved and background information covering as a minimum the points above to support that assertion. Decisions on single source purchasing where the value of the requirement is between £1,000 and £5,000 may be made by the internal sponsor department although advice should be sought from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's procurement centre of excellence, Procurement Strategy Unit, as required.
Single source proposals in excess of £5,000 must be submitted for approval to the Procurement Strategy Unit. They must be considered by an official with specific delegated authority for single source action. Because of the risks, officers who are authorised to approve single source tenders are instructed to probe and challenge where necessary the justification for such action and record the reasons for their decision.
Departments: Disabled
250 staff serving in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) at 30 September 2006 had declared a disability. This represents 4 per cent. of our total UK-based workforce. These figures include staff at Wilton Park Conference Centre and in FCO Services, both executive agencies of the FCO.
The latest published data records the disability status of civil servants in departments and agencies at 30 September 2006. It appears in “Civil Service Statistics 2006” at Table P. This document is produced by the Office for National Statistics and can be accessed from the following web-site addresses:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=422.
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.pdf.
Declaration of a disability is voluntary.
Departments: Legislation
No section or schedule of the two specified Acts has been brought into force.
Departments: Tribunals
Between June 2006 and May 2007 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid £112,128.97 in legal costs in relation to employment tribunal claims.
Drugs
The UK has not provided funding for the destruction of illicit drug crops by chemical spraying overseas.
We have, however, undertaken a jointly funded project with the Organisation of American States to study the environmental and health impacts of the chemicals used in the aerial eradication programme of the Colombian Government.
EC Reform: Treaties
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe gave to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 26 July 2007, Official Report, columns 1468-69W.
Egypt: Religious Freedom
We are concerned about the problems arising from Egyptian identity cards that allow one of only three religions to be listed on them, and are aware that it is very difficult for Christian converts to change their religion on their identity cards. We have raised this regularly with the Egyptian Government both through the European Union and bilaterally, the last occasion being in September 2007. We will continue to raise this matter.
Embassies: Official Cars
The number of vehicles owned by our missions overseas is approximately 1,200 (current to the end of August 2007) and is constantly changing.
We are, however, unable to provide the information and breakdown that the hon. Member has requested because the Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this information centrally and it would it incur disproportionate cost to collate it.
Entry Clearances
The information requested by the hon. Member can be found in the following table.
Total applications Total refusals Percentage refusals 2006-07 2,753,078 515,084 19 2005-06 2,550,277 473,742 19 2004-05 2,544,352 483,457 19 2003-04 2,233,837 339,616 15.2 2002-03 1,941,910 249,830 12.9 Sources: UKvisas Entry Clearance Statistics 2002-03; 2003-04; 2004-05; 2005-06 UKvisas Annual Report 2006-07
All UK entry clearance statistics are published on:
www.ukvisas.gov.uk
EU Countries: Arms Trade
The UK has one of the most rigorous and transparent export licensing regimes in the world. All UK export licence applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria on a case-by-case basis and will not be approved if the export contravenes the Criteria or other international commitments. Criterion Seven refers explicitly to
“The existence of a risk that the equipment will be diverted within the buyer country or re-exported under undesirable conditions”.
If the Government believe that there is a risk, then the application will be refused.
The Government are however, open-minded about the case for further enhancing export controls. On 18 June, the Government launched a review of the export control legislation introduced in 2004 under the Export Control Act 2002. This includes a public consultation that seeks comments on the impact and effectiveness of the legislation, and whether there is a need to change or enhance the controls further.
EU Reform: NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will remain the cornerstone of the UK’s security policy, a key means of delivery for the UK’s foreign and security policy objectives and the only organisation for collective defence in Europe.
The European Security and Defence Policy supports and complements NATO. The EU Reform Treaty text makes clear that NATO is
“the foundation for the collective defence”
of its members and the instrument for implementing that commitment.
Gaza: Frontiers
(2) what recent representations the Government has made to Israel and Egypt on re-opening the Rafah border crossing.
Officials at our embassy in Cairo raised the issue of Palestinians stranded on the Gaza/Egypt border with Tareq Maaty, Egyptian Deputy Assistant Minister for Refugee and Consular Matters on 23 August. Mr. Maaty confirmed that following discussions the Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit had in Israel in late July, the vast majority of the 6,000 Palestinians stuck in the Sinai have now returned to Gaza via the Erez crossing. While Hamas still controls the Rafah crossing, Egypt, Israel and Palestinian President Abbas are unable to guarantee the security needed to reopen it. We continue to stress to the Israelis the importance of opening the crossings into Gaza.
We believe there is an urgent need to re-open the Rafah crossing. The 23 July the EU General Affairs External Relations Council called:
“on all parties to work towards an opening of the crossings in and out of Gaza for both humanitarian and commercial flows. Karni and other crossings must be open on a regular and predictable basis, in view of reaching the transit volumes foreseen in the Agreement on Movement and Access. This is necessary to ensure the viability of the Palestinian economy and to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people, both in Gaza and in the west bank. It also underlines the need to re-open the Rafah crossing point and stands ready to resume the full activities of the EU Border Assistance Mission Rafah as soon as conditions allow”.
Hina Jilani
Officials at our Embassy in Jakarta visit Papua regularly and meet local officials, academics, journalists and non-governmental organisation (NGOs). We continue to encourage the Indonesian Government to allow access to Papua for media organisations. We are aware that the BBC correspondent based in Jakarta was given permission to visit Papua in September. We will continue to press the authorities to permit other journalists to visit.
Hina Jilani, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders was given permission to visit Papua in June. Access to Papua for developmental NGOs has improved significantly since the election of Governor Suebu in 2006 and a number of international NGOs and UN agencies have established representative offices in Jayapura.
Indonesia
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Indonesia in the immediate future. I am considering making a visit to the region as part of my ministerial duties. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East visited in April and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly visit Indonesia. The bilateral relationship between the UK and Indonesia is good, with strong political links. We work closely with the Indonesian Government on key areas of shared concern including counter terrorism, climate change and inter-faith.
Iran: Kidnapping
Mansour Ossanlou, President of the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, has been arrested and detained several times over the last two years for his involvement in peaceful industrial action by the bus union. We, along with the EU, have serious concerns about Iran’s commitment to uphold its international obligations with regard to freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right to form or join trade unions. We have therefore been monitoring Mr. Ossanlou’s situation closely. We were extremely concerned at his forcible detention by unidentified assailants on 10 July. It has since been confirmed that he is being held in Evin Prison in Tehran and is being investigated for alleged distribution of propaganda against the regime. We understand that neither his family nor his lawyers have had full access to visit him in prison.
On 16 July I called in the Iranian ambassador to London to discuss human rights issues. I raised specific concerns about the treatment of Mr. Ossanlou, and urged Iran to ensure that he is treated well and in accordance with his rights. I highlighted that we consider his arrest to be a direct breach of Iran’s commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In meetings with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21 July and 1 September, the EU presidency also condemned Mr. Ossanlou’s violent arrest and detention for peaceful actions in support of civil rights.
Iran: Nuclear Power
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The agreement announced on 21 August between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sets out a workplan for Iran to address outstanding issues concerning its past nuclear programme. If Iran implements it in full, it may prove to be a step towards resolving the Iranian nuclear problem. But addressing the outstanding issues is only one of the steps the International Community requires Iran to take in order to restore confidence in its intentions. As the UN Security Council has unanimously demanded in Resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747, and as the IAEA Board of Governors made clear in its Resolution GOV/2006/14 of February 2006, Iran also needs to implement fully the Additional Protocol and additional measures that the IAEA has requested, and to suspend enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. Until Iran meets these obligations we will continue to follow the dual track strategy agreed with our partners in the “E3+3” (China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States), and to discuss further measures aimed at persuading Iran to fulfil all its international obligations.
Iraq Constitution
Implementation of Article 140 is a matter for the Government of Iraq. We continue to encourage the Iraqi and Kurdish regional authorities to ensure that the Article 140 process is fair and transparent and reflects, so far as is possible, the views of each of the different communities involved.
Iraq: Armed Forces
As I said in my response to my right hon. Friend on 18 May 2007, Official Report, column 973W, the detail of exchanges between the Government and the US Administration in 2003 remains confidential. Planning remained flexible throughout this period to take full account of developments on the ground.
Iraq: Elections
Article 56 of the Iraqi constitution allows for elections for the Council of Representatives to be held 45 days preceding the conclusion of the Council of Representatives’ four-calendar-year electoral term. The current electoral term began on 16 March 2006, the date of the first session of the present Council of Representatives. Elections should therefore be held on 30 January 2010.
The timing of the next round of provincial elections is subject to legislation being drafted by the Government of Iraq.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The amounts paid to private security companies in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Government personnel and Government civilian and military infrastructure are provided as follows.
£ Iraq 192,000,000 Afghanistan 44,000,000
These payments relate to contracts put in place by the FCO and certain other Government Departments in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2008.
Iraq: Religious Freedom
Responsibility for investigating and prosecuting crimes committed in Iraq is the responsibility of the Iraqi security forces and judicial authorities. The Government remain deeply concerned about the high levels of violence which Iraqis, including Christians, are having to endure. We continue to raise this in our regular contacts with the Iraqi Government and to press for action to protect all Iraqis. We understand that the Iraqi authorities, with the backing of coalition forces, have increased the security presence in Dora.
Jamaica: Drugs
The UK does not conduct an independent assessment of levels of cannabis production in Jamaica. We rely on the internationally accepted reporting from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). According to their World Drugs Report 2007, available at: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/world_drug_ report.html, cannabis production (herb and resin) takes place in nearly all the countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region. The UNODC report estimates that Jamaican cannabis resin represented 3.1 per cent. of global production in 2003-05.
Maldives: Politics and Government
My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, met President Gayoom at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 20 July. They discussed the economic and political situation in Maldives, but did not cover the specific issues raised by the hon. Member. Lord Malloch-Brown issued a statement following the meeting calling for free and fair elections and successful conduct of the referendum which is available on the FCO website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1184751833263&year=2007&month=2007-07-01
Since the election of the Special Majlis (Constituent Assembly), progress towards the new constitution has been slow. But there have been advances, in particular in relation to the legalisation of political parties, a more tolerant approach to press freedom and the release from detention of many political prisoners.
The referendum in Maldives on 18 August has given the Special Majlis a mandate to develop a constitution based on a presidential system of government. We urge all political parties to work together to ensure that this is done in a transparent manner and that it results in a constitution which delivers a liberal multi-party democracy.
Judicial reform is an important part of the reform process in Maldives. The Maldivian Government has stated publicly that they are drafting secondary legislation on the regulation of the judicial sector. This will need to be compatible with new draft constitutional provisions. We understand that the UN Development Programme is funding an international consultant whose role is to provide technical assistance to the Maldivian Government for this purpose.
Maldives: Referendums
At short notice, the Maldivian Government invited the EU, Commonwealth and the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation to observe the referendum. The EU and Commonwealth were unable to send formal observer missions, although the Commonwealth did send a small Election Experts Team. Officials from our High Commission in Colombo, accredited to Maldives, visited the country on polling day and met key stakeholders.
Northern Cyprus
Our High Commissioner in Nicosia visits northern Cyprus frequently. On 3 October he accompanied my right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan), in her role as Special Representative to Cyprus, on her calls on a wide range of representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in northern Nicosia.
Northern Cyprus: Property
The Government have no locus to intervene with estate agents in the UK offering properties for sale in northern Cyprus. As such, no discussions have taken place. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel advice remains the most appropriate and effective way for the Government to warn British citizens of the potential risks involved.
Our High Commission in Nicosia regularly raises the issue of property development with the Turkish Cypriot leadership, most recently in September 2007.
Our High Commission in Nicosia reports regularly on the general scale and location of property development in northern Cyprus, as well as on other specific issues such as electrification of the Karpas region.
Pakistan: Frontiers
[holding answer 12 September 2007]: I have discussed issues relating to Afghanistan-Pakistan border security on a number of occasions, including with Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri and with US Secretary of State Rice. All parties have reaffirmed their long-term commitment to Afghanistan, and the desire to see stable and peaceful development in the border areas and the wider region.
Palestinians: Entry Clearances
Our consulate general in Jerusalem processes entry clearance applications from residents of east Jerusalem, Gaza and the west bank.
Between 1 October 2006 and 1 October 2007 the consulate general received 1,075 applications for entry clearance from holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents living in the west bank and Gaza. 880 of these applications were issued and 154 were refused. Forty-one applications were either withdrawn, lapsed or are in progress. To collate statistics on whether applicants are resident in the west bank or Gaza would incur disproportionate cost as details of applicants' residency are not recorded centrally.
Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem do not hold Palestinian Authority travel documents. They may apply for entry clearance using a Jordanian T Series document or an Israeli issued Laissez Passer.
There were 543 applications from holders of Jordanian T Series documents, Jordanian passports and holders of Israeli issued Laissez Passers, which show the nationality as Jordanian. To determine which ones are from Palestinians resident in east Jerusalem would incur disproportionate cost.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen) on 10 September 2007, Official Report, column 2008W.
A total of 262 letters had been received up to and including 3 October on this matter.
Russia: Entry Clearances
UKvisas does not keep statistics on average waiting times for different types of visa applications. Instead, UKvisas performance is measured against the following Public Service Agreement (PSA) standards:
PSA 1: 90 per cent. of straightforward non-settlement applications to be processed within 24 hours.
PSA 2: 90 per cent. of non-settlement applications requiring further inquiries or interview to be processed within 15 days.
PSA 3: 90 per cent. of settlement applications to be processed within 12 weeks.
Our visa sections in Russia exceeded these standards in the 2006-07 and 2005-06 financial years. In 2005-06, an average of 92 per cent. of PSA 1 applications were processed within 24 hours, 97.4 per cent. of PSA 2 applications were processed within 15 days, and 100 per cent. of PSA 3 applications were processed within 12 weeks.
Provisional figures for 2006-07 show that, on average, 92 per cent. of PSA 1 applications were processed within 24 hours, 97 per cent. of PSA 2 applications were processed within 15 days, and 100 per cent. of PSA 3 applications were processed within 12 weeks.
The information provided to Russian applicants is a combination of generic material that applies to all visa applicants and tailored guidance relevant to applications in Russia.
This information is available primarily through the UKvisas main website: www.ukvisas.ov.uk, our embassy in Moscow's website: www.britaininrussia.ru and the website of UKvisas' commercial partner in Russia: www.ukvac-ru.com.
A range of printed information on applications and procedures is also available at the four visa application centres in Russia operated by VFS.
Special Envoys
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: Two special envoys to either foreign countries, overseas and dependent territories or states under UN mandates have been appointed since 27 June 2007. Michael Williams has been appointed the UK Special Representative on the Middle East and Special Projects. (Further information is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename:=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1184758541371%20&yeai=2007&month=2007-08-01&date=2007-08-03.)
My right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan) has been appointed as the Special Representative to Cyprus, (further details are available on the No. 10 website at:
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12240.asp.)
Timor-Leste: Extradition
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with Indonesian officials on the extradition to East Timor of Indonesian Colonel Burhanuddin Siagian. We believe that this is a matter for consideration between the Indonesian and East Timorese Governments.
The UK has consistently expressed concern to both the Indonesian and East Timorese Governments about impunity for those responsible for human rights abuses in East Timor. These issues are pursued through their bilateral Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF). We have encouraged both governments to make the CTF a process that enjoys the confidence of the victims and the international community.
UK Trade and Investment: Information Officers
Four press officers are employed by UK Trade and Investment.
Visa Facilitation Services
The Visa Facilitation Services online application services in India, Nigeria and Russia are funded by a handling fee charged to applicants. No public funds have been involved in the provision of this service.
No, as no financial loss was incurred. The independent investigator concluded that she could find no evidence that any personal data were misused as a result of the breach of security at the Visa Facilitation Services online visa application facility. We are committed to working with Visa Facilitation Services to ensure that a high standard of customer service is maintained under the contract, which replaces the previous arrangements.
UKvisas signed a commercial partnership agreement with VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd. (Visa Facilitation Services) on 27 February 2007. This contract provides that VF Worldwide Holdings will supply UKvisas with visa application and related services in the far east, Former Soviet Union, Gulf and Pakistan, South Asia, South East Asia (excluding Australia and New Zealand), Southern, Central and Eastern Africa and West Africa. This contract is being rolled out across the world gradually throughout 2007. As it comes into effect in each country, it will supersede any previous existing contracts between UKvisas and Visa Facilitation Services in that country.
Visa Facilitation Services currently provides a service for UKvisas in China, India, Qatar and Russia under contracts which have not yet been superseded by the 27 February 2007 contract.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has accepted all of the recommendations made by the independent investigator in her report into the data breach at the Visa Facilitation Services online visa application facility. None recommended disciplinary action against UKvisas staff.
Zimbabwe: Entry Clearances
Our embassy in Harare issued visa application number VC 005578 on 20 August, following the authentication of the applicant's documents by the Zimbabwean authorities on 16 August.
The waiting time for our embassy in Harare to receive a response from the Zimbabwean authorities for the authentication of official documents submitted with a visa application over the last 12 months has varied from four weeks to 12 months.
Visa section staff at our embassy in Harare have no control over the time the Zimbabwean authorities take to respond to such requests, and continue to chase any request for authentication of documents.
Health
Accident and Emergency Departments
Prior to quarter 1 (April to June) 2001-02, attendance data were collected only as a total figure for all types of accident and emergency (A and E) department (major departments, single specialty departments and minor injury and illness services, including minor injury units). A and E attendances split down into A and E type were first collected in quarter 1 (April to June) 2002-03. Therefore, it is not possible to provide Type 1 attendance figures prior to 2002-03.
The following tables show data on the number of attendances and the number of attendances per 100,000 head of population, at Type 1 A and E departments for strategic health authorities in England since 2002-03 to 2006-07.
Attendances Attendances per 100,000 population SHA name 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2002-03 2003-04 20040-05 2005-06 England 11,994,874 12,665,482 13,265,820 13,553,686 24,158 25,399 26,473 26,857 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 389,855 417,568 444,667 448,799 17,758 18,808 19,836 19,787 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 337,644 358,192 388,508 399,056 20,939 22,100 23,899 24,369 Essex HA 324,991 367,679 396,113 405,789 20,002 22,505 24,100 24,485 North West London HA 622,819 649,680 712,502 750,612 34,660 36,128 39,447 41,021 North Central London HA 402,706 472,524 484,899 465,785 33,257 38,838 39,583 37,544 North East London HA 469,186 521,654 579,140 619,790 30,606 34,007 37,809 40,375 South East London HA 472,742 499,162 568,346 605,915 31,198 33,037 37,494 39,654 South West London HA 380,761 388,186 419,437 424,193 29,168 29,761 32,013 32,074 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 345,136 382,487 395,566 377,803 24,746 27,441 28,412 27,067 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 280,953 316,367 333,263 337,807 24,511 27,567 28,981 29,276 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 334,151 352,206 364,041 368,819 20,404 21,337 21,851 21,978 West Yorkshire HA 682,502 693,594 682,662 672,156 32,592 32,975 32,220 31,384 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 455,401 463,772 476,314 493,601 23,837 24,131 24,629 25,415 Greater Manchester HA 835,341 872,133 891,915 942,652 33,174 34,501 35,205 37,064 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 691,484 724,804 739,599 743,840 29,431 30,833 31,444 31,595 Thames Valley HA 388,628 411,055 441,969 441,598 18,459 19,433 20,802 20,600 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 284,580 280,685 292,302 303,593 15,905 15,606 16,191 16,688 Kent and Medway HA 348,210 364,667 381,477 337,381 21,904 22,783 23,651 20,764 Surrey and Sussex HA 591,294 585,689 619,186 642,238 23,074 22,767 23,978 24,732 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 463,443 502,901 526,092 533,569 21,230 22,878 23,743 23,829 South West Peninsula HA 283,567 307,891 315,325 316,105 17,826 19,217 19,496 19,357 Dorset and Somerset HA 207,990 230,925 216,882 224,147 17,337 19,170 17,946 18,455 South Yorkshire HA 367,323 389,572 400,211 414,050 28,920 30,593 31,285 32,155 Trent HA 492,666 500,782 527,973 541,243 18,579 18,736 19,580 19,934 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 231,337 239,112 257,124 268,756 14,736 15,121 16,122 16,669 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA 279,512 289,741 299,524 302,595 18,721 19,328 19,904 20,043 Birmingham and the Black Country HA 700,556 733,077 750,350 786,128 30,854 32,240 32,930 34,347 West Midlands South HA 330,096 349,377 360,433 385,666 21,553 22,704 23,356 24,847
SHA name Attendances Attendances per 100,000 population England 13,602,589 26,796 North East 721,903 28,247 North West 2,209,351 32,238 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,475,482 28,693 East Midlands 817,502 18,732 West Midlands 1,507,532 28,091 East of England 1,267,280 22,603 London 2,843,438 37,850 South East Coast 939,294 22,110 South Central 732,387 18,358 South West 1,088,420 21,241 Notes: In Ql 2006-07, data were collected from the 28 SHAs which existed at the time, this data has been mapped to the new configurations. Sources: Department of Health dataset QMAE Mid year population estimates for each year, 2001 Census Based: Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Alcoholic Drinks: Young People
I have been asked to reply.
Available evidence suggests (“Schools Survey on Drinking, Smoking and Drug Use among young people”) that the percentage of young people who drink alcohol is falling (from 27 per cent. in 1996 to 21 per cent. in 2006).
Because there is no definition of binge drinking for under-18s, the Government do not make an estimate of how many under-16s regularly binge drink. We do know, from the Schools Survey, that around half of young people under 16 who had drunk alcohol in the last week consumed an average of more than four units on each day they drank. These findings, however, only relate to young people who drank alcohol in the last seven days. The majority of pupils did not drink any alcohol at all during that time.
Ambulance Services: Northamptonshire
It is for each ambulance service to plan the provision of appropriate resources to meet local demand. The East Midlands Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust is responsible for ambulance service provision in Wellingborough and Northamptonshire.
Botox
The Government have asked the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services to take the lead in setting up an industry-led self-regulatory scheme for botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. More details about this scheme will be given in due course.
Breast Feeding
The Department continues to support and promote breastfeeding and will be supporting the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week planned from 11 to 17 May 2008. The week will be supported with a range of promotional materials, funding a conference and working with the local national health service, voluntary organisations and practitioners to facilitate locally-run events.
The Department is also exploring the introduction of a new metric on breastfeeding duration. Also ongoing activity includes television and radio advertising, an updated website, revised publications for parents and health professionals, and providing advice/support for pregnant women and new mothers through the Healthy Start programme.
The Department is continuing to work with the Food Standards Agency on the implementation of the European Union directive on infant formula and follow-on formula regulations, including World Health Organisation best practice.
Central Middlesex Hospital
Lord Ara Darzi's report ‘Healthcare for London: A Framework for Action’ is intended to begin a dialogue about the future shape of health care services in London. The consultation on the models of care and delivery recommended in the report is due to begin formally in November 2007.
This information is not held by individual hospitals, but by national health service trusts. Central Middlesex Hospital is managed by North West London Hospitals NHS Trust.
At quarter 1, 2007 to 2008, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust is forecasting a surplus of £6 million at the end of the 2007 to 2008 financial year.
Chronically Sick: Health Services
In England, the Government have accepted each of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on long term care except the recommendation that personal care should be provided free at the point of delivery to all in all settings. We estimate that the cost of implementing free personal care in England would be around £1.5 billion at 2003-04 prices.
The Personal Social Services Research Unit has recently published “Paying for Long-Term Care for Older People in the UK: Modelling the Costs and Distributional Effects of a Range of Options”, which models a range of options for funding long-term care, including making personal care free to all in all settings.
The report gives estimated public expenditure costs at 2002 prices of between £1.35 billion and £1.8 billion, depending on the way in which free personal care is implemented. This covers residential and home care for older people. It covers the whole of the United Kingdom. The England equivalent range would be about £1.2 billion to £1.6 billion. These estimates take account of limited offsetting savings of disability benefits.
Cirencester Hospital
The Department is working with the national health service to review the specifications of schemes in Phase 2 of the central procurement process, including the proposed scheme for the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire area, to ensure that future schemes best meet the needs of the local NHS, and are responsive to the needs of the communities in which they will operate. This exercise is ongoing, and expected to be completed in October. Once this process is complete, and all parties involved in negotiations have been informed of the outcomes, further information will be made available.
Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health: Information Officers
The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health employ seven communications leads and one head of communications. Part of the role these officers perform includes dealing with the media.
Commission for Social Care Inspection: Information Officers
We understand from the Commission for Social Care Inspection that there are three press officers employed.
Congenital Abnormalities
The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service and through its Policy Research Programme supports a programme of research at the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) on the health of pregnant women and their babies. This includes research relating to cerebral palsy and other early childhood impairment where prematurity is the single largest risk factor. With additional support from other funders, NPEU is also undertaking work which relates to neurodevelopmental follow-up of groups of children recruited to trials of specific interventions, where either all or the majority of the recruited children were preterm.
Implementation of the Department’s research strategy “Best Research for Best Health” has resulted in an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities for health research. In particular, the major focus of the neonatal medicine research group at the Hammersmith and St. Mary’s and Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre, formed this year, is the prevention and treatment of brain injury and developmental impairment in the newborn infant, both as a result of prematurity and birth asphyxia. The Department has allocated £7 million over five years to the research theme of which the Centre’s work forms a part.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. In 2005-06, MRC expenditure on research related to premature birth amounted to £4 million. In addition, the MRC supports a large portfolio of reproductive tract research and underpinning reproductive medicine and paediatric research.
More specifically, the MRC is currently funding a research project on Fragile X syndrome that aims to provide fundamental insights into the cellular mechanisms through which cognitive symptoms of the syndrome arise and that may be important for discovery of new therapies for mental retardation.
Dental Services
(2) how many dentists (a) completed their annual units of dental activity (UDA) early, (b) requested further UDAs and (c) requested but were refused further UDAs in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by primary care trust.
Information is not available in the form requested.
Information on the total units of dental activity delivered in 2006-07 at England, strategic health authority and primary care trust (PCT) level is contained in “NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006”. This report is available in the Library.
Information is not held centrally on the number of contractors who completed their annual contracted level of activity before the end of March 2007 or on the number of requests to PCTs to deliver additional activity during 2006-07.
The Dental Services Division (DSD) of the National Health Service Business Services Authority holds data on dental activity provided under NHS dental contracts, together with information provided by PCTs on the levels of activity commissioned for each contract. However, these data are not routinely published. The DSD is currently considering a freedom of information request for a comparison of the two data items for 2006-07. Depending on the outcome, some contract level information of this kind may be available from the DSD later this autumn.
Dental Services: Bolton
As of 31 March 2007 there were 110 dentists on open national health service contracts in the Bolton primary care trust area. The number of dentists taking on new NHS patients is not collected centrally.
Source:
NHS Dental Statistics 2006-07, The Information Centre for health and social care, August 2007.
There have been six parliamentary questions from my hon. Friend the Members for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby) and for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) on dental services in Bolton. In addition, there have been a small number of letters from members of the public.
Departments: Accountancy
The following lists show the accounts directions issued to bodies for which the Department has responsibility.
Issued in 2005-06:
Information Centre for health and social care
Mental Health Act Commission
NHS Appointments Commission
NHS Business Services Authority
NHS Blood and Transplant
NHS Direct
NHS Professionals
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
National Institute for Improvement and Innovation
National Patient Safety Authority
National Treatment Agency
NHS Litigation Authority
Dental Practice Board
Dental Vocational Training Authority
National Blood Authority
NHS Logistics
NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
NHS Pensions Agency
Prescription Pricing Authority.
UK Transplant
Strategic Health Authorities
Issued in 2006-07:
Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
Commission for Social Care Inspection
General Social Care Council
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Health Protection Agency
Health and Social Care Information Centre
Mental Health Act Commission
National Biological Standards Board
NHS Appointments Commission
NHS Business Services Authority
NHS Blood and Transplant
NHS Direct
NHS Professionals
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
National Institute for Improvement and Innovation
National Patient Safety Authority
National Treatment Agency
Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
NHS Litigation Authority.
Departments: Consultants
The Department does not collect information on projects awarded to private consultancy firms by the Department and its agencies in the format requested. To do so would attract disproportionate cost.
A new system will be introduced in April 2008 called SHOWA, which will be able to gather such information for the Department.
Departments: Lisbon Agenda
A healthy population is a key driver to achieving economic growth. This is at the core of the Department’s policies to improve and modernise health services and to prevent illness and morbidity through activities such as health promotion.
A key part of this will be to reduce health inequalities in the United Kingdom. The Department is working to a public service agreement target to reduce inequalities in health outcomes by 10 per cent. by 2010.
Departments: Pay
(2) whether the commercial directorate contractor bandings refer to (a) per hour, (b) per day, (c) per week, (d) per month or (e) per annum.
The Commercial Directorate contracts interims for a specified piece of work or time period. The bandings are an internal control tool created by and used solely by the Commercial Directorate and refer to day rates. The number of interims (headcount) by bandings in the Commercial Directorate at 1 October 2007 is shown in the following table.
Number Band 1 6 Band 2 17 Band 3 67 Band 4 68 Band 5 24 Total 182
The number of civil servants (full-time equivalent) in the Commercial Directorate at 1 October 2007 is shown in the following table.
Number SCS3 1 SCS1 1 Grade 6 1 Grade 7 2 SEO 1.7 EO 1 Total 7.7
Departments: Private Finance Initiative
[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The following table gives details of private finance initiative schemes which have reached financial close including capital value, unitary payments at 2007-08 prices, and the total value of these discounted to present value.
£ million NHS Trust/PCT Total capital value Total unitary payments in 2007-08 prices Discounted present value of UPs Dartford and Gravesham Hospital NHS Trust 94 525.9 358.86 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 67 481.1 300.96 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 45 370.0 231.46 Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS Trust 158 1,357.4 849.13 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 61 429.9 268.94 University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust 67 752.2 457.59 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 96 670.4 419.34 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust 65 598.3 374.26 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 118 429.9 268.94 Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup NHS Trust 15 66.3 41.49 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 54 491.0 307.13 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 87 743.8 465.28 Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust 64 379.6 237.44 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 17 96.1 60.11 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 48 294.3 184.08 Sussex Partnership NHS Trust 22 126.8 79.34 South Tees Acute Hospital NHS Trust 122 895.5 560.17 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust 100 540.1 357.85 King's College Hospital NHS Trust 76 583.1 364.73 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust 28 125.0 78.17 Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust 47 289.7 181.23 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 46 248.5 155.44 Oxleas NHS Trust 11 48.7 30.48 University College London Hospitals NHS Trust 422 1,312.0 809.26 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 11 41.4 25.91 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust 18 202.5 126.70 East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust 15 50.5 31.59 Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust 10 86.4 54.08 Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 18 59.8 37.41 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 15 40.7 25.47 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 22 68.4 42.81 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 60 373.1 226.98 Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 55 126.8 79.33 Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust 137 577.6 361.32 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 30 143.9 90.03 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 15 64.8 40.56 Surrey PCT 29 102.7 64.22 The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust 13 103.7 64.85 Nuffield Orthopaedic NHS Trust 37 138.5 86.62 Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 32 111.4 68.70 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 10 71.4 44.05 Devon PCT 10 49.9 30.79 West Berkshire PCT 19 109.1 67.31 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 14 57.7 35.61 The Whittington NHS Trust 32 113.5 72.00 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 379 1,989.9 1,162.07 Brent PCT 21 92.4 57.80 Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust 26 102.7 64.26 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust 16 25.4 15.68 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 110 311.8 182.10 Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust 12 57.0 35.64 Derby Hospitals NHS Trust 312 1,287.2 741.77 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 30 99.6 62.29 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 69 224.0 140.13 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 134 553.0 345.92 Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust 238 499.3 287.73 Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 52 356.0 222.72 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 265 647.2 388.34 Avon and Western Wiltshire MH NHS Trust 83 198.9 124.41 Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust 24 78.7 49.23 Kirklees PCT 25 67.2 42.06 Wandsworth PCT 75 324.1 202.74 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust 31 158.9 99.38 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 47 318.1 198.96 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 36 127.0 79.45 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 51 184.7 113.95 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 76 190.5 120.90 Hampshire PCT 36 137.9 87.53 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 28 244.7 153.05 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 30 76.7 48.69 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust 420 1,824.8 1,051.56 Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 19 67.3 42.72 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 28 63.9 40.55 Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals 299 861.9 510.14 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 296 1,043.8 634.34 Northgate and Prudhoe—Neuro Disability Centre 24 44.6 28.29 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 129 475.4 297.39 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 193 1,001.0 617.45 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 67 128.7 80.48 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 36 89.9 56.24 Barts and the London NHS Trust 1,000 2,909.4 1,722.06 St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust 338 1,071.1 625.54 University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust 697 1,426.8 833.22 South West Essex Teaching PCT 30 98.7 61.72 Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 21 79.7 49.84 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 29 70.1 43.82 University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust 375 1,116.0 698.14 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 353 778.5 486.98 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 336 813.8 495.01 North Middlesex Hospitals NHS Trust 144 640.9 379.36 Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust 190 401.2 240.72 Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust 112 285.5 171.28 Total 9,870.74 38,195.40 23,311.63
Departments: Public Expenditure
In preparation for the Comprehensive Spending Review, HM Treasury has worked closely with the Department and with all Government Departments, providing guidance throughout the process.
Dietary Supplements: EU Law
(2) if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Working Group meeting of EU member states held on 24 September to discuss the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements and fortified foods;
(3) whether officials of (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency have made representations to the European Commission on the extent of the circulation of the Commission's recent orientation paper on the setting of nutrient levels for food supplements and fortified foods; and if he will make it his policy to encourage the Commission to improve the openness and transparency of its activity on the implementation of the food supplements directive;
(4) if he will make a statement on the anticipated timetable for the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements;
(5) what legal principles informed the contribution of the Food Standards Agency to discussions with the European Commission on the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements; and if he will make a statement;
(6) what recent contacts there have been between officials of the Food Standards Agency and their counterparts in (a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) other European member states to discuss the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements; and if he will make a statement.
The meeting of the Working Group on 24 September was to obtain member states' initial views on an orientation paper on setting maximum and minimum levels for vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs, issued by the Commission in late July. We have been advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that general discussions on the orientation paper in the working group revealed that many member states are yet to establish views on many issues. The Commission has asked member states to consider the various issues presented in the orientation paper in preparation for more detailed discussions at the next working group meeting which has provisionally been scheduled for November.
FSA officials have raised the issue of circulation of the orientation paper with the European Commission. The Commission recognised that member states have obligations to consult their stakeholders and did not place restrictions on the circulation of the paper, leaving this to the discretion of the member states. The FSA sent the paper to United Kingdom stakeholders on 8 August seeking their initial comments and held a meeting on 14 September during which the paper was discussed in detail. Further meetings between the FSA and Ministers will be arranged when necessary.
The European Commission has indicated its intention to produce proposals in the form of draft amending legislation to go forward to the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) for consideration in early 2009.
Recent discussions between FSA officials and the European Commission focussed on the Commission's orientation paper, and have not extended to detailed discussions of legal principles. The legal basis for setting levels of vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs that informs the FSA's contribution to discussions with the Commission is outlined in the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC and the Regulation on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods EC No 1925/2006.
FSA officials met with their counterparts from the Republic of Ireland and other member states during, and in the margins of, the European Commission's working group meeting with member states on 24 September, on the setting of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements.
Disposable Syringes
The Department has made no assessment.
Doctors: Career Structure
The Department would like to thank Sir John Tooke and his review group for investing so much time and expertise in providing recommendations for the future of medical training for 2009 and beyond. We will consider Sir John’s findings carefully.
Drugs: Internet
Under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994, it is unlawful for medicinal products for human use to be marketed, manufactured, imported from a third country, distributed and sold or supplied in the United Kingdom except in accordance with the appropriate licences or exemptions.
Medicinal products for human use that are brought into the UK by an individual for his or her own use or that of a member of his/her family, including those purchased via the internet or by mail order, are not regarded as being imported for sale or supply within the UK and accordingly are not subject to the controls of the Marketing Authorisation Regulations. Any onward sale or supply, however, would place the product on the market and bring it within the regulatory system designed to protect public health and safety. There are no plans at this time to change the legislation.
Epilepsy
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's guidance on the treatment of prisoners diagnosed with epilepsy;
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of information provided to patients upon diagnosis of epilepsy on the risks of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.
The Department is working to reduce the level of stigma experienced by those with epilepsy by raising awareness of this condition among the public. Information on epilepsy is made available on the NHS Direct website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk as well as the Epilepsy Information Network.
We commissioned the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy. This guidance, published in October 2004, specifically covers the importance of informing patients and their families of the risks of sudden death in epilepsy. In addition, we have made a grant of almost £290,000 to the National Society for Epilepsy to improve support and information for people with epilepsy and their families through their Epilepsy Information Network.
We have made no assessment of the implementation of the guidance produced by NICE on the treatment of prisoners diagnosed with epilepsy.
Epilepsy: Learning Disability
We have made no assessment of the effects of the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s epilepsy guidance on the treatment of those with learning disabilities.
Epilepsy: Nurses
The annual workforce census does not separately identify specialist epilepsy nurses from the rest of the nursing workforce.
Since 1997, there has been an increase of almost 80,000 qualified nurses employed in the national health service in England, and the number of training places for nurses and midwives has risen by 51 per cent. This will increase the pool of nurses from which nurses specialising in epilepsy can be drawn.
No assessment has been carried out centrally. It is for local trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health and to commission services accordingly, this includes provision of specialist nursing posts.
Epilepsy: Video Games
Information on the number of epileptic seizures caused by electronic games is not collected.
EU Countries
The Secretary of State is planning to visit Brussels for political and policy meetings at the end of November 2007.
I have the following visits scheduled on behalf of the Secretary of State:
Scheduled visits 14-15 October 2007 Meeting other European Union Health Ministers in Rome 14-15 November 2007 Media Global Health Committee Trade Event, Dusseldorf 6 December 2007 European Union Health Council, Brussels
Eyesight: Testing
There is no system of national health service charges for sight tests. Certain groups including children, people aged over 60, those on a low income and those predisposed to eye disease are eligible for NHS funded sight tests. Those not eligible for NHS funded sight tests have to pay privately.
In 1999 we reintroduced free sight tests for everyone aged 60 and over. This resulted in a switch from private to NHS sight tests, rather than any material increase in the overall number of sights tests. This suggested that the cost of a sight test is not a disincentive for individuals.
This Government have not introduced charges for dental examinations. NHS charges for dental examinations have been in place since 1989 for those patients who are not exempt on income or other grounds. In April 2006 the system of charges was simplified as part of the wider reforms to NHS dentistry. Under the reforms, dental examinations are no longer charged as a separate item of service but as part of a course of treatment. A basic course of treatment (band 1) costs £15.90 and includes examination, diagnosis (including x-rays if needed), preventative advice and, if clinically indicated, a scale and polish.
Fibromyalgia
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 23 April 2007, Official Report, column 962W.
Food Standards Agency: Information Officers
The Food Standards Agency currently employs eight press officers.
General Practitioners
(2) what percentage of patients in each primary care trust area who visited their general practitioner were referred on in the last 12 months.
Information on the total number patients who visit their general practitioner is not routinely collected.
For the period 2006-07, the total number of commissioner based general practitioner referrals to first consultant outpatient appointment was 9,226,012. The following table provides a breakdown of this figure by primary care trust for the same period.
Strategic health authority Code Name of primary care trust (PCT) GP referrals made Q39 5A3 South Gloucestershire PCT 36,975 Q36 5A4 Havering PCT 35,317 Q36 5A5 Kingston PCT 27,871 Q36 5A7 Bromley PCT 65,999 Q36 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT 41,653 Q36 5A9 Barnet PCT 72,221 Q32 5AN North East Lincolnshire PCT 27,077 Q36 5AT Hillingdon PCT 45,300 Q36 5C1 Enfield PCT 48,872 Q36 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT . 26,629 Q36 5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 49,144 Q36 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 38,422 Q36 5C5 Newham PCT 60,006 Q36 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT 49,227 Q31 5CC Blackburn with Darwen PCT 26,080 Q34 5CN Herefordshire PCT 33,859 Q38 5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 26,060 Q30 5D7 Newcastle PCT 52,579 Q30 5D8 North Tyneside PCT 41,959 Q30 5D9 Hartlepool PCT 16,236 Q30 5E1 North Tees PCT 33,113 Q32 5EF North Lincolnshire PCT 29,572 Q33 5EM Nottingham City PCT 55,153 Q33 5ET Bassetlaw PCT 24,165 Q39 5F1 Plymouth Teaching PCT 45,927 Q31 5F5 Salford PCT 52,528 Q31 5F7 Stockport PCT 57,022 Q38 5FE Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 35,770 Q39 5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 33,498 Q35 5GC Luton PCT 36,011 Q36 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 26,148 Q32 5H8 Rotherham PCT 48,355 Q31 5HG Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 65,302 Q31 5HP Blackpool PCT 27,441 Q31 5HQ Bolton PCT 54,102 Q36 5HX Ealing PCT 69,048 Q36 5HY Hounslow PCT 48,671 Q31 5J2 Warrington PCT 26,926 Q31 5J4 Knowsley PCT 35,796 Q31 5J5 Oldham PCT 45,361 Q32 5J6 Calderdale PCT 36,758 Q30 5J9 Darlington PCT 16,497 Q32 5JE Barnsley PCT 52,149 Q31 5JX Bury PCT 38,374 Q39 5K3 Swindon PCT 34,892 Q36 5K5 Brent Teaching PCT 52,457 Q36 5K6 Harrow PCT 32,809 Q36 5K7 Camden PCT 46,363 Q36 5K8 Islington PCT 40,998 Q36 5K9 Croydon PCT 54,327 Q30 5KF Gateshead PCT 46,639 Q30 5KG South Tyneside PCT 35,630 Q30 5KL Sunderland Teaching PCT 51,798 Q30 5KM Middlesbrough PCT 23,669 Q38 5L1 Southampton City PCT 35,156 Q37 5L3 Medway PCT 51,360 Q36 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 28,869 Q36 5LC Westminster PCT 40,881 Q36 5LD Lambeth PCT 49,047 Q36 5LE Southwark PCT 38,280 Q36 5LF Lewisham PCT 45,483 Q36 5LG Wandsworth PCT 68,075 Q31 5LH Tameside and Glossop PCT 46,789 Q37 5LQ Brighton and Hove City PCT 54,436 Q34 5M1 South Birmingham PCT 81,166 Q34 5M2 Shropshire County PCT 33,843 Q34 5M3 Walsall Teaching PCT 51,741 Q36 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 33,301 Q36 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 70,419 Q39 5M8 North Somerset PCT 36,539 Q34 5MD Coventry Teaching PCT 61,134 Q34 5MK Telford and Wrekin PCT 16,325 Q34 5MV Wolverhampton City PCT 50,374 Q34 5MX Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 58,481 Q32 5N1 Leeds PCT 107,676 Q32 5N2 Kirklees PCT 65,532 Q32 5N3 Wakefield District PCT 57,542 Q32 5N4 Sheffield PCT 110,575 Q32 5N5 Doncaster PCT 60,155 Q33 5N6 Derbyshire County PCT 132,350 Q33 5N7 Derby City PCT 48,874 Q33 5N8 Nottinghamshire County PCT 123,061 Q33 5N9 Lincolnshire PCT 131,388 Q36 5NA Redbridge PCT 38,389 Q36 5NC Waltham Forest PCT 31,613 Q30 5ND County Durham PCT 90,731 Q31 5NE Cumbria PCT 102,845 Q31 5NF North Lancashire PCT 61,355 Q31 5NG Central Lancashire PCT 90,878 Q31 5NH East Lancashire PCT 69,026 Q31 5NJ Sefton PCT 63,085 Q31 5NK Wirral PCT 59,252 Q31 5NL Liverpool PCT 110,086 Q31 5NM Halton and St. Helens PCT 61,783 Q31 5NN Western Cheshire PCT 48,754 Q31 5NP Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 77,230 Q31 5NQ Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 43,684 Q31 5NR Trafford PCT 56,929 Q31 5NT Manchester PCT 112,803 Q32 5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 131,884 Q32 5NW East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 58,967 Q32 5NX Hull PCT 55,605 Q32 5NY Bradford and Airedale PCT 68,094 Q35 5P1 South East Essex PCT 83,451 Q35 5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 73,534 Q35 5P3 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 89,652 Q35 5P4 West Hertfordshire PCT 72,171 Q37 5P5 Surrey PCT 163,219 Q37 5P6 West Sussex PCT 128,310 Q37 5P7 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 65,024 Q37 5P8 Hastings and Rother PCT 35,862 Q37 5P9 West Kent PCT 103,842 Q33 5PA Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 109,605 Q33 5PC Leicester City PCT 56,441 Q33 5PD Northamptonshire PCT 88,184 Q34 5PE Dudley PCT 48,603 Q34 5PF Sandwell PCT 66,326 Q34 5PG Birmingham East and North PCT 78,531 Q34 5PH North Staffordshire PCT 33,356 Q34 5PJ Stoke on Trent PCT 40,102 Q34 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 119,351 Q34 5PL Worcestershire PCT 109,586 Q34 5PM Warwickshire PCT 96,158 Q35 5PN Peterborough PCT 28,000 Q35 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 88,249 Q35 5PQ Norfolk PCT 111,909 Q35 5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 47,476 Q35 5PT Suffolk PCT 96,693 Q35 5PV West Essex PCT 48,706 Q35 5PW North East Essex PCT 55,867 Q35 5PX Mid Essex PCT 56,897 Q35 5PY South West Essex PCT 63,812 Q37 5QA Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 118,942 Q38 5QC Hampshire PCT 203,425 Q38 5QD Buckinghamshire PCT 79,799 Q38 5QE Oxfordshire PCT 76,039 Q38 5QF Berkshire West PCT 63,066 Q38 5QG Berkshire East PCT 52,389 Q39 5QH Gloucestershire PCT 85,664 Q39 5QJ Bristol PCT 69,580 Q39 5QK Wiltshire PCT 83,775 Q39 5QL Somerset PCT 87,607 Q39 5QM Dorset PCT 83,368 Q39 5QN Bournemouth and Poole PCT 63,186 Q39 5QP Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 101,449 Q39 5QQ Devon PCT 134,859 Q30 5QR Redcar and Cleveland PCT 21,960 Q38 5QT Isle of Wight NHS Pet 27,805 Q30 TAC Northumberland Care Trust 59,166 Q36 TAK Bexley Care Trust 30,438 Q39 TAL Torbay Care Trust 25,034 Q34 TAM Solihull Care Trust 42,944 England 9,226,012 Source: Department of Health monthly monitoring return
These data are not collected centrally by the Department.
General Practitioners: Rents
The “National Health Service (General Medical Services—Premises Costs) (England) Directions 2004” set out the arrangements for primary care trusts to make payments in respect of general practitioner (GP) premises’ costs. Direction 48 provides for those payments to be offset by any rents GPs receive from third parties for areas of premises they occupy. There is therefore no need for a revision.
General Practitioners: Working Hours
This information is not collected centrally. However, the Department's quarterly Access to Primary Care Survey shows that over the last year an average of 5.5 per cent. of patients were offered an evening appointment and an average of 1.25 per cent. of patients were offered an appointment at the weekend by their general practitioner surgeries.
Gorlin Syndrome
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the level of implementation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on improving outcomes for people with skin tumours;
(3) what representations his Department has received on patients with Gorlin Syndrome being unable to access treatment on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.
The Department has received a very small number of representations about access to treatment on the national health service for Gorlin’s Syndrome patients. No assessment has been made of the standard of care provided to patients with this syndrome.
However, in February 2006 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence issued guidance on “Improving Outcomes for People with Skin Tumours including Melanoma”.
This guidance highlights a number of genetic conditions, including Gorlin’s Syndrome, which predispose a person to the development of skin cancer in later life and sets out recommendations for the management of people with this condition.
Specialised commissioning groups1 have been asked to produce implementation summaries setting out how they would implement this guidance over the next three years. These plans have been submitted to the National Cancer Action Team and are being checked for compliance against the guidance.
1 Specialised services, defined as those services provided in relatively few specialist centres to catchment populations of more than 1 million people, are either commissioned regionally by specialised commissioning groups (SCGs) or nationally by the National Commissioning Group (NCG) depending on the rarity of the condition or treatment. 10 new SCGs were established on 1 April 2007 to commission services on a regional basis, coterminous with the 10 strategic health authorities. (This succeeds a two tier arrangement of regional (eight SCGs) and local (25 local SCGs) commissioning groups.) Services commissioned at SCG level include haemophilia, blood and marrow transplantation, secure forensic mental health, spinal cord injuries, etc.
Health Protection Agency: Information Officers
There are 21.5 press officers employed by the Health Protection Agency. This includes:
nine regional communications managers (one per region) and three regional press officers (based in the London, eastern and west midlands regions);
five press officers based at the Centre for Infections, Colindale;
3.5 press officers based at the Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and the Environment, Chilton; and
one Head of Strategic Communications Planning: Emergency Preparedness and Response based at the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Porton.
Health Services: Bedfordshire
Funding is allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine PCTs' target shares of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.
The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) oversees the development of the weighted-capitation formula. ACRA is an independent body which has national health service management, general practitioner, and academic members. It commissions research to measure the health needs of PCTs.
The health need element of the formula, which informs the revenue allocations to PCTs in 2006-07 and 2007-08, was based upon research carried out by the allocation of resources to English areas (AREA) research team in 2001-02 and by Warwick university. The AREA research modelled need for all areas in England, and as a result a national formula was developed. A detailed description of the research techniques and the formula are published on the Department's website1, 2 at:
www.dh.gov.uk/allocations
Generally, the data used in this research were based on full population datasets (for example, the National Census). Statistical sampling was not required in those cases. The significant exception was the Health Survey for England (HSE). HSE data for 1994-2000 inclusive were used and this provided a national sample size of 122,488. More details of the techniques used are provided in the document listed at point 2 as follows.
1 “Resource Allocation: Weighted Capitation Formula: Fifth edition” (Department of Health).
2 Allocation of Resources to English Areas; Individual and small area determinants of morbidity and use of healthcare resources (Sutton M, Gravelle H, Morris S, Leyland A, Windmeijer F, Dibben C, Muirhead M) Report to the Department of Health. Edinburgh: Information and Statistics Division, 2002.
Health Services: East Midlands
(2) what contact his Department has had with (a) the East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA), (b) primary care trusts within the East of England SHA area, (c) NHS hospital trusts, foundation trusts and mental health trusts within the SHA area and (d) right hon. and hon. Members on the effects of immigration into the region on NHS services and budgets; and if he will make a statement.
Ministers have regular meetings with hon. Members and other stakeholders about health services in England. There is also a regular flow of correspondence from across the country including the East of England and East Midlands areas.
The Department is supporting local national health service organisations engage within regional strategic migration partnerships which provide a single multi-sector, multi agency forum to consider the impacts of migration as they affect regional areas. Funding of £20,000 is available in both 2007-08 and 2008-09 to help with co-ordination arrangements.
Discussions are shortly to start with the East Midlands Government Office and the Local Government East Midlands about this. Also, this work is being taken forward in partnership with the East of England Regional Assembly, the East of England Government Office and Suffolk primary care trust.
Healthcare Commission: Information Officers
We understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that at present the Healthcare Commission currently employs three full-time press officers and one full-time media relations manager, all who are based at the Healthcare Commissions head office at Finsbury Tower, London.
Hearing Impaired: Tunbridge Wells
This information is not held centrally in the format requested.
However, the following data show waiting times for audiological assessments in West Kent primary care trust and nationally as at July 2007 and published on 12 September 2007.
West Kent Primary Care Trust
Total waiting for an audiological assessment: 1,765 with 1,060 waiting over 13 weeks.
National
Total waiting for an audiological assessment: 116,915 with 63,161 waiting over 13 weeks.
Heart Diseases: Medical Treatments
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is reviewing its October 2003 guidance on the use of drug-eluting stents for the treatment of coronary artery disease. NICE is currently considering the responses it has received from stakeholders during the recent consultation on its draft recommendations. As NICE has not yet issued final guidance it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.
NICE expects to publish final guidance in March 2008.
Hepatitis: Drugs
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended three drugs used for the treatment of hepatitis C: pegylated interferons, interferon alfa and oral ribavirin. The estimated costs of these drugs dispensed in hospitals and in the community in the financial year 2005-06 was £24.4 million.
Pegylated interferon alfa-2a may also be used to treat chronic hepatitis B. Interferon alfa-2a and 2b may also be used to treat chronic hepatitis B and some malignant diseases, such as certain forms of leukaemia. It is not possible to identify these costs separately.
Notes:
1. These data have been collated by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care.
2. The source of data on hospital prescribing is © IMS HEALTH: Hospital Pharmacy Audit. The cost of the medicines is estimated at NHS list price and not necessarily the price that the hospital paid.
3. Data on community prescribing are taken from the Prescription Cost Analysis system, supplied by the Prescription Pricing Division of the Business Services Authority. Estimated costs are based on Net Ingredient Cost (NIC). NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.
Hospitals
(2) which hospitals are located in each parliamentary constituency.
There is no current nationally agreed definition of what constitutes a district general hospital, although the term is in common use and is generally employed to describe large hospitals which are not teaching hospitals.
Information identifying individual hospital sites by parliamentary constituency is not collected centrally. However, a series of fact sheets on the Department's website does identify the headquarters' address of each national health service trust in this manner. The information is available at:
www.info.doh.gov.uk/nhsfactsheets.nsf
NHS organisations will decide locally what constitutes the best configuration of healthcare services for their populations. In some localities, services may be provided in large centralised hospitals, while others may offer the same services in the community.
Hospitals: Cleaning Services
The delivery of any deep-clean process is entirely a matter for local determination and will be affected by a range of local factors and considerations. It is not therefore possible to provide any estimate of the number of ward closures which may be required. However, we would expect all trusts to organise this programme in such a way that it minimises impact on service delivery and inconvenience to patients.
Hospitals: Food
This information is not collected in the format requested. The latest figures (for England) on food waste in the form of untouched meals are as set out as follows:
2005-06 Total number of untouched/unserved patient meals 13,053,065 Average percentage of untouched/unserved patient meals 9.42
Since 2004-05, the data provided have not been collected on a mandatory basis and therefore will not be complete.
Hospitals: Ministers of Religion
The Department issued guidance to national health service trusts in November 2003. “Meeting the Religious and Spiritual Needs of Patients and Staff” sets out a framework for the context and provision of chaplaincy and spiritual care services throughout the NHS that meet the needs of today's multi-cultural and spiritually diverse society.
NHS organisations have always been responsible for the provision of chaplaincy and spiritual care services. Funding for this is built into financial allocations to primary care trust, who commission hospital services on behalf of patients. “Shifting the Balance of Power”, published in 2002, empowered NHS trusts to give front line staff more say in how resources are allocated and services are delivered locally.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Information Officers
I am informed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority that, as of 28 August 2007, two people are employed to work full-time with the media, of which one has the job title of press officer.
Hyperactivity
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is producing a clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, young people and adults. The guideline will provide recommendations for good practice based on the latest available evidence and will be developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders. The published scope of the guideline includes consideration of dietary elimination and supplementation, and makes reference to environmental risk factors. The full scope for this guideline is available on the NICE website at:
guidance.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=351276
NICE expects to publish final guidance in July 2008.
Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts: Information Officers
We are informed by the Chairman of Monitor, whose statutory name is the independent regulator of national health service foundation trusts, that Monitor employs two external relations officers, part of whose responsibilities include media handling.
Influenza: Vaccination
Work continues on the design of a public engagement programme in accordance with the timetable set out in the previous written answer.
Between March and May 2007 the Government consulted on the draft ‘Ethical framework for the response to pandemic influenza’, which provides an ethical framework for policy and planning decisions relating to pandemic influenza, including the prioritisation of clinical countermeasures. The final version of this document will be published with the final ‘National Framework for responding to an influenza pandemic’ in the autumn. While the ethical principles underlying issues such as prioritisation can be considered in advance, their implications would have to be reviewed in light of emerging scientific developments and/or other information available at the time of a pandemic.
The Department meets with representatives from UK Vaccine Industry Group (UVIG) each year to discuss flu vaccine requirements for the United Kingdom. On 24 July 2007, Professor David Salisbury, Director of Immunisation, wrote to the profession saying that over 15 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine would be available for distribution in the UK.
Suppliers of flu vaccine to the UK for 2007-08 are Sanofi Pasteur MSD, Novartis Vaccines, GlaxoSmithKline, MASTA, Solvay and Wyeth vaccines.
The profession were alerted to the minor delays in distribution of vaccine from GSK and Novartis in the August and September edition of “Vaccine Update” respectively. Supply of flu vaccine to surgeries has already commenced.
Information Officers
(2) how many press officers are employed by the National Patient Safety Agency.
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) is a special health authority that was established in July 2001 to undertake various patient safety functions.
Since 1 April 2005, following the Department's Review of Arms Length Bodies, the Agency has also taken on additional responsibilities including those for the National Clinical Assessment Service (formerly the National Clinical Assessment Authority).
As at April 2007, two full-time press officers are employed by the NPSA to provide support across all the areas of its responsibility.
Intensive Care
Information on the number of critical care beds was not collected before March 1999. The biannual adult critical care provision census started in March 1999 with the latest census in July 2007. The data from each census have been placed in the Library. National health service trust mergers have taken place between 1999 and 2007 but each census covers organisations current at the time.
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency: Information Officers
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency employs two press officers.
Members: Correspondence
The reply was sent on 16 August 2007.
Meningitis: Vaccination
(2) what studies have been commissioned into the effectiveness of Prevenar since 4 September 2006.
Data on the pneumococcal vaccine uptake for children are currently being collected on behalf of the Department by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), and no robust analysis is available yet. Preliminary data from just over half of primary care trusts in England suggested that over 60 per cent. of children targeted in the catch-up campaign had received the vaccine. We do not yet know the level of uptake of the vaccine given as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme.
The impact of the vaccine has been very significant, with the number of cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in children, caused by any one of the seven serotypes contained in the vaccine, falling since the introduction of the new vaccine a year ago. The latest data are available on the HPA website at:
www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/pneumococcal/default.htm
A public awareness campaign ran in September 2006 in support of the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine. The new vaccine was publicised through television, radio and press advertising and an information pack was available for parents and health professionals.
There is a section on the immunisation.nhs.uk website about pneumococcal vaccines, and a leaflet on the pneumococcal catch-up programme has been placed in the Library and is available at:
www.immunisation.nhs.uk/files/275877_Catch-upleaflet.pdf
The pneumococcal vaccine is now part of the routine immunisation programme and is described in the Guide to childhood immunisations leaflet, available from general practitioner surgeries. Information and advice is also offered on this and other vaccines by health professionals before immunisations are given.
Midwives: Manpower
(2) what percentage of midwives are due to retire in each of the next five years; and how many new midwives are planned to be recruited in each year.
We do not collect information on the estimated numbers of retirements for midwives, this is a matter for strategic health authorities to build into their local workforce plans as they are best placed to assess the midwifery needs of their local population.
As part of NHS Operating Framework for 2007-08, local organisations are reviewing their workforce capacity and may identify the need to invest in their maternity services and increase staffing levels.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: Information Officers
Information on the number of press officers employed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is not held by the Department. NICE is an independent body and should be contacted direct for this information.
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse: Information Officers
There is one press officer employed at the National Treatment Agency.
Neurology: Manpower
As part of the work force contribution to delivering the NHS improvement plan, we are moving away from an emphasis on centrally prescribed national targets to a reliance on credible local plans to maximise work force capacity to support delivery.
It is the responsibility of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to analyse their local situation and develop plans, in liaison with their local national health service trusts and primary care providers, to deliver high quality NHS services and take action to recruit the appropriate staff required to deliver these services.
The following table shows the number of medical staff in neurology has increased by 372 or 59 per cent. since 1997.
Number (headcount) and full-time equivalents 1997 2006 Number FTE Number FTE All staff 638 555 1,012 892 Consultant 278 246 506 455 Associate specialist 6 5 16 11 Staff grade 6 6 20 14 Registrar group 159 138 231 208 Senior house officer 141 140 163 157 Foundation Year 2 n/a n/a 28 28 House officer and foundation programme year 1 10 10 8 8 Hospital practitioner/clinical assistant 37 11 40 10 Other staff 1 0 1— 1— n/a = denotes not applicable 1— = denotes zero 0 = denotes more than zero, less than one Source: Information Centre, Medical and Dental Workforce Census
NHS Connecting for Health
The communications agency concerned is Good Relations. Payments made to the agency for services provided to NHS Connecting for Health from 1 April 2005, when NHS Connecting for Health came into being, to 26 September 2007, total £509,263 including VAT.
NHS Connecting for Health also holds, or has held, contacts with Fishburn Hedges, and with Porter Novelli, payments to whom, over the same period, total £2,881,595 including VAT.
NHS Connecting for Health recognises the need for clear and accurate communications with the public and other stakeholder groups, including national health service staff. A key priority for successful implementation of an effective, national information technology system—a central plank of national health service modernisation—is to ensure that the public and stakeholders are fully informed and have an awareness and understanding of the benefits. The agencies concerned were appointed to assist in this important communication process and to produce supporting materials.
The contracts have delivered value for money. Examples of outputs include videos to explain the new systems and services; exhibition stands and an outdoor exhibition trailer to support face-to-face engagement; millions of copies of associated guidance material, posters and information packs for NHS staff and patients; and implementation advice and case studies for local NHS bodies that demonstrate the value of the programme, how benefits can be realised and lessons learned from implementations.
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement: Information Officers
The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement employs two full-time press officers.
NHS Treatment Centres: Cambridgeshire
The Department is working with the national health service to review the specifications of schemes in Phase 2 of the central procurement process, including the proposed scheme for the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire area, to ensure that future schemes best meet the needs of the local NHS and are responsive to the needs of the communities in which they will operate. This exercise is ongoing and is expected to be completed in October. Once this process is complete, and all parties involved in negotiations have been informed of the outcomes, further information will be made available.
NHS Treatment Centres: Essex
The Department does not keep data on the precise number of representations received on the specific issues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has said that he expects to approve further independent sector schemes in coming months, and that they will only go forward where the local national health service supports their introduction.
The Department is working with the national health service to review the specifications of the remaining schemes in Phase 2 of the central procurement process, including the proposed scheme for Essex, to ensure that future schemes best meet the needs of the local NHS, and are responsive to the needs of the communities in which they will operate. This exercise is ongoing, and expected to be completed in October. Once this process is complete, and all parties involved in negotiations have been informed of the outcomes, further information will be made available.
NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector
The costs of establishing Wave 1 and Phase 2 of the independent sector treatment centre programme are shown in the following table. Procurement costs cover all assessment, scoping, procurement and associated management, professional advisory and support costs.
£ million Wave 1 Phase 2 2006-07 2.2 38.6 2005-06 12.4 26.5 2004-05 34.9 8 2003-04 23.4 —
The Department has undertaken analysis of the prospective impact of proposed Phase 2 schemes, but considers that it is not reasonable to place this information in the Library at this time, because the analyses concerned are still contributing to procurement processes, the outcomes of which remain subject to ministerial decisions which have yet to be made.
NHS: Billing
This information has been placed in the Library.
NHS: DHL
The national health service capital spend in the 10 prime categories has not been signed over to DHL.
The approximate value of NHS capital spend in the 10 prime categories managed by DHL in the NHS supply chain contract is £2 - £2.25 billion. This means that DHL has the opportunity to offer to manage this spend on behalf of individual NHS trusts and foundation trusts.
NHS: Exel Europe
The chief executive of the NHS Business Services Authority (Nick Scholte) has written to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question and a copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
NHS: Finance
The consultation teams for Making it Better and Healthy Futures are currently in the early stages of planning and scoping their implementation programmes and activities.
As part of the planning stage of the implementation programme, capital and revenue costs of these changes, as well as taking into account any recommendations by the Secretary of State will be reviewed.
At present the costs have not been finalised.
NHS: Procurement
The prime categories of the NHS supply chain contract are:
Category
Medical supplies
Food and kitchen
Print and stationery
Laundry and cleaning
Bedding and linen
Dressings
Uniforms and clothing
Patient appliances
Laboratory equipment
Other equipment
Furniture/office and computer equipment
NHS: Standards
The team of experts appointed by NHS Employers and the British Medical Association (BMA) to inform the ongoing review and development of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) received 153 submissions in its latest round of evidence gathering. NHS Employers have announced that the breakdown of source of the submissions was as follows: national societies (27 per cent.), patient groups (25 per cent.), pharmaceutical companies (13 per cent.), individuals (15 per cent.), primary care organisations (10 per cent.), others (10 per cent.).
Any changes to the QOF depend on wider discussions between NHS Employers and the BMA about the General Medical Services contract. The advice given to the negotiating parties by the expert panel and further details of the submissions received, including the number related to each type of disease, are confidential to the negotiations.
Obesity: Peterborough
Estimated prevalence of obesity and smoking among adults aged 16 and over, along with associated confidence intervals are provided for the wards in the Peterborough local authority. These estimates are taken from the Synthetic Estimates of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours and are published on the Neighbourhood Statistics website at:
www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/Download1.do
These estimates are for the combined years 2000-02 and are shown in table 1 and table 2.
Percentage Estimated prevalence of obesity 95 per cent. lower confidence interval 95 per cent. upper confidence interval Comparison of estimated prevalence for obesity with national estimate1 Barnack 18.8 12.5 26.9 2 Bretton North 25.8 17.8 35.3 2 Bretton South 23.1 15.7 32.1 2 Central 24.7 17.1 34.1 2 Dogsthorpe 27.9 19.5 37.9 2 East 25.2 17.5 34.7 2 Eye and Thorney 26.6 18.6 36.5 2 Fletton 23.9 16.5 33.2 2 Glinton and Wittering 21.1 14.2 29.7 2 Newborough 24.1 16.6 33.6 2 North 26.6 18.5 36.3 2 Northborough 22.5 15.3 31.6 2 Orton Longueville 25.9 17.9 35.5 2 Orton Waterville 21.1 14.4 29.7 2 Orton with Hampton 20.0 13.5 28.4 2 Park 21.4 14.6 30.1 2 Paston 26.2 18.2 35.8 2 Ravensthorpe 28.1 19.5 38.1 2 Stanground Central 25.9 18.0 35.5 2 Stanground East 23.8 16.4 33.1 2 Walton 24.8 17.2 34.1 2 Werrington North 22.2 15.2 31.2 2 Werrington South 22.9 15.8 31.9 2 West 19.6 13.2 27.8 2
Percentage Estimated prevalence of smoking 95 per cent. lower confidence interval 95 per cent. upper confidence interval Comparison of estimated prevalence for smoking with national estimate1 Barnack 13.0 7.4 21.8 1 Bretton North 34.8 22.2 49.9 2 Bretton South 23.5 14.1 36.4 2 Central 24.7 14.8 38.2 2 Dogsthorpe 35.3 22.6 50.4 2 East 35.0 22.5 50.2 2 Eye and Thorney 21.6 12.9 33.9 2 Fletton 36.5 23.6 51.9 2 Glinton and Wittering 18.4 10.7 29.5 2 Newborough 21.1 12.4 33.5 2 North 31.9 20.2 46.6 2 Northborough 15.5 8.9 25.5 2 Orton Longueville 31.8 20.0 46.5 2 Orton Waterville 19.4 11.4 31.0 2 Orton with Hampton 21.0 12.4 33.4 2 Park 20.6 12.1 32.5 2 Paston 34.5 22.0 49.6 2 Ravensthorpe 33.5 21.1 48.5 2 Stanground Central 27.5 16.9 41.6 2 Stanground East 26.4 16.1 40.3 2 Walton 28.8 17.8 42.8 2 Werrington North 24.7 14.8 38.2 2 Werrington South 16.5 9.6 26.8 2 West 14.3 8.2 23.8 1 1 It should be noted that the scores for comparing the synthetic estimate to the national estimate relate to the data as follows: 1=CI significantly below NE, 2=overlapping, 3=CI significantly above NE. The national estimate is derived directly from the Health Surveys for England 2000-02 (with associated confidence intervals) and therefore is not a model-based estimate. Source: Synthetic Estimates of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours at Ward Level, 2000-02. Neighbourhood Statistics, Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Paediatrics: Doctors
The number of junior doctors in the paediatric specialty is shown in the following table.
Number (headcount) and full time equivalents (Fte) All paediatric specialties Paediatric cardiology Paediatric dentistry Paediatric surgery Paediatrics No. Fte No. Fte No. Fte No. Fte No. Fte Doctors in training 4,222 4,110 61 60 24 23 194 192 3,943 3,834 Registrar Group 1,849 1,756 36 35 18 17 95 94 1,700 1,610 Senior house officer 2,022 2,004 25 25 6 6 81 81 1,910 1,892 Foundation Year 2 214 214 0 0 0 0 10 10 204 204 House officer 137 137 0 0 0 0 8 8 129 129 Note: The training grades include junior doctors in trust grade posts. Source: The Information Centre (1C), Medical and Dental Workforce Census. All rights reserved.
Patientline
There is no single national health service contract with Patientline. Patientline's contracts are tailored to each NHS trust according to its specific needs.
Patients: Foreigners
Successive Governments have not required the national health service to provide statistics on the numbers of foreign nationals who are treated by the NHS, including those who are resident in the United Kingdom. It is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.
Pharmacy
In “Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS”, which was published in December 2003, the Department said that it expected all primary care trusts to consider commissioning pharmacist-led minor ailments services so that patients, who would otherwise have gone to their general practitioner for a medicine for a minor ailment, could get that medicine on the national health service from their community pharmacy.
Primary care trusts assess the health needs their population and commission services to meet those needs, in accordance with local priorities and finite resources.
Princess Royal Hospital Telford
The information requested is not centrally available, as the Department does not collect bed data at hospital level. However, this data is available at national health service trust level.
In 2006-07, the latest period for which data is available, there was an average daily number of 853 available beds provided by Shrewsbury and Telford hospital NHS trust. These consisted of beds open overnight and day only beds.
Source:
Department of Health KH03 return.
Recombinant Factor VII
The service level agreement between the Department and each strategic health authority is for the provision of recombinant clotting factors. This includes Recombinant Factor VII and Factor VIII. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 June 2007, Official Report, column 992W.
Ritalin
The safety of the use of methylphenidate is kept under careful review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in conjunction with other European regulatory authorities. In June 2007, at the request of the European Commission, a Europe wide review of the safety of methylphenidate products, including the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, was initiated. As part of this review, the United Kingdom, on behalf of Europe, is in discussion with the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture methylphenidate products about the conduct of research to better characterise and further investigate the safety profile of methylphenidate. As new data emerge it will be carefully evaluated by the MHRA and where necessary current prescribing advice will be updated to reflect the new evidence.
We fully support the advice given by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England on the use of drug therapy in treating children and young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and expect the national health service to take this guidance into account when treating patients.
NICE have advised that drug therapy to treat ADHD, of which Ritalin is but one option, should only be part of a comprehensive treatment programme that includes a range of social, psychological and behavioural interventions. These are mainly aimed at the child, but sometimes involve the parents and/or teachers. NICE has recommended that drug therapy should only be initiated by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional with expertise in ADHD and should be based on a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis. Continued prescribing and monitoring of drug treatment may be performed by general practitioners, under shared care arrangements.
Psychological interventions that may be helpful include behavioural management, parent training, family and/or individual therapy, social skills training, cognitive behaviour therapy and problem solving techniques, among others. Careful, informed clinical decision-making, involving the parents and child should involve discussion of the benefits versus the risks of all interventions.
We have also asked NICE to develop a clinical guideline on both the pharmacological and psychological interventions to treat ADHD. The guideline will cover the care provided by primary, community and secondary healthcare professionals who have direct contact with, and make decisions concerning, the care of children, young people and adults with ADHD. The guideline will include:
care in general practice and NHS community care;
hospital out-patient and in-patient care;
primary/secondary interface of care; and
transition from childhood services to adult services.
Publication of the guideline is expected in July 2008.
Smoking: Health Services
The total funding allocation for the NHS Stop Smoking Services is set out in the following table.
£ million 1979-98 0 1998-99 0 1999-2000 10 (HAZs only) 2000-01 20 (10 HAZs, 10 Has) 2001-02 123 (10 HAZ, 10 Has) 2002-03 123 2003-04 41 2004-05 46 2005-06 51 2006-07 256 2007-08 256 HAZ= Health action zones. 1 £3 million in 2001-02 and 2002-03 for smoking in pregnancy initiative. 2 Including additional £5 million heavily weighted towards spearhead PCTs.
The 2006-07 and 2007-08 revenue allocations to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) separately identify £211 million in 2006-07 and £342 million in 2007-08, around half of the £1 billion promised, to support implementation of the Choosing Health White Paper. For the two years covered by this allocation, a total of £10 million has been identified nationally to invest in the NHS Stop Smoking Services initiative.
Funding to support the NHS Stop Smoking Services has been allocated to PCTs on a weighted capitation basis, with the majority of the funding directed towards Spearhead PCTs.
Information on individual PCT allocations has been placed in the Library and is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/FinanceAndPlanning/Allocations/AllocationsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4104471&chk=kDkAyL
Surgery: Manpower
(2) what plans the Government have to increase the number of (a) hepatobiliary, (b) renal, (c) cardiac and (d) ophthalmic surgeons in each of the next three years.
This information is not collected centrally.
It is the responsibility of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to analyse their local situation and develop plans, in liaison with their local NHS trusts and primary care providers, to deliver high quality NHS services and take action to recruit the appropriate staff required to deliver these services.
Surgery: Peterborough
Information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows the number of last minute cancelled operations for non-clinical reasons at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for 2006-07 which are the latest data available.
Number Number of last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons 262 Number of urgent operations that were cancelled for a second or subsequent time for non clinical reasons 0 Notes: 1. A last minute cancellation is one that occurs on the day the patient was due to arrive, after they have arrived in hospital or on the day of their operation. 2. Some common non-clinical reasons for cancellations by the hospital include: ward beds unavailable; surgeon unavailable; emergency case needing theatre; theatre list over-ran; equipment failure; administration error; anaesthetist unavailable; theatre staff unavailable; and critical care bed unavailable. 3. Urgent operations are as defined by National Confidentially Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths. ‘Immediate’, ‘Urgent’ and ‘Expedited’ operations are included in the definition. However, ‘Elective’ operations are not included in the definition Source: Department of Health datasets: QMCO and Weekly Situation Reports
Transplant Surgery: Manpower
Transplant surgery is a sub-specialty of general surgery; the Information Centre for Health and Social Care does not collect information by sub-specialty.
The 2006 NHS workforce census showed there were 1,756 consultants working in the general surgery speciality, an increase of 578 or 49 per cent. since 1997.
University Hospital of North Staffordshire: Research
The information requested is not centrally held by the Department. The NHS West Midlands strategic health authority reports that University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust has recently written to the hon. Member following a similar request under the Freedom of Information Act.
Vaccines: Sleeping Contracts
Negotiations for the advanced supply contracts for pandemic specific vaccine were completed with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Baxter in May 2007 and the contracts became operational from 1 July 2007. The contracts are worth in total £155.4 million over four years, and are part of the continued work to prepare for and reduce the impact of a possible flu pandemic. Under these contracts GSK and Baxter are committed to supply a pandemic influenza vaccine to the United Kingdom as soon as the pandemic strain is identified and made available by the World Health Organisation.
Pre-pandemic vaccine did not form part of the negotiations.
A public announcement of the advanced supply agreements was made on 16 August 2007 and is reflected within the updated pandemic influenza preparedness plan which is due to be released shortly.
Westmorland Hospital: Mental Health Services
National health service organisations currently have a duty to involve and consult patients, the public and their representatives in the planning and development of services, and to consult them on changes to the operation of services.
Kentmere Ward at the Westmorland General is the responsibility of the Cumbria Partnership NHS trust. NHS North West reports that the ward has been closed temporarily on clinical safety grounds due to problems around recruitment to key posts. A recruitment exercise is currently under way.
Wi-Fi: Health Hazards
(2) what assessment he has made of the health implications of Wi-Fi communications;
(3) what representations he has received about the potential health implications of Wi-Fi communications;
(4) if he will set up an inquiry into Wi-Fi communications and their environmental and health impact.
The Department is advised by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Wi-Fi or similar wireless (WLAN) technology and health issues.
Current advice from the HPA is that
“There is no consistent evidence to date that Wi-Fi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population. The signals are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the router (access point) and the results so far show exposures are well within internationally accepted International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines. Based on current knowledge and experience, radio frequency exposures from Wi-Fi are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones. Also, the frequencies used in Wi-Fi are broadly the same as those from traditional radiofrequency applications.”.
On the basis of this advice the Department believes it is not feasible to conduct any further estimates of the numbers affected.
The HPA statement on Wi-Fi is available at:
www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/understand/radiation_topics/emf/wifi.htm.
In 2005 the HPA published a review of electrical sensitivity. This is a condition which some people attribute to exposure to electromagnetic fields associated with the electricity supply and electrical equipment. The review notes that although the symptoms are attributed to exposure to various types of electromagnetic fields, there is no proven scientific link between such exposures and symptoms. A number of studies have looked for diagnostic markers for electrical sensitivity but no consistent marker has been found. The HPA report entitled “Definition, Epidemiology and Management of Electrical Sensitivity” is available at:
www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/hpa_rpd_reports/2005/hpa_rpd_010.htm.
From May to September this year the Department has replied to four parliamentary questions, four items of correspondence from organisations and twelve from members of the public that have cited Wi-Fi equipment as a cause of health problems including the disturbing symptoms referred to as electrical sensitivity.
The Department is not planning an inquiry into Wi-Fi but the HPA is announcing a programme of work on Wi-Fi and WLAN installations such as those used in schools and homes. Discussions are underway with partner agencies, especially those in the education sector. This project aims to systematically investigate the types of Wi-Fi equipment in use and produce information on exposures to radio signals from wireless computer networks.
An HPA fact sheet on Wi-Fi is available at:
www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/understand/radiation_topics/emf/wlans.htm.
Culture, Media and Sport
Balen Report
None. The decision on whether to publish the Balen Report is a matter for the BBC.
Betting
My Department does not intend to produce a separate response to the conclusions of the working group, which are presently out to consultation on the National Joint Pitch Council's website www.njpc-ltd.co.uk. The future administrative arrangements for on-course bookmaking are for the bookmaking and racing industries to agree between themselves; it would not be appropriate for Government to favour one alternative above another. However, we understand the importance of those working in the bookmaking industry being able to comment on what is proposed, and so my officials have worked with the group to ensure that its conclusions are expressed in a logical and transparent format.
As I indicated during the Westminster Hall debate on this subject on 4 July 2007, Official Report, columns 237-60WH, and subsequently when I wrote on 25 July to hon. Members with an interest in this matter, the Government do not accept that the Gambling Act 2005 has had a direct effect on bookmakers' on-course pitch positions. No property has changed hands under the Act itself, nor does the Act abolish the National Pitch Rules or the National Joint Pitch Council. It remains open for racecourses, individually or collectively, to use the next five years to negotiate a commercial arrangement which is satisfactory to both sides.
I have had no discussions with the Racecourse Association on this topic, but intend to meet the Association and on-course bookmakers' representatives shortly.
(2) what Government policy is on the availability of fixed odds betting terminals; and if he will make a statement.
Under the Gambling Act fixed odds betting terminals have been classified as category B2 gaming machines. The Gambling Commission’s annual report 2006-07 estimates that there are 24,500 such machines located in licensed betting premises.
As a result of the Gambling Act 2005 these machines are now strictly regulated alongside other gaming machines for the first time. They are required to abide by strict limits on stakes and prizes (£100 and £500 respectively). The machines also have to comply with regulations, set by the Department, controlling the circumstances in which they are made available for use, and with technical standards set by the Gambling Commission. These include requirements to display information about where customers may obtain advice about gambling problems and a minimum game cycle duration.
B2 gaming machines may only be made available in the heavily regulated environment of casinos and licensed betting premises, both of which may be accessed by adults only. Casinos may offer a maximum of 20 gaming machines of up to category B1 and licensed betting premises a maximum of four gaming machines of up to category B2.
Big Lottery Fund
The following figures reflect the amount and percentage of grants awarded to statutory bodies in each year. They include awards under the Big Lottery Fund’s new programmes introduced since June 2004 and legacy programmes inherited from the Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund.
Financial year (ending 31 March) Amount awarded to statutory bodies (£) Percentage of grants awarded to statutory bodies 2004 391,257,825 43.9 2005 406,007,513 57.1 2006 52,820,765 11.0 2007 33,695,507 10.6
The Big Lottery Fund was created in June 2004. The definition of Statutory Bodies used covers the European regional development fund, further or higher education or university, local government, non-departmental public bodies, parish councils, public corporations, state schools and statutory health bodies.
The Big Lottery Fund has given an undertaking that, under its new programmes, 60-70 per cent. of the funding will go to the third sector. Between June 2004 and March 2007, the figure for third sector awards under new programmes has been 77 per cent. 23 per cent. has gone to the statutory sector.
Big Lottery Fund: Wirral
The figures reflect the amount awarded and the number of awards made by the Big Lottery Fund in each of the last five years in Wirral broken down by constituency.
Wirral West Wirral South Birkenhead Wallasey 2003-04 Amount awarded (£) 111,020 908,793 695,869 767,663 Number of awards made 17 13 19 17 2004-05 Amount awarded (£) 71,699 604,930 4,060,814 248,651 Number of awards made 39 31 36 38 2005-06 Amount awarded (£) 200,989 207,395 1,942,199 231,043 Number of awards made 34 29 46 35 2006-07 Amount awarded (£) 81,504 69,025 258,917 88,942 Number of awards made 14 10 22 17 YTD 2007 Amount awarded (£) 50,456 54,499 814,848 222,511 Number of awards made 8 9 8 10 Total of amounts awarded (£) 515,668 1,844,642 7,772,647 1,558,810 Total number of awards made 112 92 131 117
The names of the projects funded can be obtained from the Big Lottery Fund website at:
http://www.biglotteryfundgrants.org.uk:8080/grant-search/gs_001.xsql
Bookmakers: Licensing
The Department does not gather information on the average cost of a bookmaker's premises licences in each local authority in England and Wales. The Secretary of State has set maximum fee levels for all classes and types of premises licence. The Gambling (Premises Licence Fees) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (SI No. 479) require licensing authorities in England and Wales to determine the fee for each type of licence on a cost recovery basis.
British Casino Association
Ministers and officials from the Department meet regularly with representatives of the British Casino Association to discuss all aspects of casino policy.
I met representatives of the British Casino Association on 26 July 2007.
Casinos
The decision to apply to the casino advisory panel was a matter for the local authorities concerned. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not hold information about how much was spent by local authorities in preparing applications.
I set out the next steps in my written statement to the House on 16 July.
Climbing
Data from the 2005-06 Sport England Active People survey showed that 37,710 adults (16 years and over) participated at least once in the last four weeks in indoor climbing.
Data from the 2005-06 Sport England ‘Active People’ survey showed that 146,600 adults (16 years and over) regularly participated in mountaineering including climbing and fell walking. ‘Active People’ regards participating at least once in the last four weeks as regular participation.
Community Development: Expenditure
In each of the following years, the value of commitments made by Sport England through the Community Investment Fund was:
£ million 2004 2 2005 19 2006 20 2007 51
Culture
The Department’s 2007 annual report sets out all of DCMS’s existing targets (including those in the cultural area of its responsibilities) and progress against them.
The report is available on DCMS’s public website, via the link as follows:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Annual_Reports/ar_2007.htm
Hard copies of the annual report can also be found in the House Libraries.
The next formal statement of progress against the full set of DCMS targets will be published in December 2007 in the form of the Department’s annual autumn performance report.
Digital Broadcasting
(2) when he expects Ofcom to provide the programme making and special events sector with the digital switchover map; and if he will make a statement.
Ofcom’s consultation of 20 June 2007 on PMSE issues arising from the Digital Switchover (DSO), made proposals that would ensure access for the PMSE sector to the spectrum that will be interleaved with Digital Terrestrial Television after DSO. Although no decisions will be made until later in the year, Ofcom will provide as much information as possible on the frequencies that will make up this Digital Interleaved Spectrum as soon as it is available.
Digital Broadcasting: Multiple Occupation
Responsibility for upgrading communal television systems is a matter for landlords in consultation with residents. Digital UK is responsible for communicating with landlords and property managers in order to increase awareness and understanding about what they need to do to prepare for switchover.
The Government published research in 2005 and 2007 which looked at the readiness of communal television systems provided by social landlords. The most recent research carried out by BMRB1 and published in January 2007 showed an increase in the level of upgrade work since the 2005 survey with 32 per cent. of organisations in the process of completing the upgrade of all systems and nearly 50 per cent. having completed the upgrade of at least 30 per cent. of systems. Digital UK continues to map subsequent progress in the social sector through regional meetings and direct communications with social landlords.
Collecting information on private sector landlords is much more difficult given the diversity of the sector. Digital UK collects information on awareness of digital switchover and conversion to digital television through the quarterly tracker survey. The most recent tracker survey2 reports that digital conversion for households who live in flats is around 74 per cent. compared to digital take up of 80 per cent. across all tenures. Digital UK is continuing a targeted information campaign aimed at residents’ associations and flat-dwellers in the first four regions scheduled for switchover, as well as communicating directly with private landlords.
1 Communal TV Systems and Preparation for Digital Switchover—BMRB December 2006.
2 Digital Switchover Tracker Survey Switchover Progress Report Q2 2007 Ofcom and Digital UK August 2007.
Digital Broadcasting: Sight Impaired
We have not made any estimation of the number of blind and partially sighted people who are able to use Teletext without the assistance of others and it would be difficult to do so.
I recognise the impact that switching to digital television may have on those who rely on equipment that translates analogue written Teletext into audible speech as this piece of equipment will not work with digital text services. This should be balanced against the wider benefit that switchover brings of the provision of audio description services for blind and partially sighted people on terrestrial television.
I have received no representations from Portset, which manufactures Talking Teletext equipment that translates written teletext into audible speech.
A regulatory impact assessment was published in September 2005 setting out a detailed assessment of the impact of digital switchover on consumers, particularly elderly people and those with a disability. We have taken steps to address the disadvantages that these groups face as a result of switchover, primarily through the digital switchover help scheme. The scheme includes all households where one person is registered blind or is registered partially sighted. Those who are not registered, but are 75 years or over will also be eligible for help.
We will continue to monitor and review the Government’s policy on switchover for equality impact, including ongoing consultation with the RNIB and other organisations representing blind and partially sighted people, and are in the process of undertaking a full equalities impact assessment.
Digital Broadcasting: Weather
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of residences which suffered sustained loss of the BBC digital signal (a) during and (b) in the week following the recent extreme weather conditions; and if he will make a statement.
This is a matter for the BBC. The BBC’s charter specifies that the BBC must do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure viewers, listeners and other users are able to access the UK public services that are intended for them. The charter does not set specific performance standards in relation to continuity of service in the event of extreme weather incidents and Government have made no assessment of the number of residences which suffered loss of the BBC digital signal. I understand from the BBC that they work hard to restore transmission services in the event of any disruption as soon as possible.
This Department has not made any assessment of the aforementioned issues. However, there is extensive research available about digital broadcasting characteristics.
The technology used for broadcasting digital radio and television signals has been standardised by the European Standards body ETSI and allows broadcasters to strike a balance between robustness in adverse reception conditions against the number of services that can be broadcast.
Digital television signals are constrained at present so as not to cause interference to analogue services. This can lead to digital appearing to perform unfavourably. After switchover, power levels for digital signals will be boosted to their full capacity.
Gambling
Before 1 September 2007, under the Gaming Act 1968, it was illegal to provide gaming by remote means where the gaming operator was based in Great Britain.
From 1 September, offering remote gaming from Great Britain is permitted, and remote operators licensed under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) will be subject to requirements as to where they may locate their remote gambling equipment. Section 36(4) of the Act defines the types of equipment considered to be key equipment for the provision of gambling facilities. As part of the licence application process, the physical location of each piece of key equipment, including servers, must be stated and is then assessed by the Gambling Commission to ensure its location is acceptable and to enable effective regulation.
From 1 September 2007, the Gambling Commission will carry out compliance visits to the operator's premises to ensure the location of equipment, including servers, is in accordance with their licence.
It will be an offence under section 33 of the Act for an operator to provide facilities for gambling unless they hold the relevant licence.
Following the International Remote Gambling summit in 2006, the Department will continue to build on its work with European partners and other international regulators to ensure high regulatory standards and encourage the adoption of measures to protect children and vulnerable people, keep crime out and keep gambling fair.
We are considering with the Gambling Commission the option of an international working group to take this work forward.
The British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007 is an independent study which was overseen by the Gambling Commission and undertaken by the National Centre for Social Research. Officials from the Department were members of the steering group which was set up to help contribute to the delivery of the report. Other representatives included the Department of Health, Responsibility in Gambling Trust and the National Lottery Commission.
Officials received the British Gambling Prevalence Survey on 10 September. Ministers received a copy of the survey on 17 September.
Gambling Commission
The enforcement powers under the Gambling Act 2005 came into force on 1 September 2007 and it is too early to assess their effectiveness. The Gambling Commission has been given wide-ranging enforcement powers and I expect it to use them fairly and proportionately.
[holding answer 4 October 2007]: For 2007-08 the total running costs of the Gambling Commission are budgeted at £15.5 million. Currently the commission has 248 employees, but this is expected to fall to a steady state of around 200 by April 2008.
Gambling: Broadcasting
The Department has recently received one representation on the legality of the operation of LiveRoulette broadcast and website under the terms of the Gaming Act 1968. LiveRoulette operated by virtue of a bookmaker’s permit issued in accordance with the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963.
Under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005, LiveRoulette will require a remote casino operating licence from the Gambling Commission and be required to comply with the relevant licence conditions and codes of practice.
Gambling: Internet
Ministers and officials from DCMS regularly meet their counterparts from other countries to discuss gambling issues, including online gaming. Ministers and officials met representatives from 31 other jurisdictions which attended an International Summit on Remote Gambling at Ascot Racecourse on 31 October 2006.
Officials from my Department keep closely in touch with officials from other Departments, such as the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and officials in the European Commission on developments affecting remote gambling. Officials from DCMS and the Gambling Commission are also represented on the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF) which includes representatives from most European Union member states.
I am not aware of any plans by the European Commission to introduce regulations in respect of online gambling.
The Government are not responsible for decisions about which individual companies may or may not advertise on British television. The only gambling operators that are permitted to advertise on television are those licensed by the Gambling Commission in Great Britain or licensed in the European Economic Area (EEA) or licensed in a jurisdiction that the Government has decided to treat as if it were in the EEA for the purposes of gambling advertising—this is known as ‘white listing.’
All gambling operators licensed in Great Britain are subject to the Gambling Act 2005 which makes it an offence for operators to offer online gambling to children and young people under the age of 18. It is also an offence under the Act for a young person to gamble online. In addition, the Government have set strict criteria for ‘white listed’ jurisdictions about the protection of children and vulnerable people. All jurisdictions currently on the ‘white list’ have a minimum age for gambling of 18.
It is also an offence under the Gambling Act 2005 if a person brings to the attention of a child or young person information about gambling with a view to encouraging the child or young person to gamble. The Gambling Commission has powers under the Gambling Act to prosecute any person in respect of this offence.
The Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) new codes of practice for gambling advertisers put in place strict controls to prohibit gambling advertising during or around children's programmes or programmes commissioned for, principally directed at or likely to appeal particularly to audiences below the age of 18. The gambling industry has agreed to abide by a voluntary ban on television gambling advertising before 9pm (with the exception of sports betting advertising during sports programmes).
Gambling: Licensing
By 4 October 2007, the Gambling Commission had received 175 applications for remote gambling operating licences. Of those applicants, 173 have a registered office in the UK, one in Dublin and one in Malta.
Gambling: Research
The information requested is set out in the following table.
Title Organisation/author Summary Where published 2006 A Literature Review and Survey of Statistical Sources on Remote Gambling RSe Consulting An overview of remote gambling with section on problem gambling. On DCMS website 2006 Two peer reviews of: Europe Economics: Fixed Odds Betting Terminals(FOBT) and the Code of Practice: Round 2 Research: A Report for the Association of British Bookmakers Ltd Prof. Linda Hancocks Dr. Gerda Reiths The original report looked at levels of problem gambling among FOBT users. On DCMS website 2004 Young People and Gambling in Britain: A systematic and critical review of the research literature relating to gaming machine, lottery and pools coupons practice by children and young people under 18 Lancaster University The review looked at problem gambling among other issues. On DCMS website
Information Officers: Arts Council England
Arts Council England does not employ press officers. Instead, they employ staff with responsibility for communicating with the media as part of their wider role in the organisation. Two of these members of staff are based at the national office and 18 across the regional offices.
Information Officers: Big Lottery Fund
The Big Lottery Fund currently employs eight full-time press officers.
Information Officers: British Film Institute
The British Film Institute employs five full-time equivalent (FTE) press officers. This includes one communications manager who deals with press 50 per cent. of the time and one corporate and public affairs person who deals with press 50 per cent. of the time.
Information Officers: British Library
The British Library employs four full-time press officers and one free-lance press officer for the exhibition “Sacred”.
Information Officers: British Museum
The British Museum employs two press officers.
Information Officers: Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund employs three press officers.
Information Officers: Historic Royal Palaces
Historic Royal Palaces has one senior press officer, two public relations managers and a Head of Communications. They are all full-time and, in addition to their duties liaising with the press, these officers deal with both public enquiries and media enquiries, such as those concerned with filming at the Palaces.
Information Officers: Museums Libraries and Archives Council
Information Officers: National Lottery Commission
The National Lottery Commission employs two communications officers. Part of their job is to deal with press inquiries.
Information Officers: Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum employs four press officers.
Information Officers: Royal Parks
The Royal Parks has one full-time press officer and a communications manager who deals with press issues occasionally.
Information Officers: Science Museum
The Science Museum employs three full-time press officers and one part-time press officer.
Information Officers: Sport England
Sport England currently employs 6.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) press officers.
This takes into account a percentage of press work done in each of Sport England’s regions.
Information Officers: Sports Council for Wales
This is a devolved matter which is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.
Information Officers: UK Film Council
The UK Film Council employs 1.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) press officers. This is made up of:
0.5 FTE: one part-time press officer
0.5 FTE: 50 per cent. of the Press and Public Affairs Manager
0.3 FTE: 30 per cent. of an industry relations role
0.2 FTE: 20 per cent. of the Head of Communications
Information Officers: UK Sport
UK Sport's Communications Team employs five members of staff covering all aspects of communications including press.
Information Officers: Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert museum employs three press officers.
Information Officers: VisitBritain
There are 8.5 posts under VisitBritain’s head of press and PR delivering the organisation’s England, international and corporate press and public relations functions. In addition, some 25 posts in VisitBritain’s overseas offices are designated as having a media, press, PR or communications role.
McMaster Review
The Secretary of State has asked Sir Brian to report by the end of 2007.
The Secretary of State has asked Sir Brian McMaster to consider three main themes in his review:
How the system of public sector support for the arts can encourage excellence, risk taking and innovation;
How artistic excellence can encourage wider and deeper engagement with the arts by audiences;
How to establish a light touch and non-bureaucratic method to judge the quality of the arts in the future.
We expect the review to incur cash costs of approximately £50,000. In addition, numerous organisations and stakeholders are contributing their time and resources to the review in kind. The Secretary of State has asked Sir Brian to report by the end of 2007.
All of Arts Council England’s regularly funded organisations have received letters inviting them to contribute to the review, as have the national and regional hub museums. There will also be a series of interviews and group meetings with stakeholders in order to inform Sir Brian’s thinking ahead of the review’s publication.
In addition to this, we will shortly be publishing information about the review on the departmental website, along with details of how members of the public can contribute their ideas.
National Lottery Commission: Manpower
As of 3 October 2007, the National Lottery Commission employed 41 people.
National Lottery: Costs
This information is contained in distributor’s annual reports and accounts, copies of which are laid before Parliament and available in the Library of the House.
National Lottery: Grants
The Department’s National Lottery Grants Database does not record the recipient status, whether statutory body, local authority or private sector, for every grant it records. The information requested could therefore only be provided by requesting a designation for every award from each distributor, which would incur disproportionate cost
The figures requested, which are for income raised for the various good causes including investment income, are given in the following tables using 2006-07 constant prices, the latest available from the Office for National Statistics.
1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 Arts 399 399 445 346 313 334 Heritage 399 402 461 382 342 377 Sport 399 402 457 372 324 349 Millennium 401 407 501 481 416 404 Charitable expenditure 401 402 455 369 327 346 Health, education and environment — — 134 401 360 285 Total 1,999 2,011 2,454 2,351 2,082 2,095
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Arts 338 284 247 253 252 213 Heritage 366 323 265 279 278 231 Sport 346 286 245 252 251 213 Millennium 142 23 6 6 4 — Charitable expenditure 339 277 242 246 245 — Health, education and environment 549 569 494 507 505 — Charities, health, education and environment — — — — — 630 Olympics — — — — 16 116 Total 2,080 1,763 1,499 1,543 1,550 1,403
Totals may not cast arithmetically due to rounding. For 2006-07, income raised before 1 December 2006 for the charitable expenditure good cause and the health, education and environment good cause is shown under the new combined good cause. The figures for income raised for the health, education and environment good cause in 1997-98, 1998-99, 2002-03, 2005-06 and 2006-07 includes money that was transferred from that income stream to the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).
National Lottery: NHS Trusts
The following table shows the number and value of grants on the Department’s Lottery Grants Database where the name of the recipient is recorded as “NHS Trust”. The information is for the last five complete financial years and the values of grants are rounded to the nearest £1,000. In the case of the Big Lottery Fund, the information was supplied directly by the distributor.
Distributor 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Big Lottery Fund1 73,878,000 33,841,000 750,000 761,000 339,000 Heritage Lottery Fund — — 197,000 25,000 23,000 UK Sport — — — — — Sport England — — — — — Sport Northern Ireland — — — — — Sport Scotland — — — — — Sports Council Wales — — — 1,000 1,000 Arts Council England 184,000 64,000 234,000 184,000 107,000 Arts Council Northern Ireland — — — — — Scottish Arts Council 8,000 82,000 9,000 — — Arts Council Wales 93,000 10,000 100,000 133,000 139,000 UK Film Council — — 4,000 — — Scottish Screen — — — — — 1 The New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund were replaced by the Big Lottery Fund on the 1 December 2006.
The Department’s Lottery grant database is searchable at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk and uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.
National Lottery: Sports
Figures based on the Department's current National Lottery income projections are given in the following table. My officials review the projections four times a year, so the figures are subject to possible future change.
£ million (rounded to nearest £0.1 million) 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Total Sport England 121.8 101.8 99.6 100.5 127.1 550.8 Sport Scotland 15.9 13.3 13 13.1 16.6 71.9 SCW 8.8 7.4 7.2 7.3 9.2 39.9 SNI 5.1 4.3 4.2 4.2 5.3 23.1
Night Clubs: Body Searches
The searching of entrants to nightclubs can help promote the licensing objectives of public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder but, as the Secretary of State's guidance to licensing authorities makes clear, such conditions should only be imposed where necessary, taking into account factors such as the location and type of venue. Where the police believe that a premises selling alcohol is associated with serious crime or serious disorder, such as the use of knives or guns, they can apply for a fast track review of the premises licence under new powers which came into force on 1 October 2007. In such cases, licensing authorities must also consider if it is appropriate to impose immediate extra conditions, such as a requirement to search for weapons, on the licence pending that review.
Olympic Games: Finance
UK Sport invested a total of £72.45 million in pathway funds for Olympic and Paralympic sports during 2006-07, through its World Class Pathway Programme. Of this total, £53.4 million was invested in Olympic sports, £7.4 million in Paralympic sports, and £11.7 million in services to support the Olympic and Paralympic investment.
The total amount invested directly into Olympic National Governing Bodies and athletes for this period has been broken down by sport in the following table:
Sport £ Archery 740,627 Athletics 6,389,548 Badminton 1,549,194 Boxing 791,786 Canoeing 2,831,657 Cycling 6,014,638 Diving 1,112,648 Equestrian 2,812,707 Fencing 528,928 Gymnastics 1,756,099 Handball 431,000 Hockey 2,435,865 Judo 1,515,541 Modern Pentathlon 1,299,439 Rowing 7,059,681 Sailing 6,286,419 Softball 170,000 Swimming 4,845,012 Synchro Swimming 178,192 Table Tennis 583,450 Taekwondo 597,547 Target Shooting 1,000,301 Triathlon 786,827 Volleyball 536,500 Water Polo 423,283 Weightlifting 228,282 Wrestling 448,375 Grand total 53,353,546
Peterborough
Piers
There are currently 55 piers still standing, 16 of which are owned by local authorities (LAs).
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has received 12 applications for seaside piers, six for piers which are owned by LAs. HLF has granted funding for three of those owned by local authorities.
The breakdown of the awards for the three LA owned seaside piers is set out in the table:
Name Grantee Number of projects Value of awards (£) Penarth Pier Penarth Arts and Crafts Ltd./Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council 2 1,151,000 Saltburn by the Sea Pier Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council 1 1,208,000 Southport Pier Southport Pier Trust Company Ltd./Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council 2 1,734,000
Primary Education: Football
Of the 17,361 primary schools in England, the English Schools Football Association (ESFA) advise that approximately 5,361 do not compete in either county, district or national football competitions.
The 2005-06 School Sport Survey found that 99 per cent. of primary schools offered football during the last year and that 79 per cent. of primary schools have a link with a football club.
Radio
The regulation of radio is one of the items that I and my officials discuss in our periodic meetings with Ofcom.
Sport Action Zones
Core funding for each of the 12 designated Sport Action Zones totalled £350,000 over the five years of planned investment (2000-05); meaning an overall total of £4.2 million.
A further £1.998 million Magnet funding was also awarded to the scheme. Any future investment in Sport Action Zones has been mainstreamed through Sport England's Community Investment Fund (CIF).
Sport Direct
A number of options for delivering a one stop shop service for sport have been considered, and from the autumn this service will be accessible via the NHS Choices website. Officials discussed the most effective way of integrating sources of sports participation information with Sport England and the Department of Health.
Two DCMS civil servants were involved in the assessment process.
All costs of developing and establishing the new service have been met within existing budgets.
Sports: Elderly
Data from the DCMS 2005-06 ‘Taking Part’ survey showed that:
10.4 per cent. of people aged 60 and over engaged in at least 30 minutes of moderate level intensity sport, at least three times a week.
29.7 per cent. of people aged 60 and over had participated in an active sport at least once in the last four weeks.
Data from the DCMS 2005-06 ‘Taking Part’ survey showed that the top 10 sports in terms of participation by people aged 60 and over are:
1. Swimming or diving (indoors)
2. Golf, pitch and putt, putting
3. Health, fitness, gym or conditioning activities
4. Swimming or diving (outdoors)
5. Cycling for health, recreation, training, competition
6. Keep fit, aerobics
7. Snooker, pool, billiards (excluding bar billiards)
8. Bowls (lawn) (outdoors)
9. Bowls (indoors)
10. Ten-pin bowling
Sports: National Lottery
The figures in the following tables show the number of grants awarded and are derived from the Lottery Grants Database. My Department does not hold information on the number of unsuccessful applications.
(a) Sports Distributors
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 535 1998-99 470 1999-2000 2,650 2000-01 4,238 2001-02 4,810 2002-03 944 2003-04 722 2004-05 727 2005-06 606 2006-07 306
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 349 1998-99 310 1999-2000 223 2000-01 212 2001-02 211 2002-03 242 2003-04 167 2004-05 338 2005-06 299 2006-07 146
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 99 1998-99 60 1999-2000 70 2000-01 125 2001-02 167 2002-03 216 2003-04 139 2004-05 69 2005-06 1,166 2006-07 1,677
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 114 1998-99 566 1999-2000 967 2000-01 817 2001-02 962 2002-03 1,016 2003-04 591 2004-05 530 2005-06 500 2006-07 421
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 2 1998-99 2 1999-2000 97 2000-01 676 2001-02 1,211 2002-03 1,304 2003-04 1,013 2004-05 1,113 2005-06 526 2006-07 1,144
(b) Arts Distributors
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 4,016 1998-99 806 1999-2000 1,966 2000-01 2,991 2001-02 3,743 2002-03 1,751 2003-04 3,285 2004-05 3,295 2005-06 3,305 2006-07 2,271
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 333 1998-99 125 1999-2000 512 2000-01 467 2001-02 633 2002-03 655 2003-04 545 2004-05 580 2005-06 766 2006-07 577
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 107 1998-99 88 1999-2000 107 2000-01 69 2001-02 257 2002-03 367 2003-04 350 2004-05 433 2005-06 417 2006-07 538
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 242 1998-99 554 1999-2000 545 2000-01 433 2001-02 654 2002-03 1,211 2003-04 1,384 2004-05 1,350 2005-06 435 2006-07 593
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 — 1998-99 — 1999-2000 23 2000-01 72 2001-02 333 2002-03 697 2003-04 991 2004-05 958 2005-06 1,138 2006-07 1,180
Financial year Total number of Grants 1997-98 — 1998-99 — 1999-2000 — 2000-01 69 2001-02 92 2002-03 100 2003-04 110 2004-05 76 2005-06 97 2006-07 50
Sportsgrounds: Nottinghamshire
The Active Places database indicates that there are 224 athletics tracks in England with six or more lanes and floodlighting. Five of these tracks are located in Nottinghamshire.
Swimming Pools
There are currently 37 Olympic-standard (50 m) swimming pools in England. The following table details where they are located:
Indoor Outdoor North West Manchester x 2 — Stockport — Wigan — East Norwich Cambridge South East Crawley Guildford High Wycombe Chalfort, Buckinghamshire Aldershot Portsmouth — Oxford — Hitchin, Hertfordshire — Letchworth, Hertfordshire — Newbury East Midlands Loughborough Peterborough South West Bath Penzance Millfield Plymouth — Torbay — Cheltenham — Lymington Spa London Crystal Palace (temporarily closed till June 2008) Brockwell Ealing Charlton — Haringey — Hackney — Parliament Hill — Tooting Bee — Royal Parks (Serpentine) West Midlands Coventry — Yorkshire Leeds — Sheffield —
A further three 50 m indoor pools are under construction and another is at the planning stage.
According to the Active Places database there are 64 diving pools in England (and one planned to open shortly in Leeds). The following table shows where the 64 are located:
Region Bedford East Cambridge East Colchester East Hatfield East Hemel Hempstead East Hertford East Peterborough East Southend-On-Sea East Derby East Midlands Hinckley East Midlands Lincoln East Midlands Nottingham East Midlands Rutland East Midlands Spalding East Midlands Barnet London Crouch End London Crystal Palace (temporarily closed) London Waltham Forest London Darlington North East Hartlepool North East South Shields North East Sunderland North East Whitley Bay North East Bury North West Manchester North West Oldham North West Abingdon South East Alton South East Dartford South East Eastbourne South East Gillingham South East Gravesend South East Guildford South East Havant South East Leatherhead South East Maidstone South East Oxford South East Reading South East Southampton South East Swanley South East Tunbridge Wells South East Worthing South East Barnstaple South West Bristol South West Cheltenham South West Plymouth South West Poole South West Redruth South West St. Austell South West Coventry West Midlands Hereford West Midlands Ludlow West Midlands Solihull West Midlands Stafford West Midlands Sutton Coldfield West Midlands Worcester West Midlands Barnsley Yorkshire and the Humber Bradford Yorkshire and the Humber Grimsby Yorkshire and the Humber Harrogate Yorkshire and the Humber Leeds x2 Yorkshire and the Humber Rotherham Yorkshire and the Humber Sheffield Yorkshire and the Humber
Information on pool closures across England was not collected centrally prior to 2004. However, the most recent information from Sport England indicates that a total of 37 pools (not sites) in local authority ownership were closed between 2004 and 2006.
The Active Places database of sports facilities across England (established in 2004) currently lists 211 pools (not sites) that have been newly built between 1997 and 2006, of which 56 were built between 2004 and 2006. In addition, the database lists a further 1,237 local authority owned pools built before 1997 but refurbished between 1997 and 2006.
Volunteers: Recruitment
The 2005-06 Annual School Sport Survey indicates that 13 per cent. of pupils in years 10-13 are actively engaged in sports volunteering and leadership. This equates to 285,631 pupils. This is an increase of 4 per cent. on the numbers surveyed for the first survey in 2003-04 and an increase of 2 per cent. from last year.
This number includes participants in the Step into Sport Programme, one of the eight strands of the National School Sport Strategy. Through Step into Sport, the Government are providing a simple framework of co-ordinated opportunities at a local level in schools and local communities for young people to begin an involvement in leadership and volunteering through sport.
The Youth Sport Trust deliver the programme and advise that from its launch in 2002 until 2004 4,000 young people aged 14 to 19 registered as Community Volunteers and a further 2,000 young people volunteered to take part in the planning, organisation and delivery of sporting festivals for local primary schools Between 2004 and 2007, 29,720 young people have registered as volunteers in sport at school or communities.
As part of Step into Sport, there are now 973 Young Ambassadors aged 16 years in place, in 449 School Sport Partnerships (two in each Partnership), all helping to spread the Olympic and Paralympic message and ideals within School Sport Partnerships, as well as acting as advocates and role models to other young people. Of the two young people in each Partnership, one is also a gifted and talented athlete.
Between 2002-04 YST figures indicate that SiS developed 600 school based adult mentors and a further 1,068 from 2004-07.
Written Questions
Both questions were answered on 3 October.
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service: Information Officers
ACAS currently employs two permanent communications professionals to carry out its media and marketing activity. Both are Government Communication Network (GCN) professionals, with the media and marketing manager operating at Senior Information Officer level and their deputy at Information Officer level. Neither is a full-time press officer, but both combine press duties as part of their overall role. This includes operating an out-of-hours service for the media.
Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2007 Directive
The Department received 75 responses to its consultation on draft Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2007, which implement the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC). These included consumer bodies, businesses and business organisations, trading standards departments, regulators, professional institutions and academics.
We are currently analysing the responses and the Government hope to publish their response in October, including what changes they proposes to make to the draft regulations.
East of England Development Agency: Information Officers
Export Credits Guarantee Department: Information Officers
All ECGD's media relations are handled by the Department's head of communications.
South West Development Agency: Information Officers
Accommodation Address Agencies
There has been no such evaluation. We are discussing with a range of interested parties whether Government intervention is appropriate.
Advantage West Midlands: Information Officers
Bankruptcy: Cambridgeshire
The number of bankruptcies in Cambridgeshire classified according to postcodes provided by bankrupt individuals can be seen in the following table. The accuracy of these statistics is thus as reliable as the postcode information supplied, which is subject to elements of missing and inaccurate data.
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Cambridgeshire 216 294 391 526 661
Barbara Thomas Judge
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: Lady Thomas Judge keeps BERR officials fully up to date with her non-executive, advisory and charity roles and provides a breakdown of the time involved. Ministers are briefed as appropriate and my right hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) was most recently given advice in July soon after he became Secretary of State.
We continue to be fully satisfied that Lady Thomas Judge is performing the role of UKAEA chair highly effectively and with full dedication. As such the UK taxpayer is being well served and gets considerably more than the two days per week for which Lady Thomas Judge is contracted.
Bevin Boys
Between the years 1943 and 1948 approximately 48,000 men served in the mines as ballotees, volunteers or optants under the Bevin Boys scheme. Based on the uptake for the Ministry of Defences' HM Armed Forces Veteran's Badge it is estimated that there might be in the region of 6,000 to 11,000 claims for the Bevin Boys Veteran's Badge.
British Nuclear Fuels: Information Officers
Following the strategy announced by the Secretary of State for the British Nuclear Group businesses in October 2006, all corporate activities previously undertaken by British Nuclear Group have been transferred to its parent company BNFL. BNFL has a small corporate centre to oversee its businesses and manage the ongoing restructuring, which includes one press officer. The subsidiary businesses of BNFL, namely Sellafield, Nexia Solutions and Project Services, employ 7.5 full-time equivalent press officers.
Broadband
No such assessment has been made.
The EU Commission is reviewing the scope and future of universal service in 2008 and we expect to consult widely with all stakeholders in preparing the UK's response.
No such discussions have taken place. Two UK telephone operators have a universal service obligation (USO); BT and Kingston Communications.
The EU Commission is reviewing the scope and future of universal service in 2008 and we plan to consult widely, including with Ofcom and the communications industry in preparing the UK's response.
Broadcasting
The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive’s letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Certification Office for Trade Union and Employers' Associations: Information Officers
The Certification Office for Trade Union and Employers' Associations employs no press officers.
Companies House: Information Officers
Companies House has two press officers, neither of whom work exclusively on press issues.
Companies: Radioactive Materials
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform does not give advice to businesses on the storage of radiological materials.
Regulatory guidance is provided on the respective websites of the Environment Agency (EA) (www.enviromnent-agency.gov.uk) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (www.hse.gov.uk). Guidance can also be found on the environment agencies website for small businesses at www.netregs.gov.uk giving free environmental guidance to small businesses in the UK to help them comply with environmental legislation.
HSE has a statutory responsibility to provide advice and this would include advice on the storage of radiological materials. Businesses can therefore contact HSE for guidance and they can also contact the Environment Agency.
Competition Commission: Information Officers
There are two press officers in the Competition Commission.
Computers: Waste Disposal
The guidance on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations which was published in February 2007, contained advice for both business and domestic users on the disposal of redundant equipment. Further advice specifically for Government procurement officers is to issue shortly.
Copyright: Consumers
(2) if he will introduce legislation to enable companies to address grievances relating to copycat branding through the civil courts; and if he will make a statement.
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, which implement the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD), include provisions prohibiting copycat branding which is likely to confuse consumers into taking a transactional decision they would not have taken otherwise.
In response to the December 2005 consultation on implementation of the UCPD the Government said that they did not propose to allow businesses to take enforcement action for breaches of the directive. This is because it believed that existing arrangements are adequate for dealing with cases that result in real consumer detriment.
A number of responses to the May 2007 consultation on the draft regulations asked the Government to reconsider their decision not to allow companies to take civil (injunctive) action to enforce the provisions copycat branding. We are carefully considering all the responses received before coming to a final decision on how the regulations should best be enforced in the interests of consumers.
Departments: Departmental Coordination
[holding answer 12 September 2007]: The Prime Minister announced the new Cabinet Committee structure on 23 July 2007. The Domestic Affairs (Communities and Equalities) Committee, chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, was one of the new Committees. The terms of reference for DA(CE) are:
“To consider policy relating to community issues, including community cohesion, equalities, wellbeing and public health; and report as necessary to the Committee on Domestic Affairs and the Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development".
This Department has not set up any committees or permanent groups involving senior civil servants specifically to liaise with the Ministers for Women.
As with all cross cutting issues, Ministers and officials in this Department liaise with the Minister for Women as necessary.
Departments: Disabled
The proportion of people employed by my department and its agencies who have declared a disability or long term health condition as at 1 September 2007 is shown as follows.
Staff in post Staff who have declared a disability/long-term health condition Percentage of staff with a declared disability/long-term health condition BERR Core 2,464 197 8 BERR including UK Trade and Investment and Office of Manpower Economics 2,958 237 8 National Weights and Measures Laboratory 54 0 0 The Insolvency Service 2,433 327 13 UK Intellectual Property Office 998 19 2
Departments: Training
Centrally held records do not distinguish between these events and other training and development activities and the information is therefore not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has only been in existence since 28 June 2007. However, we have aggregated the training spend of the staff who now form BERR and for the 12-month period July 2006 to June 2007 it was £2,782,090.
Training budgets are devolved so it is not possible to calculate how much of this spend was on communications training.
Digital Broadcasting: Television
Information recorded at 30 June 2007 by the Registered Digital Installer-Licensing Body is set out in the following table.
ITV region Enrolled/registered for training Registered digital installers (RDIs) Associate RDIs Anglia 137 0 4 Border 57 0 4 Central 269 13 20 Grampian 20 1 1 Granada 215 0 22 HTV Wales 97 15 10 HTV West 42 0 4 London 354 1 9 Meridian 166 0 15 Scottish TV 88 0 0 Tyne Tees 37 0 8 Ulster 13 0 0 West Country 56 0 5 Yorkshire 414 36 6 Total 1,965 66 108
The number of accredited installers is now increasing week-by-week and, as at 23 July 2007, there were 82 RDIs.
The associate RDI scheme, which is mentioned in the table, has been launched by the RDI Licensing Body as a temporary measure given the need for consumers to be able to identify honest and reliable aerial installers in the interim before significant numbers of installers gain full RDI qualification. Associate RDIs have met the following criteria:
have enrolled or given a commitment to enrol for relevant NVQ training;
have undertaken and met the requirements of a suitable Working at Heights course;
have a minimum of one years relevant work experience within the aerial industry;
provided evidence of a satisfactory Basic Criminal Records Disclosure and Public Liability insurance.
Electrical Control Equipment: Waste Disposal
Householders will get information about the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in a variety of ways: through the media; from retailers, when they buy a new electrical item; and via their local council. Surrey county council for example has already updated its website to provide residents with information about waste electrical equipment.
Electricity Generation: Wind Power
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: Advice from National Grid, the GB System Operator, is that the percentage of total electrical energy that can be produced by wind generation is likely to be limited by economic rather than technical considerations and that any limit will lie beyond the Government’s current renewable targets or aspirations. This view is supported by evidence from abroad, with a number of countries having achieved, in percentage terms, the wind generation output that the UK currently aspires to.
Energy: Research
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: Spend so far (to end March 2007) under the programmes listed as follows, which were introduced at different points over the period, totals £208.13 million. All of these programmes except the Major PV Demonstration Programme and Clear Skies are projected to continue to spend during the CSR period and in some cases well beyond.
Spend on the main programme activities is set out below. It has not been possible to provide a breakdown of the Clear Skies and R and D programme spend by technology.
Programme/technology Spend to end 2006-07 (£ million) Off-shore Wind capital grant programme 76.35 Bioenergy capital grant programme 26.02 Major PV Demonstration Programme 30.1 Clear Skies (Micro wind, Biomass, Heat Pumps, Micro hydro, Solar Thermal Hot Water) 12.1 Marine Renewable Deployment Fund 1.62 Low Carbon Buildings Program Phase 1 (LCB) 4.0 Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 (LCB) 0.13 Hydrogen and Fuel Cells and Carbon Abatement Demonstration Programme (HFCAT) 0.11 New and Renewables R and D programme/Technology Programme 57.7 Total 208.13
Equal Opportunities Commission: Information Officers
I have been asked to reply.
There are four press officers employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission for England, Scotland and Wales. The Equal Opportunities Commission does not have an office in Northern Ireland.
EU Internal Trade: Yorkshire and Humberside
No such estimates have been made.
In the year ended March 2007 HM Revenue and Customs recorded exports from Yorkshire and the Humber to the EU totalling £7.2 billion out of a total export figure of £12.3 billion for the region. Exports to the EU therefore accounted for 59 per cent. of the total. This excludes exports of services and lower value exports which are not recorded by HM Revenue and Customs.
On foreign direct investment, there are 595 EU owned companies in Yorkshire and the Humber of which 16 are based in York. Over 1,700 new or safeguarded jobs were generated by new companies investing in Yorkshire and the Humber during 2006-07. Of this figure, investment by companies based in other EU states contributed 202 jobs. However, none of the EU investments were in York.
Flexible Working
The Government encourage all types of flexible working across the workforce by providing detailed guidance, promoting the benefits and encouraging the sharing of best practice. We introduced the right to request flexible working, for parents of young and disabled children in April 2003. In April 2007 we extended this right to carers of adults. Over six million employees now have the statutory right to ask to work flexibly.
There is no evidence to suggest that we should place a duty on employers to provide flexible working arrangements. The right to request flexible working has been a huge success with four out of five requests accepted by employers. 87 per cent. of all employees are satisfied with their current working patterns and 90 per cent. of employees said that at least one flexible working arrangement was available to them if they needed it. We will continue to monitor the impact of the flexible working law.
Gas Distribution Price Control Review
(2) what factors Ofgem took into account in assessing the safety implications of its proposals prior to developing its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013;
(3) what factors Ofgem took into account on the safety performance indicators for the gas distribution networks in compiling its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013.
The Gas Distribution Price Control Review is a matter for Ofgem. I am therefore asking the chief executive of the Gas and Electricity Markets, which heads Ofgem, to write directly to the hon. Member.
(2) what factors Ofgem took into account in compiling its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013, with particular reference to the allowances granted to allow gas distribution network operators to recruit new employees to carry out emergency, repair and maintenance activities;
(3) how many gas distribution networks made representations to Ofgem prior to it publishing Document 125/07, initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013; and how many sought an additional allowance to allow them to recruit new employees to carry out emergency, repair and maintenance activities;
(4) what additional allowance Ofgem made in its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013 to allow the gas distribution network operators to recruit and train new employees to carry out emergency, repair and maintenance activities;
(5) what steps Ofgem took to assess the safety implications of its proposals for (a) the consumer and (b) employees of the gas distribution networks prior to publishing Document 125/07, containing its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013.
The Gas Distribution Price Control Review is a matter for Ofgem. I am therefore asking the Chief Executive of the Gas and Electricity Markets, which heads Ofgem, to write directly to the hon. Member.
Loans: Protection
The Competition Commission has been investigating the home credit sector and is now implementing remedies intended to make the market more competitive so that customers of home credit companies will get a better deal.
More generally, the Government have recently strengthened consumer credit legislation. A prime purpose of these reforms is to protect consumers from unfair treatment by lenders, whether in the home credit sector or by other credit providers.
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Information Officers
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) does not employ a press officer as such, but the NDA’s head of communications and three communications managers cover a range of duties which by their nature include press relations.
Ofcom: Information Officers
I am informed by the chief executive of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) that there are six members of staff in the regulator’s media office, one of whom is part-time.
Office of Fair Trading: Information Officers
The OFT employs six press officers, one of whom is responsible for media handling for Consumer Direct—the Government's national consumer advice line.
Oil: Prices
Oil is a globally traded commodity and the rise in oil prices over recent years has affected all countries, not just the UK. Moreover, while the Government recognise that in recent years higher and more volatile oil prices have created problems for UK businesses, by increasing production costs and adding pressure to profit margins, several factors have helped limit the impact. Firstly, in real terms (current prices), oil prices have remained below the peak levels reached in the late-1970s and early 1980s. Secondly, the rise in oil prices has in part been driven by strong global economic growth. Thirdly, UK businesses typically now have a lower intensity to use oil, given improvements in energy efficiency and the shift in the structure of the economy towards services. Finally, developments in financial markets have allowed businesses to hedge against the risks associated with fluctuations in oil prices more effectively.
The 2007 Energy White Paper (http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/) sets out the measures the Government are putting in place to help improve the functioning of the global oil market, and to ensure that the UK's domestic market framework and supply infrastructure continue to deliver reliable supplies of oil-based energy at competitive prices, as they have done over the last 15 years.
Nominal prices $/bbl Nominal prices £/bbl Real 2006 prices £/bbl 1992 19.5 10.9 15.4 1993 17.1 11.4 15.6 1994 15.8 10.3 14.1 1995 17.3 11.0 14.5 1996 21.0 13.4 17.2 1997 19.3 11.8 14.7 1998 12.8 7.7 9.3 1999 17.9 11.0 13.1 2000 28.6 18.9 22.1 2001 24.5 17.0 19.4 2002 24.7 16.4 18.2 2003 29.1 17.8 19.1 2004 37.8 20.6 21.6 2005 53.8 29.7 30.4 2006 64.7 35.2 35.2 YTD 2007 65.5 33.0 — Notes: 1. Prices for supplies received by refineries in the UK from both indigenous and imported sources. 2. Real 2006 prices calculated using the GDP deflator. Source: BERR
Oil: Reserves
Oil is traded in a global market where prices and availability are determined by global supply and demand conditions.
As domestic oil production declines, the UK will continue to rely on the global oil market to source its supplies, allowing companies to have access to a diverse range of suppliers. Commercial reasons, for example geographical proximity, mean that in addition to Norway, Russia and the Middle East, increasing supplies are also likely to be sourced, via the market, from producers in the Caspian region and Africa over the next 15 years.
The Department does not estimate the duration of remaining discovered recoverable reserves of oil or gas. Production from the UK Continental Shelf is expected to continue for many years, though at a declining rate.
The Department will continue to keep abreast of, and to take into account, developing views and analysis surrounding future trends in the oil market, including in relation to future oil supplies.
Global investment in oil production capacity has increased in recent years, resulting in an expected increase in future global oil production capacity. Higher oil prices—by increasing the finances available to oil companies and by improving the economics of higher cost projects—are one of the contributory factors but it is not possible to quantify the specific contribution. A range of other factors also interact to determine the level of investment and therefore future global oil supply, including technological developments, governments’ policies, supply chain costs, and other energy prices.
Domestically, the Department publishes projections of UK oil production every six months or so (most recently at http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/information/bb_updates/chapters/Section4_17.htm) and these reflect operators’ views of future oil prices. The projections change for a number of reasons and, once again, it is not possible to attribute a specific contribution from recent increases in crude oil prices.
The 2007 Energy White Paper:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/
sets out the main international (chapter 1) and domestic (chapter 4) challenges facing the UK in ensuring its supplies of oil remain affordable and reliable.
Internationally, the main challenge lies in recovering and bringing oil reserves to market. A number of factors have the potential to defer or restrict the level of future oil sector investment, undermining the affordability and reliability of supplies:
resource nationalism;
inadequate oil market information;
regulatory uncertainty;
the threat of terrorism, accident and natural disaster; and
labour, equipment and service sector constraints.
The Government are promoting international efforts to improve the functioning and transparency of the global oil market, and to tackle these barriers to investment.
Domestically, the main challenge is ensuring that UK oil infrastructure is able to cope with declining UK production and evolving trends in demand. Given the high volumes of oil the UK already imports, existing infrastructure is well placed to cope with higher volumes. However, UK refineries will need to respond to the challenges of:
rising demand for diesel and jet fuel and falling demand for petrol;
declining availability of North sea crude oils; and
evolving qualities of oil products, including the introduction of biofuels.
The Government will continue to work closely with UK refiners as they address these challenges. The Government have also established with industry an aviation fuel task group to analyse what supply infrastructure may be needed to meet future jet fuel demand at UK airports up to 2030. Finally, we have taken steps to ensure our oil emergency stocking system is better placed to deal with the increasing levels of oil import dependence we face.
The Department’s view is that global oil resources are sufficient to sustain not only current rates of global usage but also the expected increase in usage for the foreseeable future. Supplies will be made available to the international community and the UK through the market mechanism, with the exact level depending on the complex interaction of a number of factors, including technological developments, economic growth, the policies of Governments, and relative energy prices.
Global oil market tightness is expected to ease slightly over the next few years as new production and refining capacity is brought on-stream. However, given the complexity of contributory factors, the implications for international oil prices are uncertain. However, most analysts do not expect oil prices to make a sustained return to the average levels seen during the 1990s (around US$25 per barrel in today’s prices), reflecting an expected increase in the market share of a relatively small number of producers, strong demand growth from developing countries, investment constraints, and a rise in marginal production costs outside OPEC.
One Northeast Communications Team: Information Officers
Post Offices
In measuring compliance with the access criterion that 90 per cent. of the UK population be within one mile of their nearest post office outlet, proximity to all categories of post office including outreach sites will be taken into account.
Decisions about local service offerings and opening hours at post offices are a matter for Post Office Ltd. and local sub-postmasters, reflecting the needs and demand in local communities. It is not appropriate to seek to set national standards for matters which are best considered at local level.
Post Office Ltd will consider any premises which are suitably located and accessible as prospective sites in areas where new or outreach post offices are to be established.
Post Offices: Closures
Post Office Ltd will inform Members of Parliament of its area network change proposals in the week before the start of local consultation and local authorities will be invited to engage with the company on its proposals before local consultation commences.
Post Office Ltd wrote to all Members of Parliament and to local authorities in July explaining the process they will be following in implementing the network change programme and giving the expected timetable for considering the area plan in each constituency or local authority area.
Post Offices: Disadvantaged
The Department has held no such discussions. Under the Code of Practice agreed with Postwatch, Post Office Ltd. consults with a range of local representatives on the customer service implications of transferring the management of a specific Crown office to a franchise partner. In addition, Postwatch has a statutory duty to protect, promote and develop the interests of all customers of postal services in the UK and a special duty to represent vulnerable groups including the elderly and disabled. Postwatch therefore meets regularly with groups such as Help the Aged, RNIB, Age Concern etc. to understand the concerns affecting the network and report these to Post Office Ltd.
The Post Office Ltd. franchise agreement establishes a contractual obligation for WH Smith to comply with the requirements of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and appropriate health and safety legislation.
Post office branches located within WH Smith will have the same pin pads as those found in all post office branches across the UK. To assist blind and visually impaired customers, these pin pads have a raised transparent dot on the 5 key, a plastic guard covering the function keys at the top of the pad and raised symbols alongside the clear, enter and cancel keys.
Post Office Ltd. have worked with the RNIB to produce a leaflet entitled “How to use the PIN Pad at a Post Office branch” which is available from RNIB, or from the Post Office on 0845 722 3344. The Post Office card account was one of the first cards in the UK to feature an RNIB recommended cut away indent on its trailing edge to help blind users orient the card. It also has a black arrow to help guide insertion, chosen as “easiest to see” by a group of visually impaired people.
For the purpose of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, Post Office Ltd. is not considered to be a public authority, does not have specific obligations under the Disability Equality duty and is not required to publish a disability equality scheme.
Disability access is a priority for Post Office Ltd., and they are working with WH Smith to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to ensure reasonable adjustments are made and that the Disability Discrimination Act is complied with. To meet the requirements of the Act, WH Smith carried out audits at all their sites to asses their accessibility for disabled customers and employees and have spent around £1.5 million on improving access to meet the regulations. In addition Post Office Ltd. and WH Smith are signed up to the website www.directenquiries.com--a register of the access available in all their stores. Customers are encouraged to give feedback on the standards of service and access in WH Smith stores. This feedback will be monitored to ensure that appropriate reasonable adjustments are put in place to ensure disabled access to post office services.
Disability access to Crown post offices is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. acting in compliance with the requirements of the disability discrimination legislation.
Post Offices: Dorset
No proposals or decisions have yet been made on any new outreach post office locations in West Dorset. Post Office Ltd is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities.
No proposals or decisions have yet been made on post office closures in West Dorset. Post Office Ltd. is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities.
Post Office Ltd. wrote to all Members of Parliament in July explaining the process they will be following in implementing the network change programme and giving the expected timetable for considering the area plan in their constituency. I understand from the company that it expects to engage with sub-postmasters in the process of developing specific proposals for West Dorset in April 2008.
No proposals or decisions have yet been made on how many outreach post office locations may be established in West Dorset. Post Office Ltd. is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities.
No proposals or decisions have yet been made on post office closures in West Dorset. Post Office Ltd is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities.
Decisions about local service offerings and opening hours at outreach post offices are a matter for Post Office Ltd and local sub-postmasters, reflecting the needs and demand in local communities both in West Dorset and across the country. It is not appropriate to seek to set national standards for matters which are best considered at local level.
The opening of any new outreach post offices in West Dorset will be integrated with the implementation of the wider network change programme for the area. I understand that under Post Office Ltd's planned timetable this would be in autumn 2008.
Post Offices: Tyne and Wear
No proposals or decisions have yet been made on individual post offices in Houghton and Washington East. Post Office Ltd is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities. Post Office Ltd wrote to all Members of Parliament in July explaining the process they will be following in implementing the network change programme and giving the expected timetable for considering the area plan in the constituency.
Postal Services
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The negotiation of agreements with suppliers of goods and services is a matter for Post Office Ltd. and the suppliers, who will seek to determine the most effective way of delivering those products and services. Post Office Ltd. provide more than 170 different products and services and the vast majority are available across the national network of post office branches and many services are also now available through the internet or to order over the phone.
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Post Office network transformation programme is required to meet the Government's access criteria and ensure a sustainable national network for the future. The programme will also consider the availability of public transport, alternative access to key services, local geography, local demographics and the impact on local economies. Closure decisions will not be determined by sub-postmasters' preferences though there will be cases where there is a strategic fit between a closure proposal and the sub-postmaster’s wish to leave the network. As such, this will not form part of the information provided during the local area plan consultation. Information on branches proposed for closure will be provided by Post Office Ltd and this will be displayed on posters in branches and also available on the Post Office Ltd website.
Postal Services: Rural Areas
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The proposed Network Subsidy Payments will be sufficient to underpin the whole of the non-commercial network without adverse impact on the support available for the rural part of the network. In particular, Post Office Ltd. will be making further significant savings through reductions in central costs and overheads, combined with more cost effective delivery of services and the strategically planned closure of up to 2,500 offices.
Postcomm: Information Officers
I understand that Postcomm has one full-time press officer and one part-time media adviser who deals with the website.
Radioactive Materials: Waste Disposal
If, as a result of the current consultation, the Government decide that nuclear should be one of the low carbon options available to investors, they will put in place a robust financing framework through statute to ensure owners or operators of new nuclear power stations set aside funds in a secure way to cover their full decommissioning costs and their full share of waste management costs.
Railways: Tees Valley
We understand that Network Rail is discussing a number of possible improvements to the rail network in Tees Valley. It will be for scheme promoters to develop business cases with any assessments of economic impact that may be necessary.
Regional Development Agencies National Secretariat: Information Officers
The RDA National Secretariat does not employ a full-time press officer. The Senior Communications Officer is responsible for press and media handling, which takes up around one third of that person’s time.
Renewable Energy
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: Projections indicate that by 2020, on the basis of existing policies, renewables would contribute around 5 per cent. of the UK’s energy consumption. (The proportion of electricity generated renewably would be much greater.)
The European Council agreed in March 2007 to a target for 20 per cent. of the EU’s primary energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020. The Commission has been asked to bring forward detailed proposals—including for each member state’s contribution to this target—by the end of this year. The proposal will then need to be agreed by member states and the European Parliament. After a decision has been reached, we will bring forward the appropriate measures to make our contribution.
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: We are aware of the concerns that have been raised around proposed changes to the planning system. We are working closely with colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government developing policy in this area, to ensure that issues related to microgeneration are considered. No announcements have yet been made.
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Energy White Paper identified the need both to create the right financial framework, and to lower practical barriers relating to planning and grid connection, in the light of our target of 10 per cent. electricity from renewables by 2010 and aspiration to double this by 2020. It also outlined proposals to band the Renewables Obligation, reform the planning regime and improve renewables grid connection in order to address these barriers. In the context of renewable energy use in transport, the White Paper referred to issues of sustainability, mechanical impact and costs.
The 2007 spring European Council agreed an overall target for 20 per cent. of the EU’s energy to be from renewables by 2020. Decisions have not yet been taken on individual member states’ contribution to the target, but we are already giving initial consideration to potential obstacles to further renewable deployment—such as cost, technical feasibility, planning constraints, grid infrastructure, sustainability, and impact on wider energy policy goals—and how these might be overcome. We will be consulting on these issues in more detail once the European Commission has issued proposals on how the EU 20 per cent. renewable energy target should be implemented.
Royal Mail: Cars
This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. Adam Crozier the Chief Executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.
This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. Adam Crozier the Chief Executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Solicitors: Misconduct
No. The Department is not aware of the dates of these hearings. We shall, though, monitor the outcomes.
South East England Development Agency: Information Officers
Sustainable Development: Northstowe
I have been asked to reply.
Northstowe predates the eco-towns programme and its planning is already progressing, but we see it as a green exemplar and it will be an advanced prototype for eco-towns. The Northstowe Masterplan is currently being reviewed ahead of submitting the planning application shortly, and the review includes consideration of sustainable energy and high energy efficiency.
In the Eco-towns Prospectus, published on 23 July which mentions the development of the eco-town at Northstowe, we have set out the outcomes we expect to see from eco-towns. These include incorporating renewable energy systems, not just for homes, but schools, shops, offices and community facilities. We have also asked the Town and Country Planning Association to undertake a study into the practical application of the key sustainability and development criteria for eco-towns, which will draw on case studies, such as Northstowe, and this will help us to learn from the experience of others and so inform the development of eco-towns.
Television
(2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that all new television sets have a screen blanking feature.
The Government have no information on the percentage of television sets with a screen blanking feature and no plan to require television sets sold in the UK to include such a feature.
Televisions have been identified as a priority for European action under the Energy Using Products Framework Directive (EuP) which provides a forum for considering options and priorities for establishing energy efficiency standards for energy using products. The Commission expects to bring forward proposals later this year.
The Government are already working with business to promote and improve energy efficiency in televisions, recognising the need to respond to consumer demands in the global market, and to improve information for consumers to help them identify energy efficient products.
Trading Standards
I have been asked to reply.
The rights of trading standards officers to have access to personal data from local authority planning, building and council tax databases are determined by section 29 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Section 29 of the Data Protection Act provides that disclosure of personal data may take place where such disclosure is for the purposes of preventing or detecting crime, or apprehending or prosecuting offenders. Section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act provides that any person who would not otherwise have the power to disclose information to a police authority or a local authority has power to do so where the disclosure is necessary or expedient for the purposes of any provision of that Act.
UK Atomic Energy Authority: Information Officers
The UK Atomic Energy Authority employ 4.5 press officers; North West Regional Development Agency five press officers; Ofgem four, and the Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Department Communications Directorate provides support for its Enterprise Directorate (previously the Small Business Service). It is not possible to give a specific figure for the Enterprise Directorate since it is an integral part of the Department and Communications Directorate allocates resource based on level of demand.
VAT: Peterborough
(2) how many VAT registered businesses there were in the city of Peterborough in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.
The number of new VAT registrations and VAT registered businesses in the Peterborough unitary authority are shown in the following table for 1997 to 2005. Data for registrations and de-registrations in 2006 will be published autumn 2007.
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Registrations 485 435 435 405 430 485 525 430 535 — Start of year stock 3,580 3,740 3,815 3,945 3,980 4,070 4,155 4,255 4,305 4,475 Source: Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2005. Available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat
Although the number of new registrations has fluctuated over the period, the total number of VAT registered businesses in Peterborough unitary authority has increased from 3,580 in 1997 to 4,475 at the start of 2006, an increase of 895 (25 per cent.).
VAT registration data provide the only accurate indicator of the level of start-up activity at the unitary authority level.
However, VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £60,000 at the start of 2006. Only 1.9 million out of 4.5 million UK enterprises (41 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2006.
Yorkshire Forward: Information Officers
Children, Schools and Families
Academies
We expect that most academy projects will be a mix of new build and refurbishment unless it is agreed, by the local authority and Partnerships for Schools (PfS), that none of the school buildings is capable of supporting the delivery of the sponsor's educational vision.
In order to determine the level of refurbishment or new build, surveys are carried out in the early stages of an academy project. In the case of projects to be delivered via the National Framework, PfS will take the lead role in carrying out these surveys with each academy being inspected and re-developed based on its individual needs. Where academies are delivered as part of BSF we would expect that LA to carry out these surveys as part of its review of school provision.
The sponsor will be consulted on the outcome of such surveys but the final decision will rest with DCSF as part of their project approval processes.
The Office of the Schools Commissioner discusses any schools which meet academies criteria with the relevant local authority before any steps are taken to identify sponsors. Academies are, in effect, jointly commissioned by the Department and the relevant local authorities.
Local authorities are increasingly becoming engaged in the strategic planning of multiple academies in their localities, within their wider school rebuilding and transformational strategies. Academies exemplify the new role of local authorities as “commissioners” rather than “providers” of schools. The Government are ready to engage with local authorities who wish to consider multiple academy projects as part of their strategies for transforming educational standards and opportunity.
Academies: Admissions
[holding answer 18 July 2007]: Academies can admit pupils on the basis of aptitude for certain specialisms on the same basis as other specialist schools. The Department does not collect data on how many pupils are admitted on the basis of aptitude. The proportion of children in each academy entitled to free school meals, and the proportion gaining five or more A*-C at GGSE in 2006 are included in the following table.
Academy name Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils achieving five or more A*-C at GCSE in 2006 The Academy of St. Francis of Assisi 47.1 40.2 St. Paul’s Academy 25.6 59.1 The Marlowe Academy 29.1 28.0 Grace Academy 28.0 n/a John Madejski Academy 29.1 n/a Macmillan Academy1 25.5 92.9 Dixons City Academy1 7.2 96.9 Paddington Academy 50.8 n/a The Petchey Academy 47.8 n/a North Liverpool Academy 39.1 n/a Westminster Academy 40.9 n/a Harris Academy Bermondsey 60.6 n/a The Barnsley Academy 37.3 n/a Burlington Danes Academy 20.6 n/a Sheffield Park Academy 36.3 n/a Sheffield Springs Academy 35.0 n/a Harris Academy Merton 30.0 n/a David Young Community Academy 42.1 n/a Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich 40.5 n/a Walthamstow Academy 31.8 n/a The Gateway Academy 36.3 n/a Greig City Academy 39.1 60.7 Walsall Academy 11.4 57.4 Unity City Academy 45.0 33.5 The Business Academy Bexley 35.9 32.3 St. Mark’s Church of England Academy 27.1 n/a The City Academy Bristol 44.9 49.7 City of London Academy (Southwark) 34.2 n/a The King's Academy 25.3 34.8 Manchester Academy 50.0 28.7 The Academy at Peckham 53.1 30.1 Capital City Academy 35.4 31.3 Djanogly City Academy Nottingham 37.5 56.7 West London Academy 46.3 47.7 Mossbourne Community Academy 40.6 n/a Stockley Academy 40.3 31.9 London Academy 41.3 50.9 Northampton Academy 15.7 40.2 Lambeth Academy 43.0 n/a Sandwell Academy 16.8 n/a The Harefield Academy 16.0 32.1 Trinity Academy 15.4 33.8 Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy 44.3 29.3 Salford City Academy 18.0 49.5 Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College1 21.3 93.6 Landau Forte College 9.6 n/a 1Former city technology colleges that have converted to academy status. Note: Those academies with n/a against the GCSE result column, were either not open as academies when GCSEs were taken in 2006 or were open, but were new schools with no pupils in year 11.
Academies are required, by their funding agreements, to comply with admissions law and the Department's admissions codes as though they were maintained schools. This doesn't mean that they must adopt their local authority admission arrangements. Like voluntary-aided and foundation schools, academies are responsible for determining their own admission arrangements in consultation with the local school admissions forum, on which the local authority is represented, and other local admission authorities. They must also be part of the local coordinated application process. Unlike other state funded schools, academies are required to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for their admission arrangements and before making any changes.
Academies: Capital Investment
I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 26 July 2007, Official Report, column 1377W, which provided details of the capital provision for academies as a proportion of the corresponding figure for all schools up to and including 2007-08. This continues to be the position. There was no spend on academies prior to 2001-02 which is the first year mentioned in that reply, and allocations have not been made beyond 2007-08.
Academies: Curriculum
The Secretary of State announced on 10 July 2007 that future academies will be required to follow the national curriculum programmes of study in English, maths and ICT. This is different to the previous model whereby academies had to teach English, maths, science and ICT to all pupils and the curriculum had to be broad and balanced. The change was made because the national curriculum as a whole has been made more flexible to accommodate the kind of innovation that academies have enjoyed.
Academies: General Certificate of Secondary Education
A response to this question could be provided only at disproportionate cost
Academies: Governing Bodies
All academies are required by their funding agreement to have at least one local authority representative on their governing body, and local authorities acting as co-sponsors of academies will usually have two governors.
Academies: Isle of Sheppey
The September newsletter published by the Project Steering Group for this academy indicated that the dual specialisms of Business and Enterprise and Sport will be available for the whole academy on both of its sites. 10,000 copies have been circulated widely on the Island. The period of formal consultation will conclude in November at which point a Funding Agreement for the Sheppey Academy should be with us for approval. Full details of consultation and briefing events are included in the September newsletter, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Academies: Sponsorship
(2) how much is owed to the Government by academy sponsors.
The following table shows, in relation to those academies with a signed funding agreement the amount of sponsorship pledged together with the related confirmed capital contribution. Notes 1 and 3 to the table identify those academies where the sponsor contribution has not been paid in full because the total contribution is not yet due to be paid. Delayed building works that have slowed the rate of sponsor contributions are identified by note 4. Significant delays for any other reason, where the Department proposes to engage the trust with a view to bringing the confirmed capital contribution back on profile, are noted at 2.
The difference between the total amount of sponsorship pledged and the total confirmed capital contribution from sponsors, representing the amount due to be paid to Trusts over the remaining lifetime of building projects, is £64.415 million.
Academy with signed funding agreement Total sponsorship pledged Total confirmed capital contribution from sponsor to end of August 2007 Manchester 2,000 11,421 Lambeth 2,000 11,872 Northampton 2,000 1943 Paddington 1,500 1429 Salford 1,600 1214 Barnsley 1,500 127 Walthamstow 1,500 127 Sheffield Springs 1,500 1,500 Sheffield Park 1,000 1,000 Stockport 1,500 1202 Peckham 2,000 2,986 Harris Academy South Norwood 2,000 2250 Harris Bermondsey 1,500 30 Harris Merton 500 30 Kings 2,000 2,006 Trinity, Doncaster 2,000 2,000 Haberdashers’—Hatcham 705 705 Haberdashers’—Knights 296 296 Marlowe 2,735 12,565 Folkestone 2,250 1887 Walsall 2,500 2,565 Sandwell 2,790 12,119 Bexley 2,410 2,462 Greig 2,000 11,664 Unity 2,000 1,948 Capital City, Brent 2,000 1,993 City of London 2,000 2,000 City Academy, Bristol 2,499 11,670 West London, Ealing 2,000 2,000 London, Barnet 1,500 1,490 Mossbourne 2,150 11,631 Stockley 2,000 1,953 St. Francis of Assisi 2,000 21,187 The Harefield 1,500 442 Dixons CTC 651 614 David Young, Leeds 1,500 21,000 Grace, Solihull 2,000 2,000 Westminster 2,000 3600 Thomas Deacon 10,500 30 St. Paul’s—Greenwich 2,000 1200 John Madejski, Reading 2,000 11,926 The Bridge, Hackney 2,000 4487 Samworth Enterprise 2,443 11,143 Petchey 2,000 11,921 North Liverpool 1,000 40 Bradford Cathedral 1,000 30 Macmillan 1,250 1400 Djanogly 0 0 St. Matthew Lewisham 2,000 41,200 Enfield 2,000 356 Slough Langley 2,000 1500 Leigh Technology 2,000 30 St. Mary Magdalene—Islington 2,000 11,000 Bristol 2 Withywood 2,000 30 Newcastle Excelsior 2,000 2,020 Corby City 2,000 30 Ashcroft Technology 960 30 Landau Forte College 460 12 Oasis—Immingham 2,000 30 Oasis—Wintringham 2,000 30 Q3—Sandwell 2,000 30 Burlington Danes 1,500 30 Kensington and Chelsea 4,000 30 Brooke Weston 461 30 John Cabot 378 30 St. Mark’s Academy—Merton 2,000 50 Total 123,538 59,123 1 Amount paid up to end August 2007 in accordance with the agreed pattern of instalments. 2 In discussion with trust with a view to agreeing payment later this year. 3 None due to be paid up to end August 2007. 4 Instalment plan to be revised pending re-schedule of building works. 5 £2 million sponsorship to be invested in endowment fund as opposed to towards capital costs.
Local authorities are increasingly becoming engaged in the strategic planning and co-sponsorship of academies in their localities within their wider school rebuilding and transformational strategies. The Government welcome this engagement.
All academies’ funding agreements require them to have at least one local authority representative on their governing body, and local authorities acting as co-sponsors will usually have two governors. In order to determine the ethos and leadership of the academy, and ensure clear responsibility and accountability, the private sector or charitable sponsor always appoints the majority of the governors. This is the case even when a local authority is acting as co-sponsor for wider purposes. All academies are run on an independent basis.
Adult Learning Inspectorate Agency: Information Officers
As part of the move to a single inspectorate for education, children’s services and skills within Ofsted, the Adult Learning Inspectorate ceased to operate on 1 April 2007.
Building Schools for the Future: Private Finance Initiative
The academies building programme is an integral part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. BSF is the Government’s 15-year programme to re-build or refurbish every secondary school in England, and comprises a mix of PFI schemes and conventional capital funding. PFI may be used for the procurement of academies where it is proven to provide value for money and clear benefits.
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service: Information Officers
This is a matter for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). Anthony Douglas, the chief executive, has written to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 26 September 2007:
I am writing to you in response to the parliamentary question that you recently tabled.
Cafcass has four staff members in its Communications Team, covering a range of functions. The press office function takes approximately the equivalent of 0.5 to 1 full time member of staff; this work of a press officer is however spread across the whole team.
A copy of this reply will be placed in the House Library.
Children: Abuse
The Government collect data on children who became the subject of a child protection plan. In the past this has also meant being placed on a child protection register, although these arrangements are now being altered. Figures are available for the years ending 31 March 1990 to 2001 under the category of physical injury and for years ending 31 March 2002 to 2007 under the category of physical abuse. This information is provided by local authorities and includes cases of children suffering, or at risk of suffering significant harm from parents and carers (though it will also include other cases such as those where parents are unable to protect children from others posing a risk of harm to them). This information is set out in the following tables.
Up until year ending 31 March 2001 physical injury was recorded and could also be identified in cases where concerns about children included a mix of different categories. After that point, local authorities ceased reporting mixed categories separately so figures from year ending 31 March 2002 onwards are only available for registrations and child protection plans that are attributed to physical abuse as a single category. In the same year, there was also a change to the registration category where physical injury was redefined as physical abuse. As a result of this change in definition, the figures reported in year ending 31 March 2002 onwards for physical abuse may not be wholly comparable to the figures reported for ‘physical injury alone’ in preceding years.
Number Percentage2 2007 5,100 15 2006 5,100 16 2005 5,500 18 2004 5,700 19 2003 5,700 19 2002 5,300 19 1 A child may be registered more than once during the year. 2 Percentage of children who became the subject of a child protection plan as a direct result of physical abuse. Excludes children who are subject to multiple forms of abuse including physical abuse.
Physical injury alone Percentage2 Total physical injury3 Percentage4 2001 5,800 22 8,000 30 2000 6,700 23 9,500 32 1999 7,000 23 9,400 31 1998 7,500 25 8,000 33 1997 8,400 29 10,800 38 1996 8,600 30 10,700 38 1995 10,400 34 12,300 40 1994 9,700 34 11,400 40 1993 8,400 34 9,800 40 1992 6,300 26 7,100 29 1991 6,000 21 6,700 24 1990 6,300 24 7,100 26 1 A child may be registered more than once during the year. 2 Expressed as a percentage of the total children who became the subject of a child protection plan. 3 Includes children who have suffered physical injury in conjunction with other categories of abuse. Children may be counted more than once in these mixed categories. 4 Percentage of children who became the subject of a child protection plan as a result of physical injury alone or in conjunction with other reported forms of abuse.