To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) display energy certificates and (b) advisory reports for public buildings issued in respect of each property occupied by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies. (256038)

This Department will place in the Library a copy of the display energy certificates and their associated advisory reports in respect of each property occupied by this Department.

I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies House and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.

Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 13 March 2009:

The Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (1096/2008) asking for display energy certificates and advisory reports to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

The Insolvency Service is placing a copy of these items in the Library in respect of each property occupied by the agency for which they are required.

Display Energy Certificates and advisory reports have been obtained for

Bloomsbury Street

Birmingham—Cannon House

Birmingham—Cobalt Square

Croydon

Leeds.

Letter from Tim Moss, dated 13 March 2009:

I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 5 February 2009, UIN 256038, to the Minister of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

As requested I have arranged for a copy of our Display Energy Certificate and the advisory report to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what IT security strategy his Department has in place; what steps are being taken to ensure the policy is being followed; what policy is in place on the use of encryption when electronic data are sent externally; and what sanctions are in place for use should the policy not be followed. (258916)

Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.

BERR is compliant with the security policies contained in the Government Security Policy Framework including those for information security and assurance.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's IT security hierarchy. (259701)

Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.

It is not in the interests of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to the hierarchy of IT security within the Department. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what scanning for vulnerabilities his Department conducts of each of its IT devices; what method is used for IT device scans; and how many vulnerabilities have been detected as a result of such scans in the last 12 months. (259702)

Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.

It is not in the interest of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to electronic breaches of security of department's IT systems. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department uses WPA2 encryption protocol on all its wireless networks. (259703)

Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.

BERR is compliant with HMG IA Standard No 4 —Communication, Security and Cryptography for the encryption of data. BERR follows CESG guidance on the use of the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) communications security protocols in order to protect wireless networks carrying protectively marked (up to RESTRICTED/IL3) traffic. The configuration and operation standards for WPA2 are set out in CESG's Infosec Manual Y, Use of WPA2 Wireless Security in Government Systems.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what auditing his Department undertakes to ensure that IT security policies are being followed; and on how many occasions (a) IT security policies have been breached by employees and (b) a member of staff has been sanctioned for a breach of such policies in the last 12 months. (259704)

Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.

Compliance arrangements comprise a system of self assessment, accreditation, assurance reporting, audit and review.

In the last 12 months fewer than five staff have broken BERR IT security policies and have been sanctioned for the breach.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his Department's entertainment budget was in each year since its inception. (261272)

This Department was formed in June 2007. In 2007-08, the budget for entertainment was £813,105. In 2008-09, the budget for entertainment is £749,442.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) of 4 February 2009, Official Report, column 1311W, on departmental official visits, which agency deals with overnight accommodation for his Department; and how much has been paid to this agency since his Department was established. (260559)

Expotel Hotel Reservations Ltd. deal with UK hotel accommodation on behalf of BERR.

Since BERR was established on 28 June 2007, the following hotel accommodation has been booked through Expotel:

28 June 2007 to 31 March 2008

6,772 nights at a total cost of £705,175.32.

1 April 2008 to 28 February 2009

8,790 nights at a total cost of £955,329.40.

BERR does not make a direct payment to Expotel. Expotel earn a commission from hotels for the bookings taken.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer of 11 November 2008, Official Report, column 1125W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense other Ministers in his Department have undertaken since 1 January 2008. (251328)

A junior Minister in BERR has undertaken training at public expense since 1 January 2008.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his Department’s policy is on holding departmental away days outside his Department’s buildings. (262029)

There are no central rules governing the holding of departmental away days.

Away days are a useful development tool but as learning and development budgets are delegated to local units within BERR, it is up to those units to determine where they hold away days and for local budget holders to ensure value for money. This will depend on the nature and objectives of the away day and availability of departmental premises.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean of 3 December 2008 and 13 January 2009 on the withholding of retention sums, reference FD7218. (260216)

[holding answer 3 March 2009]: I responded to the hon. Member on 1 March 2009.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the recommendations in the English Tourism Council's report Sea Change on seaside towns in England. (262993)

I have been asked to reply.

The English Tourism Council's report ‘Sea Change’ was published in 2001. I have made no recent assessment of the impact of that report on seaside towns, but it remains the case, as the report concluded, that seaside towns make a significant contribution to the cultural identity of England and contain some of the finest examples of our built heritage.

In a recent response to the Government Select Committee report, ‘Coastal Towns’, Government made clear the underlying principles that the visitor economy needs to be part of a wider agenda to regenerate and diversify the economies of coastal areas. The development of tourism has an important role to play but it is only one part of a bigger picture and it must also be linked with wider regeneration work in the region.

Last year my Department announced a programme called Sea Change, which will run for three years to 2011. It is intended to boost regeneration in coastal areas through investment in culture and heritage, and, giving £45 million in total, it will encourage new visitors to coastal areas and help support and enrich existing communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the Young People's Learning Agency will be able to direct academies on their (a) admissions, (b) curriculum, (c) behaviour policy and (d) pay arrangements. (262484)

The academies clauses in the Apprenticeships, Children, Skills and Learning Bill give powers to the Secretary of State which will enable him to require the YPLA to carry out certain academies functions. But the Secretary of State can only ask the YPLA to exercise, on his behalf, powers which he has himself, either in law, or through academy funding agreements.

Funding agreements contain requirements and certain express direction powers in relation to admissions. The YPLA, on behalf of the Secretary of State, would consider complaints and objections which relate to funding agreement admissions requirements, and could take action to remedy any breaches. That could include, for example, requiring an academy to change its admission arrangements to achieve compliance with the funding agreement. In relation to the express powers of direction available to the Secretary of State, we are considering whether or not it would be appropriate to authorise the YPLA to use these powers, relating to admissions either with or without the Secretary of State's prior approval.

Funding agreements also contain curriculum requirements and cover the need to have in place a behaviour policy and pay arrangements. However, there are no specific direction powers in these areas. Behaviour policies and pay are areas where academies are free to adopt the arrangements which they believe will best support raising standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what information his Department holds on the number of persons appointed to executive positions in bodies for which his Department has responsibility who previously had careers in the banking industry. (261244)

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department has provided voice coaching to any of its employees in the last 12 months. (260637)

Voice coach training is not part of the core training and development offering available to staff in the Department. However, local managers are able to book external courses based on identified need and value for money. A search of local records would result in disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will take steps to raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse issues among children through the national curriculum. (263019)

We agree that schools have an important role in raising awareness of domestic violence and abuse issues by giving children and young people the knowledge and skills to not only deal with their own anger but anger and violence directed towards them. Through the non-statutory framework for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education children and young people are taught a number of the skills pertaining to relationships with partners, friends and family, thus promoting harmonious relationships. In October 2008, we announced our intention to make PSHE statutory, in recognition of the key role it plays in equipping children and young people with the knowledge and skills they need to lead healthy and successful lives. At the same time we launched an independent review of how the principle that PSHE should have a statutory status can be translated into a practicable way forward. Sir Alasdair Macdonald, the head teacher of Morpeth School in Tower Hamlets, is leading the independent review and will report in April 2009. Proposals for the statutory implementation of PSHE education will be the subject of a full public consultation. Due to the time needed for full public consultation and parliamentary process, statutory PSHE is unlikely to come into effect before 2011.

The secondary curriculum also encourages schools to tackle social issues through cross-curricular links. For example, Citizenship teaches children and young people about legal and human rights and responsibilities underpinning society, basic aspects of the criminal justice system and the importance of resolving conflict fairly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many maintained schools paid their head teachers more than (a) £80,000, (b) £90,000, (c) £100,000, (d) £110,000 and (e) £120,000 in the latest year for which figures are available. (262327)

The information available is not sufficiently reliable to provide the requested information for head teachers only.

The following table provides the number of local authority maintained school leadership teachers paid more than £80,000, £90,000, £100,000, £110,000 and £120,000 in March 2007 the latest information available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of school pupils had (a) statemented, (b) non-statemented and (c) no special educational needs in each of the last five years. (262357)

The information requested is given in the following table:

Figures on SEN pupils with and without statements are taken from tables 1a and 1b of the Statistical First Release on Special Educational Needs in England: January 2008, accessible via the following link:

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000794/index.shtrril.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will commission research on the effect of cannabis use on academic outcomes; and if he will make a statement. (263486)

We are committed to tackling all of the harms associated with cannabis use, including poor school performance or disengagement from education. Although there is no specific research currently planned on the effects of cannabis use on academic outcomes, we will keep this under review as part of our work in relation to developing a cross-Government drugs research strategy. Through delivery of the National Drugs Strategy we will continue to drive the sustained fall in cannabis use amongst young people that we have experienced since 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what support is available from his Department to schools which wish to introduce voluntary drug testing; and if he will make a statement. (263487)

The Department's guidance, Drugs: Guidance for Schools (DFES 2004) makes it clear that head teachers can introduce voluntary drug testing if they consider that such an approach is appropriate. It is essential that before a school takes the decision to introduce drug testing that it considers very carefully all of the factors outlined in the guidance, including whether such action will result in appropriate support for pupils most in need. In deciding whether to use this approach, schools are encouraged to consult with local partners, such as the police, who may be able to offer advice and support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many selective state secondary schools there are in (a) England, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Leicester East constituency. (262439)

There are 164 local authority maintained secondary schools that select by ability in England. There are no such schools in the Leicestershire local authority area, nor in the Leicester East parliamentary constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of local authority business growth incentive scheme funding is not spent directly on assisting local businesses. (263414)

Funding under the local authority business growth incentive scheme is paid as an unringfenced grant. Information about how the money is spent is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the supplementary memorandum from the Valuation Office Agency presented to the Treasury Select Committee, dated 29 October 2008, which amendments to the council tax valuation lists involving movements to a lower band were made in each billing authority in each of the years to March (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008. (262601)

This information is currently being assembled for publication. I will place a copy in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has given to local authorities on the calculation of baseline footprints for the Carbon Reduction Commitment. (262686)

I have been asked to reply.

On Thursday 12 March the Government published a consultation on the Draft Order to implement the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). As part of the consultation package of documents, DECC published a user guide which includes guidance on how scheme participants might calculate the emissions baseline.

The baseline year for CRC is 1 April 2010-31 March 2011. Prior to the baseline period commencing, the scheme administrators will publish detailed guidance on how scheme participants should calculate their emission baseline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities operate under the committee system of executive governance. (262144)

The Local Government Act 2000 allowed local authorities whose area had a population of less than 85,000 on 30 June 1999 to adopt a reformed, streamlined committee system of governance instead of adopting governance arrangements with an executive. We understand that the following councils currently operate such a system:

Council

Alnwick district council

Babergh district council

Barrow-in-Furness borough council

Berwick-upon-Tweed borough council

Brentwood borough council

Bridgnorth district council

Broxbourne borough council

Castle Morpeth borough council

Christchurch borough council

Corby borough council

Craven district council

Daventry district council

East Cambridgeshire district council

East Dorset district council

East Northamptonshire district council

Ellesmere Port and Neston borough council

Epsom and Ewell borough council

Forest Heath district council

Forest of Dean district council

Gosport borough council

Harlow district council

Kennet district council

Maldon district council

Malvern Hills district council

Melton borough council

Mid Suffolk district council

North Cornwall district council

North Warwickshire borough council

Oadby and Wigston borough council

Penwith district council

Purbeck district council

Ribble Valley borough council

Richmondshire district council

Runnymede borough council

Ryedale district council

Selby district council

South Derbyshire district council

South Shropshire district council

Tandridge district council

Teesdale district council.

Tewkesbury borough council

Torridge district council

Tynedale district council

Uttlesford district council

Wear Valley district council

Wellingborough borough council

West Lindsey district council

Weymouth and Portland borough council

West Devon borough council

We are aware that eight of these authorities are considering moving to executive arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what amount and proportion of central Government grant to local authorities comprised redistributed business rate revenue in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available. (262166)

Business rates are pooled centrally and the revenue contributes towards funding local government alongside other grants.

I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the details of amounts from the national business rates pool, the amounts of other grant payments and the proportion of the total that each represents, in each local authority area for 2007-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what methodology is used to calculate performance reward grant; and how much funding her Department has allocated for distribution under the grant in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. (262274)

For Local Area Agreements (LAA) and Local Public Service Agreements (LPSAs) agreed prior to 2008 the total potential reward grant (if all targets are achieved) is equivalent to 2.5 per cent. of an authority's net budget requirement (the budget requirement plus dedicated schools grant less parish precepts) in the financial year prior to the start of the LAA or LPSA. In the case of two-tier areas, the net budget requirement of any district councils was also included in the calculation. Grants are paid as half revenue grant and half capital grant.

The proportion of the potential grant payable to any authority is determined by their performance in relation to the improvement targets agreed. Local authorities are currently submitting claims and £378 million is allocated to meet these claims in 2008-9. For 2009-10 a total of £257 million has been allocated. It is difficult to accurately predict in advance the exact funding levels required as this depends upon the final performance achieved in relation to each target.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have adopted National Indicator 116. (263560)

Forty-five of local authorities have set targets in their local area agreements against National Indicator 116—Proportion of Children in Poverty. Performance data against the indicator apply to all areas in England, not just those areas that have a target.

The full list of local authorities across England that adopted this and other National Indicators is available on the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) website:

http://www.idea.gov.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 20 January 2009, Official Report, column 1277W, on non-domestic rates, in what circumstances and in respect of which types of property automated analytical techniques were used by the Valuation Office Agency in its preparatory work for the 2010 revaluation. (262668)

Automated techniques have been used to inform the analysis of rents of industrial property in a limited number of local authority areas.

All final valuations will be produced by VOA staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the letter from P&O Ferries to the Minister for Local Government on retrospective port taxes. (262381)

The letter contains information supplied to me on a confidential basis, and I am not therefore in a position to release it publicly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of small businesses eligible to claim small business rate relief which do not do so. (262596)

Data on the number of businesses who are eligible for small business rate relief and do not claim as at 31 December 2008 are currently being collected and will be available later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial corrections the European Commission has imposed on the UK in respect of financial irregularities in the administration of regeneration programmes. (262678)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 6 October 2008, Official Report, column 315W. Details are given in the Communities and Local Government resource accounts 2007-08 (HC791).

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the value for money of the contributions made by her Department to the budgets of the regional development agencies. (262319)

The Department for Communities and Local Government's contribution to the budgets of the Regional Development Agencies is covered by audits and performance assessments of RDAs. Annual audits are carried out by the National Audit Office for those RDAs outside of London and by the Audit commission for the London Development Agency. The Government have commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an independent evaluation of the economic impact of RDAs and will publish results from the evaluation shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 February 2009, Official Report, columns 73-6WS, on departmental expenditure limits, which financial corrections to old European Regional Development Fund programmes the new provisions will cover. (262693)

The departmental expenditure limits stated in the written ministerial statement of 12 February 2009, Official Report, column 74WS, para. 4(c), cover financial corrections relating to 97-99 closure audits in the NW and NE.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 February 2009, Official Report, columns 73-6WS, on departmental expenditure limits, to which programme areas the provision for bad debts on old European Regional Development Fund programmes relates. (262587)

In the Spring Supplementary Estimate 2008-09, the Department sought non-cash provision of £8,000,000 to cover potential write-offs in respect of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes from the 1994-99 and 2000-06 programme rounds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) guideline and (b) actual rent increase in each local authority in Greater London was in each of the last five years. (262553)

The following tables set out the guideline rent increases for each local authority in London for the years 2004-05 to 2008-09.

Information on actual rent increases applied by London local authorities is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the Government plan to further support the British film industry. (262915)

The Government’s principal support for the UK film industry is through the film tax relief which encourages the sustainable production of culturally British films. Figures from HM Revenue and Customs tell us this provided £104 million to the industry between January 2007 and March 2008.

The Government continue to support the British film industry through the UK Film Council. The Film Council is the Government’s strategic agency for film and invests grant in aid and lottery money in developing new filmmakers, in funding exciting new British films and in getting a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. The Film Council also invests in training, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and in raising the profile of British films abroad.

We are in continual dialogue with the Film Council about potential new methods and ways to improve current schemes to support the industry and to help filmmakers deliver the box office and awards successes we have seen recently.

The Public Service Broadcasters, the BBC and Channel 4, also contribute support to the industry through their film divisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was received by each of the national lottery good causes in each year since 1995, expressed in 2008-09 prices. (263539)

The table shows the total income for each of the national lottery good causes for each financial year since 1995. Figures are adjusted to 2007-08 prices, using GDP deflators for the most recent year available from the Treasury. All figures are rounded to the nearest £000.

The sport good cause comprises the following Lottery Distributing Bodies: UK Sport, Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, Sports Council Wales and Sport Scotland. The arts good cause comprises Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Scottish Screen, UK Film Council and Scottish Arts Council. The millennium good cause comprises the Millennium Commission, which was dissolved in 2006-07. The heritage good cause comprises the Heritage Lottery Fund. The health, education, environment and charitable expenditure good cause comprises the Big Lottery Fund, which is the successor to the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff the Defence Intelligence Staff employed in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) civilian staff and (b) service; and what the projected numbers for the next five years are. (257680)

I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 9 February 2009, Official Report, column 1528W. I should point out that the answer contained an error for April 2007. The correct figure is provided in the following table.

The breakdown of DIS staff numbers for the years since April 2006 is as follows:

The projected figures for the next five years are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in 2008-09 to date. (260352)

Costs incurred on reimbursable expenses in 2008-09, will be available only when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament. This is expected to be before the 2009 summer recess.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments for (a) polling and (b) other services his Department has made to (i) Deborah Mattinson and (ii) Opinion Leader Research Limited since 31 December 2007; and if he will make a statement. (261059)

No payments have been made centrally by the MOD to either Deborah Mattinson or Opinion Leader Research Limited since December 2007.

Central payments represent some 95 per cent. of the departmental total and exclude only those payments made (a) on behalf of other Government Departments or by other Government Departments on the MOD's behalf, (b) by the MOD's trading funds (which lie outside the MOD's accounting boundary), (c) locally by the Department, or (d) in relation to collaborative projects where the payments are made through international procurement agencies or overseas Governments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much expenditure was incurred in respect of overseas visits which (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) his Department’s senior officials undertook in 2008. (262184)

Since 1999, the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the financial year 2007-08 was published on 22 July 2008, Official Report, column 102WS, and for the first time, included details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. The information is also available at:

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/propriety_and_ethics/assets/travel_2007_2008.pdf

The information for the financial year 2008-09 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the “Ministerial Code”.

The expenditure incurred in respect of overseas visits by senior officials is made in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the requirement to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. However, the details for 2008 could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide psychological screening for those who have served in the armed forces (a) one year and (b) five years after discharge; and if he will make a statement. (261047)

Health care for veterans is the responsibility of the health departments and NHS and the 2009 NHS Operating Framework includes a section on veterans' services. NHS services such as screening are not decided centrally but commissioned in line with local needs and priorities. MOD, DOH and the third sector are working together to raise awareness of military issues among civilian health professionals and administrators and NHS-led veterans’ mental health services providing best practice assessment and treatment in an accessible acceptable way are being piloted at sites across the country. These pilots will run for two years with independent evaluation and analysis. Lessons learned will inform future service planning. For those veterans with mental health problems living outside pilot areas and who have served in operations since 1982, the Medical Assessment Programme at St. Thomas's hospital, London, provides a mental health assessment by an expert in the problems that arise from military service. Treatment recommendations are then made to the GP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of (a) blood platelets and (b) blood plasma transported to Iraq for use by the armed forces were destroyed because they were past their use-by date in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement. (262568)

Records held by the MOD reflect the difference between the amount of blood supplied to operations and the amount transfused. From August 2007 to the end of February 2009, the difference between the amount of blood supplied to Iraq and the amount transfused was 396 units of blood platelets and five units of fresh frozen plasma. Each unit contains approximately 300 ml. There are a number of reasons for this difference, for example expiration of the use-by date, damage in transit or accidental exposure to high temperature.

Prior to August 2007, information was not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 21 October 2008, Official Report, column 192W, on the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service, what progress has been made on the review of the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service; and when he expects the review to be completed. (263042)

The Northern Ireland Security Guard Service (NISGS) are MOD employees and are a professional, armed and trained body who provide security at MOD establishments in Northern Ireland. The NISGS review was initiated in order to examine the structure and responsibilities of the NISGS as part of the normalisation process. It was neither designed as a review into NISGS capability nor as a security review. It was divided into two parts: Part 1 examined the establishment (numbers) of the NISGS to support the reducing number of military bases and examine their roles and responsibilities; Part 2 was to determine future requirements including the retention of special constable (SC) status.

The paper has been staffed through the chain of command and the review is in its final stage. The decision on removal or retention of SC status is pending until consultation with trade unions is complete and resource implications are fully addressed.

We expected the review to be completed by the end of 2008 but this deadline was internal and self-imposed by HQ NI and 38 (Irish) Brigade. The review was more complex than originally anticipated with a broad range of subject matter experts’ views to be sought. Further work was therefore directed to ensure all resource implications and advice had been properly addressed. The report date was therefore slipped to the end of March 2009, with the full knowledge of both the MOD and trade unions. Trade union consultation on the findings of the review will commence shortly, before promulgation of the outcome to NISGS personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Buckingham of 20 October 2008, on grants for home insulation. (262732)

I signed a reply to the hon. Member on 9 March and apologise for the delay, which was due to departmental re-organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much was paid in Warm Front grants to residents in West Lancashire constituency in 2007-08. (261976)

Warm Front grants to residents in West Lancashire totalled £1,333,018.45 in 2007-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what area of farmland in England was classified as (a) grade 1 (excellent), (b) grade 2 (very good), (c) grade 3a (good), (d) grade 3b (moderate), (e) grade 4 (poor) and (f) grade 5 (very poor) in each of the last 10 years. (262116)

No estimates for the area of farmland in England by land grade classification have been made. Figures for Wales fall under the jurisdiction of the devolved authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to allow licensed premises to use municipal bottle banks to dispose of glass bottles. (262620)

There are no plans to do so, however, where an agreement has been made between the waste generator and the local authority or site operator, then such commercial use of a site is permitted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2009, Official Report, column 1413W, on terrorism: finance, how much the British Council plans to spend (a) in each country and (b) on each type of project in each of the three years from 2008-09 to 2010-11. (262406)

The British Council, received £6 million funding, over three years, for their Reconnect programme. The main aim of the initiative is to train 10,000 overseas young leaders at most risk of radicalisation or extremism. Decisions on particular funding allocations for countries or projects are based on a number of factors including the priority the Foreign and Commonwealth Office accords a particular country as well as the quality of particular project proposals. This programme will be monitored regularly to ensure it remains on track and will be evaluated on completion. The British Council has ongoing professional evaluation in place for all its programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2009, Official Report, column 1845W, on departmental training, when the audit of skills in his Department is expected to be completed. (258145)

We have identified and defined the core skills needed to deliver the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)’s departmental strategic objectives, and existing levels of proficiency. We are also defining specialist skills which reflect the work of the FCO across its network. As part of this process we mapped skills required against roles within the organisation. The next step will be to record the skills we have throughout our work force. This will be an ongoing process which will help inform decisions on learning and development, recruitment and workforce planning.

I am placing in the Library of the House information on our skills work. The documents set out our core skills, which are compatible with Professional Skills for Government, and details and explanations of levels of proficiency. The documents also give details of the mapping exercise which identified skills within the organisation and contributed to the development of the core skills framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications have been made by the UK to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund since 2007; what the purpose was of each such application; and how much has been paid out in respect of each such application. (258915)

The UK has made no applications to the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund since 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of breaches of the prohibition in UN Security Council Resolution 1747 against the sale, transfer or supply of arms or related material from Iran; and if he will make a statement. (261001)

I am aware of reports that Iran has breached UN Security Council Resolution 1747 by attempting to transfer arms-related material via the MV Monchegorsk, a Cypriot-flagged vessel.

We understand that the MV Monchegorsk was ordered into Limassol harbour by the Government of Cyprus in late January, where it now remains. Cypriot Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou has said that the Monchegorsk was in “clear” breach of UN sanctions banning Iran from exporting arms and related material. Cyprus has dealt with the situation effectively and entirely in line with UN and EU requirements.

We continue to urge Iran to comply with international law. It is unacceptable that Iran acts in breach of UN Resolutions and such action only serves to further undermine international confidence in Iran.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek agreement on the extension of the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia beyond 19 March 2009. (253956)

The UK supports the mandate given to the African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by the UN, most recently through UN Security Council Resolution 1863. This resolution provides a mandate to AMISOM until 16 July 2009, as well as providing for a package of support to that mission. The AU’s own mandate for this mission is a matter for AU member states themselves, but the UK has encouraged these states to extend this mandate beyond 19 March 2009, including by my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown at the AU Summit on 1-2 February 2009. The UK is also supporting the implementation of AMISOM’s mandate financially, with a contribution of £10 million during this financial year toward the costs of the mission. We also intend to contribute to the UN trust fund and logistical support package for AMISOM authorised under resolution 1863.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the implementation by the Chinese Government of security measures in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising. (263621)

We have received several reports of increased security measures in Tibet, including significant increases in numbers of People’s Armed Police and People’s Liberation Army forces into Tibetan areas, severely restricting Tibetans’ right of freedom of expression.

We have also received claims from several sources that the so-called ‘Strike Hard’ campaign launched in January 2009 has in fact been used for political purposes, rather than its stated aim of cracking down on criminal activity. We are concerned at such reports, and continue to urge the Chinese authorities to respect the right of peaceful expression and assembly in Tibet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has conducted recent research into the addictive properties of cannabis; and if he will make a statement. (263489)

At the request of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, the Government’s advisory committee on drugs, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) carried out a substantial review last year of the harms associated with cannabis use, including the physical and psychological effects of cannabis. The report, “Cannabis: Classification and Public Health (2008)”, was published in May 2008 and copies have already been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his Department’s policy to offer staff (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and (b) Christmas bonus payments. (262812)

The Department does not offer its staff either additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping or Christmas bonus payments.

Staff can request an advance on December salary—up to £500 for full-time staff (pro-rated for part-time staff)—to help them budget over the Christmas period. This advance is paid with November salary and recovered in full from December salary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the report on cord blood banking in the UK—an international comparison of policy and practice; (262773)

Following the publication of the international comparison report on cord blood banking policy and practice, the Department is assessing the need to enhance national health service cord blood collection services to ensure the United Kingdom remains at the forefront of this work and able to meet its international obligations in matching stem cell donations to patients in need of a transplant.

The two largest UK bodies providing stem cells for unrelated transplant, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and the Anthony Nolan Trust, have been asked to report back to us by the end of March 2009. There are no plans to involve other organisations at this time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues on the mileage allowance payable to (a) district nurses and (b) other NHS staff. (263559)

Guidance on mileage allowances for Agenda for Change Staff, which includes district nurses, is set out at Section 17 of the Agenda for Change terms and conditions of service handbook. The mileage allowances are set out at Annex L of this handbook. These allowances were last increased on 1 July 2008 in Pay Circular (A for C) 4/2008 issued on 7 July 2008. A copy of the Pay Circular has been placed in the Library.

Unless specified in individual terms and conditions, very senior managers follow this Agenda for Change guidance

Guidance for hospital medical and dental staff and doctors and dentists in public health, the community health service and salaried primary dental care (England) is set out in Pay Circular (M and D) 5/2008 issued on 4 August 2008. A copy of the Pay Circular has been placed in the Library.

Changes to all these national allowances are published in pay circulars issued by NHS employers and are available, along with the Agenda for Change terms and conditions of service handbook, at:

www.nhsemployers.org/Pages/home.aspx

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) of 4 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1353-56W, on the departmental internet, how many hits each of his Department’s websites received in each of the last 12 months. (262837)

Page hits for the main departmental websites are detailed as follows.

Page hits for the Department’s website:

www.dh.gov.uk

March 2008 to February 2009—64,678,663

Page hits for:

www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk

March 2008 to February 2009—1,756,641

Page hits for:

www.nhs.uk

March 2008 to February 2009—199,738,205

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property. (263110)

From 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008, the following items of departmental property were reported as lost or stolen with an estimated total replacement cost of £40,000.

There are strict rules on data security that the Department is required to adhere to. Safeguards include the encryption of all electronic equipment including memory sticks and PDAs and the Department is confident that no personal data have been compromised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department’s definition of addiction is. (263490)

In relation to substance misuse, following World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, the term ‘addiction’ has been replaced by ‘dependence’.

The WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 clinical defines ‘dependence’ as:

“A cluster of physiological, behavioural, and cognitive phenomena in which the use of a substance or a class of substances takes on a much higher priority for a given individual than other behaviours that once had greater value. A central descriptive characteristic of the dependence syndrome is the desire (often strong, sometimes overpowering) to take psychoactive drugs (which may or may not have been medically prescribed), alcohol, or tobacco. There may be evidence that return to substance use after a period of abstinence leads to a more rapid reappearance of other features of the syndrome than occurs with nondependent individuals.”

‘Addiction’ can also be understood to refer to some patterns of compulsive behaviour not involving substance misuse, but there is no ICD-10 definition encompassing this meaning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government plan to increase the number of consultants specialising in the treatment of eating disorders. (262922)

It is for local national health service employers to recruit their own staff to best meet the health care needs of their local population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) primary care trusts and (b) NHS hospital trusts contract with bus operators to run dedicated bus services to hospitals within their areas. (263044)

The information requested is not held centrally.

The hon. Member may wish to approach his local national health service organisations for further information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average hospital waiting time for each specialty was for each acute hospital trust in England in each quarter since 2007. (260430)

The median referral to treatment waiting times by treatment function for each national health service acute trust in each month for which figures are available since 2007 are shown in the document, “Median by month acute trusts”, which shows data for each organisation as they were submitted to the Department in the relevant year, has been placed in the Library.

Nationally, the median referral to treatment time waited of patients who were admitted for treatment has come down from 18.8 weeks when data were first collected in March 2007 to 7.6 weeks in December 2008. Nationally, the median referral to treatment time waited for non-admitted patients was 4.1 weeks in December 2008, compared to 7.4 weeks in August 2007 when data were first collected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the future financial position of independent sector treatment centres. (262977)

No research has been commissioned to date on the future financial position of independent sector treatment centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the (a) renegotiation and (b) renewal of independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) contracts issued in the (i) first and (ii) second wave of the ISTC programme; and what involvement he expects (A) primary care trusts, (B) strategic health authorities and (C) other bodies to have in discussions on such contracts. (262978)

Plans for the management of contract expiry including independent sector treatment centre wave 1 contracts are being developed. Consideration of Phase 2 has not begun, as the contracts will expire between 2011 and 2017. Decisions will be taken based on local service need and value for money. All of this will be considered as part of the process.

Primary care trusts as commissioners and strategic health authorities will have an important role in taking this work forward. No other bodies are currently involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost liabilities expected to arise from the independent sector treatment programme in the next five years. (262981)

The total cost liability associated with the treatment of national health service patients arising from the independent sector treatment programme (ISTC) over the next five years is estimated to be £1,412 million. (This is the expected payment to ISTC Wave 1 and Phase 2 providers based on the contracted value of activity for the next five years from 1 April 2009).

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring into the NHS independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) facilities contracted in the (a) first and (b) second wave of the ISTC programme. (262982)

There are no plans to bring national health service independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) facilities into the NHS at this stage. The ISTC providers are part of NHS capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) capital and (b) revenue funding has been provided for the measurement of health outcomes in the NHS since the National Programme for IT was first proposed; and what percentage of the NHS IT budget for 2008-09 has been allocated for this purpose. (263133)

Measuring health outcomes and using that information to improve services is integral to the delivery of effective health care. For example, cancer registry data are used in the planning and delivery of services, and also on a wider scale for the development of national policy on public health interventions and for the prioritisation of research. The National Programme for IT infrastructure provides a vehicle for collecting, sharing and storing health outcomes data, among many other applications.

The specific information requested is not available as a separately identifiable reporting line within overall national health service expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure has been incurred on the implementation of picture archiving and communication systems in England since the National Programme for IT was first proposed. (263134)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 March 2009, Official Report, columns 117-18W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which routine surgical operations information on outcomes is collected in the NHS; and whether his Department proposes to introduce further outcome measurement in other routine surgical operations. (260362)