Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Wales
Prisoners’ Children
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my predecessor have held regular discussions with Assembly Government colleagues on a range of matters affecting Wales, including prisons. I intend to follow in the same vein.
Barnett Formula
I meet regularly with the First Minister and discuss a wide range of issues.
Prescriptions
My predecessor had frequent discussions with Welsh Ministers on all issues, including health.
Welsh patients benefit from the Welsh Assembly Government’s policy of free prescriptions for all, and English patients pay the apt fee for England, whichever side of the border they have their prescriptions dispensed.
GP Services
My predecessor had regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services, where cross border treatment of NHS patients were discussed, among other issues. I will continue to hold such meetings.
Community Policing
This Government have invested huge sums in extra policing and community safety, and delivered large numbers of extra police officers. As a result of our policies, crime has fallen.
We are committed to ensuring that every community will have a Neighbourhood Policing team by April 2008.
North Wales police is on track to meet this target.
Public Expenditure
Figures for total identifiable public expenditure per head in Wales are published retrospectively by the Treasury as a Command Paper. Figures for 2007-08 are not yet available.
Departments: Manpower
Departments: Pay
The only readily available information is for financial year 2006-07. Three members of Wales Office staff were awarded non-pensionable bonuses. The total cost was £1,000.
Departments: Performance Appraisal
Provisionally one, which is currently being appealed.
Departments: Sick Leave
This information is not held centrally and obtaining it could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
Public Sector: Pay
I have regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
It is essential that all public sector workers receive a fair rate of pay wherever they live. Pay reflects the individual circumstances facing each workforce, for instance recruitment and retention, operational circumstances, local labour market considerations, pay modernisation and the value of the total reward package. With major Welsh towns and cities like Cardiff, Newport and Swansea now enjoying increased prosperity and a booming property market, Wales is not necessarily one single labour market.
Prime Minister
Official Residences: Mr. Prescott
Following his recent illness, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott) is making the necessary arrangements to move out of his official residence.
Culture, Media and Sport
Departments: Consultants
The Department’s spend on management and other consultants and advisers since 2000 is listed in the table. There have been no consultants who have undertaken work for the Department with a contractual value in excess of £10 million during this period.
Financial year Management consultants Other consultants and advisers 2000-01 0 194,075.11 2001-02 0 318,416.80 2002-03 107,299.50 362,181.10 2003-04 10,170.94 463,614.41 2004-05 21,067.25 622,857.02 2005-061 159,188.14 1,002,117.89 2006-072 67,955.11 783,223.86 1 Amended to reflect reclassification of some costs to departmental administration costs 2 Subject to finalisation of resource accounts
Football: Primary Education
The Government are committed to increasing the amount of physical education and sport in schools through the National School Sport Strategy, delivered jointly by the DCMS and the DCSF. Football is one of 25 sports helping to deliver this strategy.
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.
Gambling: Licensing
Industry representatives have raised this issue informally with the Department. Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS) supports the existing timetable and we have received no such representation from local authorities.
Gaming Machines: Standards
The power to test gaming machines for compliance with gaming machine technical standards rests with the Gambling Commission. Machines must be tested in line with the Commission’s testing strategy, to be published before 1 September 2007. The Commission has provisionally approved a number of test houses to carry out testing, and where tests of certain gaming machines will be required, those tests may be commenced prior to 1 September or completed during a reasonable time-frame set by the Commission.
Olympic Games: Greater London
[holding answer 2 July 2007]: I have been asked to reply as Minster for the Olympics.
I refer the hon. Member to my written statement to the House on 27 March 2007, and the revised memorandum of understanding which has now been agreed with the Mayor. Copies of the memorandum have been deposited in the Library of the House. This shows details of the amounts we expect to be recovered from the sale of land acquired by the London Development Agency for the purposes of delivering the Olympic and Paralympic games, and how these funds will be allocated.
Sport England: Finance
The table provides details of funding provided to Sport England North East region in each of the last five years:
Sport England North East Exchequer Lottery 2003-04 0.3 7.9 2004-05 0.5 11.4 2005-06 0.8 10.6 2006-07 0.8 7.6 2007-08 0.7 3.2 Totals 3.1 40.7
The projected funding for 2008-09 financial year will not be known until the outcome of the 2007 comprehensive spending review.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Departments: Advertising
The website www.fco.gov.uk/travel is the home page for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Know Before You Go (KBYG) Campaign. The campaign is aimed at encouraging British travellers to prepare better before going overseas. Companies and businesses can apply to become members of the campaign and as a part of that membership they have an entry and logo displayed through a link from:
www.fco.gov.uk/travel
The campaign employs a professional partnership marketing company, which develops a range of arrangements (within agreed guidelines), with partner organisations to get travel safety messages across to the public. As part of these arrangements, partner companies have been offered the opportunity to place their logos on the back of some KBYG leaflets. No financial exchange takes place, but the companies are required to provide the equivalent space in value on their own publicity materials.
One example of this is our partnership with The Halifax, whose logo appears on the “Checklist for Travellers” which, is distributed with each UK passport issued. In return for this, the FCO has secured wide exposure for travel safety messages in The Halifax’s online and printed travel-related communications tools, such as travel newsletters, advice pages, and travel insurance documents.
Iraq
The information requested by my hon. Friend is provided as follows:
Value (£ per annum) Purpose 2003-04 16,800,000 Static and Mobile Security 2004-05 49,500,000 Static and Mobile Security 2005-06 47,800,000 Static and Mobile Security 2006-07 30,400,000 Static and Mobile Security
Year: 2004-07
Value: £19,900,000
Purpose: Provision of Police Mentors and Advisers to the Government
The information above covers contracts put in place by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with private security companies for services in Iraq. The figures reflect the contract values concerned and not the actual spend. Many of these contracts cover other Government Departments. Where this is the case, proportional costs are recovered accordingly.
Saudi Arabia: BAE Systems
In the three months prior to the decision by the Director of the Serious Fraud Office to halt its investigation into BAE Systems, we continued to have talks with Saudi government officials on many subjects including the Al-Yamamah programme.
Primary responsibility for supporting the export of UK defence equipment and services lies with the Ministry of Defence.
Sierra Leone: Elections
We are funding a £3 million programme of electoral support to help ensure free and fair elections. This consists of support for international observers and a coalition of national election monitors, the ‘National Elections Watch’, which intends to host observers in every polling station in Sierra Leone; training for political parties; addressing the gender disparity surrounding elections; and strengthening the capacity of national and local media to cover the elections. We have also committed £4 million to the UN Development Programme's “basket fund”, which finances Sierra Leone’s National Electoral Commission and contributes to the cost of the elections. In addition, our high commission in Freetown is working with the full range of political and civil society to support free and credible elections. It is essential that Sierra Leoneans should be able to participate fully in the elections and that the result should reflect their choices.
On present plans the EU will send 28 long term observers from 15 July to 16 September; 42 short term observers from 6-16 August and, should there be a second round of voting in the presidential elections, 36 short term observers from 2-13 September. We are looking forward to contributing candidates as both short and long term observers.
The National Democratic Institute (NDI), an international non-governmental organisation with expertise on electoral issues, will send 35-40 short term observers who will stay for one week, including election week, and seven short term observers who will stay for one week in mid-July. NDI has already deployed six long term observers who will stay until the end of August. NDI’s observers are being part-funded by the Department for International Development. UK Government election observers will also be deployed for the critical phases of the electoral process and for the elections themselves.
Sudan: Armed Forces
[holding answer 3 July 2007]: As chair of the Security Working Group of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission, the UK is in regular dialogue with both parties on monitoring and assisting implementation of their security obligations in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Despite some delays, both sides remain committed to meeting their obligations.
Sudan: Oil
We welcome the proposal from the Aegis Trust for an oil trust fund. This could be an option for consideration in the future to put further pressure on the Government of Sudan to meet its commitments on Darfur. As with other measures, we need to carefully consider its impact on the economy and poverty reduction in the whole of Sudan, and on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), agreed between North and South Sudan in 2005. Oil revenues are key to delivering the CPA’s peace dividend across Sudan. The UK’s policy remains focused on smart and targeted multilateral sanctions.
Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations
The UN and African Union (AU) are negotiating the timetable for the deployment of the joint AU-UN hybrid force for Darfur, accepted by the Sudanese Government on 12 June. We are pressing both parties to agree on the earliest possible date.
The proposed mandate of the joint African Union (AU)—UN peacekeeping force for Darfur is contained in the report produced by the AU and UN and presented to the Government of Sudan in Addis Ababa on 12 June. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House. The Peace and Security Council of the AU endorsed this proposed mandate on 22 June. We are preparing a UN Security Council Resolution, with other Security Council members, that will mandate the UN elements of the force.
Uganda: Politics and Government
The violence used by the Government forces at the Uganda High Court on 1 March to frustrate the decision of the High Court to grant the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) suspects bail has grave implications for the independence of the judiciary, respect for the rule of law and human rights in Uganda.
We continue to raise our concerns about the detention of the PRA suspects with the Government of Uganda. Most recently our High Commissioner in Kampala raised this with President Museveni on 10 May.
We understand that court proceedings are due to resume later this month. We will continue to make further representations to the Government of Uganda calling for court proceedings to be expedited in a fair and just manner.
Transport
Aviation: Security
The current security regulations are kept under constant review. The Department has currently placed a limit of one cabin bag per passenger in order to manage the current very real threat to aviation in the UK. However, we have made clear our readiness to remove the one bag limit once industry—collectively—is confident of its ability to deliver security effectively without it.
Bus Services: Concessions
38 appeals lodged with the Secretary of State by bus operators disputing the reimbursement arrangements in travel concession authorities in England for 2006-07 were successful. Over 60 appeals were lodged in that year, although 15 of those were subsequently withdrawn and four were rejected. Two of the appeals lodged in the autumn are deferred until July following requests from both operators and the travel concession authority to allow time for local negotiation.
It would not be appropriate to comment on the individual determinations of appeals. Further information may be sought from the relevant bus operators and travel concession authorities.
Bus Services: Cumbria
[holding answer 29 June 2007]: In 2007-08 Cumbria will receive £1.6 million in rural bus subsidy grant (RBSG). This is a 2.39 per cent. increase over the previous year, which is the same percentage increase received by all other local authorities receiving the grant. RBSG allocations for 2007-08 total £55.6 million. This is a 71 per cent. increase in cash terms since the grant was introduced in 1998.
Whether an authority’s allocation represents a reduction in real terms depends on the changes in contract prices that authority faces during the course of the year. This varies from area to area. It is for each authority to review their expenditure on bus support, taking account of local priorities and all the resources available to them which includes, in addition to RBSG, revenue support grant from central Government.
Bypasses: Kettering
Northamptonshire county council, as the local highway authority, is responsible for preparing any proposals for an eastern bypass of Kettering. Should the council decide to promote such a scheme, it would need to obtain the region’s agreement to prioritise the scheme for funding within the East Midlands regional funding allocation for major transport schemes.
The council would then need to submit a detailed business case for the scheme, in line with departmental guidance, for consideration by the Department.
Channel Tunnel
The Department currently holds no forecasts on this matter.
Departments: Pay
The information for the number and total amount paid to senior civil service bonus payments within the Department for Transport is only available from 2004 onwards and is as follows:
Number Total cost (£) 2004 65 326,000 2005 105 492,000 2006 140 882,000
Under current arrangements, bonuses are used to reward excellent performance during the year and are based on a judgment on how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. The intention is the best performers receive the biggest bonus payments.
The number and total cost of non-pensionable bonuses awarded to member of staff in the Department for Transport in the last three years is as follows:
Number of bonuses awarded Total value of these bonuses (£) 2004-05 5,652 1,690,379 2005-06 6,343 2,458,701 2006-07 8,876 4,361,708
Departments: Sick Leave
The percentage of sick leave taken by staff in the Department that was stress-related in each of the last three years is:
Percentage 2004 20.6 2005 22.4 2006 17.6
Lorries: Tolls
I refer to the answer of 21 June 2007, Official Report, columns 2114-15W. No decisions have been taken on whether to introduce a national system of road pricing or what form it might take. Such decisions will be taken only on the evidence of established local schemes.
Motorcycles
No Ministers from the Department have met with the chairman of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) and there have been no requests to do so. The former Minister of State, the hon. Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman), had met with senior representatives of MAG in the last six months.
Motorcycles: Electronic Tagging
The Department for Transport currently does not have plans to introduce such a system.
However a small trial of electronic vehicle identification (EVI) technology using electronic tags attached to number plates on both cars and motorcycle number plates took place in 2006.
Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance
For planned lane closures such as those required for maintenance activity and major improvements, the Agency has a Network Occupancy Management Process to ensure that roadwork activity is planned and coordinated effectively. As part of this process, the Agency records all this information on a national electronic system called the Schedule of Road Works. This national system is populated by its contractors and can be accessed by planning staff in all regions.
For unplanned lane closures such as those as a result of incidents, the Agency’s National Traffic Control Centre (NTCC) co-ordinates the strategic response and informs motorists of road closures and implements strategic diversions. The NTCC automatically alerts the corresponding Regional Control Centre (RCC) that it is about to set a specific response plan and also provides information to motorists through the Traffic England website, the Highways Agency Information Line and through travel news media.
Incidents are managed from the Agency’s seven RCCs. If the incident affects adjoining regions then the lead RCC will ensure they are notified and co-ordinate a joint response. Incidents of national significance are co-ordinated by a national crisis management team.
The Highways Agency (HA) have a wide variety of Variable Message Signs (VMS) and fixed message signs designed to give motorists advanced warning of any closures on the motorway network which could affect their journey. Where an incident occurs that necessitates the closure of a carriageway, the National Traffic Control Centre (NTCC) uses VMS located at key strategic points on the network, across HA areas and regions, to make motorists aware and allow them to make informed decisions about whether to change their route. It is important to note that the NTCC doesn't work on an HA regional or area basis, but sees the network as a whole.
Official Cars: Electric Vehicles
At present, 41 per cent. of the Government Car and Despatch Agency’s fleet are hybrid electric vehicles.
Railways: South Wales
Improving rail performance is a key objective for the Department for Transport. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and First Great Western to address performance issues. Additionally, First Great Western has implemented a 40-point Recovery plan. These are monitored monthly.
In the year to 31 March 2007 First Great Western achieved an average punctuality of 83.2 per cent. across the franchise as a whole.
The Secretary of State for Transport has not undertaken an assessment of the standard of First Great Western’s train services. The industry-standard public performance measure (PPM) is used to measure performance of a train operating company (TOC) across the whole of its franchise area, not specific routes in isolation. Passenger surveys are undertaken by Passenger Focus. The results of the latest National Passenger survey were published on 5 June 2007.
Shipping: ELL Action
The former Minister of State, the hon. Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) recently held a meeting with the Portuguese State Secretary for Defence and Maritime Affairs to discuss this EU consultation and the plans of the Portuguese presidency in addressing its outcome.
In addition, officials have worked closely with those of other EU member states on this matter and have been involved in both formal community working groups and an informal ‘friends of the presidency’ group.
Traffic Officers: Speed Limits
In the last 24 months one Highways Agency traffic officer has been caught and prosecuted for speeding while in the course of their duty. This was in the North West Region, where a notice of intended prosecution was issued on 8 May 2007 in relation to an alleged speeding offence on 4 April 2007.
Train Operating Companies: Fees and Charges
The Department for Transport has been discussing with the Association of Train Operating Companies about how a simple national fares structure could be introduced, with standardised ticket names, terms and conditions. Discussions are ongoing.
Defence
Afghanistan: Drugs
UK military forces deployed under the international security assistance force contribute to the broader counter-narcotics effort by helping to provide the secure environment in which the rule of law can be applied, reconstruction can take place and legal rural livelihoods can be developed. They are also able to provide support to Afghan led counter-narcotics operations, within the scope of the NATO operational plan. They are not there to carry out eradication themselves.
Aircraft Carriers: France
[holding answer 27 June 2007]: We have always stressed that co-operation with France through industry-to-industry links may offer potential benefits to both nations. It has been agreed with France that for co-operation to work, it must deliver cost savings and must do so without delaying UK or French programmes.
Armed Forces: Advisory Services
Independent advisory panels (IAP) have been established across the Army Recruiting and Training Division (ARTD)'s Phase 1 (Initial Training) and Phase 2 (Special-to-Arm Training) units since 18 January 2006.
IAPs exist in the following ARTD sites:
Phase 1 Training sites Phase 21 Army Foundation College (Harrogate) Armoured Centre (Bovington) Army Training Regiment (Bassingbourn) Royal School of Military Engineering (Chatham and Minley) Army Training Regiment (Lichfield) Royal School of Artillery (Larkhill) Army Training Regiment (Pirbright) School of Infantry (Catterick) Army Training Regiment (Winchester) School of Army Aviation (Middle Wallop) 1 Including phase 1 and 2 combined sites
The Defence College of Logistics and Personnel Administration, and the ARTD Staff Leadership School are planning to have IAPs in place during 2007-08.
The terms of reference for IAPs, developed in October 2005, include guidance on recruiting and are as follows:
1. Introduction
As part of the process of implementing the recommendations of the DHALI reports, the Adjutant General has directed Director General Army Recruiting and Training to establish IAPs across the Army's training establishments at either school or regiment level but not both.
2. Aim
The aim of IAPs is to provide an independent, non-statutory source of advice, challenge, encouragement and support to the training establishment in order to exchange information, provide feedback and assist in identifying possible areas for improvement.
3. Roles
IAPs have the following roles:
a. To act as a conduit for external communication for the training establishment to de-mystify the Army's individual training organisation and promote the Army's and training establishment's reputations locally.
b. To act as a source of local feedback on local issues.
c. To act as a “sounding board”. They will support and challenge the training establishment by providing advice and encouragement on particular issues (both local and national) raised by the Commandant on an as required basis.
4. Limitations.
The IAP will not override the fundamental Army principle of self-regulation vested in the commanding officer and the higher chain of command. They will have no responsibility for budgets, objective setting, policy or staff selection.
5. Composition
IAPs are non-statutory bodies and their composition will depend on the circumstances for each establishment. IAPs might include opinion formers in the local community, who between them are able to speak with knowledge, credibility and experience on a range of issues that might relate to the operation of the training establishment and the training of young people. Examples might include local teachers, youth workers, social workers, councillors, religious figures (all faiths), policemen/women, businessmen/women, health professionals or sports personalities. The chairperson will be elected by the panel, and will not be a member of the training establishment. IAP membership from the training establishment could be:
a. School Commander/Commanding Officer;
b. Independent Complaints Officer (ICO);
c. Welfare Officer;
d. COS/Adjt to provide the secretarial function.
6. Frequency
IAPs will meet termly (three times a year) or as the School Commander/Commanding Officer and Chairperson decide.
7. Output
IAPs will write an annual report to the School Commander/Commanding Officer, recording key issues raised and action taken.
The ongoing composition of a panel is a matter for the respective chairperson, once elected, in consultation with the respective training establishment and, externally the headquarters of the ARTD.
While parents of service personnel are not specifically identified as potential members of the IAP, they are not excluded, and it is implicit in the Terms of reference (paragraph 3) that an IAP would wish to seek the views of recruits and trainees.
Armed Forces: Catering
The information is provided in the following table .
RN RM Armyl RAF Strength 2975 2150 2,465 2690 Requirement 1,000 155 2,600 600 Surplus/Deficit 2-25 2-5 2-135 290 FY 07/08 recruiting target 120 25 430 30 1.Army figures are as at 1 March 2007 and include Gurkhas 2 Denotes provisional. Due to the introduction of a new joint personnel administration system (JPA) data are provisional and subject to review.
Chemicals: Ballast Bank
[holding answer 29 June 2007]: The land in question does not belong to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and has not been used as an MOD site. Thus MOD has no responsibility for the current condition of this land, for any activities that may have taken place there in the past, or for funding on carrying out any remediation required.
Departments: European Union
In the Ministry of Defence there are four members of staff working exclusively on European Security and Defence Policy business in the Directorate for Policy on International Organisations, and one full time member of staff dealing with EU business in the Defence Equipment and Support International Relations Group. A number of other staff throughout the Department are involved for part of their time in a wide range of EU business.
The MOD has nine military and civilian staff in the UK Military Representation to the EU in Brussels and two seconded to the UK diplomatic representation to the EU to work on European Security and Defence Policy. In addition there are 20 MOD military and civilian staff seconded to the European Council General Secretariat, including the European Union Military Staff, and eight to the European Defence Agency.
A functional breakdown of staff roles as requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departments: Pay
The numbers and values of annual appraisal related bonuses paid to members of the senior civil service (SCS) and to fixed term appointees at SCS equivalent level over the past four years are listed in tables 1 and 2. We are only able to provide information from 2003-04 as pay arrangements for SCS staff were changed from 1 April 2002; bonuses for performance during 2002-03 were paid in 2003-04. Bonuses for performance in 2006-07 are in the process of agreement through the MOD SCS Pay Committee structure and will be paid in November 2007.
Bonuses are designed to reward those who are deemed to have made the greatest contribution, through specific in-year achievements, to departmental objectives or defence business more widely.
Number of bonuses paid Value of bonuses paid (£) 2006-07 181 1,178,500 2005-06 184 918,000 2004-05 136 711,737 2003-04 140 701,221
Number of bonuses paid Value of bonuses paid (£) 2006-07 10 73,191 2005-06 10 65,586 2004-05 14 112,329 2003-04 13 86,531
Departments: Travel
A total of 17 rail tickets were issued by the Abbey Wood travel office for the 12 month period 1 July 2006 to 28 June 2007.
Ex-servicemen: Housing
Guidance on vulnerability of former members of the armed forces and their need for priority housing is set out in Chapter 10: Priority Need, paragraphs 10.12 (iv)—10.14 and 10.21—10.23 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities, issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government in July 2006.
People who seek social housing, including service personnel approaching discharge or recently discharged, should apply to their local housing authority to join the waiting list for an allocation of housing under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996
The homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) provides a safety net for people who become homeless in a crisis. Under the legislation local housing authorities must secure suitable accommodation for housing applicants who are homeless through no fault of their own and who fall within a priority need group. This applies to all applicants who are eligible for homelessness assistance, including discharged service personnel.
The priority need groups include, among others, applicants whose household includes a child or pregnant woman and applicants whose household includes a person who is vulnerable in some way. In 2002, the Government extended the priority need groups by Order to include, among others, applicants who are
“vulnerable as a result of... having been a member of Her Majesty’s regular naval, military or air forces”.
It is a matter of judgment by the local authority whether an applicant’s circumstances make him or her vulnerable for the purposes of the legislation. Local authorities must consider whether, when homeless, the applicant would be less able to fend for him or herself than an ordinary homeless person, so that he or she would suffer injury or detriment in circumstances where a less vulnerable person would be able to cope without harmful effects.
The potential vulnerability to homelessness of personnel due to leave the Service would be considered by the individual’s resettlement officer as part of the normal discharge process, and referral made to the Joint Service Housing Advice Office as necessary, which can assist with applications for social housing.
Ex-servicemen: Mentally Ill
The MOD does not hold this information.
Gibraltar: Police
The Gibraltar Services Police Staff Association (GSPSA) has been consulted about the conduct of the Gibraltar Policing and Security Review, in accordance with established and agreed consultation procedures. The terms of reference for the review were provided to the GSPSA, and to other interested parties, on 4 June 2007. In response to a written request from the GSPSA, an extension to the consultation period on the terms of reference was granted. They subsequently responded on 19 June 2007, and conduct of the review commenced on 20 June 2007.
The GSPSA will also be consulted on emerging conclusions from the review in due course.
Gurkhas
Approximately 10,000 young men in Nepal applied to join the British Army as Gurkhas in 2004, with 15,000 applying in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The average selection time takes about 50 days.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
The cost of operations are calculated on a net additional basis and audited figures are published each year in the MOD’s annual report and accounts. The total of the annual audited figures for the cost of operations in Iraq for the years 2002-03 to 2005-06 was £4,026 million. A total estimated cost of £1,002 million for 2006-07 was included in the Spring Supplementary Estimates published in February. Final figures will be published in the MOD’s annual report and accounts for 2006-07 in July.
I have updated the House regularly on various aspects of the UK operation in Iraq.
Official Residences: Repairs and Maintenance
The table provides maintenance costs for the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland’s Official Service Residence from financial years 2001-02 to 2005-06. Information covering earlier years has not been retained.
£ 2001-02 31,048 2002-03 22,333 2003-04 11,335 2004-05 3,512 2005-06 6,394
Princess Royal Barracks
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statements of 28 March 2007, Official Report, columns 91-95WS, and 28 June 2007, Official Report, column 35WS. The Ministry of Defence is committed to maintaining the improvements already achieved, and to continuing to address the areas where performance can be improved. Independent inspection of the training environment will continue and our internal training inspection team is working hard to ensure that policy is fully implemented, change sustained and good practice shared.
Territorial Army
[holding answer 29 June 2007]: The following table shows those military staff who provide dedicated support to commander regional forces (CRF) in his capacity as Inspector General Territorial Army (IGTA). All appointments are located at HQ Land Command in Wilton, Salisbury.
Appointment Status Deputy Inspector General Territorial Army (DIGTA) Territorial Army Staff Officer 2 (SO2) to DIGTA Territorial Army TA Colonel Territorial Army Colonel Territorial Army Media and Communications Territorial Army SO1 TA Projects Territorial Army Chief of Staff Regional forces Regular Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff Regional Forces and Territorial Inspectorate Regular SO2 Territorial Army (A) Plans Regular SO2 Territorial Army (B) Management Information Systems Plans Regular SO2 Territorial Army (C) Projects Territorial Army SO2 Territorial Army (D) Projects Regular SO2 Territorial Army Media Operations Territorial Army
Territorial Army: Recruitment
The Territorial Army (TA) is the reserve of “first choice” and its personnel are currently providing crucial support to the Regular Forces on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. Since January 2003 around 13,000 volunteers from the TA have been mobilised on overseas operations. The ability of the TA to meet its operational requirement is closely monitored. However, there is no requirement to hold or maintain information centrally in the format requested and such data could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
World War II: Military Decorations
The creation of medals is the prerogative of the Sovereign. The Sovereign takes advice from the Government of the day, who, in turn, are advised by the inter-departmental, non-political Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (known as the HD Committee), on which the armed forces are represented. In the case of campaign medals for service during the second world war, the issue was discussed exhaustively by those in command at the time and by the HD Committee. Those who served in Bomber Command during the second world war could qualify for one of the Stars instituted for campaign service for example the 1939-45 Star, the much prized Aircrew Europe Star or the France and Germany Star. World war two campaign medals were instituted for periods of military service in specified geographic areas and did not relate to individual battles, operations or military commands. The HD Committee has made it clear on many occasions that it will not revisit cases for service performed many years previously or where medals already exist for specified periods of service, both of which apply for service in Bomber Command.
Home Department
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
The Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 received Royal Assent on 20 November. The number of ASBOs issued in 2004 and 2005 (latest available) are:
Area Number of ASBOs issued1 England 7,162 Hertfordshire police force area 112 Borough of Dacorum 12 Hemel Hempstead constituency n/a2 n/a = not available. 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 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. 2 ASBO data are not available at levels below local government authority areas.
ASBO breach data are currently available from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2005 for ASBOs issued since 1 June 2000 and are available at Criminal Justice System area level only. The available information is given in the table.
CJS area ASBOs breached Avon and Somerset 98 Bedfordshire 28 Cambridgeshire 30 Cheshire 87 Cleveland 70 Cumbria 66 Derbyshire 44 Devon and Cornwall 46 Dorset 46 Durham 53 Dyfed Powys 16 Essex 79 Gloucestershire 39 Greater London 461 Greater Manchester 654 Gwent 42 Hampshire 126 Hertfordshire 50 Humberside 94 Kent 12 Lancashire 161 Leicestershire 57 Lincolnshire 19 Merseyside 126 Norfolk 38 North Wales 71 North Yorkshire 34 Northamptonshire 7 Northumbria 127 Nottinghamshire 102 South Wales 54 South Yorkshire 119 Staffordshire 61 Suffolk 63 Surrey 47 Sussex 111 Thames Valley 70 Warwickshire 38 West Mercia 84 West Midlands 316 West Yorkshire 376 Wiltshire 24 England and Wales 4,246 1 ASBOs may be issued in one area and breached in another. Breaches are counted in this table in the area of breach. 2 ASBOs may be breached more than once and in more than one year. In this table ASBOs are counted once only at the time they were first breached. This table excludes ASBOs which were initially breached before 1 January 2003, regardless of whether they were breached again between 2003 and 2005. 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. Source: OCJR Court Proceedings Database.
Antisocial Behaviour: Greater Manchester
The British Crime Survey shows that the proportion of the public who perceive a high level of antisocial behaviour in the Greater Manchester Police Force area, which includes Greater Manchester, Stockport and Cheadle, fell from 21 per cent. in 2003-04 to 20 per cent. in 2004-05 and to 1.9 per cent. in 2005-06.
Asylum: Qualifications
The Department has not commissioned research on the skills and qualifications of asylum seekers.
The Department has commissioned research on the skills and qualifications of refugees, which is reported in ‘Skills Audit of Refugees’, published in 2004 (Home Office Online Report 37/04). Link to publication:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/rdsolr3704.pdf
Information on the skills and qualifications of refugees is currently being collected in a Home Office survey to evaluate the pilot phase of SUNRISE (Strategic Upgrade of National Refugee Integration Services) and also in research into the Gateway Protection Programme. This research is not yet at a stage to be reported.
Burglary: Northumbria
Information for the Houghton and Washington, East constituency is not available centrally. The available information relates to the Sunderland Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area and the Northumbria police force area and is given in the tables.
Sunderland CDRP Northumbria police force area 1996 n/a 21,409 1997 n/a 17,113 n/a - not available
Sunderland CDRP Northumbria police force area 1998-99 n/a 15,334 1999-2000 3,311 12,539 2000-01 3,016 11,377 2001-02 2,982 11,244 n/a = not available Notes: 1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1996 and 1997. 2. The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
Sunderland CDRP Northumbria police force area 2002-03 2,962 11,179 2003-04 2,369 10,223 2004-05 1,910 7,897 2005-06 1,353 6,560 Note: The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
Crime: Northumbria
Information for the Houghton and Washington, East constituency is not available centrally. The available information relates to the Sunderland Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area and the Northumbria police force area and is given in the following tables.
Sunderland CDRP Northumbria police force area 1996 n/a 169,656 1997 n/a 140,166 n/a = not available.
Sunderland CDRP Northumbria police force area 1998-99 n/a 151,298 1999-2000 n/a 142,279 2000-01 30,407 134,777 2001-02 33,259 139,130 n/a = not available. Notes: 1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1996 and 1997. 2. The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
Sunderland CDRP Northumbria police force area 2002-03 38,196 165,496 2003-04 34,612 157,051 2004-05 30,447 142,122 2005-06 28,429 131,968 Note: The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
Crimestoppers
(2) how many people were arrested in each of the last five years as a result of information supplied to Crimestoppers.
Information on the number of arrests as a result of information supplied to Crimestoppers is not collected centrally by the Home Office. A Home Office evaluation ‘Evaluating the impact of Crimestoppers’ Home Office Online Report 22/03 stated that for the year 2000 there were 5,423 successful outcomes (arrested, charged or cautioned) approximately 9 per cent. of all actionable calls. However, the actual number of positive results is higher, as there is widespread under-reporting of feedback. The report estimated this figure as close to 9,614.
The former Home Secretary last met the Chief Executive of Crimestoppers on 25 April. The Home Office continues to support Crimestoppers through the terms of the Strategic Partnership Agreement which runs from 1 December 2004 to 31 March 2008.
Departments: European Union
Officials throughout the Home Office are involved in a full range of EU business. Those working specifically on EU business in its International Directorate currently total 19. The Border and Immigration Agency has a European and International Policy Unit, which has a total of 21 staff working on European related matters. A breakdown of the figures as requested would incur disproportionate cost.
Departments: Pay
Senior civil service bonuses reward, and provide incentives for, delivery of key results. Under current arrangements, bonuses are used to reward performance during the year, and are based on a judgment of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. Records of bonus payments made to SCS members are only available from 2002.
2002-03
115 out of 185 SCS staff received performance bonuses. The total costs were £463,552.
2003-04
138 out of 215 SCS staff received performance bonuses. The total costs were £672,409.
2004-05
180 out of 219 SCS staff received performance bonuses. The total costs were £1,187,000.
2005-06
158 out of 232 SCS staff received performance bonuses. The total costs were £1,071,118.
Europol
At present there are no formal agreements between Europol and public or private entities relating to the provision of commercial data to Europol. The Europol Information System can only be used to process data that relate to persons who are suspected of having committed or suspected of having taken part in a crime in contravention of the national law of that country, or where there are factual indicators that they will commit such an offence.
A new legal instrument to regulate Europol’s activities is currently under negotiation in the Justice and Home Affairs Council. In the context of that negotiation, the question of the provision of commercial data to Europol has yet to be discussed. However, the Government’s view is that where that would involve the processing of personal data from public or private entities, it must take place exclusively via the Europol national units. The Government also believe where it is reasonable and necessary for Europol to be able to process data there must be adequate safeguards to ensure that such data are relevant for its tasks.
Proof of Age Cards
It is the responsibility of retailers to ensure that they have adequate procedures in place to prevent alcohol being sold to people aged under 18 and that their staff are appropriately trained, to enforce this. Many retailers have now adopted a ‘Think 21’ policy, where anyone appearing to be under 21 should be asked for identification prior to any sale of alcohol, which will prevent an offence being committed. Valid forms of identification include a passport or a driving licence with a photo.
The Home Office also supports the Proof of Age Standards (PASS) scheme, which establishes a common standard for issuing the various proof of age cards that are available. PASS accredited cards carry a secure hologram which helps retailers to identify genuine proof of age cards. The PASS hologram on a card is the hallmark indicating that the card issuer has passed a stringent audit carried out by Trading Standards Officers and that the card may be relied upon.
Following on from the success of the Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaigns, since May 2007 we have been conducting a national Tackling Under Age Sales of Alcohol Campaign, which is testing whether or not retailers ask for valid identification from potential underage purchasers of alcohol.
Illegal Immigrants: Malta
The UK supports Maltese efforts to tackle illegal immigration both bilaterally and through the EU. Last year we sent a Chief Immigration Officer to Malta to assist a Frontex co-ordinated operation with nationality and identity interviewing techniques and a senior official to give advice on returning failed asylum seekers. Also in 2006 a Maltese official was seconded to Border and Immigration Agency for a week to learn about our detention centres. EU funding has recently been obtained for joint returns work with Malta, and the European Commission is currently considering a joint proposal from the UK, Italy and Malta for funding to establish a centre for migration intelligence analysts on Lampedusa and Malta. Malta also receives funding through EU financial instruments such as the European Refugee Fund.
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Operation Foist was an initiative of the Metropolitan Police. Adoption of similar exercises elsewhere is an operational matter for individual chief officers. I understand from the Metropolitan Police that a number of forces have been in touch with queries about the operation with a view to undertaking such measures themselves.
Operation Foist was an initiative of the Metropolitan Police that targeted uninsured drivers as a means of improving road safety and reducing criminality. The Metropolitan Police arranged for a review of the initiative’s effectiveness to be carried out and I am arranging for a copy of this to be placed in the Library.
Racially Aggravated Offences: Wiltshire
The statistics are not available in the form requested.
Recorded crime statistics relate to offences and court proceedings data relate to offenders. In addition, recorded crime data are published on a financial year basis and court proceedings data are published on a calendar year basis. For these reasons, the two data sources are therefore not directly comparable.
The available information relates to racially or religiously aggravated offences and is available from 1999-2000 only. Tables 1 and 2 give the number of offences recorded by the police in Wiltshire. Data on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for all racially and religiously aggravated offences in the Wiltshire police force area are provided in Table 3.
Offence 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 Racially or religiously aggravated offences of: Less serious wounding 10 16 24 Harassment 36 65 67 Common assault 16 14 10 Criminal damage to a dwelling 2 3 9 Criminal damage to a building other than a dwelling 1 9 20 Criminal damage to a vehicle 8 8 15 Other criminal damage 4 3 4
Offence 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 Racially or religiously aggravated offences of: Less serious wounding 22 35 37 37 Harassment 140 147 138 167 Common assault 17 26 13 13 Criminal damage to a dwelling 14 11 7 9 Criminal damage to a building other than a dwelling 20 14 6 17 Criminal damage to a vehicle 12 5 13 8 Other criminal damage 7 6 6 9 Note: 1. The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.
Proceeded against 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Racially or religiously aggravated offences of: Less serious wounding 1 1 1 1 2 5 3 Harassment 17 16 16 15 26 27 49 Common assault 1 2 3 8 14 9 10 Criminal damage to a dwelling — — — — — — — Criminal damage to a building other than a dwelling — — — — — — — Criminal damage to a vehicle — — — — — — — Other criminal damage — 2 — 4 2 4 3
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Racially or religiously aggravated offences of: Less serious wounding — — — — — — 1 Harassment 10 10 12 11 20 16 28 Common assault — — 1 5 7 4 8 Criminal damage to a dwelling — — — — — — — Criminal damage to a building other than a dwelling — — — — — — — Criminal damage to a vehicle — — — — — — — Other criminal damage — 1 — 2 1 2 1 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 police forces and 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.
Road Traffic Act 1988: Powers
The addition of section 165A to the Road Traffic Act 1988 was one of a number of roads policing measures included in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Information on all these measures and the powers they confer was given to chief officers of police at the time and has been supplemented subsequently by responses to individual enquiries. How the powers are exercised is an operational matter for individual chief officers and any guidance that might be issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Theft: Bicycles
The information requested is set out in the following table.
Proceeded against Sentenced 2001 143 90 2002 151 106 2003 127 84 2004 132 96 2005 159 121 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.
War Criminals
(2) on war criminals, why bilateral discussions have not taken place with Leitender Oberstaatsanwalt Kurt Schrimm (Director), Zentrale Stelle der Landesjustizverwaltungen zur Aufklärung von NS-Verbrechen, Schorndorfer Str. 58, 71638 Ludwigsburg (Federal Republic of Germany).
I understand that the police are aware of these potential sources of information on Nazi war crimes but, in the absence of specific allegations against any named individual in the UK, the police do not have any immediate plans to contact them.
I understand that the Metropolitan Police have still to receive any indication that the German authorities have withdrawn a pension from anyone resident in the UK because of involvement in war crimes during the Second World War.
Northern Ireland
Autism: Judiciary
As regards the Prison Service, when individual prisoners are identified as suffering from autistic spectrum disorders healthcare staff will engage with other relevant staff, including safer custody group and residential staff, to provide information about autism and offer guidance on assisting and managing the prisoner. Such prisoners will also be supported by education and psychology staff.
The PSNI has a number of initiatives to raise awareness including:
assistance with the production of the ‘Criminal Justice System Autism Guide’, which is distributed at PSNI training events;
showing a videoed scenario of a police officer coming into contact with a young person with Aspergers syndrome at officers' diversity training;
giving practical advice on the handling of such situations through role play devised in conjunction with Mencap;
liaison with the promoter of the “Autism Spectrum Disorder” identity card to develop an online awareness raising programme on what this card represents and how to proceed if this card is shown to them.
The Juvenile Justice centre runs regular awareness raising sessions in relation to young people who are on the autism spectrum. These are run in conjunction with Autism NT.
The Public Prosecution Service has limited interaction with the general public and therefore has no specific training intervention.
PSNI has not been in direct liaison with the Welsh Police authorities on the subject of autistic spectrum disorders. Ongoing efforts are, however, being made to meet the needs of those affected by this condition. Specifically, PSNI has been working with the promoter of the autistic spectrum disorder identity card, developing an on-line programme to raise awareness among officers across the organisation as to what this card represents and how to proceed when it is shown to them. The Police Service remains committed to meeting the needs of those affected by autism and related conditions, and will put in place farther measures as and when required.
Customs Officers
I have been asked to reply.
There are 85 uniformed multi-functional HMRC officers deployed in Northern Ireland to meet the full range of HMRC enforcement duties including tackling fuel smuggling, tobacco smuggling and road fuel offences. They are regularly augmented by additional deployments of uniformed HMRC teams from other parts of the UK according to the assessed risk.
Departments: Pay
In respect of the 2003-04 reporting year, 1,670 staff received a bonus, at a total cost of £475,080;
In respect of the 2004-05 reporting year, 1,731 staff received a bonus, at a total cost of £629,742,
In respect of the 2005-06 reporting year, 1,024 staff received a bonus, at a total cost of £686,425.
Ports
I have been asked to reply.
The number of vessels searched by HMRC in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years is two in the year ended 31 March 2006, and one in the year ended 31 March 2007. These vessels were all from non-EU states.
Public Expenditure
My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has made available over £51 billion extra spending for Northern Ireland for the next four years to meet the economic and political priorities of an incoming Northern Ireland Executive.
Full details of the financial package were announced by the Chancellor in his statement to Parliament on 8 May 2007, Official Report, column 2WS.
Smuggling: Fuels
I have been asked to reply.
The number of vehicles detected smuggling fuel into Northern Ireland for each of the last three years was:
As at 31 March each year Number 2005 108 2006 67 2007 37
I have been asked to reply.
The total quantity of fuel smuggled into Northern Ireland and seized for each of the last three years is as follows:
As at 31 March each year Litres 2005 301,020 2006 297,260 2007 240,600
I have been asked to reply.
The information requested is as follows.
(a) Fuel smuggled from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland is a matter dealt with by the Republic of Ireland authorities. HMRC have no record of seizures made in the Republic of Ireland.
(b) It is not a smuggling offence to transport fuel from Northern Ireland to mainland Great Britain, as this is an internal movement within the United Kingdom. Therefore, no such seizures have been made.
Justice
Asylum: Appeals
Appeals against a decision to refuse asylum are heard by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) and prior to April 2005 its predecessor, the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA). Appeals are heard by an Immigration Judge (IJ) of the AIT. Volumes of asylum appeals since 1997 were:
Calendar year Adjudicator/Immigration Judge receipts 1997 22,387 1998 15,442 1999 7,775 2000 28,565 2001 47,906 2002 64,127 2003 70,577 2004 47,002 2005 24,891 2006 14,863 Total 343,535
Following a decision on appeal, the unsuccessful party can apply for it to be reviewed on the ground that the IJ made an error of law. The provisions on review were established under Section 101 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum (NIA) Act 2002 and amended by the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) (AITC) Act 2004.
Prior to April 2005, in an appeal to the IAA, the losing party could apply to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal (IAT) for permission to appeal against the decision on a point of law. If refused permission to appeal, the party could apply to the High Court (or the Court of Session in Scotland) for statutory review of that decision, on the ground that the Tribunal had made an error of law. If the High Court granted the application, the case was remitted to the IAT.
Since April 2005, losing parties in appeals to the AIT can apply for review of the decision via a transitional ‘filter’ provision. Applications are considered by Senior Immigration Judges (SIJs) of the AIT. If the application is granted, the SIJ will make an order requiring the AIT to reconsider its decision. If the application is refused, the party can ‘opt in’ to the High Court for statutory review, which is decided by a High Court Judge on consideration of the papers. If the High Court grants the application, an order requiring the AIT to reconsider its decision will be made.
Information is provided for the Tribunal’s permission/filter applications and for the High Court from 2003 when the statutory review provisions commenced:
Calendar year IAT permissions applications/AIT filter application decisions (Asylum) Granted Asylum applications received at the High Court Applications allowed 1997 8,128 — — — 1998 10,313 — — — 1999 9,575 — — — 2000 5,488 — — — 2001 13,538 4,197 — — 2002 22,823 6,847 — — 2003 32,178 11,906 410 93 2004 30,519 9,438 1,840 343 2005 24,711 5,447 3,784 499 2006 8,082 2,291 2,193 172 Total 165,355 — 8,227 —
If an application is granted, either by the AIT or the High Court, the appeal falls to be considered afresh by the AIT. Appeals reconsidered and allowed by the AIT and the IAT, pre-April 2005, were:
Calendar year IAT Appeals/AIT reconsiderations (Asylum) Allowed 1997 1,373 — 1998 1,089 — 1999 1,790 — 2000 2,637 — 2001 3,190 447 2002 5,563 668 2003 9,451 1,418 2004 8,783 1,040 2005 7,054 1,269 2006 4,201 1,227 Total 45,131 —
In appeals to the IAT (i.e. those prior to April 2005), the outcome (allowed or dismissed) relates to the party who lodged the appeal to the IAT, so may have been the respondent in the initial appeal to the IAA. Since April 2005, where an appeal is reconsidered by the AIT, the outcome relates to the appeal and not to the application for review. Thus, where an appeal is allowed on reconsideration, that represents a decision in the appellant's favour.
Departments: Pay
All staff employed by Ministry of Justice from the former DCA (including HMCS and Tribunals Service staff) will be invited to opt into a new pay deal which incorporates a regional pay structure. These arrangements do not apply to staff employed by the Home Office or its agencies who transferred to the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007.
Regional pay is a reality in the economy as a whole—pay variations by location are not new. The system we are introducing offers greater coherence, greater transparency and enables us to target public money most effectively on those areas where there is greatest need. It will allow us to offer competitive salaries to attract and retain staff with the skills we need, where we need them.
In establishing our pay ranges we have explored pay related data for each of the regions of Great Britain (as defined by National Statistics, excluding Northern Ireland). This has included analysing data on average weekly pay and unemployment rates, salary surveys from reputable sources, pay data from other Government Departments and our own staff recruitment and retention data. We have also taken specialist advice from external consultants.
Decisions on the allocation of an office to a pay range were made using that data and following consultation with senior local managers. The involvement of local managers has ensured that local factors, which the economic data might not capture, can be properly reflected in the decisions.
Since the employment market does change over time, we have agreed an annual review mechanism. If the market changes significantly, the allocation of an office to a pay range can be adjusted accordingly.
Electronic Tagging
(2) what the longest period was between a court ordering a person in the community to be tagged and that tag not having been activated as at 21 June 2007;
(3) for what reasons some persons ordered to be tagged by the courts as part of (a) their bail conditions, (b) early release schemes and (c) their sentence have not yet had the tagging technology activated; and if he make a statement.
Data relating to installation of electronic monitoring equipment are not routinely collected by the monitoring contractors in the format requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. From 1 January 2007 to 31 May 2007, the latest period for which figures are available, the contractors installed the monitoring equipment in 99.37 per cent. of audited cases within 24 hours of notification by a Court or Prison.
It is the intention of the Department that all persons are tagged at the earliest opportunity. Installation of equipment may not happen for a number of different reasons. The subject may be delayed in travelling to the curfew address from court or custody, or be curfewed to an address with multiple accommodation such as flats or apartments where the contractor may have initial difficulty in accessing the building.
Prompt follow-up action is required by the contractor under such circumstances. If the person is absent at the first attempt the contractor will report the failure to the relevant supervising agency or the Court if the person is not under supervision. One further attempt must be made to complete installation within 24 hours of the start of the first monitoring period. If the second installation attempt is unsuccessful the contractor must report the failure as a breach of the curfew.
Electronic Tagging: Stockport
Data on re-offending by offenders wearing electronic tags are collated centrally only in respect of offenders released on to the home detention curfew scheme. The data are not broken down by areas in which subsequent offences are committed. To provide such information would involve a manual trawl of the data and would incur disproportionate cost.
Family Courts
(2) (a) how many children, and (b) which organisations representing children, his Department has sent the consultation document Openness in Family Courts.
Over 200 children and young people contributed their views to the consultation on Confidence and Confidentiality. Some of them did this by registering on our online discussion forum (32) or visiting the Minister (three children from Southwark council). Some of them did this by attending one of various events held around the country (104 at a children's rights event in Leicester; 13 at an event run by the Family Justice Council/National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) in Birkenhead; 32 took part in a mock hearing run by the Children's Commissioner). Others submitted their views as part of a broader response from local authorities (including Oldham and Calderdale) and children's organisations (including NYAS and Voice of the Child in Care). Still others (12) produced a video about young people's views with help from CAFCASS.
Formal responses were received from the British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, By the Bridge, Voice, the National Children's Bureau and NSPCC. The full list is available at annex A of the response paper at:
http://www.dca.gov.uk/consult/courttransparencey1106/response-cp1106.pdf.
The consultation document was published on 20 June and mailed to over 800 individuals and organisations. The initial mail-out included 148 directors of children's services across England and Wales. In addition, copies were sent to a large number of voluntary organisations that represent children and ensure their voice is heard, such as Young Voice and Voice for the Child in Care. It was sent to organisations that offer children support, including Childline, the Children's Society, Action for Children and the NSPCC. It was sent to organisations that protect children's rights, such as Children's Rights Alliance for England, the Children's Legal Centre and National Children's Bureau.
Prisoners Release: Compensation
I have presumed that the hon. Gentleman refers to ‘compensation for board’ as the subsistence payment in lieu of benefits made to prisoners being released on an end of custody licence (ECL) and that 'released early' refers to the ECL, home detention curfew (HDC) or parole.
The ECL came into use on 29 June 2007 and no figures are yet available for the amount which has been paid for subsistence. This payment is made because prisoners on an ECL are released under temporary licence from prison in accordance with the provisions of the Prisons Act 1952 and, as such, are statutorily ineligible to receive benefits payments.
Prisoners released on HDC or on parole receive benefits payments, if eligible within normal terms so there is no additional payment.
Prisoners Release: Winchester Prison
Figures for release are not available to be broken down by establishment.
Prisoners: Rehabilitation Centres
The following numbers of prisoners have received treatment through the detoxification unit at Cardiff prison since it opened on 13 September 2004.
Number September 2004-August 2005 1,051 September 2005-August 2006 915 September 2006-2 July 2007 558
Prisons: Labour Turnover
Information on the rate of staff turnover in public sector prisons in Wales, expressed as a percentage of total staff in post, is contained in the following table:
Monthly turnover rate (percentage of staff leaving in month) 2002 January 0.7 February 0.8 March 1.7 April 0.6 May 0.2 June 0.4 July 0.4 August 0.8 September 1.0 October 1.3 November 0.7 December 1.1 2003 January 0.6 February 0.8 March 0.7 April 1.3 May 1.6 June 0.7 July 0.5 August 0.7 September 0.8 October 0.9 November 0.4 December 0.3 2004 January 0.1 February 1.6 March 0.8 April 0.5 May 0.8 June 0.9 July 0.7 August 0.7 September 0.8 October 0.5 November 0.5 December 0.8 2005 January 0.1 February 0.3 March 0.6 April 0.2 May 0.3 June 0.3 July 0.7 August 0.5 September 1.5 October 0.7 November 0.4 December 1.1 2006 January 0.3 February 0.7 March 0.0 April 0.8 May 0.6 June 1.0 July 1.0 August 1.1 September 0.6 October 0.9 November 0.5 December 0.6 2007 January 0.7 February 1.1 March 0.8 Note: These figures do not include staff transferring to other parts of the Prison Service.
Prisons: Wales
We expect to respond to the report week commencing 6 August 2007.
Victim Support Schemes: Expenditure
Information on funding for victims and witnesses is not held centrally in this way. However funding to support victims and witnesses includes those in the following table:
There is other funding from this and other Government departments and local government which also includes elements that support victims and witnesses including:
Police
NHS
Local Authorities
Local Criminal Justice Boards
Safeguarding children partnerships
Housing
Connected Fund help to support victims of gun and knife crime, and gang violence.
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Compensation paid by criminal injuries compensation scheme (old scheme and tariff scheme cases) 233.5 million 232. 1 million 227.5 million 186.2 million 183.9 million 190.1 million Domestic violence (including regional initiatives, helpline, specialist domestic violence courts and independent domestic violence advisors) n/a 8.54 million 8.65 million 4 million 5.5 million 6 million Sexual violence (including sexual assault referral centres, victims fund grants, umbrella organisations, independent sexual violence advisors) 406,000 432,000 300,000 1 million 3 million 3 million POPPY projects (victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation) n/a 33,000 216,000 593,000 620,000 1.2 million Witness care units n/a n/a n/a 36.1 million Court waiting facilities n/a n/a n/a n/a 3.1 million 368,700 Court video links n/a n/a n/a n/a 2.6 million 2.75 million Police video recording facilities n/a n/a 2 million n/a n/a n/a The self help organisation, support after murder and manslaughter 120,000 130,000 140,000 140,000 140,000 140,000 Victim and witness delivery fund for LCJBs n/a n/a n/a 150,000 n/a 200,000 Memorial service n/a 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 Donation to London bombings relief charitable fund (for victims of terrorism in the UK) n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 million 2.5 million 7July Assistance Centre n/a n/a n/a n/a 89,425 204,797 Tsunami support network n/a n/a n/a n/a 121,927 n/a Charitable fund for victims of overseas terrorism n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 million n/a n/a = Figures are either not available, not quantifiable or not known.
Young Offender Institutions: Overcrowding
The assessment of the occupancy of all prisoner accommodation is undertaken by senior operational managers in line with national guidance (Prison Service Order 1900 Certified Prisoner Accommodation) which details measurable standards for the certification of cells that can be applied consistently across the estate and contributes to providing decent living conditions for all prisoners.
Treasury
Babies: Down's Syndrome
(2) how many (a) births and (b) terminations there were of babies with (i) spina bifida, (ii) heart defects and (iii) kidney problems recognised during pregnancy in each of the last five years.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 4 July 2007:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent questions asking how many (a) births and (b) terminations there were of babies with Down's Syndrome in each of the last five years (147008); and how many (a) births and (b) terminations there were of babies with (i) spina bifida, (ii) heart defects and (iii) kidney problems recognised in pregnancy in each of the last five years (147009). I am replying in her absence.
The table attached provides (a) the number of births notified to the National Congenital Anomaly System for England and Wales (NCAS) with a mention of (i) Down Syndrome, (ii) spina bifida, (iii) any cardiovascular anomaly, and (iv) selected renal anomalies, for 2001 to 2005 (the latest year available); and (b) the number of legal abortions reported to the Chief Medical Officers for England and Wales under Ground E of the Abortion Act 1967 with a mention of these anomalies, for 2001 to 2006 (the latest year available).
The number of notifications received by NCAS is likely to be less than the actual number of infants born with an anomaly. NHS Trusts provide these notifications to NCAS on a voluntary basis, either on forms sent to ONS or via local congenital anomaly registers. The recording of congenital anomalies is more complete in those areas where a register operates, because the register can obtain additional information locally. Consequently, the figures for congenital anomalies are presented separately for areas where a register operated in 2005 and for areas without a register in that year. In 2005, registers covered 45 per cent of births in England and all births in Wales.
While a few of these local congenital anomaly registers were already established in 2001, others were set up as late as 2003. Increases over time in the number of notifications for some congenital anomalies in the areas covered by a register in 2005 are likely to be due to the improved completeness of information brought about as these registers came into operation.
Congenital anomalies are reported to NCAS at or after birth, and do not include any information on whether or not the anomaly was diagnosed during pregnancy.
Abortions are carried out under Ground E of the Abortion Act only if there is substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. Therefore, the anomaly must by definition have been diagnosed during pregnancy.
Number Congenital anomalies Register areas Non-register areas All areas Abortions Down syndrome 2001 253 128 381 347 2002 220 138 358 372 2003 282 122 404 401 2004 364 111 475 419 2005 350 103 453 429 2006 — — — 436 Spina bifida 2001 34 25 59 127 2002 46 29 75 98 2003 41 40 81 118 2004 53 25 78 90 2005 34 22 56 121 2006 — — — 106 Cardiovascular anomalies 2001 1,029 253 1,282 110 2002 1,031 260 1,291 103 2003 1,359 179 1,538 108 2004 1,282 159 1,441 147 2005 1,255 142 1,397 111 2006 — — — 129 Selected renal anomalies5 2001 461 232 693 48 2002 517 217 734 43 2003 645 190 835 56 2004 622 162 784 43 2005 615 161 776 45 2006 — — — 32 1 Live and still births notified to the National Congenital Anomalies System with a mention of the anomalies listed. 2 Legal abortions performed under Ground E of the Abortion Act 1967. Figures provided by Department of Health. 3 Births and abortions to women resident in England and Wales. 4 Down Syndrome is defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) code Q90, spina bifida using code Q05, and cardiovascular anomalies using codes Q20-Q28. Selected renal anomalies were defined using ICD-10 codes Q60-Q61, Q62.0 and Q63 for congenital anomalies and codes Q60-Q61 for abortions. 5 Congenital anomaly figures for selected renal anomalies are provisional.
Departmental Expenditure
The figure of £50,955 including VAT in the answer of the former Financial Secretary (John Healey) on 18 June 2007 was additional to the figure of £133,237 excluding VAT in the answer of 4 December 2006.
Departments: Block Grant
The budget for the Home Office is set as part of the three-year spending review cycle. The following table sets out the Home Office budget for capital and resource since 2002. Future budget allocations will reflect transfers of responsibility following the creation of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007.
Resource Capital 2002-03 11,910 929 2003-04 12,004 941 2004-05 12,232 998 2005-06 12,703 1,034 2006-07 estimated 13,218 1,261
Departments: Disclosure of Information
There is no statutory obligation on public authorities to complete internal reviews within a specified timeframe.
As is common with other departments HMT's departmental minister oversees the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act.
Departments: Pensions
89 members of staff in HM Treasury (8 per cent. of the total number of staff employed by the Department) currently make additional voluntary pension contributions through deductions from their pay.
Pension scheme members receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension built up to date, and also a projection of pension on retirement if the member continues in service to scheme pension age. The benefit statement provides details of the civil service pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including on options for making additional voluntary contributions to boost their pension.
Departments: Public Transport
The Department has not estimated the number of its staff using public transport to commute. Treasury encourages the use of public transport and cycling to work by providing interest-free loans for the purchase of public transport season tickets and participation in the Cycle to Work scheme.
Ministers: Taxation
(2) what guidance HM Revenue and Customs has produced on whether ministerial severance payments under the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 are liable to (a) income tax and (b) National Insurance contributions.
HMRC provides guidance on a range of tax and national insurance issues both in a booklet about tax for Members of Parliament and Ministers and in the notes to the parliament pages of the self-assessment return.
Planning Gain Supplement: Local Authorities
The Government have consulted extensively with local authorities and other stakeholders throughout the development of the proposals for the planning-gain supplement.
The Government set out their proposals for the allocation of planning-gain supplement revenues in paragraph 3.149 - 3.154 of Budget 2007 which is available in the Library of the House.
Public Services Productivity Panel
(2) over what periods John Miskelly was employed on the Public Services Productivity Panel.
John Miskelly was appointed a member of the Public Services Productivity Panel in September 2000, he resigned from the panel on 31 October 2001. During that time he attended two meetings of the panel.
Revenue and Customs: Kettering
HM Revenue and Customs are currently reviewing the Northampton urban centre, which includes Kettering, and no decisions have yet been made.
I will consider all representations that have been made to me on this subject from hon. Members, staff and Trade Unions alongside the impact on customers, staff and diversity before coming to a view. HMRC will retain an inquiry centre presence in Kettering irrespective of the outcome of the review.
Revenue and Customs: Sunderland
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are currently undertaking a review of the Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington urban centre. No decisions have yet been made. HMRC have not discussed the feasibility of finding alternative uses for Shackleton and Gilbridge Houses in Sunderland with Mapeley.
HM Revenue and Customs are currently undertaking a review of the Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington urban centre. No decisions have yet been made.
The review process includes the production of an impact assessment which considers the social and economic effects of closure on the wider community, as well as on staff and customers.
Teenage Pregnancy: Stockport
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 4 July 2007:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the teenage conception rate was for (a) the Stockport Primary Care Trust area and (b) Cheadle at the latest date for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence. (147257)
ONS does not routinely produce teenage conception figures for girls aged under 20 by Primary Care Trust (PCT) because there is a risk of disclosure of information about individuals due to differences in boundaries between PCTs and local authorities.
Figures for girls aged under 18 are however published at local authority level and figures for the Metropolitan District of Stockport for 2005 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are shown in the table below and are estimates of the number of conceptions that resulted in a live birth, stillbirth or legal termination. Figures for 2005 are provisional.
Under 18 Number Rate2 Stockport MD 190 33 1 Figures for 2005 are provisional. 2 Rate per 1,000 females aged 15-17.
Unemployment
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 4 July 2007:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about young people not in employment, education or training. I am replying in her absence. (146405)
There were 992,000 people, aged 18 to 24, resident in the United Kingdom, who were not in full-time education, employment or training, based on data from the Annual Population Survey, for the 12 months ending in December 2006. This is 19 per cent of the 18 to 24 population. The corresponding estimates for the county of Northamptonshire are 12,000 and 21 per cent respectively. For the Kettering constituency, the corresponding estimates are 2,000 and 17 per cent respectively.
Estimates for a subset of the population in a small geographical area, are based on very small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. This is particularly true for the estimates for Northamptonshire and Kettering.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 4 July 2007:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people in (a) England and (b) Milton Keynes have been classed as unemployed in each year between 1997 and 2007. I am replying in her absence. (146671)
For unitary and local authorities, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces estimates of total unemployment, following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions, from a statistical model. Annual estimates for other areas are compiled from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following ILO definitions.
Table 1, attached, shows the number of persons aged 16 and over, resident in England, who were unemployed and the corresponding unemployment rate, for the 12 months ending in February 1997 to February 2004 from the annual local area LFS, and for the 12 months ending in March 2005 to March 2006 from the APS. Table 1 also shows corresponding model-based estimates for the Milton Keynes unitary authority.
The LFS and APS data and the model-based estimates are all subject to a margin of uncertainty.
ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (ISA). Table 2, attached, shows the annual average number of people, resident in England and the Milton Keynes unitary authority, claiming ISA from 1997 to 2006. Also shown are the total numbers of claimants as percentages of the resident working age population.
Thousand England Milton Keynes 12 months ending: Level1 Rate1,2 (percentage) Level3 Rate2,3 (percentage) February 1997 1,820 7.7 5 5.0 February 1998 1,566 6.6 6 5.9 February 1999 1,399 5.9 5 5.2 February 2000 1,373 5.7 4 3.9 February 2001 1,228 5.1 4 3.3 February 2002 1,167 4.8 4 3.5 February 2003 1,218 5.0 6 4.8 February 2004 1,188 4.8 6 4.8 March 2005 1,146 4.6 5 4.4 March 2006 1,238 5.0 6 4.8 1 Annual local area Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey data subject to a margin of uncertainty associated with sampling variability. 2 Unemployed as a percentage of the economically active population. 3 Model-based estimates subject to a margin of uncertainty associated with the statistical model. Changes in the estimates over time should be treated with particular caution. Source: Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey; ONS
England Milton Keynes Number Proportion1 (percentage) Number Proportion1 (percentage) 1997 1,299,117 4.4 3,610 2.8 1998 1,093,570 3.7 2,591 2.0 1999 1,013,507 3.4 2,358 1.8 2000 882,827 2.9 2,085 1.5 2001 783,582 2.6 1,976 1.4 2002 770,102 2.5 2,337 1.7 2003 763,771 2.5 2,678 1.9 2004 699,669 2.3 2,590 1.8 2005 715,546 2.3 2,683 1.9 2006 794,356 2.5 3,193 2.2 1 Number of claimants expressed as a percentage of the resident working-age population. Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative data
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 4 July 2007:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18, (d) 19, (e) 20, (f) 21, (g) 22, (h) 23 and (i) 24 year olds were (i) economically inactive and not in full-time education and (ii) unemployed in each year since 1997, broken down by (A) parliamentary constituency, (b) local education authority area and (C) region. I am replying in her absence. (147035)
Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. To provide an answer requires retrieving 18 separate estimates from complex datasets for each parliamentary constituency, each local education authority area and each region for 10 separate years. This data, amounting to 150,000 separate estimates in total, would then need to be presented in tables and be quality assured.
Valuation Office: Contracts
As my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury stated in his answer of 26 April 2007, Official Report, column 1323W, the ASPIRE terms and conditions prohibit the publicising of details of this agreement. However, in respect of the specific information requested, the Government have obtained the agreement of both parties to the contract to place a copy of the clauses relating to confidentiality in the Library of the House. These include the statutory safeguards provided for by Section 182 of the Finance Act 1989, Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, Section 6 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 or Section 123 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. A copy of the ASPIRE terms and conditions relating to confidentiality have been placed in the Library.
VAT: Disability Aids
As announced at Budget 2007, from 1 July the VAT chargeable on certain home adaptations that are designed to support the needs of elderly people will be reduced to 5 per cent. the lowest rate available under our European VAT agreements. The precise scope of this new relief was outlined in HMRC Brief 47/07 which is available on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/brief/charities/brief4707.htm.
Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 416W.
Welfare Tax Credits: Telephone Services
HMRC supplemented its internal Contact Centre capacity with the use of private sector companies to deliver tax credit services during 2003-04. The table lists the monthly calls handled by these suppliers for the period requested. During any months in the period in question, where a value is not shown for calls handled, HMRC did not need to use private sector companies to supplement its services, and all calls were handled by HMRC.
The number of calls handled by private sector suppliers, which were not recorded, is not available in the format requested.
Calls handled by private sector companies were generic and did not require access to HMRC Computer systems or individual customer records.
1Calls handled 2003 January 239 February 310 March 618 April 660 May 728 June 32 July 0 August 0 September 0 October 0 November 0 December 0 2004 January 0 February 57 March 181 April 133 May 138 June 138 July 124 August 178 September 294 October 167 1 volumes shown in thousands, rounded to the nearest thousand
International Development
Africa: HIV Infection
DFID acknowledge the seriousness of the epidemic in Uganda and are working closely with the Government of Uganda, other donors and civil society organisations to support the Government’s own national strategic plan for universal access to treatment, care and prevention. DFID are providing £9 million over three years to enhance national institutional capacity to achieve universal access. Our support is especially helping address potential gaps in the Government’s prevention strategy.
The UK is the second largest donor of AIDS-related assistance in developing countries, spending £385 million in 2005-06. This includes supporting multilateral institutions like the World Bank, the UN agencies and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria whose combined operations span all developing countries.
DFID have committed £359 million to the Global Fund for 2002-08, including £100 million in 2006 and the same for 2007. The fund is supporting substantial HIV and AIDS programmes in both Senegal and Uganda, with commitments of $41 million and $166 million respectively.
Bangladesh: Poverty
DFID works closely with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Bangladesh as part of a Joint Strategy partnership (which also includes the World Bank and Japan). Together, these four donors account for 80 per cent. of all development assistance to Bangladesh.
The Joint Strategy partnership group was formed in 2005 as a response the Government of Bangladesh’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Joint Strategy approach has allowed more effective allocation of lead sector responsibilities among donors, and it is hoped that it will eventually lead to the development of a common donor strategy for Bangladesh.
DFID works directly with the ADB through the following programmes:
Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP) II:
DFID is providing £100 million through a pooled funded arrangement managed by the ADB, to provide 17 million primary aged children in over 78,000 schools with quality primary education.
Urban Primary Health Care Project:
DFID is contributing £15 million over six years to provide improved primary health care services in urban areas. The project, co-funded by the ADB, has a particular focus on providing health care services to poor women and girls.
Rural Infrastructure Improvement Project II (RIIP II):
DFID is providing £35 million over five years to RIIP II, which is also funded by ADB and the German Government, to reduce physical, social and economic exclusion among 28 million people in 23 of Bangladesh’s poorest districts. This recently approved project will develop rural infrastructure and improve access to services and markets, provide opportunities for employment and strengthen the capacity of local government to deliver infrastructure services to the poor.
Departments: Pay
From 2002, individual departments and agencies have been responsible for their own reward arrangements for senior civil servants (including the award of non-pensionable performance bonuses) within a framework set by the Cabinet Office.
The following table gives the number of bonuses awarded to DFID’s senior civil servants since 2002, together with the total costs for each of those years. All bonus payments are non-pensionable. No bonus payments were made by DFID to members of the senior civil service prior to 2002.
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Number of awards 27 51 57 68 65 Total cost (£) 85,051 153,170 189,500 266,750 377,100 % of SCS paybill 1 2.3 3.8 4.0 5.0 6.5 1 The percentage of the senior civil service (SCS) paybill allocated to performance related bonuses has increased year-on-year. This is in line with the Government’s stated objective of building the bonus pot annually so that it reaches 10 per cent. of the SCS paybill by 2008.
The following two tables give the number of non-pensionable bonuses awarded to DFID staff over the last three years, together with the total costs for each of those years.
2004-05 2005-06 2006-071 Number of awards 68 65 n/a Total cost (£) 266,750 377,100 n/a Percentage of SCS paybill2 5.0 6.5 n/a = not applicable. 1 Non-pensionable bonuses for the SCS in relation to the 2006-07 reporting year are not payable until November 2007. 2 The percentage of the SCS paybill allocated to performance related bonuses is increasing year on year. This is in line with the Government’s stated objective of building the bonus pot annually so that it reaches 10 per cent. of the SCS paybill by 2008.
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 Number of awards 508 1,106 1,020 Total cost (£) 230,600 515,865 558,233 Percentage of paybill for grades below the SCS1 0.4 0.8 0.9 1 For DFID staff below the SCS, the amount of money allocated for all forms of bonus payment is limited to a maximum of 1.2 per cent. of the paybill costs.
Departments: Performance Appraisal
For the senior civil service (SCS), Departments and agencies are responsible for their own performance management arrangements within a framework set by the Cabinet Office. The 2006-07 guidance for the SCS was based on a relative assessment of how individuals compared to their peers, with between 5 and 10 per cent. of SCS staff being placed into the lowest of three performance groupings.
The performance management arrangements for staff in grades below the SCS have been delegated to individual Departments. DFID has in place a system similar to that of the SCS, whereby staff are classified as falling into one of three performance categories - with the lowest being defined as “those most in need of development”. For staff below the SCS, the distribution of performance markings is not determined by a quota allocation.
Neither system explicitly identifies staff as “unacceptable” performers. Both are based on the principle of bringing about performance improvements through continual dialogue and coaching; and both are designed to identify those in whom DFID should invest more resources in terms of training and personal development.
We do have parallel systems in place to identify “unacceptable” performers whose standard of work falls well below that expected of their grade. In such cases, line managers are charged with setting in place a formal performance improvement plan, to be agreed with the job holder. Failure to meet the required standards within a specified period of time may result in sanctions being applied, including dismissal. Information on the number of staff being monitored in this way is not recorded centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Departments: Public Transport
DFID last carried out a survey of staff two years ago in order to produce Green Travel Plans for our two UK offices. Our London office has no car parking for staff, so with the exception of 13 per cent. staff who cycled all or part of the journey, or 3 per cent. who walked, the remainder all used public transport. Our smaller East Kilbride office is somewhat more difficult to reach via public transport but around 20 per cent. use either trains or buses. The majority of the remainder use cars, but at least a third of these use car sharing arrangements. Overall, around 60 per cent. of our staff use public transport.
Departments: Sick Leave
The following table sets out how many DFID staff have taken (a) five or more, (b) four, (c) three and (d) two periods of sick leave of less than five days in the last 12 months.
Periods of sick leave of less than 5 days Number of staff in the last 12 months 5 or more 83 4 50 3 107 2 194
HIV Infection: Medical Treatments
DFID has committed to spend at least £150 million over the three years from 2005-08 on programmes to meet the needs of children affected by AIDS. When the commitment was made in 2004 it was expected that at least £44 million of this would be delivered through UNICEF. The methodology to track this expenditure is under review.
In 2006 the UK was the second largest donor to UNICEF, providing £105 million. This included £19 million of core financial support and £5 million to increase the coverage, quality and coordination of the global response for children affected by HIV and AIDS. Both of these elements contribute directly to supporting UNICEF's strategic goals, which include reducing the number of paediatric HIV infections by at least 40 per cent. and ensuring that at least 80 per cent. of HIV positive pregnant women receive antiretroviral therapy to prevent mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.
DFID is also intensifying action on PMTCT at country level with a range of partners, including UNICEF. For example in Zimbabwe DFID has initiated a £25 million project specifically to strengthen actions to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV infections in mothers and babies. In Zambia, we support UNICEF's expansion of PMTCT services.
South America: Poverty
DFID's support to these four countries is provided through international (“multi-lateral”) organisations—mainly the European Union, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. In 2004, DFID's contributions through these channels were £1 million to Uruguay; £1 million to Argentina; £6 million to Brazil; and £2 million to Peru. To help these organisations focus on reducing poverty, DFID has a Latin-America regional programme, with offices in Brazil, Bolivia (for the Andes) and Nicaragua (for central America). These offices work with the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank on two areas: (i) helping poor people benefit from markets, and (ii) making public sectors and political systems more transparent and accountable. In addition, we work on global issues that affect the region such as HIV and AIDS, and trade. Social exclusion is a cross-cutting theme throughout all facets of our work. DFID is also supporting a number of UK NGOs working in Latin America under partnership programme agreements and the Civil Society Challenge Fund.
DFID's assistance to Latin America from 2004-07 is set out in the regional assistance plan, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
Sudan: Overseas Aid
Overall, the UN Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC) runs an effective mechanism for the supply and distribution of non-food items (NFIs) for Darfur in partnership with CARE and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Between January and May this year, 307,178 households were provided with NFIs, roughly 1.8 million people.
Given the scale of need in Darfur and like all other sectors, the supply of NFIs requires regular prioritisation to ensure the available resources are directed to the most pressing needs. UNJLC, CARE and other UN and NGO partners regularly meet to define the NFI priorities for Darfur, a process that is working well in very challenging circumstances. A second constraint is that of access for distributing agencies. Pervasive insecurity, including increasing attacks against humanitarian agencies, has limited the ability to deliver NFIs and other aid to populations in need.
It is only through the admirable work of the UN and NGOs that aid is being delivered to the 4 million people in need in Darfur. I utterly condemn the continuing violence targeting civilians and humanitarian workers in Darfur and the UK has called on all sides to cease the violence immediately; renew the ceasefire, reinvigorate the political process and support the rapid deployment of the AU/UN peacekeeping force for Darfur.
Innovation, Universities and Skills
Further Education
It is essential that individuals in employment are encouraged to study further. The Leitch Review of Skills published in 2006 reinforced this and I welcome Lord Leitch’s assessment that the need to dramatically raise awareness and aspirations on skills and to change people’s attitudes is key to this.
On 9 July, we will launch a long-term, national marketing campaign which will play an important and powerful role in bringing about the change in culture that we need.
In order to improve their skills and employability and progress their careers, people also need to be informed of the choices they have. The Leitch Report made some specific recommendations on how to improve careers advice and empower the learner; we will respond to these in the forthcoming Leitch Implementation Plan.
Our policies also encourage and support those in employment to engage in further upskilling in various ways. Train to Gain is central to delivering a truly demand-led system and is the key vehicle for delivering the expansion in participation and achievement for individuals already in the work force. As at April 2007, a total of 154,290 learners had commenced learning through Train to Gain and over 40,000 employers had been engaged. The level 2 entitlement provides free tuition for all adults studying for their first full level 2 qualification. The Skills for Life programme provides opportunities for adult learners to acquire the underpinning skills they need for further learning and sustainable employment and many adults have benefited from free provision and achieved their first ever qualification in literacy, language or numeracy. Adults under the age of 25 who have missed out on education and training opportunities will be able to get free tuition through further education colleges and providers to obtain a first, full level 3 qualification, equivalent to 2 A-levels, from this August.
Higher Education
The information is provided in the following tables. The length of time taken to complete a higher national certificate (HNC) can vary. Typically, the qualification lasts one year if studied full-time or two years if studied part-time. In addition, students completing an HNC can proceed directly to further study such as a higher national diploma (HND). For these reasons, it is not possible to calculate completion rates simply by comparing entrants with qualifiers.
Academic year Entrants 1996/97 8,735 1997/98 8,800 1998/99 8,830 1999/2000 8,650 2000/01 10,470 2001/02 12,280 2002/03 10,335 2003/04 9,280 2004/05 8,560 2005/06 8,070 1 Covers students on both full-time and part-time courses. 2 Excludes the Open university. Note: Entrant figures are on a snapshot basis as of 1 December for comparability. All figures are rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Academic year Qualifiers 1996/97 5,110 1997/98 4,625 1998/99 4,460 1999/2000 4,750 2000/013 5,315 2001/02 5,985 2002/03 5,760 2003/04 5,950 2004/05 5,625 2005/06 5,100 1 Covers students on both full-time and part-time courses. 2 Excludes the Open university. 3 From 2000-01, students qualifying from a dormant mode of study are included in the figures; they are excluded in all previous years. In 2000-01, there were 195 students who qualified with a HNC from a dormant mode of study. Note: Entrant figures are on a snapshot basis as of 1 December for comparability. All figures are rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Higher Education Funding Council for England: Qualifications
(2) what the total cost to the public purse was of (a) foundation degrees, (b) Higher National Diplomas and (c) Higher National Certificates in each year since their introduction.
It is not possible to answer these questions in precisely the way they have been asked on the basis of the data which is available centrally. The following table sets out for each of the last five years the amount of the Higher Education Funding Council’s budget notionally allocated to support (a) Foundation Degrees (b) Higher National Diplomas and (c) Higher National Certificates in cash terms and calculates (b) as a proportion of the Council’s overall budget.
£ million Foundation degrees HNDs HNCs HND budget as percentage of total HEFCE budget 2001-02 9 155 56 3.2 2002-03 30 133 46 2.6 2003-04 54 115 45 2.1 2004-05 98 105 48 1.7 2005-06 140 88 46 1.4
Higher Education: Class Sizes
The Department does not produce detailed breakdowns of student to staff ratios.
Higher Education: Disabled
The information is not collected centrally.
Higher Education: Teaching Methods
The information requested is not collected centrally. Scheduled contact time is a matter for individual institutions.
Research: Stem Cells
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research.
The MRC allocates funding in response-mode following competitive peer review on the basis of scientific quality and potential impact. The MRC supports research on embryonic and adult (including fetal) stem cells, which ranges from fundamental cell biology through to early phase clinical trials. The ‘development of treatment’ is not a term usually associated with pre-clinical trial scientific research; however, based on a broad interpretation, the majority of MRC’s research could be categorised as such.
Funding for stem cell research by the MRC and the Department of Trade and Industry’s Technology Programme for the last five years was as follows:
Financial year MRC (£ million) DTI, Technology Programme (£ million Adult (including fetal)1 Embryonic 2002/03 4.5 0.00 n/a n/a 2003/04 14.5 0.00 n/a n/a 2004/05 14.2 0.00 50 50 2005/06 17.4 0.80 45 55 2006/07 2— 1.30 — — n/a = Not available. 1 Fetal includes umbilical stem cells but information is not held in such a way as to identify spend separately. 2 Not yet available.
Students: Part-Time Employment
The Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2004/05, published on 30 March 2006, is a comprehensive study on students’ income, expenditure, borrowing and debt. The survey showed that full-time undergraduate students were less likely to undertake paid work in the final year of their course. Further details are available in table 1.
The survey also shows that while a smaller proportion of students tend to work in their final year, those who do tend to work slightly more hours per week (table 2).
Year of study Socio-economic group Proportion that were part-time work (percentage) First year Managerial/professional 55 Intermediate 64 Routine/manual 61 All socio-economic groups 58 Second/intermediate years Managerial/professional 60 Intermediate 58 Routine/manual 64 All socio-economic groups 60 Final year/one-year course only Managerial/professional 49 Intermediate 47 Routine/manual 58 All socio-economic groups 50 All years Managerial/professional 55 Intermediate 55 Routine/manual 61 All socio-economic groups 56 Source: Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2004/05
Year of study Mean hours worked per week First year 13.8 Second/intermediate years 12.3 Final year/one-year course only 14.7 All years 13.6 Source: Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2004/05
Children, Schools and Families
City Academies: Standards
(2) what proportion of the average Level 3 qualification and curriculum authority point score for pupils attending schools other than state city academies in 2006 was represented by (a) GCE A levels, (b) GCE AS levels and (c) VCE A levels or other Level 3 qualifications.
The qualification composition contributing to Level 3 QCA point scores for students attending academies and for students attending institutions other than academies in 2006 are given in the following table.
Percentage GCE A level GCE AS level1 Other Level 3 qualifications Academies 61 9 30 Institutions other than Academies2 68 11 21 1 Points for GCE AS levels are discounted from average point score measures where students have achieved a GCE A Level in the same subject 2 Including Further Education Institutions.
Class Sizes
There is evidence that smaller classes result in an increase in attainment at Key Stage 1, particularly in literacy and maths in the reception year. However the situation is more complex for other age groups. For Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 there is no clear evidence that points towards a similar link between smaller classes and pupils’ achievement.
Classroom Assistants: Mathematics
The following table details the total placements, and maths placements, for the Student Associate scheme in each academic year since it began. The 2006/07 and 2007/08 figures are estimates. For 2006/07 we will not know the final figures until Sept 2007.
Academic year Total placements Maths placements 2003/04 4,734 417 2004/05 6,588 841 2005/06 8,640 1,121 2006/07 17,925 11,379 2007/08 8,338 11,483 1 Estimate
Departments: Delivery Unit
The Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit works with my Department on an on-going basis to monitor progress towards the Government’s commitment to establish 400 Academies.
Education: Disadvantaged
It is a matter for each local authority—in consultation with their schools forums—to determine the level of funding between different providers, based on an assessment of local circumstances.
Education: Expenditure
Capital allocations for education in Stockton-on-Tees in each year since 1997 are set out in the following table.
£ million 1997-98 1.0 1998-99 2.4 1999-2000 7.1 2000-01 8.2 2001-02 14.6 2002-03 8.7 2003-04 11.9 2004-05 11.8 2005-06 7.7 2006-07 10.9 2007-08 7.7
The changes in capital funding from year to year, apart from a general rise across the period, result from periodic allocations of ring-fenced capital funding which are additional to the annual formulaic funding. In the current spending review period, from 2005-06 to 2007-08, additional targeted capital funding (TCP) of £0.612 million was allocated in 2005-06, and £3.343 million TCP in 2006-07. The large allocation of £14.6 million in 2001-02 includes a PFI allocation of £6.4 million.
GCE A Level
(2) how many and what percentage of pupils from (a) independent, (b) maintained and (c) grammar schools received a grade A in one or more of mathematics, further mathematics, physics, chemistry, French, German and Spanish A-levels in the latest year for which figures are available.
The information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The answer to this request is given in the table:
5 or more GCSEs at grade C 4 or more GCSEs at grade C 3 or more GCSEs at grade C Number of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 with 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C Number As a percentage of those with 5 + A*-C Number As a percentage of those with 5 + A*-C Number As a percentage of those with 5 + A*-C 263,812 75,920 28.8 109,995 41.7 142,226 53.9 1 At full GCSE only, not including equivalents. Source: School Achievement and Attainment Tables
Intimidation: Statistics
(2) what progress is being made on the recommendation of Third Report of Session 2006-07 of the Education and Skills Committee, on Bullying, HC 85, on developing a system for collecting and recording incidents of bullying in schools;
(3) if his Department will commission a study of the long-term effects of bullying on those subject to it in schools;
(4) what indicators his Department plans to use to measure progress in tackling prejudice-driven bullying related to special educational needs and disabilities;
(5) what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the non statutory requirement upon schools to report incidents of bullying on the quality of the collected results.
As we make clear in the Government response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2006-07, my Department recommends as best practice that schools record all incidents of bullying and report these statistics to their local authority (LA). We will be strengthening this message in our revised overarching anti-bullying guidance and will ensure it is clear in the more specialist guidance we are preparing on homophobic and other forms of prejudice-driven bullying.
However, we do not believe that a statutory requirement on schools to record incidents of bullying would be effective. It would present significant logistical and bureaucratic difficulties for schools, and there would be substantial issues around consistency of definition, collection, and interpretation which would be expensive, cumbersome and time-consuming to overcome. We think it is better to leave this matter to the good judgment and common sense of teachers, who will have detailed guidance on how best to go about this.
The forthcoming “Tellus 2” survey should give us more comprehensive data on young people’s experiences of bullying in schools. It will be an annual survey, starting this year, covering all LAs. Data will be considered by Ofsted in their annual performance assessment of each LA’s services, and could lead to Ofsted looking more closely at anti-bullying practices in a particular authority’s joint area review (JAR). We are currently looking at how we might use data derived from the survey to inform future policy development.
The Department’s contract with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) includes a specific research element, which is fulfilled by a senior researcher at Goldsmiths College and his team. In our response to the Education and Skills Select Committee’s report on bullying, we made clear that the ABA was planning a substantial piece of research into reactive anti-bullying strategies, and we believed this was the best way forward. Any other research projects will be determined in light of our ongoing policy priorities.
The Department does not monitor the progress of individual schools in addressing bullying at a local, regional or national level or, as my earlier answers make clear, collect statistics in this area. However our partners in the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) and National Strategies maintain close links with individual schools and authorities through their regional networks. We have flagged up that there is a need to tackle the bullying of children with SEN and disabilities in our guidance. The ABA and National Strategies work with schools to ensure effective measures are in place to prevent and tackle the bullying of these children. We have also asked the National Strategies to identify schools with weak and ineffective anti-bullying strategies and to provide challenge and support to these schools as appropriate.
Following the Government’s commitment to issue specific guidance on prejudice-driven bullying in the Schools White Paper ‘Higher Standards, Better Schools for All’, my Department produced well-received guidance in 2006 on tackling racist bullying, “Bullying around racism, religion and culture”. We will also be launching more specific guidance on how to prevent and tackle homophobic bullying later this year. We recognise there is a need for more specialist guidance to tackle the bullying of pupils with SEN and disabilities Once this is issued we will work with practitioners and with our partners in the field on a programme of dissemination to ensure schools across the country implement the guidance.
Our guidance to schools on tackling bullying has always been intentionally non-statutory. Schools need to determine an approach which best suits their local needs and circumstances, taking into account their pupil population and identified priorities. Schools are autonomous institutions, and we want them to retain the flexibility to establish a system of managing behaviour which best suits the needs of the local community they serve.
Learning Disability: Intimidation
The Department's existing guidance for schools flags up the need to prevent and tackle the bullying of children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. We will be strengthening these messages in our revised anti-bullying guidance which we intend to launch in September under the title ‘Safe to Learn: Embedding Anti-Bullying Work in Schools’. We have also announced that we will be producing specialist guidance on how to prevent and tackle the bullying of children with SEN and disabilities. We have begun to meet with interested lobby groups and experts and hope to start work on this guidance very soon, with a view to launching it early next year. We intend to work closely with the Special Educational Consortium and other charities and groups with an interest in this area, drawing on current research. Once completed, this specialist guidance will form part of ‘Safe to Learn’.
Local Education Authorities: Documents
The Department does not hold this information, and so we do not know which local education authorities lost records in this fire.
Primary Education: Teaching Methods
(2) if he will break down the average per capita cost of the Every Child a Reader programme in to (a) pay for specialist trained teachers, (b) materials for pupils, (c) central administration costs for the scheme, (d) marketing and (e) other costs;
(3) how many special teachers have been trained for the (a) Every Child a Reader and (b) Every Child Counts programme.
The Every Child A Reader (ECAR) programme costs on average £2,300 per pupil. This unit cost breaks down as follows:
Costs at school level over four years Start up costs Essential: Training Course 2,500 — — Core texts 30 — — May be needed: Children's books 200 — — Magnetic whiteboard and letters 100 Maximum start up costs — 2,830 Running costs — variable — 0.5 teacher time for teaching = £20,000 per year over four years 80,000 80,000 Total cost to the school over 4 years — — 82,830 8-10 children served per 0.5 teacher time per year, average 9 children per year x 4 yrs = 36 children — — Divided by 36 Cost to the school per child — — 2,300 Source: The long term costs of literacy difficulties, KPMG Foundation December 2006
61 already trained specialist teachers have been re-activated and an additional 215 specialist teachers have been trained to work with children as part of the ECAR programme. ECAR is largely delivered in maintained mainstream schools although a small number of specialist teachers are delivering ECAR in special schools.
Funding of £20 million for implementing the Making Good Progress pilot in the first academic year, 2007-08, was announced on June 6 along with the details of participating pilot schools. There will be further funding for implementation in the second academic year which will be settled through the comprehensive spending review. The cost per pupil in 2007-08 will be approximately £300 and we anticipate that it will be similar in 2008-09. There will be no specific training programme for teachers in relation to the Making Good Progress pilot.
We will announce detailed allocations for Every Child Counts in due course. At this stage we do not know what the cost per pupil will be. It is likely that there will be specific training for teachers in the numeracy equivalent to Every Child A Reader when it is rolled out, the details of which (including the number of teachers to be trained) are yet to be decided.
Pupils: Attendance
The research report “An Analysis of Pupil Attendance Data in Excellence in Cities (EiC) Areas and non-EiC EAZs” published in 2005 found significant associations between school attendance and performance at Key Stages 3 and 4. Data for 1999-2000 to 2000-03 were analysed for a sample of 454 schools; the profile of the sample schools was less advantaged than that of secondary schools nationally. The research also found a varying impact of high absence rates upon different groups of pupils, particularly in the case of pupil gender, and that the relationship was less significant when background characteristics of the schools were taken into account.
Pupils: Guardianship
Most overseas pupils are educated in independent schools. Guardianship arrangements set up by independent schools, and accommodation provided by independent boarding schools, including accommodation provided via host families, must meet national minimum standards. These cover suitability to work with children and the quality of boarding provision. These standards require all adult host family members and guardians to be checked through the Criminal Records Bureau, and are monitored through Ofsted inspection. Some independent schools use commercial guardianship services and in this case must satisfy themselves about the quality of service. However pupils placed under commercial arrangements are subject to the same level of monitoring through inspection against the national minimum standards.
It is also a legal requirement for a private foster carer to notify their local authority about private fostering arrangements. New measures in the Children Act 2004 and the Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005, which came into effect in July 2005, strengthened the private fostering Notification scheme, and provided additional safeguards for privately fostered children. We have made it clear that if the Notification scheme does not work well, we will introduce a Registration scheme for private foster carers.
Pupils: Intimidation
The Government believe that all bullying is wrong and should never be tolerated in schools, and all our guidance makes this clear.
This year the Department will provide around £1.7 million for anti-bullying programmes, which covers the costs of grants to external organisations, as well as anti-bullying resources, the publication of guidance and support for local authorities and schools, and directly funded external events.
We provide comprehensive advice for schools setting out a range of proven strategies for tackling bullying. We are currently revising our over-arching anti-bullying advice to schools, which we propose to issue on-line in September under the title ‘Safe to Learn: Embedding Anti-Bullying Work in Schools’. This will include specific guidance on prejudice-driven bullying, with links to the guidance on racist bullying we first issued last year, and homophobic bullying guidance specifically prepared for us by Stonewall and Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH). There will also be specific guidance on how to prevent and tackle cyberbullying. To complete this suite of guidance, we will also prepare specific advice on how to tackle the bullying of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
The Education and Skills Select Committee recently examined bullying in schools, and their report welcomed key aspects of the Government's programme of work, including our main guidance and our guidance on prejudice-driven bullying. The Government's response was issued very recently.
We work with and fund a number of partners, including the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) who arrange the annual anti-bullying week, and provide a range of advice and support to local authorities; ParentLine Plus, who run a helpline for parents whose children are being bullied; and ChildLine in Partnership with Schools (CHIPS) who run peer mentoring schemes for the Department; and we also fund awards for anti-bullying work as part of the Princess Diana Memorial Awards scheme. We issue the anti-bullying charter to schools and have placed a duty on head teachers to determine measures to prevent all forms of bullying as part of their overall behaviour policy. More recently, we convened a taskforce to look at all aspects of cyber-bullying, made up of internet service providers, mobile phone companies, education professionals and those working in the youth justice system.
We are now shifting the focus of our anti-bullying work from campaigning to embedding effective practice in schools. To do this we are working with the national strategies to identify schools with weak and ineffective anti-bullying policies and provide targeted support to those schools; and with BeatBullying, a respected anti-bullying charity, to run a project on tackling inter-faith bullying, including Islamaphobia.
Ring-fenced funding for anti-bullying campaigns is not made available on either a local authority or school by school basis. Rather it is a matter for schools and local authorities to decide how much of their budget they devote to this important work.
The Government believe that all bullying is wrong and should never be tolerated in schools, and all our guidance makes this clear. This year the Department will provide around £1.7 million for anti-bullying programmes, which covers the costs of grants to external organisations, as well as anti-bullying resources, the publication of guidance and support for local authorities and schools, and directly funded external events.
We provide comprehensive advice for schools setting out a range of proven strategies for tackling bullying. We are currently revising our over-arching anti-bullying advice to schools, which we propose to issue on-line in September under the title ‘Safe to Learn: Embedding Anti-Bullying Work in Schools’. This will include specific guidance on prejudice-driven bullying, with links to the guidance on racist bullying we first issued last year, and homophobic bullying guidance prepared for us by Stonewall and Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH). There will also be specific guidance on how to prevent and tackle cyberbullying. To complete this suite of guidance, we will also prepare specific advice on how to tackle the bullying of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
The Education and Skills Select Committee recently examined bullying in schools, and their report welcomed key aspects of the Government's programme of work, including our main guidance and our guidance on prejudice-driven bullying. The Government's response was issued very recently.
We work with and fund a number of partners, including the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) who arrange the annual anti-bullying week, and provide a range of advice and support to local authorities; ParentLine Plus, who run a helpline for parents whose children are being bullied; and ChildLine in Partnership with Schools (CHIPS) who run peer mentoring schemes for the Department; and we also fund awards for anti-bullying work as part of the Princess Diana Memorial Awards scheme. We have issued the Anti-Bullying Charter to schools and have placed a duty on head teachers to determine measures to prevent all forms of bullying as part of their overall behaviour policy. More recently, we convened a Taskforce to look at all aspects of cyberbullying, made up of internet service providers, mobile phone companies, education professionals and those working in the youth justice system.
We are now shifting the focus of our anti-bullying work from campaigning to embedding effective practice in schools. To do this we are working with the National Strategies to identify schools with weak and ineffective anti-bullying policies and provide targeted support to those schools; and with BeatBullying, to run a project on tackling inter-faith bullying, including Islamaphobia.
(2) how many staff worked on the anti-bullying strand of this programme in each financial year given, broken down by payband;
(3) whether reduced funding for anti-bullying work in 2005-06 was a result of decisions taken in the 2004 Spending Review process;
(4) how much funding his Department has given to each organisation listed since it started working with them;
(5) how many schools’ anti-bullying policies have been classified as weak and ineffective; and how many such schools have received targeted support.
Further to research published by Goldsmiths University on behalf of the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), the Department first published interim guidelines on cyberbullying in July 2006. Around the same time, we formed the Department’s Cyberbullying Taskforce, consisting of industry leaders, particularly Internet Service Providers and mobile phone operators, as well as education practitioners, the professional associations and law enforcement agencies (such as the Youth Justice Board) to develop a range of initiatives to combat cyberbullying in schools, and to ensure parents are provided with the information they need to keep their children safe online.
The team within the Department with responsibility for anti-bullying had, in 2003/04, the earliest year for which authoritative figures are available, one Grade 7, two Higher Executive Officers (HEOs), three Executive Officers (EOs) and one Administrative Officer (AO). Some of these officers also had other duties besides anti-bullying work. By 2005/06 the team consisted of one Grade 7, one Senior Executive Officer (SEO), one HEO and 60 per cent. of one EO, all working on anti-bullying work. By the following year this had changed to one Grade 7, two HEOs and 60 per cent. of one EO.
This decrease in funding was not a result of decisions made in the 2004 Comprehensive Spending Review. The increased funding in 2004-2005 can be accounted for by the launch of the Department’s “Make the Difference” nationwide conference series on bullying, a high-profile series of events attended by over 5,000 heads and school staff.
Our records show funding as represented on the following table:
2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 Childline 75,000 258,000 166,800 200,000 200,000 Parentline Plus 188,928 285,324 193,000 200,470 200,000 Anti-Bullying Alliance — — 480,064 600,628 632,943 Diana Awards — — 50,000 50,000 50,000 Beatbullying — — — — 80,000 Stonewall/EACH — — — — 45,000 Childnet International — — — — 35,200
All figures are exclusive of VAT.
The programme of work to identify schools with weak and ineffective anti-bullying policies is carried out for the Department by the National Strategies Behaviour and Attendance team and they hold the relevant data. In order to maximise the participation of Local Authorities (LAs) and schools on this programme, the National Strategies have given an undertaking that they will not pass this information on to the Department. Bullying can often be covert and difficult to identify so we think it is important to ensure the problem is not driven underground by “naming and shaming” schools which are deemed to have weak and ineffective anti-bullying policies.
The National Strategies use a number of monitoring prompts to assess whether a school needs additional support with its anti-bullying work. One such prompt relates to the use of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Charter for Schools. According to recent figures from the National Strategies nearly 75 per cent. of secondary and over 50 per cent. of primary schools use the principles of the Charter to draw up effective anti-bullying policies.
Pupils: Per Capita Costs
[holding answer 28 June 2007]: The revenue funding figures per pupil in Warrington in each year since 1997 are provided in the following table:
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-4 2004-5 2005-06 Warrington 1— 2,310 2,510 2,700 2,960 3,200 3,450 3,550 3,910 1 Figures are not available. Notes: 1. The combined LA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA). A sector breakdown for combined LA and school based expenditure is not available from 2002-03 and consequently this table shows the total LA recurrent expenditure (except youth and community) per pupil by LA since 1995-96. 2. 1999-00 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the R01 form collected by the ODPM to the section 52 outturn forms collected by the DFES. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of consistent financial reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the dotted line. 3. Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under fives funded by the LA and being educated in private settings, pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and other LA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained mainstream schools and other LA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools are taken from the DFES annual schools census. Private voluntary and independent (PVI) under five pupil numbers are taken from the early years census but are only included for 1999-00 onwards. For 1998-99 onwards other LA maintained pupils are included in the pupil count. This includes all pupils attending schools not maintained by the authority for whom the authority is paying full tuition fees, or educated otherwise than in schools and pupil referral units under arrangements made by the authority drawn from Form 8b submitted to the DFES. Also included as other LA maintained pupils are all pupils attending pupil referral units who are not registered at a maintained school drawn from the DFES annual school census. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis. 4. Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place during the mid to late 1990s. Warrington was part of that reorganisation and figures are not available for 1997-98. 5. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and are subject to change by the LA.
Schools: Capital Investment
The Department does not maintain central records which analyse, for each capital funding stream, the proportion that relates to (a) secondary schools and (b) primary schools in each local authority area. This is because local authority formulaic funding is not ring-fenced. When received by each local authority, it decides locally what proportion of formulaic funding shall be allocated to secondary schools and to primary schools.
The following table shows total schools capital allocations in each local authority area in England in each of the last five years.
Local authority 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Barking and Dagenham 5,852 7,395 10,129 27,252 11,252 Barnet 12,024 18,533 15,102 41,490 13,379 Barnsley 61,039 10,122 7,161 8,407 6,603 Bath and North East Somerset 11,848 7,330 5,551 14,864 6,935 Bedfordshire 18,359 20,621 16,250 18,939 19,429 Bexley 23,749 16,812 12,540 44,948 10,378 Birmingham 102,593 54,287 40,367 45,833 46,130 Blackburn with Darwen 10,062 6,006 9,629 9,999 6,608 Blackpool 17,032 14,992 11,606 8,808 5,041 Bolton 15,167 11,403 9,322 24,214 11,793 Bournemouth 5,066 5,801 5,151 4,725 4,884 Sheffield 58,357 83,165 25,473 22,264 17,297 Bracknell Forest 8,648 4,203 4,313 4,273 4,388 Bradford 20,819 35,284 30,507 19,230 19,380 Brent 14,706 13,827 10,031 20,183 16,413 Brighton and Hove 7.338 13,357 5,487 6,424 6,929 Bristol, City of 73,789 16,368 17,296 14,456 14,699 Bromley 12,490 18,774 18,480 18,715 19,395 Buckinghamshire 27,460 26,443 21,055 20,583 21,365 Bury 7,556 10,833 5,283 18,571 6,854 Calderdale 9,555 15,093 7,437 8,548 8,933 Cambridgeshire 38,682 33,212 24,598 30,757 19,777 Camden 12,152 8,251 11,124 8,014 8,519 Cheshire 34,224 30,488 26,421 25,528 26,351 City of London 159 97 42 66 71 Cornwall 99,602 33,273 18,582 45,532 21,859 Coventry 13,574 15,234 13,453 19,656 12,685 Croydon 14,376 12,610 12,022 16,154 12,777 Cumbria 21,193 23,723 19,008 21,494 22,272 Darlington 44,980 4,199 4,454 24,954 4,074 Derby 53,692 12,763 9,404 21,546 10,164 Derbyshire 74,516 41,778 32,577 42,338 33,219 Devon 122,740 56,137 24,974 79,810 42,674 Doncaster 13,809 55,974 19,179 12,069 12,286 Dorset 22,855 16,276 18,933 64,634 15,462 Dudley 13,415 15,703 12,933 19,732 11,671 Durham 33,035 25,282 25,815 30,500 22,644 Ealing 16,392 77,589 13,936 21,999 9,530 East Riding of Yorkshire 20,432 21,642 16,997 26,299 14,475 East Sussex 24,402 23,721 17,703 20,647 17,526 Enfield 69,375 19,537 13,085 30,790 11,535 Essex 63,462 63,202 55,620 51,245 52,028 Gateshead 22,804 6,957 65,954 6,505 6,385 Gloucestershire 28,486 36,782 30,180 68,389 36,469 Greenwich 9,051 16,361 13,074 20,313 14,872 Hackney 11,470 13,356 7,739 10,229 9,473 Halton 6,969 4,879 5,611 10,727 5,217 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,987 10,900 4,972 11,879 6,012 Hampshire 70,786 62,874 50,886 59,906 55,967 Haringey 23,672 20,708 20,334 15,380 13,279 Harrow 6,422 6,574 7,055 17,804 6,909 Hartlepool 7,586 3,527 2,989 3,645 3,754 Havering 11,506 11,327 8,299 14,192 9,734 Herefordshire 27,643 8,354 8,712 6,982 7,140 Hertfordshire 43,353 60,759 63,787 69,203 50,055 Hillingdon 14,815 18,885 12,280 31,642 12,855 Hounslow 36,193 9,515 8,210 10,962 10,338 Isle of Wight 10,797 11,424 6,857 14,973 15,556 Isles of Scilly 285 228 153 141 144 Islington 9,417 11,314 7,039 6,152 6,455 Kensington and Chelsea 2,918 4,024 4,413 8,987 5,595 Kent 92,848 181,101 90,483 85,225 73,318 Kingston upon Hull, City of 10,691 10,871 8,365 6,487 8,348 Kingston upon Thames 10,942 14,951 5,992 42,583 8,255 Kirklees 17,253 19,324 14,004 19,523 16,454 Knowsley 7,495 6,688 8,225 10,391 4,750 Lambeth 15,125 22,195 12,750 20,815 16,382 Lancashire 62,607 44,234 38,067 54,715 46,664 Leeds 28,263 63,654 135,406 24,510 24,183 Leicester 12,329 18,259 25,540 12,986 7,434 Leicestershire 27,582 33,834 35,673 40,998 25,063 Lewisham 16,601 15,070 16,571 17,813 10,379 Lincolnshire 28,157 33,779 29,350 42,750 29,536 Liverpool 22,706 18,481 12,826 14,124 15,224 Luton 11,734 10,056 6,448 9,926 6,881 Manchester 56,424 24,853 14,980 21,696 22,141 Merton 7,293 5,836 5,446 15,810 10,762 Middlesbrough 10,039 7,013 6,228 4,199 4,734 Milton Keynes 29,083 39,116 30,831 52,464 42,610 Newcastle upon Tyne 16,280 70,368 8,523 12,485 8,336 Newham 50,660 16,028 17,193 11,488 8,414 Norfolk 39,292 108,282 34,492 70,474 39,356 North East Lincolnshire 7,718 7,521 5,967 19,020 7,199 North Lincolnshire 6,113 10,272 5,295 6,244 5,949 North Somerset 17,971 27,122 17,954 8,166 8,472 North Tyneside 11,528 7,134 5,839 18,584 6,964 North Yorkshire 34,086 27,377 22,037 56,547 25,610 Northamptonshire 130,466 36,015 25,035 38,845 25,829 Northumberland 13,730 15,920 11,700 14,269 14,691 Nottingham 10,402 17,579 10,488 13,337 9,464 Nottinghamshire 157,700 31,112 26,170 30,311 30,673 Oldham 14,042 71,191 14,087 11,664 11,539 Oxfordshire 33,394 36,896 36,248 26,789 27,536 Peterborough 13,297 68,781 16,579 26,830 7,447 Plymouth 16,397 56,593 11,728 20,747 11,994 Poole 6,161 4,952 4,202 18,394 6,595 Portsmouth 10,871 7,028 9,043 5,967 6,093 Reading 9,733 5,211 6,564 10,376 4,488 Redbridge 13,084 16,768 20,789 17,159 17,942 Redcar and Cleveland 59,355 5,903 4,910 17,476 5,662 Richmond upon Thames 4,277 6,056 9,584 39,317 9,844 Rochdale 12,033 69,346 7,485 8,781 8,829 Rotherham 18,005 10,396 8,163 11,708 10,359 Rutland 1,284 1,704 1,832 1,614 1,681 Salford 10,210 56,770 9,947 11,989 7,869 Sandwell 16,344 16,435 12,992 17,223 12,694 Sefton 16,930 12,079 13,303 19,464 12,294 Sheffield 58,357 83,165 25,473 22,264 17,297 Shropshire 10,822 10,366 13,800 12,695 10,865 Slough 7,618 52,188 4,498 25,645 6,134 Solihull 9,424 9,801 13,175 7,670 7,940 Somerset 19,249 21,831 18,240 28,632 21,312 South Gloucestershire 14,853 19,134 11,040 14,194 14,657 South Tyneside 6,596 21,922 5,150 4,439 4,479 Southampton 12,006 6,823 10,728 9,845 7,063 Southend-on-Sea 9,907 13,793 7,799 10,833 17,278 Southwark 12,593 27,031 21,199 16,184 16,080 St. Helens 7,152 6,772 5,783 18,936 7,056 Staffordshire 35,529 41,071 29,198 41,187 33,219 Stockport 11,709 10,731 11,518 11,232 11,395 Stockton-on-Tees 11,858 11,786 7,705 10,863 7,669 Stoke-on-Trent 11,333 14,891 6,973 5,235 5,263 Suffolk 34,673 44,931 31,273 34,765 28,079 Sunderland 13,436 11,049 9,287 12,925 9,881 Surrey 48,336 45,928 47,164 44,580 37,867 Sutton 11,286 8,702 8,125 12,637 10,299 Swindon 80,240 11,594 9,182 8,747 8,927 Tameside 9,008 11,616 11,327 11,427 8,976 Telford and Wrekin 77,507 12,310 7,550 14,879 7,830 Thurrock 11,007 13,289 8,904 22,969 17,604 Torbay 9,470 10,959 8,994 31,837 9,893 Tower Hamlets 8,912 8,586 17,942 14,296 15,028 Trafford 14,773 13,569 8,389 11,284 8,834 Wakefield 16,743 15,790 16,804 24,201 12,558 Walsall 19,361 17,518 13,384 23,948 12,428 Waltham Forest 10,364 10,260 10,752 6,967 7,032 Wandsworth 11,741 10,371 10,495 23,102 14,936 Warrington 8,821 8,006 9,805 12,092 8,152 Warwickshire 34,454 25,499 19,169 34,055 22,856 West Berkshire 7,647 7,957 6,546 19,358 7,575 West Sussex 30,799 34,381 36,018 43,006 31,828 Westminster 15,195 10,110 7,779 10,708 6,962 Wigan 19,790 17,511 10,370 24,387 12,775 Wiltshire 27,615 21,251 15,740 42,850 18,149 Windsor and Maidenhead 5,972 5,456 4,439 5,726 5,963 Wirral 18,774 14,354 13,418 18,486 12,401 Wokingham 9,042 12,002 5,185 18,035 6,246 Wolverhampton 10,311 15,655 9,498 26,755 11,125 Worcestershire 24,264 88,860 19,602 22,138 22,537 York 9,651 9,429 8,739 28,494 6,364
Schools: Employment Agencies
[holding answer 2 July 2007]: The information requested is not collected centrally.
The decision whether to employ teachers and other school staff through personal service companies is a matter for individual schools or local authorities. Guidance is issued by the department with respect to safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education including through personal service companies. This guidance can be available in PDF format at the following URL:
http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=spectrum&Productld=DFES-04217-2006&.
Schools: Religion
Officials are in regular contact with the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church who are actively involved in the Academies programme. Discussions have also taken place about potential Academy and/or Trust School projects with the Eastern Orthodox Church and a number of organisations who have a religious ethos, including Oasis, the United Learning Trust and the Multi Faith Secondary School Trust and the Salvation Army.
The Focus Learning Trust has made a number of representations to Government concerning the establishment of an Academy or a Trust school in which the FLT would have a role. There are no current proposals to establish any such Academy or Trust school.
Teachers
The information is not available in the format requested.
Provisional figures show that between 1997 and 2007 there was an increase of 5,300 full-time equivalent number of teachers employed in local authority maintained nursery and primary schools and 27,300 in local authority maintained secondary schools in England.
The source of information is the DFES annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, 618G.
Teachers: Science
[holding answer 28 June 2007]: The breakdown of Science courses into the individual specialisms is not available. The following table shows the number of entrants to Initial Teacher Training (ITT) mainstream Post Graduate (PG) science courses with a first UK degree in science or in a science-related subject by the classification of their first degree between 1998/99 and 2004/05.
Total 1st 2:1 2:2 3 Pass Class not known or undefined 1998/99 1,620 120 630 600 150 90 30 1999/2000 1,680 140 660 630 150 70 40 2000/01 1,790 150 710 650 160 90 30 2001/02 1,880 150 780 670 160 90 40 2002/03 1,940 180 760 730 160 100 20 2003/04 2,220 220 930 780 170 80 30 2004/05 2,100 220 900 720 180 70 10 Notes: 1. Includes trainees from Universities and other Higher Education (HE) institutions, School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) and Open Universities (OU), but exclude Employment Based Routes (EBR). 2. Numbers are individually rounded to the nearest 10, therefore may not sum. 3. Figures include those entering ITT courses for secondary science and key stage 2/3 science. 4. UK first degree of science includes trainees with degrees in biology, chemistry and physics. 5. UK first degree of science related subject includes trainees with a degree which has an element of science, for example engineering. 6. Prior to 1998/99 data are not in a consistent format. Source: TDA performance profiles
Teachers: Standards
No such assessment has been made.
Teachers: Training
[holding answer 3 July 2007]: The standards for qualified teacher status require that all trainee teachers have a secure knowledge and understanding of their subjects and curriculum areas. They are also required to demonstrate that they are able to put into practice in their teaching the relevant aspects of the National Strategies. In the case of all primary teachers, this means that they will receive training in the teaching of reading. This training will include phonics approaches, such as the teaching of high quality systematic phonic work, in accordance with the recommendations of the Rose Review. The standards for the award of qualified teacher status have recently been revised and strengthened in these areas.
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the Applied Scholastics programme for (a) teachers and (b) pupils.
The Department does not have information relating to how many teachers have been trained by the Applied Scholastic programme and has made no assessment of the Applied Scholastics programme for either teachers or for pupils.
Teachers: Working hours
Information on the hours and working patterns of teachers is collected via the ‘Teachers’ Workloads Diary Survey’ that is published by the Office of Manpower Economics. The most recent results relate to a single week in March 2006. The survey showed that on average full-time classroom teachers in primary schools spent 14.2 hours on ‘Lesson planning/Marking’1 and 5.0 hours on ‘General Admin’2. Full-time classroom teachers in secondary schools spent 14.8 hours on ‘Lesson planning /Marking’1 and 3.0 hours on ‘General Admin’2.
We expect that the results of the 2007 survey will be published in the next couple of months.
1 Lesson planning / Marking includes: planning/preparing lesson, practical test or assessment (including gathering materials); assessing/marking pupil work (including exam/test); writing reports on pupil progress (e.g. end of term report); other non-contact activities relating to a class or lesson.
2 General admin includes: keeping records on pupil performance (e.g. for National Curriculum, school records, examination boards etc.); keeping records or department records (excluding those on pupil performance); organising resources and premises (e.g. building, equipment, books, computers); displaying / mounting pupils’ work or information for pupils; setting up / tidying classroom, lab or other teaching area; simple clerical activity (e.g. photocopying, filing, routine form filling/database entry); other kinds of administrative activities.
Teaching Methods
The information requested can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Health
Care Homes
[holding answer 29 June 2007]: Neither the Department nor the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) collects data on population numbers. Information on the number of care and nursing homes and registered places is collected by CSCI as part of its registration and inspection activities.
The Office for National Statistics has supplied data on numbers of adults aged 18 and over in England and the Cornwall county council area. Numbers of care and nursing home places, in England and Cornwall as percentages of the numbers of adults aged 18 and over are shown in the table.
Care home places are not registered as state or privately funded; care is funded in a variety of ways. Depending on their circumstances, residents may fund their own care, or be partly or wholly supported by councils or the national health service, or organisations such as charities and previous employers. As a result, the same place may, at different times, be state or privately funded depending on the circumstances of the resident occupying it.
Area Places1 Number of adults aged 18 and over2 Number of places as a percentage of adults aged 18 and over3 England 440,038 39,383,400 1.12 Cornwall 5,480 411,500 1.33 1 Numbers include residential homes for older people and for younger adults (aged 18-64). 2 Figures rounded to the nearest 100. These data are Crown copyright. 3 Percentages rounded to two decimal places. Sources; 1 CSCI report, The State of Social Care in England 2005-06. 2 Office for National Statistics mid-2005 population estimates (latest available figures).
Care Homes: Cornwall
[holding answer 29 June 2007]: This information is not collected centrally.
Dental Services: Milton Keynes
[holding answer 29 June 2007]: Information is not available in the format requested. Since April 2006 patients have no longer been required to register with a particular dentist.
Information is held centrally on the number of patients broken down by adults and children who received care or treatment from a national health service dentist in the most recent 14 months. As at 31 March 2007 53.8 per cent. of patients in Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust had seen an NHS dentist at least once in the previous 24 months, for adults this was 47.0 per cent. and for children this was 74.6 per cent.
Departments: Older Workers
The information is shown in the following table.
Date Percentage of staff over 60 31 March 2005 1.0 31 March 2006 1.4 31 March 2007 1.7
The information is shown in the following table.
Age group Recruits Percentage Recruits Percentage Recruits Percentage 55 and over 5 4 14 5 1 1 60 and over 0 0 3 1 1 1
Departments: Sick Leave
The percentages of sick leave recorded on our sickness absence database in each of the last three years under a category defined as mental health, including depression, anxiety and potential stress related problems, were 32 per cent. for 2004-05, 22 per cent. for 2005-06 and 24 per cent. for 2006-07.
Departments: Written Questions
[holding answer2 July 2007]: Between 1 January and 30 June we answered 839 Named Day Parliamentary questions, of which 497 (59 per cent.) were answered on the day specified. We also answered 3,812 Ordinary written questions, of which 1,296 (34 per cent.) were answered within 10 working days.
We endeavour to answer all parliamentary questions as quickly as possible and have been reviewing our internal processes. We are developing a replacement database which will enable us to better manage the end to end process and are also developing training for all those in the Department who prepare answers for Ministers to consider.
In the run up to the recent Government changes, we made a particular effort to answer outstanding questions and in the week up to 25 June we answered over 550. We will continue to seek improvement in our performance in this important area.
Disabled: Children
[holding answer 29 June 2007]: Each local authority is required by law to maintain a register of disabled people living within its area for the purposes of planning and providing social services. However, registration is entirely voluntary, therefore the information held does not accurately represent the prevalence of disability. This information is not held centrally.
Health Services: Finance
The Department has allocated a budget to its arm’s length bodies for 2007-08 and the detailed elements of each are set out as follows.
However, for 2008-09 and 2009-10, while overall indicative budgets have been allocated, the Department and the arm’s length bodies have not yet agreed the detailed elements of their expenditure.
Healthcare Commission
The budget for the patient and public engagement team for 2007-08 is £0.775 million. Public engagement is also supported by other departments, as patients and the public are the primary focus of the Healthcare Commission’s work.
The rest of the communications budget for 2007-08 is £3.117 million. This also includes public engagement in the form of running consultation events and communicating through written reports and the internet.
National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)
The NPSA Business Plan for 2007-08 states that the Agency will ensure that patients and the public are involved in its work by developing and implementing an involvement strategy in 2007 that takes account of changes resulting from the review of the organisational arrangements to support patient safety, “Safety First” (December 2006). The sum of budget lines that relate specifically to patient and public involvement is £347,288.
Communications supports the Agency’s activity and engagement with the national health service in England and Wales, including feedback reports to each NHS organisation, the work of the National Clinical Assessment Service, the work of the National Research Ethics Service, published guidance on improving medication safety and a high profile patient safety campaign to frontline workers, as well as patients and the public. The total budget for this is approximately £1.7 million.
The General Social Care Council (GSCC)
The GSCC has allocated a budget to its Corporate Communications Directorate in 2007-08 of £1.001 million (as shown in the GSCC Business Plan for 2007-08). However, the GSCC has not allocated this budget between the two criteria that are stated in the question.
The GSCC also has funding within the education support grant that is paid (by the GSCC) to higher education institutes for the involvement of service users and carers in the design and delivery of the social work degree courses. For 2007-08 the earmarked funding is £0.628 million. This funding for this activity is also quoted in the GSCCs Business Plan for 2007-08.
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
Communications and public involvement are a core function of CSCI’s role. As a service regulator it is important that every aspect of CSCI’s work involves communication with the public in general and, more specifically, with service users, their carers and families and with providers, commissioners and policy makers. By doing this, our work can encourage greater involvement in services, increase awareness of developments and issues in social care and raise the standard of service provision.
Therefore it is not feasible to completely separate the aspects of CSCI’s work, and the budgets, which are specifically about public involvement and communication from those which are not.
However, there is a central function from which the core public and user involvement activities of CSCI are co-ordinated with a budget of £1.039 million for the current year. This budget does not cover all relevant expenditure on communications and public involvement, but it does cover the cost of user involvement activities such as experts by experience, involvement in inspections, user participation in improvement boards, conferences, methodology development etc. and accessible communications.
As well as the public and user involvement function, CSCI has a specific communications function which co-ordinates publications, events, marketing and web development. All of these activities are central to informing the public about and involving the public in CSCI’s work.
Hearing Impaired: Health Services
Data published on 13 June 2007 show that, at the end of April, 101,260 people were waiting longer than six weeks for an audiology assessment. This is a reduction of 37,409 since October and represents good progress towards the milestone.
Mentally Ill: Young People
[holding answer 3 July 2007]: The Office for National Statistics 2004 survey “Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain” looked at the prevalence of mental health disorders. It found that 10 per cent. of young people aged 5-16 years had a clinically diagnosed mental disorder. This includes four per cent. with an emotional disorder (1 per cent. depression and 3 per cent. anxiety disorders).
In September 2005, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published a guideline on the treatment of depression in children and young people which also included advice on the detection and recognition of depression. It outlined the treatment options available—psychological therapies or medication. It recommended that medication should only be used rarely in the under 11 age group and should only be offered to the 12-18 group in more severe cases in addition to psychological therapy.
“The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services” (published in 2004), sets the framework for child and adolescent mental services (CAMHS) for the next ten years. It sets the standard that all children and young people, from birth to their eighteenth birthday, who have mental health problems and disorders, will have access to timely, integrated, high quality multidisciplinary mental health services to ensure effective assessment, treatment and support, for them, their parents or carers, and other family members.
In the four years 2004-05 to 2007-08, we have invested over £400 million in additional funding for the development of CAMHS by the national health service and local authorities. It has assisted them in the achievement of the Department’s public service agreement standard of a comprehensive CAMHS in every area.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
(2) how many primary care trusts have led an assessment of health needs of those with musculoskeletal conditions; and how many are on course to complete an assessment by spring 2007;
(3) how many primary care trusts have mapped current musculoskeletal services and assessed future demand; and how many are on course to complete mapping by spring 2007.
[holding answer 29 June 2007]: This information is not available centrally.
[holding answer 29 June 2007]: Musculoskeletal services are currently not included within the Quality and Outcome Framework. No proposals for musculoskeletal services were taken forward for the 2006 contract changes. As part of the ongoing development of the Framework, indicators will be reviewed in the light of emerging evidence, in the context of a value for money agreement.
New Deal for Carers
(2) on what date she expects the national helpline for carers to be established.
The funding announced for the new deal for carers announced on 21 February 2007 is for the current financial year. Decisions on funding for future years will be announced following the forthcoming comprehensive spending review.
In October, we will be giving councils their share of £25 million to develop short breaks for carers who are temporarily unable to care because of an emergency or other crisis. In addition, we will soon make up to £1 million available to key national organisations who are working with the Government to help provide greater support for carers.
The Department is working actively to achieve delivery of the national helpline and has been doing so in consultation with the national carers’ organisations. It is our intention that the helpline will be in place in next summer.
Osteoporosis: Medical Treatments
(2) whether alternative treatments are available on the NHS to patients at risk of osteoporotic fracture who do not respond to the first line treatment prescribed by their general practitioner;
(3) what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) treating an osteoporotic hip fracture and (b) providing treatments likely to prevent such fractures from occurring in the latest period for which figures are available.
The Department has made no estimate of the overall cost to the national health service of treating patients with osteoporotic fractures. Nor has the Department estimated the individual cost of treating an osteoporotic hip fracture, or the cost of providing treatments to prevent osteoporotic fractures.
In its appraisal of the use of bisphosphonates in post-menopausal women, which was published in 2005, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) estimated that among post-menopausal women, the cost to the NHS of fractures to the hip, forearm and spine was £942 million. Additionally, draft final guidance issued by NICE on 26 June 2007, acknowledged that the cost of treating post-menopausal women with Alendronate, the recommended therapy for both the initiation of primary and secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures, would be between £95.03 and £301.39 per patient per year.
This new set of guidance, which NICE expects to publish in final form in August 2007, covers the initiation of treatment only. The future NICE clinical guideline on osteoporosis will cover the treatment of women who cannot take or have withdrawn from treatment with Alendronate. Until this guideline is published, we expect NHS organisations to continue to provide treatments based on an assessment of the available evidence.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued a Final Appraisal Determination on treatments to prevent osteoporotic fractures in post-menopausal women. This is a particularly complex appraisal and has taken longer to complete than would normally be the case. NICE operates a robust appraisal process, involving a full assessment of the evidence and public consultation on its draft recommendations. It is important that in the most complex cases, NICE is allowed to take sufficient time to ensure that final guidance it issues is of a high quality.
Pregnancy: Screening
[holding answer 3 July 2007]: Information on the total number of amniocentesis procedures carried out in the last three years is not collected centrally. Information on the number of amniocentesis tests that resulted in a diagnosis of Down’s Syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities and the number of terminations as a result of Down’s Syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities is in the following table.
Abortions performed because of Down’s Syndrome Down’s Syndrome diagnosed using amniocentesis Abortions performed because of chromosomal anomalies other than Down’s Syndrome Chromosomal anomalies other than Down’s Syndrome diagnosed using amniocentesis 2006 436 195 336 114 2005 429 199 319 136 2004 419 183 307 104 Notes: * That there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. Amniocentesis used as a method of diagnosis with or without an ultrasound and/or chorionic. Information about method of diagnosis is missing for about 8 per cent. of abortions performed under Section l(l)(d)* of the Abortion Act 1967.
Minister for Women
Females: Small Businesses
I have been asked to reply.
If we matched US levels of entrepreneurship there would be 700,000 more businesses run by women in the UK. To help accelerate the UK towards the US levels of entrepreneurship, the Government established the taskforce on Women's Enterprise to advise it on specific steps to increase levels of women's business ownership in the UK. Under the co-chairmanship of Pam Alexander (CEO, SEED A) and Glenda Stone (CEO, Aurora), the taskforce is providing leadership on women's enterprise across Government and the regions, by recommending specific steps to increase women’s business ownership. It is working with the Regional Development Agencies to ensure that women have access to the high-quality support and advice they require to start and grow their businesses.
Working alongside the taskforce is the Women's Enterprise Ambassadors' Network (WEAN). This network comprises inspirational women entrepreneurs, who are using their knowledge and experience to inspire more women to consider the option of starting a business. To celebrate the recruitment of the 1000th ambassador the first WEAN National conference, hosted by my right hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Margaret Hodge), the then Minister for Industry and the Regions, took place at Lancaster House on Monday 25 June 2007. The conference was attended by 200 ambassadors from around the country.
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
British Telecommunications: Fees and Charges
The independent regulator the Office of Communications (Ofcom) announced on 6 June that it will carry out a full review of communications providers' additional charges. Ofcom expects to announce the conclusions of its review in the autumn and progress may be monitored on its website at:
www.ofcom.org.uk.
The review will cover charges for non-direct debit payments, as well as other additional charges including late payment, restoration of service and early termination fees. It will cover fixed and mobile operators, and pay TV services. Ofcom will look at the nature and level of charges levied by communications providers and how well signposted and transparent such charges are. It will investigate how far consumers are aware of additional charges, whether they are able and willing to shop around on the basis of core prices and additional charges rather than just core prices, and whether there are certain groups of consumers who are unable to do this and therefore may be disadvantaged.
On investigating this issue it has become clear that it would be wrong to look at BT in isolation. More than 40 per cent. of homes are provided with telephony services by operators other than BT, and the differentials for payment by non-direct debit range from no extra charge to £15 a quarter. Some providers provide no payment option other than direct debit.
Departments: Energy
In the financial year 2006-07 the Department procured and installed 2,770 energy saving light bulbs and holds an approximate stock of 320; the latter will vary dependant on replacement requirements.
During the previous year 2004-05 the Department purchased approximately 4,700 energy saving light bulbs.
The Department installs energy efficient lighting throughout its estate as a part of its strategy to achieve the energy targets set out in the framework for sustainable development in Government.
Energy: Black Sea
While UK energy companies have been active for some time in the Black Sea states, UK Trade and Investment is not aware of any UK company involvement in the offshore development of new energy resources in the Black Sea itself. UK companies considering investment in that activity may wish to consider contacting UK Trade and Investment to discuss available assistance.
Information on the types of assistance available from UK Trade and Investment is available via the organisation’s website.
Manufacturing Industries: Exports
The negotiations in Potsdam between the EU, US, Brazil and India have not led yet to agreement on the tariff reduction formulae for either trade in agriculture or trade in manufactured goods. Consequently, discussions about market access for manufactured goods did not lead to new market opportunities being offered.
Minimum Wage
[holding answer 2 July 2007]: The national minimum wage rates are set in response to recommendations by the independent Low Pay Commission. The rate for workers aged 16-17 was introduced in 2004 in response to a Low Pay Commission recommendation. The rates have increased since inception as follows:
Main rate (workers aged 22+) £ per hour Development rate (workers aged 18-21) £ per hour Workers aged 16 -17 £ per hour 1 April 1999 3.60 3.00 — 1 June 2000 3.60 3.20 — 1 October 2000 3.70 3.20 — 1 October 2001 4.10 3.50 — 1 October 2002 4.20 3.60 — 1 October 2003 4.50 3.85 1 October 2004 4.85 4.10 3.00 1 October 2005 5.05 4.25 3.00 1 October 2006 5.35 4.45 3.30 1 October 2007 5.52 4.60 3.40
Percentage Main rate (workers aged 22+) Development rate (workers aged 18-21 Workers aged 16-17 1 April 1999 45.6 64.5 — 1 June 2000 45.2 68.3 — 1 October 2000 44.3 66.0 — 1 October 2001 47.0 68.6 — 1 October 2002 46.3 68.1 — 1 October 2003 47.7 68.0 — 1 October 2004 49.5 72.3 — 1 October 2005 49.7 72.7 61.5 1 October 2006 50.2 73.4 65.0 1 October 2007 50.1 73.4 64.8 Note: Calculated as the minimum wage rate as a proportion of the median wage for the given age group. The minimum wage is deflated back to the survey period using the average earnings index (excluding bonuses). October 2007 figures also based on forecast average earnings growth. Source: DTI estimates based on the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics (www.statistics.gov.uk)
Post Offices: WH Smith
This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook the managing director has been asked to reply direct to the right hon. Member.
Decisions on the location of post office branches and franchise agreements are operational issues for Post Office Ltd.
Postal Services: EC Action
The Department's Ministers and officials have regular discussions with other Government Department colleagues on matters relating to the liberalisation of postal services. We also maintain ongoing dialogue with both the institutions of the European Union and the other member states.
The Government support the European objective of implementing a single market for postal services by 2009: by opening up the sector to competition in a gradual and controlled way, within a regulatory framework that ensures the sustained provision of a universal service.
Royal Mail management has welcomed the introduction of competition in postal markets. The Government have recently agreed a finance framework for Royal Mail to enable the company to modernise and improve its efficiency so that it can compete successfully in a liberalised market.
Trade Unions: Ballots
There have been no union ballots on political fund retention in the last 12 months.
World Trade Organisation
The UK Government regrets that G4 members failed to agree a common platform in the DDA negotiations. However, Pascal Lamy, the WTO Director General, has made it clear that negotiations will continue in Geneva. We hope that all WTO members will now work with Pascal Lamy and the Chairs of the Negotiating Groups to try to take the negotiations forward. We are encouraging all WTO members to engage positively and constructively and to show the flexibility and commitment necessary to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion, and remain committed to achieving an ambitious, pro-development outcome to the DDA.
Duchy of Lancaster
Voluntary Work: Kettering
Organisations like the Kettering Voluntary Network play a key role in supporting local third sector organisations and helping people to volunteer, and are an example of how local government and voluntary organisations can work together to improve local communities.
The Government are committed to developing an environment which enables the third sector to thrive and the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office works with the sector and other government departments to break down barriers which prevent people from volunteering.
I have asked an official from the Office of the Third Sector to contact Kettering Voluntary Network to arrange a visit to discuss the challenges faced by the third sector in Kettering.