Frank Dobson

Labour - Former Member for Holborn and St Pancras

First elected: 3rd May 1979

Left House: 30th March 2015 (Retired)


Frank Dobson is not a member of any APPGs
Administration Committee
26th Jul 2010 - 2nd Nov 2010
Administration Committee
12th Jul 2005 - 4th Feb 2008
Secretary of State for Health
3rd May 1997 - 10th Oct 1999
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
1st Jun 1994 - 1st Jun 1997
Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
21st Jun 1994 - 1st May 1997
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
1st Jul 1993 - 21st Jun 1994
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
11th Apr 1992 - 1st Jul 1993
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
1st Jul 1989 - 11th Apr 1992
Privileges
22nd Nov 1988 - 14th Nov 1989
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
12th Jun 1987 - 1st Jul 1989
Shadow Minister (Health)
1st Jun 1983 - 1st Jun 1987
Shadow Spokesperson (Education)
1st Jun 1981 - 1st Jun 1983


Division Voting information

Frank Dobson has voted in 1381 divisions, and 30 times against the majority of their Party.

28 Apr 2014 - High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Labour Aye votes vs 185 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 50 Noes - 451
28 Apr 2014 - High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Labour No votes vs 186 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 452 Noes - 41
4 Dec 2013 - Recall of Elected Representatives - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Labour No votes vs 25 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 127 Noes - 17
31 Oct 2013 - High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Labour No votes vs 74 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 350 Noes - 34
26 Jun 2013 - High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Labour Aye votes vs 82 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 37 Noes - 325
26 Jun 2013 - High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Labour No votes vs 84 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 330 Noes - 27
30 Mar 2011 - Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 33 Labour Aye votes vs 170 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 37 Noes - 480
4 Mar 2010 - Chair (Terminology) - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Labour No votes vs 119 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 279 Noes - 31
24 Feb 2010 - Energy Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 26 Labour Aye votes vs 243 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 244 Noes - 252
9 Nov 2009 - Coroners and Justice Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 31 Labour Aye votes vs 265 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 266 Noes - 274
23 Mar 2009 - Coroners and Justice Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 19 Labour Aye votes vs 252 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 229 Noes - 263
17 Mar 2009 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 29 Labour Aye votes vs 251 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 85 Noes - 408
17 Mar 2009 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Labour Aye votes vs 250 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 76 Noes - 396
17 Mar 2009 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 30 Labour Aye votes vs 247 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 217 Noes - 260
28 Jan 2009 - Heathrow (Third Runway) - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 28 Labour Aye votes vs 281 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 278 Noes - 297
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 82 Labour Aye votes vs 136 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 155 Noes - 196
3 Jul 2008 - Members’ Salaries - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 66 Labour Aye votes vs 159 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 141 Noes - 216
11 Jun 2008 - New Clause 22 - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 37 Labour No votes vs 292 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 315 Noes - 306
11 Jun 2008 - New Clause 22 - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 26 Labour No votes vs 292 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 315 Noes - 294
10 Jun 2008 - Counter-Terrorism Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 19 Labour Aye votes vs 300 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 287 Noes - 310
31 Mar 2008 - Housing and Regeneration Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 27 Labour Aye votes vs 252 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 210 Noes - 263
31 Mar 2008 - Housing and Regeneration Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 28 Labour Aye votes vs 248 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 74 Noes - 259
4 Mar 2008 - European Union (Amendment) Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Labour Aye votes vs 273 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 57 Noes - 329
28 Mar 2007 - deferred divisions - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 18 Labour No votes vs 265 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 274 Noes - 250
14 Mar 2007 - Trident - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 94 Labour Aye votes vs 226 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 167 Noes - 413
14 Mar 2007 - Trident - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 89 Labour No votes vs 222 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 409 Noes - 161
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 152 Labour No votes vs 162 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 416 Noes - 163
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 111 Labour Aye votes vs 197 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 196 Noes - 375
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 96 Labour No votes vs 207 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 337 Noes - 224
28 Feb 2007 - Offender Management Bill - View Vote Context
Frank Dobson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 49 Labour Aye votes vs 256 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 111 Noes - 267
View All Frank Dobson Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord Lansley (Conservative)
(20 debate interactions)
Robert Goodwill (Conservative)
(20 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Transport
(96 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(95 debate contributions)
HM Treasury
(85 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(40 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Frank Dobson has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Frank Dobson's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Frank Dobson

24th March 2015
Frank Dobson signed this EDM as a sponsor on Tuesday 24th March 2015

YORK'S COMMUNITY STADIUM

Tabled by: Hugh Bayley (Labour - York Central)
That this House notes that York's professional, semi-professional and amateur sports clubs have worked closely in partnership with the local authority to develop a community stadium at Monks Cross; believes that the only suitable site for a community stadium is at Monks Cross; welcomes the economic and socio-economic benefits that …
9 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 4
2nd March 2015
Frank Dobson signed this EDM on Thursday 19th March 2015

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA

Tabled by: Andrew Love (Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton)
That this House agrees with the United Nations Secretary-General that there is a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza; fears the outbreak of further hostilities unless the situation improves dramatically; notes the considerable amount of British and other international aid required to keep Gaza from deteriorating further and to assist in …
101 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 29
Conservative: 7
Independent: 3
Plaid Cymru: 1
The Independent Group for Change: 1
Green Party: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
View All Frank Dobson's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Frank Dobson, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Frank Dobson has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Frank Dobson has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Frank Dobson has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Frank Dobson has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 46 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer to Lord Lexden of 18 July 2013, Official Report, House of Lords, column 872, on the Profumo Inquiry, how many of the people interviewed by Lord Denning in his inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Mr Profumo are still alive.

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2014, Official Report, column 469W on the Profumo Inquiry, who holds the requested information; and how does the fact that requested data is not held centrally affect the comment by Lord Wallace of Saltaire that papers relating to the interviews by Lord Denning should not be published while those interviewed are still alive.

Lord Wallace set out the Government's approach on 18 July 2013 (Official Report, column 873).

17th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of reserves held by local authority maintained schools in each year since 2006-07.

All local authority maintained schools report their balances to the Department for Education as part of their annual Consistent Financial Reporting returns. Some schools have deficit balances; others have surpluses. The table below shows total deficits and surpluses and the net position for all local authority maintained schools for each financial year from 2006-07 to 2013-14.

Period

Total deficit (£)

Total surplus (£)

Net Reserves (£)

2006-07

(157,355,905)

1,827,554,781

1,670,198,876

2007-08

(120,094,299)

2,038,862,929

1,918,768,630

2008-09

(139,185,467)

1,921,159,168

1,781,973,701

2009-10

(161,418,942)

1,826,696,816

1,665,277,874

2010-11

(143,478,858)

2,098,926,882

1,955,448,024

2011-12

(109,936,775)

2,433,469,804

2,323,533,029

2012-13

(81,190,825)

2,306,144,774

2,224,953,949

2013-14

(75,947,088)

2,260,316,153

2,184,369,065

Source: Consistent Financial Reporting survey

17th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of reserves held by academies in each year since 2006-07.

The table below sets out academy trusts’ total cash holdings at the end of the four most recent financial years. Academy trusts’ cash is the best representation of reserves available to trusts.

Date

Number of academy trusts open

Total cash,

£ millions

Average cash per academy trust,

£ thousands

31 March 2011

377

62

165

31 March 2012

1,524

1,199

130

31 March 2013

2,108

1,859

88

31 March 2014

2,585

2,469

96

We do not have comparable records of academy trusts’ cash holdings for financial years 2006-07 to 2009-10.

The average cash held by academy trusts has fallen over the four years partly due to many smaller academy trusts opening more recently and holding less cash. We regard academy trusts’ cash holdings as reasonable, typically representing enough to fund one month’s operations after deducting current liabilities. Academy trusts cannot borrow and need to hold enough cash to manage their solvency prudently.

17th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of reserves held by free schools in each year since 2010-11.

The table below sets out free schools operating as single academy trusts’ total cash holdings at the end of the three most recent financial years. The first free schools opened in September 2011. Academy trusts’ cash is the best representation of reserves available to trusts. Many free schools operate as single academy trusts and the department can easily identify that free school’s cash holding than the free school academy trust’s annual accounts.

The table does not include free schools operating within multi-academy trusts. As well as free schools, multi-academy trusts may include academies that opened by other routes for example as sponsored academies or by conversion from local authority maintained schools. It is the multi-academy trust that then produces annual accounts that disclose the multi-academy trust’s total cash holdings for all types of academy within the multi-academy trust. The department does not ask multi-academy trusts to disclose the cash holdings of its individual academies or free schools.

Date

Number of free school single academy trusts open

Total cash,

£ millions

Average cash per academy trust,

£ thousands

31 March 2012

18

2

11

31 March 2013

38

8

21

31 March 2014

127

26

20

With very small numbers of free school single academy trusts open before 2013-14 it is difficult for us to discern trends in their cash holdings. We do know that the average cash held by all academy trusts has fallen over the four years partly due to many smaller academy trusts opening more recently and holding less cash. We regard all academy trusts’ cash holdings as reasonable, typically representing enough to fund one month’s operations after deducting current liabilities. Academy trusts cannot borrow and need to hold enough cash to manage their solvency prudently.

23rd Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many years the longest serving headteacher on the panel which assessed the Institute of Education proposal to establish a university training school in Holborn and St Pancras had been a school head.

The panel that considered the Holborn University Training School proposal and conducted the interview with the Institute of Education possessed a collective experience in school headship of over 32 years, covering secondary and primary phases.

9th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which members of his Department's assessment panel which interviewed representatives of the Institute of Education of London University in January 2014 about the proposals to establish a University Training School in Holborn and St Pancras had served in the previous three years as head teacher, deputy or assistant head of a secondary school.

The panel that considered the Holborn University Training School proposal and conducted the interview with the Institute of Education possessed a collective experience in school headship of over 32 years, covering secondary and primary phases. No member of the panel has served in such a role within the last three years.

Free school interview panels consist of a range of education and independent experts.

23rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission a survey to establish the initial origins and final destinations within the London area of passengers leaving or entering Euston by InterCity services on the West Coast Mainline broken down by the non-London stations at which passengers boarded or disembarked.

The Department for Transport is planning to undertake a nationwide project aimed at collecting origin-destination information on rail passengers. Additionally, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) have recently conducted research which looked at origin-destination patterns for passengers using some of the largest Central London termini (including Euston).

A published report on the research conducted by TfL and Network Rail is available here:

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/central-london-rail-termini-report.pdf

17th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) surveys, (b) modelling or (c) other methods his Department used to calculate the distribution across London transport zones of High Speed 2 passengers; and whether figures used for such calculations were of mainline or other passengers.

The distribution of existing rail demand across the Greater London area has two steps. The first step spreads the demand across London into 7 high level zones in the PLANET framework model on the basis of National Rail Travel Survey (NRTS) data and ticket sales data. The second step to disaggregate the demand from these high level zones into 1211 smaller zones uses demand distributions from Transport for London’s detailed RAILPLAN model.

17th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what forecast his Department has made of the number of passengers who will use High Speed 2 in (a) the year after the opening of Phase 1, (b) the year after the opening of Phase 2 and (c) the last year of the planning period; and how many passengers in each such period his Department forecasts will use (i) Euston and (ii) Old Oak Common station to board or leave the train.

The number of passengers forecast to be travelling on HS2 per day in 2026/27 once Phase One is open is 112,731. The number of passengers forecast to be travelling on HS2 after the opening of Phase Two in 2036 is 302,350. Based on modelling for the economic case for HS2 (October 2013) the forecast number of passengers using Euston to board and leave HS2 services in Phase One is 71,445, and Old Oak Common is 38,040. The forecast number of passengers from the economic case modelling using Euston to board and leave HS2 service in 2036 (3 years after Phase Two has opened) is 158,258. The equivalent number for Old Oak Common is 84,428. Forecasts for other years are not available as the forecasting tools only provide information for two years, the opening year of Phase One (2026) and the year in which the demand cap is reached (2036).

17th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what formula his Department used to calculate the likely distribution of use between Euston and Old Oak Common of passengers from each London transport zone; and how his Department determined the inputs for that formula.

The distribution of passengers between Euston and Old Oak Common is forecast using the PLANET framework model. This model takes into account the time taken to access stations from passengers’ start locations, the possible route options from starting stations to destination stations, the time to get to final destinations and the level of crowding on trains. Based on this information, the model predicts passengers’ choices on the best starting locations for their journeys. In turn this drives the distribution of passengers between any station options in any area, in this case Euston and Old Oak Common. Full details of the PLANET framework model and how it works can be found on our website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planet-framework-model-pfm-v43-model-description.

17th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library a map showing the assumed origin and destination overground, underground or mainline station in London used to predict the passenger use of Euston and Old Oak Common.

A map with the details requested has not been produced from the economic case modelling work undertaken.

However, section 6b of the HS2 Phase One Environmental Statement Volume 5 Transport Assessment demonstrates the change in passenger flows at Network Rail and London Underground stations across London for the AM and PM peak periods. The document can be viewed here:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140810181550/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/hs2-environmental-statement/volume-5/traffic/Vol_5_TA_London_assessment_CFA1-3%28Sec6b%29_Part4_wm.pdf

9th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2015 to Question 220507 on plans for High Speed 2, whether a full-scale redevelopment of Euston Station has been abandoned; and whether plans have reverted to Option 8.

Our ambition is to transform Euston for passengers, and make it a new commercial hub for the Capital. Our long term aim is to bring about a comprehensive redevelopment of the station in accordance with Camden Council's Euston Area Plan.

Our plan is to deliver this redevelopment in a phased approach that:

- minimises disruption to the current station and surrounding area

- engages potential investors and businesses

- ensures we maintain a dialogue with local residents and businesses.

14th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the cost of building the London terminus for High Speed 2 at Euston.

The plans for Euston are being developed to meet the timescales of the current parliamentary process. The revised scheme will be deposited later this year to enable consideration of the scheme in Select Committee. This will include the latest cost estimate for building the station.

14th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any employers have indicated an intention to transfer activities from London to Birmingham after the opening of Phase 1 of High Speed 2.

HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport are not aware of any businesses that have indicated that they plan to relocate from London to Birmingham. However, as the HS2 scheme is not expected to receive Royal Assent until 2016 and will not be operational until 2026, the Department would not expect businesses to make relocation plans at this early stage.

In the interim period however, Greater Birmingham and Solihull’s Local Enterprise Partnership are undertaking work as part of both their Strategic Economic Plans to attract more jobs and businesses to their area. They are also developing HS2 Growth Strategies to maximise the wider benefits the railway will bring.

14th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff of HS2 Ltd on personal service contracts are paid more than £1,000 a day.

There are no staff employed directly by HS2 Ltd on personal services contracts.

14th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff of HS2 Ltd are employed on personal service contracts.

No staff are employed directly by HS2 Ltd on personal services contracts.

12th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the results of the Old Oak Common consultation will be published.

The consultation on the proposed Mayoral Development Corporation for Old Oak Common and Park Royal is a matter for the Mayor of London. Details and progress on the Mayoral Development Corporation can be found at: https://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/planning/consultations/old-oak-and-park-royal-development-coporation

12th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) employees and (b) secondees have been appointed by HS2 Ltd since October 2014.

Since October HS2 Ltd has appointed 43 new staff. HS2 Ltd has taken on 11 secondees since 1 October 2014.

12th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when HS2 Ltd will start consultation on new design proposals for Euston station to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.

Consultation on the proposals for Euston station will take place as part of the parliamentary process following the submission of revised plans in September 2015.

12th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his latest estimate is of the number of existing platforms at Euston station which will have to be taken out of use to permit construction of a London terminus for High Speed 2.

Plans for Euston are still being finalised in conjunction with the railway industry. A key objective of the Department is to minimise disruption to the existing rail service during construction works at Euston. Any reduction in the number of platforms at Euston will be done in full consultation with train operators and Network Rail.

12th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department will announce revised plans for Euston station to accommodate High Speed 2.

The plans for Euston are being developed to meet the timescales of the current parliamentary process.

The revised scheme will be deposited in September 2015 to enable consideration of the scheme in Select Committee.

15th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the estimated income included in the business case for phase 1 of High Speed 2 comes from Birmingham to London commuters.

The Economic Case for HS2 published in October 2013 (which can be found at: http://assets.hs2.org.uk/sites/default/files/inserts/S%26A%201_Economic%20case_0.pdf), estimates that in 2036 and thereafter, 3.6% of the revenue generated by Phase 1 of HS2 originates from commuters travelling between the West Midlands and London.

24th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the cost of decking over Euston Station and the cutting approach to the station.

In his report published on 17 March 2014, Sir David Higgins said that there could be a better solution for Euston than that proposed in the HS2 hybrid Bill. As a result, HS2 Ltd has been asked to work with Network Rail to explore a more comprehensive solution for Euston, working with the rail industry and the local community, with the aim of reaching a decision that would allow introduction of an additional provision to the hybrid Bill by December 2014. This work includes establishing a cost estimate for the scheme.

24th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of Crossrail 2 works required to deal with extra passengers at Euston Station resulting from High Speed 2.

The Government has provided £2 million for a funding and financing study which is looking at the potential overall costs of Crossrail 2, and whether at least 50 percent of those costs could be met by sources other than central Government. The study is due to report in the autumn. It will take into account in a high-level way the costs of building or upgrading stations along the route, including at Euston.

18th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he expects Chinese workers to be employed in the construction of High Speed 2.

Contracts let for the construction of HS2 infrastructure and rolling stock will be open to competition irrespective of country of origin, in accordance with EU and UK procurement legislation.

Prospective bidders are welcome to work alongside British based bidders.

It will be for bidders to propose how they can best deliver their proposals and the contribution of British companies and supply chain will be of interest.

HS2 Ltd is undertaking a range of initiatives to ensure businesses are aware of the opportunities and their forthcoming requirements so that they can prepare, so as to compete effectively.

Any non-EU overseas workers would of course be subject to the UK's immigration regime and would be required to comply with whatever regulations were in force at the time.

18th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what form he expects the Chinese investment in High Speed 2 to take.

The 2013 Spending Review provided a long-term funding commitment of £50bn to deliver HS2. We are continuously seeking ways to reduce costs to the taxpayer, and we are very open to proposals around including elements of private financing, including Chinese investment.

Opportunities for external investment might exist in relation to rolling stock and development and regeneration around stations. This could provide benefits to both taxpayers and investors.

23rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he first contacted GSK about the price of the meningitis B vaccine.

Negotiations for the supply of the meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero commenced on 11 March 2015. Since then, there has been contact between GSK and the Department.

23rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children died of meningitis B in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The table below shows the confirmed number of deaths from meningitis and septicaemia caused by meningococcal B in children aged up to and including 14 years of age in England and Wales for the last five years for which figures are available (2009 to 2013) sourced from enhanced surveillance conducted by Public Health England.

Age

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Total

31

26

26

14

10

7th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of callers to (a) NHS Direct and (b) NHS 111 were (i) referred to hospital accident and emergency departments and (ii) sent to such departments by ambulance in each year from 2005-06.

This information is not available in the format requested.

Around a quarter of calls to NHS Direct over the period 2007/08 to 2011/12 resulted in an emergency or urgent referral.

For the period 2011/12 – 2013/14, the proportion of calls triaged by NHS 111 which resulted in an ambulance being dispatched or the caller being recommended to attend accident and emergency (A&E) was 18.3%.

However, the figures on NHS Direct from NHS Direct’s Annual Reports contain the percentages of urgent and emergency onward referrals; these comprise not just calls referred to A&E, but also to 999, and urgent primary care referrals. In the NHS 111 data collection published by NHS England, referrals to primary care are separate from A&E referrals and from ambulance dispatches. Therefore, the percentages for the two services cannot be directly compared.

The following table lists the proportion of calls to NHS Direct which have resulted in emergency and urgent referrals for each financial year from 2007/08 to 2012/131.

Period

% of emergency and urgent referrals

2007/08

28%

2008/09

24%

2009/10

26.4%

2010/11

24.9%

2011/12

27%

2012/13

34.7%

Source: NHS Direct National Health Service Trust, Annual Report & Accounts for financial years 2007/08 to 2012/13

The table below shows counts of NHS 111 calls where (i) callers are recommended to attend hospital accident and emergency departments, and (ii) an ambulance is dispatched2, from August 2010 to November 2014. The figures are averages from published monthly data.

2010-11 (August 2010 – March 2011)

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

(April 2014 – November 2014)

Calls offered

187,630

616,155

1,894,057

8,785,341

8,150,979

Calls where person triaged

112,388

425,815

1,254,339

7,064,219

6,565,416

Calls where A&E recommended

7,444

28,560

80,232

526,520

515,593

Of calls triaged, proportion where A&E recommended

6.6%

6.7%

6.4%

7.5%

7.9%

Calls where ambulance dispatched

13,618

54,145

151,014

756,768

720,656

Of calls triaged, proportion where Ambulance dispatched

12.1%

12.7%

12.0%

10.7%

11.0%

Source: NHS England – NHS 111 Minimum Data Set (www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/category/statistics/nhs-111-statistics)

Notes

1. The NHS Direct National Health Service Trust, Annual Report & Accounts reports list the following Key Performance Indicators in the Appendix in describing how the measure was calculated.

KPI Name

Purpose

Data Source

Definition

Calculation

% Urgent and
Emergency Onward
Referrals

Value to Patients and
NHS

Clinical Assessment System (CAS)

% of emergency and urgent
referrals for Core calls only

(The number of calls referred to
999, A&E or PCS Urgent / Number
of calls with clinical dispositions)
x 100

111 Calls Requiring
Onward or Urgent
Emergency Referral

Measure Value to NHS

Pathways

Proportion of symptomatic
calls referred to urgent &
emergency care dispositions

999 + A&E + PCS urgent ÷
symptomatic calls

2. The proportions of calls where an ambulance is dispatched, and where the caller is referred to A&E, are calculated out of the number of calls triaged. The total number of calls offered includes calls which are answered but not triaged (such as callers following up previous calls, or seeking contact details for specific health services, or not wanting or not able to give details about the specific health condition, or where the patient recovers); along with calls which are abandoned before being answered.

3. Both NHS Direct and NHS 111 percentages in this answer are calculated as proportions of all calls with clinical dispositions, or in other words, all calls that are triaged.

17th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the annual costs of the new central institutions established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

Two new central institutions were established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012: Public Health England (PHE) and the National Health Service Commissioning Board. In addition, the reforms associated with the Act led to the establishment of Health Education England (HEE) and the National Health Service Trust Development Authority.

Administration costs across the health system in 2014-15 are a third lower than in 2010-11. The reforms as a result of the Health and Social Care Act have delivered annual savings in excess of £1.5 billion.

The annual administration cost of these organisations is set out in Table 1.

ADMINISTRATION COSTS

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Annual costs

Budget

£ million

£ million

£ million

NHS Commissioning Board (excluding clinical commissioning groups)

43.40

663.00

466.00

Public Health England

138.70

127.60

Health Education England

2.69

80.31

81.90

NHS Trust Development Authority

2.40

27.19

31.88

Total

48.49

909.20

707.38

Full costs associated with these organisations are published in their Statutory Accounts.

17th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the change in annual transaction costs in the NHS as a result of implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

The Department’s use of the term ‘Transaction costs’ relates to those costs paid in support of National Health Service provider transactions such as mergers, acquisitions or separations. Specifically, they are the costs of planning, preparing and undertaking the transaction itself and achieving contractual close.

The Department does not make estimates of these costs. Transaction costs are considered by the Department on a case by case basis in the context of the overall value for money of the wider transaction.

30th Jun 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 524W, on NHS: public appointments, where the data showing the gender of people appointed to the boards of NHS foundation trusts is held.

This information is not collected centrally. Information on the constitution of individual National Health Service foundation trust boards is available in the annual report of each foundation trust.

5th Mar 2015
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to prevent British financial institutions facilitating the sale of (a) oil and (b) historic artefacts by ISIL.

ISIL is designated under the UN Al Qaida sanctions regime (given effect by UN Security Council Resolution 1267) which is implemented in the EU by Council Regulation 881/2002, with the criminal penalties imposed in the UK by the Al Qaida (Asset Freezing) Regulations 2011. The Al Qaida financial sanctions is implemented in the UK by HM Treasury.

It is therefore a criminal offence for any legal or natural person, including financial institutions, to deal with funds belonging to ISIL or to make funds or economic resources available to ISIL. It is a criminal offence for individuals or organisations knowingly to provide support for ISIL, including by the facilitation of oil, oil products, or commodities including historic artefacts. This was most recently underlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2199, which the UK Government co-sponsored.

4th Mar 2015
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to answer Question 224902, tabled by the hon. Member for Holborn and St Pancras on 23 February 2015 for Named day answer on 26 February 2015.

I have done so.

2nd Mar 2015
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief on buy-to-let house purchases in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.

The information requested is not available.

23rd Feb 2015
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to require RBS and Lloyds to disclose the activities of their subsidiary companies located in tax havens.

As part of CRDIV, banks will be required from December 2015 to disclose much more information regarding the activities of their subsidiaries than they have previously done.

In each country in which they operate, they will have to report their profit/loss before tax and how much corporation tax they have paid. This makes great strides in increasing transparency and accountability to investors and the general public.

26th Jan 2015
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of claims for interest rate swap mis-selling have reached the redress offer and acceptance stage; and what proportion these represent of redress offers made for (a) Barclays, (b) RBS, (c) HSBC, (d) Lloyds and (e) Standard Chartered.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) publishes data on redress offers and acceptances on a regular basis, and it is available through its website - http://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/financial-services-products/banking/interest-rate-hedging-products

12th Jun 2014
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many income tax payers were registered with HM Revenue and Customs as self employed in (a) 2010-11 and (b) each succeeding year.

Estimates of the numbers of individuals with self employment sources are published in HMRC's National Statistics table 3.6 which is available at the following internet address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/earned-income-2010-to-2011

These tables provide information up to 2011-12 and are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) for the years concerned. The SPI for 2012-13 will be available later in the year.

11th Jun 2014
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the contribution to economic growth of payment protection insurance repayments.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. The effects of payment protection insurance repayments were taken into account in their latest forecast of the economy, published in the March 2014 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

5th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to identify and prosecute any British citizens or residents for possession of or trafficking in historic artefacts stolen from Iraq or Syria.

UN and EU sanctions prohibiting trade in illegally removed Iraqi and Syrian cultural property are implemented in UK legislation.

The Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003 makes it an offence if a person dishonestly deals in a cultural objects that are tainted, knowing or believing that the object is tainted. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has issued guidelines for collectors, auctioneers and dealers in antiquities, and for museums in making acquisitions, to the effect that anyone suspected of dealing dishonestly in tainted cultural property should be reported to the police, so that appropriate enforcement activity can be
initiated.

If Border Force identify an item that they suspect is a tainted cultural object they may seize it using customs powers (if applicable) or section 19 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Any such seized items are handed to the National Crime Agency or the relevant police force for investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if, in the light of the High Court decision of 11 February 2014, she will now set up a public inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko.

The Home Secretary has decided not to seek permission to appeal the judgment and is giving fresh consideration to the exercise of her discretion to establish an inquiry. The Government continues to co-operate fully with the Inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death.

25th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress he has made on implementation of a 24 hour coroners system.

We want to make sure that grieving families receive the highest level of service when they are most in need, which is why we are determined that inquests are conducted quickly and consistently right across the country.

It is important that coroners are flexible and accessible in the service they provide. The Government will do everything it can to encourage all coroners to make an out of hours service available and also to direct a less-invasive post-mortem where this is suitable and desired by the family.

The Chief Coroner and I recently met senior figures from London local authorities and from the Metropolitan and City of London Police. We have secured their agreement to developing a pan-London out of hours coroner service which will share workloads and services and be in place as soon as possible after 31st March 2015.