Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made on the proportion of funding for clinical brain tumour research spent in each region of the UK in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR programme spend on brain tumour research for the financial year 2022/23 was £2,028,646, distributed regionally to research organisations as set out in Table 1. It should be noted that NIHR programme funding is typically awarded to a lead researcher at a research organisation who then coordinates the delivery of the research study at a national level as required.
The NIHR also devotes significant resources to supporting patients, the public and health and care organisations across England to participate in high-quality research, thereby advancing knowledge and improving care. However, NIHR does not hold information by region on the delivery of individual research studies.
Table 1: Region of lead institution to which NIHR research programme awards were made
Region | Spend 22_23 |
Merseyside | 23.4% |
Greater London | 18.0% |
Cambridgeshire | 12.1% |
Oxfordshire | 10.8% |
South Yorkshire | 9.8% |
West Yorkshire | 8.9% |
Midlothian | 8.1% |
Nottinghamshire | 4.4% |
West Midland | 2.2% |
Somerset | 1.4% |
North Yorkshire | 1.0% |
Total | 100.0% |
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many stress-related sick day absences were recorded for probation staff in Greater London in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The quarterly HMPPS workforce statistics publication covers staffing information, including the number of working days lost for Probation Service staff by structure/division. The latest publication covers data up to 30th September 2023.
Data for the number of probation staff who were absent due to stress-related sickness in Greater London is provided in table 1 below.
Table 1: Number of working days lost due to stress for all Probation Service staff1 in London, 01 January to 31 December 2021-2022 and 01 January to 30 September 2023
(Based on full time equivalence)
Group | 01 January to 31 Dec 20212 | 01 January to 31 Dec 2022 | 01 January to 30 Sep 20233 |
Approved Premises - London | 418 | 550 | 320 |
London Probation Service | 5,450 | 7,101 | 6,078 |
Total | 5,868 | 7,651 | 6,399 |
Notes:
1. Includes all staff employed in the Probation Service. A small number of staff in the Probation Service do not have probation grades.
2. In late June 2021, more than 7,000 staff from private sector Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) came together with probation staff already in the public sector in the new Probation Service
3. Latest published data is up to 30 September 2023 and so 2023 is not a full calendar year.
(p) Figures relating to current financial year are provisional and may be subject to change in future iterations of this publication.
We are focused on ensuring our staff have the support they need to manage workplace stress, including support for staff and managers such as Occupational Health and the Employee Assistance Programme. Staff are also able to access additional support through staff networks, staff support leads and the HMPPS network of Mental Health Allies.
Recruitment and retention remain a priority across the Probation Service. We have accelerated recruitment of trainee Probation Officers (PQiPs) to increase staffing levels, particularly in Probation Delivery Units (PDUs) with the most significant staffing challenges. As a result, over 4,000 PQiPs joined the service between 2020/21 and 2022/23 which we anticipate will start to directly impact reduction of caseloads. We continue to run centralised recruitment campaigns in priority regions to help bolster the number of applications and improve time to hire for key operational roles.
The Probation Service is in its second year of a multi-year pay deal for staff. Salary values of all pay bands will increase each year, targeted at key operational grades to improve a challenging recruitment and retention position.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 11 May 2023 to Question 183644 on Air Pollution: Greater London, whether the fraction of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution measured as PM2.5 should be multiplied by the (a) number of deaths from all causes aged 30 years and older and (b) total number of deaths to calculate the number of deaths attributable to PM2.5.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The fraction of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution, measured as PM2.5, for Greater London in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 was provided in the answer of 11 May 2023 to Question 183644. The provided values represented the percentage of annual deaths from all causes in those aged 30 and older attributed to PM2.5.
In estimating the burden of long-term exposure to air pollution mixture in 2019 in the United Kingdom, namely 29,000 to 43,000 deaths for adults aged 30 years old and over, the total number of deaths for that age group was used. A report detailing a methodology that local authorities can use to estimate local mortality burdens associated with particulate air pollution within their area was published by the former Public Health England, now the UK Health Security Agency, in 2014.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 May 2023 to Question 183644 on Air Pollution: Greater London, whether the estimates of the fraction of mortality are attributable to (a) anthropogenic particulate air pollution or (b) total concentrations of particulate matter.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The UK Health Security Agency publishes estimates of the fraction of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution in local authorities and regions annually, as an indicator within the Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) for England, this is available at the following link:
The fractions of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution in Greater London for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 stated in PQ185732 are based on the PHOF Indicator D01. The calculation of the DO1 indicator uses concentrations of total PM2.5 for estimating the mortality burden attributable to particulate air pollution.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many public defibrillators have been deployed in Greater London in (a) the last six months b) the last 12 months, (c) the last 18 months and (d) since 2010.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held centrally and no assessment has been made. The Government has agreed to provide funding of £1 million to design a grant scheme for the expansion of automated external defibrillators that expands the number and accessibility of publicly supported access to defibrillators. As part of the criteria for the process of determining a selected partner for the Automated External Defibrillator Fund, the Department will ensure public defibrillators can be readily understood by members of the public. Successful grant bidders will be encouraged to train or facilitate the training of the local community in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of The Public Health Outcome Framework 3.01 fraction of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution in (a) the London Borough of Barnet, (b) Greater London and (c) England.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
In 2020, the fraction of mortality assessed as attributable to particulate air pollution was 6.6% in the London Borough of Barnet, 7.1% in Greater London and 5.6% in England.
We have consulted on a revised plan for reducing national emissions of key pollutants by 2030 and we will also set two targets to improve air quality, as required under the Environment Act 2021. The London Air Quality and Health Delivery Group has been established, with membership from health bodies, national and local government and the Greater London Authority, to deliver joint efforts on air quality across the health and care system.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2022 to Question 6704 on Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme: Greater London, what the threshold is for allowing his Department to provide information on payments under the scheme in the London Borough of Havering without risking the identification of individuals.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department is unable to provide the information requested where the number of claimants is fewer than five. There is a risk that claimants could be identified using a combination of information which may be in the public domain or reasonably available.
Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) direct employees, (b) contractors and (c) agency workers who work in his Department and relevant agencies and public bodies receive a wage below that of the (i) UK Real Living Wage outside of Greater London and (ii) London Living Wage inside of Greater London, as determined by the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Government is committed to paying a living wage, which is being addressed through the statutory National Living Wage. In April 2022, the National Living Wage increased to £9.50 per hour. By 2024, the Government has committed that the National Living Wage will reach 66% of median earnings in the United Kingdom.
As of 30 June 2022, there were no direct employees in the Department and its executive agencies earning below the Real Living Wage or the London Living Wage. The Department’s arm’s length bodies use the NHS Agenda for Change pay scales, which are determined between the employee and employer, therefore this information is not held centrally.
The Department indirectly employs a number of agency workers and contractors. The rate of pay will be determined by the relevant agency or company, according to the Crown Commercial Service’s minimum pay requirements, which all suppliers must adhere to when negotiating contracts with Government departments.
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) direct employees, (b) contractors, and (c) agency workers who work in their Department and relevant agencies and public bodies, receive a wage below that of either (i) the UK Real Living Wage outside of Greater London, or (ii) the London Living Wage inside of Greater London, as determined by the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
As of 6 July 2022, and taking into account relevant allowances such as London Weighting, the following organisations have direct employees (including apprentices) on wages lower than the Living Wage Foundation published rates. Where numbers in an organisation are below five individuals, this has been redacted at organisation level but included in overall totals.
Organisation | London | National | Total |
Animal and Plant Health Agency | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CEFAS | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Consumer Council for Water | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defra | 11 | 0 | 0 |
Environment Agency | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Forestry Commission | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Joint Nature Conservancy Council | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kew | 80 | 0 | 80 |
Marine Management Organisation | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Natural England | 0 | 95 | 95 |
Ofwat | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rural Payments Agency | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 91 | 104 | 195 |
For Natural England, a pay review is due with effect from 1 July which will uplift all employees above the Living Wage Foundation published rates.
For the Consumer Council for Water, with effect from 11 July, due to a change in responsibilities, no employees will remain below the Living Wage Foundation threshold.
Wage information relating to contractors is not held. The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 are complied with by all organisations, which ensure parity of pay for agency workers with rates paid to employees. As pay and conditions are set between employee and employer, records are not held on Agencies and/or Contractors. The Crown Commercial Service’s frameworks set a minimum requirement of the current legislative amounts allowed by employers to pay, which all suppliers must adhere to when negotiating contracts with Government Departments.
This government is committed to paying people a decent living wage, which is being addressed through the statutory National Living Wage. In April 2022, the National Living Wage increased to £9.50 per hour. By 2024, the Government has committed that the National Living Wage will reach 66% of median UK earnings.
The Government will always award contracts on the basis of the best value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that staff who work (a) directly or (b) indirectly in his Department and its relevant agencies and public bodies are paid at least the UK real living wage outside Greater London or the London living wage inside Greater London as determined by the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Departmental employees, including its agencies and public bodies whether employed indirectly or directly, are paid at least the United Kingdom real living wage outside Greater London or the London living wage inside Greater London, depending on the office location they are contracted to.