Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) adults and (b) children are living with HIV in each (i) region, (ii) county and (iii) local authority area.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
While the information is not collected in the format requested, the following table shows the number of children in 2020, and the number of adults in 2022, living with diagnosed HIV infection in England, broken down by region:
| Children with HIV in 2020 | Adults with HIV in 2022 |
London | 76 | 37,267 |
East of England | 21 | 8,076 |
East Midlands | 16 | 5,777 |
West Midlands | 31 | 7,887 |
North East | 3 | 2,151 |
North West | 29 | 10,200 |
South East | 22 | 11,680 |
South West | 7 | 5,413 |
Yorkshire and Humber | 21 | 5,946 |
England | 226 | 94,397 |
Source: statistics are published by the UK Health Security Agency, and are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables
Note: children are counted as those under 15 years old and adults are counted as those 15 years old or over.
In addition, the following table shows the number of adults living with diagnosed HIV infection in England, broken down by local authority, in 2022:
Local authority | Adults living with diagnosed HIV |
Barking and Dagenham | 786 |
Barnet | 856 |
Barnsley | 281 |
Bath and North East Somerset | 151 |
Bedford | 302 |
Bexley | 502 |
Birmingham | 2,262 |
Blackburn with Darwen | 114 |
Blackpool | 449 |
Bolton | 422 |
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 782 |
Bracknell Forest | 144 |
Bradford | 561 |
Brent | 1,174 |
Brighton and Hove | 1,760 |
Bristol | 928 |
Bromley | 570 |
Buckinghamshire UA | 578 |
Bury | 271 |
Calderdale | 208 |
Cambridgeshire | 711 |
Camden | 1,505 |
Central Bedfordshire | 306 |
Cheshire East | 333 |
Cheshire West and Chester | 334 |
City of London | 87 |
Cornwall | 379 |
County Durham | 329 |
Coventry | 913 |
Croydon | 1,640 |
Cumberland | 129 |
Darlington | 84 |
Derby | 472 |
Derbyshire | 523 |
Devon | 525 |
Doncaster | 321 |
Dorset | 251 |
Dudley | 350 |
Ealing | 970 |
East Riding of Yorkshire | 156 |
East Sussex | 810 |
Enfield | 1,028 |
Essex | 1,457 |
Gateshead | 190 |
Gloucestershire | 535 |
Greenwich | 1,338 |
Hackney | 1,506 |
Halton | 91 |
Hammersmith and Fulham | 1,160 |
Hampshire | 1,175 |
Haringey | 1,426 |
Harrow | 464 |
Hartlepool | 65 |
Havering | 382 |
Herefordshire | 125 |
Hertfordshire | 1,500 |
Hillingdon | 565 |
Hounslow | 818 |
Isle of Wight | 79 |
Isles of Scilly | |
Islington | 1,379 |
Kensington and Chelsea | 1,149 |
Kent | 1,608 |
Kingston upon Hull | 256 |
Kingston upon Thames | 266 |
Kirklees | 466 |
Knowsley | 135 |
Lambeth | 3,367 |
Lancashire | 872 |
Leeds | 1,544 |
Leicester | 1,011 |
Leicestershire | 542 |
Lewisham | 1,853 |
Lincolnshire | 560 |
Liverpool | 835 |
Luton | 626 |
Manchester | 2,446 |
Medway | 379 |
Merton | 674 |
Middlesbrough | 172 |
Milton Keynes | 667 |
Newcastle upon Tyne | 460 |
Newham | 1,595 |
Norfolk | 835 |
North East Lincolnshire | 96 |
North Lincolnshire | 108 |
North Northamptonshire | 497 |
North Somerset | 159 |
North Tyneside | 163 |
North Yorkshire UA | 362 |
Northumberland | 162 |
Nottingham | 841 |
Nottinghamshire | 624 |
Oldham | 290 |
Oxfordshire | 501 |
Peterborough | 356 |
Plymouth | 313 |
Portsmouth | 376 |
Reading | 400 |
Redbridge | 612 |
Redcar and Cleveland | 64 |
Richmond upon Thames | 315 |
Rochdale | 316 |
Rotherham | 267 |
Rutland | 29 |
Salford | 914 |
Sandwell | 651 |
Sefton | 261 |
Sheffield | 843 |
Shropshire | 212 |
Slough | 356 |
Solihull | 141 |
Somerset UA | 374 |
South Gloucestershire | 249 |
South Tyneside | 85 |
Southampton | 506 |
Southend-on-Sea | 371 |
Southwark | 2,880 |
St. Helens | 148 |
Staffordshire | 602 |
Stockport | 297 |
Stockton-on-Tees | 167 |
Stoke-on-Trent | 411 |
Suffolk | 655 |
Sunderland | 210 |
Surrey | 1,382 |
Sutton | 357 |
Swindon | 280 |
Tameside | 340 |
Telford and Wrekin | 182 |
Thurrock | 290 |
Torbay | 190 |
Tower Hamlets | 1,854 |
Trafford | 331 |
Wakefield | 349 |
Walsall | 454 |
Waltham Forest | 926 |
Wandsworth | 1,426 |
Warrington | 174 |
Warwickshire | 550 |
West Berkshire | 109 |
West Northamptonshire | 678 |
West Sussex | 1,183 |
Westminster | 1,837 |
Westmorland and Furness | 93 |
Wigan | 325 |
Wiltshire | 297 |
Windsor and Maidenhead | 182 |
Wirral | 280 |
Wokingham | 152 |
Wolverhampton | 648 |
Worcestershire | 386 |
York | 128 |
England | 94,397 |
Source: statistics are published by the UK Health Security Agency, and are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables
While the number of adults living with diagnosed HIV infection by local authority is available, the information on children is not held in the format requested. However, the number of children living with diagnosed HIV infection has reduced from 1,489 in 2013, to 225 in 2020. This is due to the success of antenatal screening, which has prevented vertical transmission of HIV, combined with the success of HIV treatment. HIV treatment has enabled those born with HIV to live into adulthood.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate the number of pensioners who will see a reduction in their disposable income as a result of her proposed reforms to Winter Fuel Payments by (a) household type, (b) age and (c) region and; what the average loss is.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The estimated number of pensioners who will see a reduction in their disposable income as a result of proposed reforms to winter fuel payments by age and region, for Great Britain are shown in below tables (1+2). This analysis is not available by household type and average loss.
This is the number of pensioners that will no longer receive Winter Fuel Payment as they do not claim Pension Credit. Therefore, we are assuming these people will see a reduction in their disposable income as they will no longer be receiving Winter Fuel Payments. These are based on the 22/23 Winter Fuel Payment statistics and Feb-24 Pension Credit statistics (sources shown below).
This estimation is calculated by subtracting the number of Pension Credit recipients for each region and age group from the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients for each region and age group. Please note that the Pension Credit data that is used should be based on the 2010 Westminster Parliamentary constituencies, not 2024, in order to be comparable with the Winter Fuel Payments statistics.
In addition to that, the above figures do not take into account any potential increase in Pension Credit take-up we might see as a result of the Pension Credit Awareness Campaign. We do not have data on those additional Pension Credit claims by Parliamentary constituencies or local authorities.
Also, the published Pension Credit figures refer to households, so the number of individuals will be higher (i.e., taking account of households where it is a couple claiming Pension Credit).
Furthermore, Pension Credit claimants are the majority of those that will be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments, not all. There are other pensioners who are eligible for Winter Fuel Payments (as they claim other means tested benefits) but they are not considered in these figures as it is not possible to do so.
Source:
The Winter Fuel Payments statistics are published here:
Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Pension Credit data is published here: Pension Credit – Data from May 2018
Table 1:
Region (Great Britain) | WFP claimants pre-policy change not claiming Pension Credit [an estimate of those who will no longer receive WFP] |
North East | 432,162 |
North West | 1,123,461 |
Yorkshire and the Humber | 857,346 |
East Midlands | 800,580 |
West Midlands | 914,627 |
East of England | 1,062,241 |
London | 778,851 |
South East | 1,550,446 |
South West | 1,090,058 |
Wales | 539,092 |
Scotland | 866,295 |
Table 2:
Age group (Great Britain) | WFP claimants pre-policy change not claiming Pension Credit [an estimate of those who will no longer receive WFP] |
Up to 69 | 2,369,989 |
70-74 | 2,708,756 |
75-79 | 2,275,970 |
80 and over | 2,659,950 |
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that hospices in (a) South Shropshire constituency and (b) the West Midlands receive (i) adequate and (ii) sustainable funding.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Palliative care services are included in the list of services that integrated care boards (ICBs), including those in Shropshire and the wider West Midlands, must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.
Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people, and their loved ones, at the end of life.
Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding charitable hospices receive varies by ICB area, and will, in part, be dependent on the breadth and range of palliative and end of life care provision within their ICB footprint.
The Government is going to shift the focus of healthcare out of the hospital and into the community, and we recognise that it is vital to include palliative and end of life care, including hospices, in this shift.
We will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average spend per pupil was in state schools in each year since 1994, broken down by region.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The table below provides per pupil funding units from 2018/19 to 2024/25, which represents the funding provided for schools in all regions, nationally.
The department cannot provide comparable funding data back to 1994, due to the changes in the funding system since that time. In particular, funding for schools was only identified separately from funding for high needs or early years in 2013, and funding for central school services provided by local authorities was split out from the schools block funding in 2018/19.
The figures below represent the core funding schools receive through the schools block of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). All the figures in the table, apart from those for 2018/19 exclude growth funding but include premises funding. They do not include additional funding that schools have received for pay and pensions, or other funding streams, such as the pupil premium.
Region | DSG Schools Block per pupil funding | ||||||
| 2018/19 * | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
East Midlands | £4,426 | £4,477 | £4,702 | £5,086 | £5,393 | £5,698 | £5,818 |
East of England | £4,445 | £4,447 | £4,643 | £5,021 | £5,322 | £5,616 | £5,736 |
London | £5,383 | £5,360 | £5,529 | £5,914 | £6,240 | £6,553 | £6,656 |
North East | £4,618 | £4,649 | £4,828 | £5,220 | £5,538 | £5,869 | £5,993 |
North West | £4,629 | £4,653 | £4,838 | £5,221 | £5,524 | £5,835 | £5,962 |
South East | £4,335 | £4,372 | £4,589 | £4,975 | £5,268 | £5,555 | £5,681 |
South West | £4,346 | £4,393 | £4,614 | £5,010 | £5,317 | £5,614 | £5,734 |
West Midlands | £4,638 | £4,652 | £4,823 | £5,198 | £5,506 | £5,815 | £5,931 |
Yorkshire and the Humber | £4,590 | £4,622 | £4,819 | £5,202 | £5,508 | £5,824 | £5,949 |
* In the 2018/19 DSG, growth funding and premises funding were calculated together, so the 2018/19 funding figures include growth funding. All other years exclude growth funding.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, if she will publish the number of cases awaiting charging decisions by the Crown Prosecution Service, broken down by (a) whether they are (i) summary only, (ii) either way and (iii) indictable only offences and (b) by Crown Prosecution Service region.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Management information is held showing the number of cases with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which are awaiting a pre-charge decision.
The table below shows the overall number of cases which were awaiting a charging decision or administrative triage (completed on files sent by the police to the CPS for a charging decision) as of 25 March 2024. This data is provided in line with the last quarterly data release in March 2024.
25/03/2024 | |
Cymru Wales | 1,354 |
East Midlands | 1,107 |
East Of England | 868 |
London North | 803 |
London South | 833 |
Merseyside and Cheshire | 733 |
North East | 852 |
North West | 1,088 |
South East | 912 |
South West | 1,167 |
Thames & Chiltern | 759 |
Wessex | 631 |
West Midlands | 1,571 |
Yorkshire & Humberside | 1,019 |
Total | 13,697 |
Data Source: CPS Pre-Charge Decision Workload Report | |
These figures do not include cases that have been referred to the CPS but that are currently with the police to action, having been sent back to them with a request for further information.
This count is of the number of cases, not suspects. A single case may cover one suspect or several.
No data is available in the report showing whether the alleged offences are summary, either-way or indictable only. To obtain this information would require a manual review at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has to (a) meet the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce to discuss further cooperation and (b) visit businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
DBT is committed to driving long-term, inclusive and secure economic growth in all parts of the country, and engagement with Mayors, businesses and communities in all regions, including the West Midlands, is therefore a priority.
DBT officials are in regular contact with Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce colleagues, helping to support their local businesses. The Ministerial team's plans for engagement, including regional and local visits, are revisited regularly.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department will take to incentivise young people who live in supported accommodation to work more hours.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We acknowledge the challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in supported housing. However, people in supported housing and in receipt of Housing Benefit are always better off in work than not working at all.
It is the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment. DWP is working in conjunction with West Midlands Combined Authority on a Proof of Concept which will test financial support for eligible 18–24-year-olds living in commissioned supported housing who move into work or increase their working hours and cease receiving Universal Credit. We are hopeful that this will provide new insight to inform future policy.
The Government’s Back to Work Plan is critical to growing the economy. This includes implementing a new national jobs and career service to help get more people into work alongside a Youth Guarantee. This will mean more quality opportunities for training, apprenticeships and help to find work for all young people aged 18-21 years old, preventing them from becoming excluded from the world of work at a young age.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Commonwealth Games on (a) her policies and (b) grassroots sports in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The UK is proud to have hosted the Commonwealth Games twice in the past decade. This government welcomes the £1bn of Gross Value Added to the UK economy from the Games, including hundreds of millions to the local economy in the West Midlands. The Legacy Enhancement Fund from the Games continues to drive inward investment to and grassroots activity in the region, ensuring the area benefits from a lasting legacy of hosting the Games.
The Government is committed to developing grassroots sport and will work with our Arms Length Body Sport England to support projects which facilitate participation in the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency. DCMS’s Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities and Park Tennis Courts programme have already had an impact in the area by investing in a new 3G football surface at Roe Lane Playing Fields, and will continue to deliver high-quality, inclusive grassroots facilities that help more people access sport wherever they live.
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Bexhill and Battle)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to fund (a) rail infrastructure and (b) fleet modernisation projects at (i) East Midlands Railway and (ii) West Midlands Trains (A) during and (B) following their potential transition to public ownership.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The process of transitioning railway passenger services into public ownership should not impact investment projects. Existing projects can continue unless there is a good reason for review; with new projects being considered on their merits. The Department will work closely with private sector train operating companies and Network Rail during the transition process to understand the position of any investment programmes, and build these into transition planning if appropriate.
Railway passenger services currently operated by private sector companies under contract to the Secretary of State will transfer into DfT OLR Holdings Ltd (DOHL) when current contracts end, reach their contractual break point, or if they fail. DOHL is tasked with undertaking transfers efficiently and effectively, with no disruption to passengers and employees. It has managed four successful transfers in recent years and is scaling up to ensure the successful transfer of more services into public ownership.
Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans for the Pay As You Go train ticketing pilots for (a) Greater Manchester and (b) the West Midlands to begin in 2025.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government remains committed to making ticketing simpler and more flexible for passengers and to working with local authorities to support integrated transport plans in their areas. Following the announcement in February that Pay As You Go (PAYG) pilots would be launched in 2025, we have been working closely with Transport for the West Midlands, the West Midlands Rail Executive, Transport for Greater Manchester and train operators to finalise delivery plans for the PAYG pilots including launch dates.