To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 1194W, on screening, what estimates he has made of the cost of the screening programme in each future financial year for which estimates have been made; (180773)

The Prime Minister announced on 7 January that proposals were under development for a vascular risk programme. A departmental project is currently under way to assess the costs and benefits of an integrated, systematic population-wide vascular risk screening programme.

We have a piece of modelling work in train which will develop the evidence base on which to construct an integrated approach to vascular risk assessment. The work will include estimating the amount of preventive work currently carried out by general practitioner surgeries and the impact of the introduction of a vascular screening programme.

The exact nature of a vascular risk assessment and management programme, including details of operations, time scales for implementing the programme and determining the frequency of screening individuals, is still the subject of developmental work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 1194W, on screening, what preventive measures will be offered if people are found to be at risk through screening. (180779)

The Prime Minister announced on 7 January that proposals were under development for a vascular risk programme. A departmental project is currently under way to assess the costs and benefits of an integrated, systematic population-wide vascular risk screening programme.

Clear guidelines already exist for the management of identified risk in relation to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and heart disease. These can be found in the CHD, Diabetes and Renal National Service Frameworks, the National Stroke Strategy, and various relevant pieces of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

NICE continues to ensure that updated guidance is available to the clinical community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 1194W, on screening, which of the tests and measurements referred to relate to (a) heart disease, (b) kidney disease, (c) stroke and (d) diabetes. (180780)

The Prime Minister announced on 7 January that proposals were under development for a vascular risk programme.

A departmental project is currently under way to assess the costs and benefits of an integrated, systematic population-wide vascular risk screening programme. This would be focused on the shared risk factors for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease and as such would use an assessment of risk based on a range of known predictive factors including age, gender, smoking status, body mass index, high blood pressure, and cholesterol and glucose, as appropriate.