asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the national evaluation process to measure the effectiveness of the National Health Service health trainers initiative has been set up; and, if so, what have been its findings to date. [HL3636]

A data-collection monitoring system is already available to all National Health Service primary care trusts (PCTs) running health trainer programmes. We plan to commission a new study later in the year which will explore the different models of the health trainer initiative and how these models will support behaviour change. There are local evaluations by PCTs already in place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to measure the performance of the National Health Service health trainers initiative. [HL3637]

The health trainers data-collection system began a national rollout programme from January 2008. The system is for all primary care trusts (PCTs) and collects essential data about the health trainer service. There is a performance aspect included in the system. PCTs responsible for the delivery of health trainer programmes are encouraged to use this system.

We plan to commission a study later in the year which will explore the different models of the health trainer initiative and how these models will support behaviour change.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the numbers of qualified health trainers working in different primary care trust areas. [HL3638]

There are 1,282 qualified health trainers (individuals not whole-time equivalents) employed, funded, or supported by the National Health Service in primary care trust (PCT) areas. A table showing the distribution between PCTs has been placed in the Library.