To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Government of Kazakhstan concerning (a) human rights and (b) the implementation of good governance practices. [215768]

I have been asked to reply.

We continually raise, bilaterally and with our EU partners, the importance of respect for human rights and good governance in Kazakhstan. When I met the Kazakh Minister for Justice last May I raised democratic reform and human rights issues, including the death penalty and conditions in Kazakh prisons. Following the parliamentary elections in September/October 2004, the EU released a statement reflecting the concerns of the OSCE Election Observers that the elections had failed to meet international standards. The concerns were also raised by our Ambassador with the Foreign Minister in October 2004. More recently, in February, along with our EU partners we raised human rights issues at an EU-Kazakhstan sub-committee meeting. This month, we supported an EU statement in Vienna expressing concern at the new law on Extremism and the recent banning of an opposition party.

Wherever possible we also look to work with the Kazakh authorities to improve the human rights situation and have funded projects aimed at improving the conditions in prisons, preventing torture in places of detention and encouraging the abolition of the death penalty. We have an on-going dialogue with the government of Kazakhstan on transparency issues and are working closely with NGOs on this too.

We will continue to stress the importance of human rights and good governance with the Kazakh authorities and look for opportunities to provide suitable assistance. Kazakhstan has recently been identified as a priority country under the sustainable development strand of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Global Opportunities Fund. This will provide further scope for the UK Government to support rule of law, torture prevention and death penalty abolition initiatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the current occupants make towards the running costs of each; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2003–04; how many (i)domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment at each was in 2003–04. [213604]

DFID currently owns 11 domestic properties overseas, in Zimbabwe (3), Solomon Islands (1), and Malawi (7). DFID also provides approximately 450 UK-based staff posted overseas with commercially leased accommodation. DFID does not pay for flowers and plants, food, wine, or domestic staff, all of which are the responsibility of the occupier. Individuals receive a cost of living allowance, and where appropriate a gardening allowance, in respect of the additional costs incurred of living overseas, and these allowances vary depending on location.

Official expenditure on business phone calls and utilities are met from individual delegated budgets but are not separately identifiable and this detailed information cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost. Similarly, information on the individual occupancy of each of the overseas properties, and the overall cost to DFID, are not held centrally and cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what the total expenditure by his Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii)1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimate of cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B) 2005–06, (C)2006–07 and (D) 2007–08. [211660]

pursuant to the reply, 10 February 2005, Official Report, c. 1642W

The correct figure for expenditure on advertising for 2003–04 was £676,649 and the estimated figure for 2004–05 is £663,591.

It was originally stated that the expenditure on advertising for 2004–05, which was then believed to be higher than that for 2003–04, reflected a higher number of posts being advertised in 2004–05. On re-examination this is incorrect. The number of recruitment competitions for which advertisements were placed was in fact slightly more in 2003–04 than the number to date in 2004–05.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08. [211663]

The Treasury's spending on external consultants was as follows:

£ million

n/a=not available

⁽¹⁾estimated

Until the introduction of resource accounting from 2001–02, all expenditure was classed as revenue.

Estimates for future years are not available.

It has come to my attention that the answer I gave to the hon. Members for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) and Stratford on Avon (Mr. Maples) on 25 October 2004, Official Report, column 1055W, was inaccurate in the following respect. The answer stated that the capital consultancy spend of the Treasury was £0.78 million in 2002–03 and £1.40 million in 2003–04. The correct figures are £0.84 million in 2002–03 and £0.44 million in 2003–04. I apologise to the hon. Members for the error.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury has been in each year since 1986 for (a) men, (b) women and (c) in total. [216167]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr Andrew Lansley, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury has been in each year since 1986 for(a) men, (b) women and (c) in total. (216167)

The most recent available figures on suicide and undetermined injury are for the calendar year 2003. The figures in the attached table show the age-standardised mortality rate for suicide and undetermined injury by sex among those aged 15 and over for the calendar years 1986 to 2003.

Age-standardised mortality ratefor ages 15 and over from suicideand injury and poisoning of undetermined intent,(a) men, (b) women and (c) persons, England and Wales,1986 to 2003 -- Rate per 100,000^(2)(3)(4)(5)

⁽²⁾Directly age-standardised to the European standard population.

⁽³⁾The cause of death for intentional self harm was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (1CD-9) codes E950-E959for the years 1986 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2003, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84.

⁽⁴⁾The cause of death for injury and poisoning of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (1CD-9) codes E980-E989 excluding E9 88.8 for the years 1986 to 2000, and, for the years 2001 to 2003, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes YJO-Y34 excluding Y33.9-where the Coroner's verdict was pending.

⁽⁵⁾Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year from 1986 to 1992 and for deaths occurring in each calendar year from 1993 onwards.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were in full-time employment in Leicester, South constituency in each year since 1997. [216940]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Parmjit Singh Gill, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment. (216940)

The attached table gives estimates of those people resident in the Leicester, South parliamentary constituency who are in full-time employment for the 12-month periods ending February each year from 1997 to 2004.

As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to sampling variability.

Full-time employed people resident in theparliamentary constituency of Leicester, South⁽⁶⁾

⁽⁶⁾Full-time is based on respondents self assessment.

⁽⁷⁾LFS estimates for local areas are particularly subject to sampling variations. Changes from year-to-year should be treated with caution.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each ward of Wallasey constituency are (a) employed and (b) unemployed. [217334]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Ms Angela Eagle, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment and unemployment in each ward of Wallasey Parliamentary Constituency. (217334)

Regular statistics of employment and unemployment are compiled from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) on the basis of standard international definitions. For individual wards the LFS sample size is too small to provide estimates, but information at ward level is available from the 2001 Population Census. Table 1 shows the information requested for people aged 16 to 74 from these sources.

The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics by ward of residence for people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Table 2 gives the number of JSA claimants resident in each of the wards of Wallasey Parliamentary Constituency in January 2005.

Table 1: Employment and unemployment among people aged 16–74 resident in wards of the Wallaseyparliamentary constituency, 2001 -- Number

Source:

2001 Census of Population

Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the wards of Wallasey parliamentary constituency January 2005

⁽⁸⁾Based on 1991 frozen wards

Source:

Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were unemployed in the Bridgwater constituency in each year since 1990. [217349]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Ian Liddell-Grainger, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (217349)

Table 1 gives estimates of the numbers of unemployed people who were resident in the Bridgwater Parliamentary Constituency, for the 12-month periods ending February 1997 to 2004, the latest period for which figures are available. Data prior to 1997 are not available.

These estimates from Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of people claiming Jobseeker's allowance who are resident in local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants resident in the Bridgwater Parliamentary Constituency for the years 1990 to 2004.

Table 1: Unemployed people resident in the parliamentary constituency of Bridgwater

Note:

These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the parliamentaryconstituency of Bridgwater

Source:

Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) people aged 16 to 24 years, (b) men and (c) people of working age in Bridgwater constituency were economically inactive in each year since 1997. [217397]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Ian Liddell-Grainger, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about Economic Inactivity. (217397)

The attached table gives the information requested for groups of people resident in the Bridgwater Parliamentary Constituency who were economically inactive for the twelve month periods ending in February from 1997 to 2004.

As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to sampling variability.

Economic inactivity among people resident in Bridgwater parliamentary constituency -- Number⁽⁹⁾

⁽⁹⁾People who are neither In employment nor unemployed

⁽¹⁰⁾Working age refers to men aged 16 to 64 and women 16 to 59.

Note:

These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution

Source:

ONS-Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in (a) Chorley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West in (i) 1997, (ii)2003 and (iii) 2005; what percentage were (A) male and (B) female; and what percentage were under (1) 21, (2) 30 and (3) 60 years. [216306]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in Chorley, Lancashire and the North West.

Table 1 gives estimates of the levels of all unemployed people resident in the Chorley Parliamentary Constituency, County of Lancashire, and the North West Region. Proportions are given by gender, and who were: aged under 20; aged under 30; and aged under 60 for the 12-month periods ending November 1997, 2002 and 2004.Estimates have not been given for people aged under 21, as this breakdown is not available for all years.

These estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of people resident in each of the areas specified claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) benefits. The table also shows the proportions of these totals who were aged under 20, aged under 30; and aged under 60 analysed by gender. Estimates are not available for people aged under 21.

Table 1: Unemployed people resident in the Chorley parliamentary constituency, Lancashire and the North West

⁽¹¹⁾These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.

⁽¹²⁾Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

Table 2: JSA claimants resident in Chorleyparliamentary constituency, Lancashire and the North West

Note:

Age breakdown is analysed by computer.

Source:

Jobcentre Plus Administrative system claims only.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment has been in Morecambe and Lunesdale in each year since 1997. [216768]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Ms Geraldine Smith, 22 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (216768)

Table 1 gives estimates of the numbers of unemployed people who were resident in Morecambe and Lunesdale Parliamentary Constituency, for the 12-month periods ending February 1997 to 2004, the latest period for which figures are available.

These estimates from Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance who are resident in local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants resident in the Morecambe and Lunesdale Parliamentary Constituency for the years 1997 to 2004.

Table 1: Unemployed people resident in Morecambe and Lunesdale parliamentary constituency

Note:

These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.

Source:

ONS—Labour Force Survey

Table 2: JSA claimants resident in Morecambe and Lunesdale parliamentary constituency

Source:

Jobcentre Plus Administrative system.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in (a) Rochdale and (b) the North West in (i) 1997 and (ii)2004; and what percentage were (A) female and (B)male. [217300]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Ms Lorna Fitzsimons, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (217300)

The attached table gives estimates of the number and percentage of unemployed people who were resident in Rochdale and the North West, for the 12-month periods ending February 1997 and 2004.

These estimates from Labour Force Survey are, as with any sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

Unemployment among residents of Rochdale UA and the North West, 12 months ending February 1997 and 2004

⁽¹³⁾These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a very high degree of sampling variability. Changes from year to year, especially, should be treated with caution.

Source:

ONS-Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) unemployed people and (b) unemployed young people there are in the constituency of Wellingborough; and if he will make a statement. [216685]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Stinchcombe, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (216685)

It is estimated that for the 12-month period ending February 2004, there were 2,000 people resident in the Wellingborough Parliamentary Constituency who were unemployed. Of those an estimated 1,000 were aged 16–24 years old. These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to sampling variability and rounded to the nearest thousand.

The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for local areas. In December 2004, there were 1,085 residents of the Wellingborough Parliamentary Constituency who were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance. Of these, 305 were aged 18 to 24.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which local authorities fall within Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3. [216560]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Caroline Spelman, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking which local authorities fall within NUTS(a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3. (216560)

The current relationships between local authority districts and NUTS levels 1, 2 and 3 are contained in the http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/gazetteer.aspGazetteer of the old and new geographies of the United Kingdom (ISBN 1 85774 298 2) published by the Office for National Statistics in 1999. The publication can be viewed on the National Statistics website, and can be downloaded in pdf format at:

The relationships between the local authority districts and the NUTS 1–3 levels are shown in tabular form on pages 10–40, and the full NUTS 1–3 classification with maps, is shown on pages 88–113.

Since local government reorganisation in 1998, there have been minor changes to local authority district boundaries in Wales in April 2002 and April 2003, and in Scotland in June 2002. However, these have not impacted on the NUTS 1–3 areas because the NUTS boundaries moved to retain the relationships. There have not been any local authority district boundary changes in England since 1998 or in Northern Ireland since 1973.

The NUTS 1–3 areas were frozen by EU Regulation in July 2003 and, in consequence, the small change in the boundary between Powys and Neath Port Talbot, effective on 1 April 2005, will result in part of Powys falling within Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot" NUTS 3 area, and within West Wales and the Valleys" NUTS 2 area. There are no other local authority district boundary changes being effected in the UK in 2005.

The EU Regulation does not permit the NUTS classification to be amended to reflect small changes to administrative area boundaries more frequently than every 3 years but amendments can be made at lesser intervals if the administrative structure is substantially reorganised.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which statistics relating to England the Office for National Statistics (a) collates, (b) publishes and (c) aggregates at a Government Office for Region level. [216036]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl to Mrs. Caroline Spelman, dated 22 February 2005

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on which statistics relating to England, the Office for National Statistics(a) collates, (b) publishes and (c) aggregates at a Government Office for Regions level. I am replying in his absence. 216036

ONS's practice is to provide analyses by region where this is meaningful in terms of the statistics concerned, subject to the reliability of the figures and providing that release does not create a risk of disclosure of confidential personal information. Following the establishment of Government Offices in 1994, the decision was taken in 1996 that the Government Office regions should become the standard statistical regions for England.

It is standard practice in ONS data collection to include suitable geographic referencing in surveys of businesses and individuals, allowing statistics to be analysed and published at a variety of geographic levels including region. The bulk of ONS statistics can therefore be produced by region, including the Census of population and household and business surveys. A list of major statistical collections indicating the levels at which figures are available will be placed in the House of Commons library.

ONS also publishes a number of statistical reports—such as Regional Trends and Region in Figures—that include regional figures obtained from other Government departments. A list of the contents at regional level will also be placed in the Library. In addition, the Neighbourhood Statistics service includes a wealth of data relating to much smaller geographic areas which can be aggregated to regional level.

Following the 2004 report of the review by Christopher Allsopp of statistics for economic policymaking, the Office is looking to improve the information on its web site about the availability of regional and other sub-national statistics.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ask the Office for National Statistics to publish pupil absence rates by local authority ward on the Neighbourhood Statistics website. [216923]

holding answer 21 February 2005

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Adrian Flook, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if the Office for National Statistics will publish pupil absence rates by local authority ward on the Neighbourhood Statistics website. (216923)

The Office for National Statistics is planning to publish information on pupil absence as part of the on-going development of the Neighbourhood Statistics website to support work on neighbourhood renewal. It is hoped that the data will be released in the second quarter of 2005.

A recent review, with representatives from the Department for Education and Skills, has confirmed that data on pupil absences has the highest priority. As a result the Office for National Statistics is working with the Department for Education and Skills to make available details of authorised and unauthorised absences in primary and secondary schools for the periods 2002–03 and 2003–04. The level of detail (including the geographical level) cannot be guaranteed at this time as it would depend on whether the information would be disclosive. To protect the confidentiality of information about identifiable individuals, information will be published in strict accordance with the National Statistics Code of Practice.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of producing a staff identity pass was in the Department on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many staff identity passes have been reported lost or stolen in each year since 1997. [215078]

The cost of producing security access passes for Treasury staff is not separately identifiable. The number of passes reported lost or stolen in 2003 and 2004 was 128 and 120 respectively. Numbers for previous years are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) how much was paid to consultants carrying out staff surveys in the Department in each year since 1997; [213655]

(2) what the cost of staff surveys in the Department was in each year since 1997. [213683]

The Treasury expenditure for staff surveys were:

For years prior to 2002–03 full details are not readily available. I refer the hon. Member to the responses given by my predecessor on 26 February 2004, Official Report, column. 534W and on 26 February 2003, Official Report, column. 567W for further details.

The Treasury use consultants in carrying out surveys and all the expense relates to consultancy fees.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people committed suicide in Lancashire in 2003–04. [216895]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people committed suicide in Lancashire in 2003–2004. (216895)

The latest year for which figures are available is 2003. In that year there were 104 suicides¹ of usual residents of Lancashire. ²

¹ Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 (intentional self-harm) and Y10-Y34 (event of undetermined intent) excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending.

² The figure provided relates to the current county of Lancashire. This excludes the unitary authorities of Blackburn and Darwen, and Blackpool, created in 1998, which were part of the former county. The figure is the number of suicides of those who normally lived in Lancashire, rather than the number of these deaths which occurred within the county.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fatal accidents have occurred to (a) adults and (b) children in domestic swimming pools in each of the last five years. [216789]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Alan Whitehead, 22 February 2005

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many fatal accidents have occurred to(a) adults and (b) children in domestic swimming pools in each of the last five years. (216789)

The most recently available information is for deaths in 2003. Figures for deaths due to accidental drowning in adults and children are shown in the table below for each year from 2001 to 2003. Although accidental drowning deaths are available for years prior to 2001 it is not possible to say if these deaths occurred in domestic swimming pools.

Number of deaths from accidental drowning in domestic swimming poolsin (a) adults aged 16 and over, and (b) children aged under 16, England and Wales, 2001 to 2003^(14)(15)

⁽¹⁴⁾Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes W67.0 and W68.0.

⁽¹⁵⁾Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) what monitoring his Department is carrying out to ensure that the Tax Credit Office liaises with those individuals who are required to repay overpayments and who await the outcome of their application concerning the reconsideration of recovery of tax credits, to ensure that the repayments are affordable; [216902]

(2) whether the Inland Revenue liaises with individuals who have accrued overpayments of tax credits in order to agree a level of affordable repayment. [216903]

The Inland Revenue regularly assesses and reviews its procedures for recovering tax credit overpayments. Their Code of Practice 26 What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?" explains that where a claimant has been paid too much they will normally be expected to pay back the overpayment. It describes a number of measures the Revenue has put in place to protect against hardship being caused by the recovery of an overpayment. A copy is available on the Inland Revenue website at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/leaflets/cop26.htm

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer

(1) if he will list increases to the premium limit of tax exempt savings plans since 1992; [217171]

(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the Treasury of raising premiums of tax exempt savings plans to (a) £600 per annum and (b) £1,200 per annum. [217172]

The premium limit for tax exempt savings plans was increased from the 1992 level to the current level on 1 May 1995, the day on which the Finance Act 1995 was passed.

The estimated current cost of tax-exempt savings plans, with an annual premium limit of £300 is around £70 million per year and in recent years this cost has been increasing at an annual rate of about 10 per cent.

Increasing the limit to £600 or £1,200 per annum would potentially cost the Exchequer an extra £30 million or £120 million per year respectively in the long run. Doubling the limit would not necessarily double the cost because many tax-exempt savings plan customers do not save at the current maximum.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women were (a) dismissed and (b) made redundant in each year between 1997 and 2004. [215474]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 22 February 2005

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about redundancies and dismissals of women in the UK between 1997 and 2004. (215474)

The attached table gives estimates of those women dismissed or made redundant in the 12-month periods ending in November each year for the years 1997 to 2004. Estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) in which respondents are asked about whether they have been dismissed or made redundant in the three months prior to their survey interview.

As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.

Women who were dismissed or made redundant -- Number⁽¹⁶⁾

⁽¹⁶⁾Based on responses to the LFS about dismissals and redundancies experienced in the three months prior to being interviewed.

Source:

ONS Labour Force Survey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners in the NHS have lists closed to new patients. [216980]

The Department does not collect data on the number of practices with closed lists. Since 1997 there are 3,169 more GPs working in the NHS and spending on primary care is set to increase under the new GMS contract from £6.1 billion to £8 billion by 2005–06—a 33 per cent. increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he issues on standardisation of computer equipment used by general practitioners. [216985]

Requirements For Accreditation" (RFA) specify a core set of requirements for primary care computer systems which all general practitioner systems must be capable of performing. The RFA process, first introduced in April 1993, is operated by the NHS Information Authority, which is the sole provider of accreditation testing services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners are women in (a) England and (b) the area covered by Durham and Tees Valley strategic health authority. [215569]

The latest figures available—30 June 2004—show that 38 per cent. of all general practitioners¹ in England are women. In the area covered by Durham and Tees Valley strategic health authority, 34 per cent. of general practitioners are women.

¹ All practitioners (excluding retainers, registrars and locums) include general medical service (GMS) unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other and flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.

Source

Department of Health GMS and PMS statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to inform general practitioners about additional training requirements necessary to assist the delivery of patient choice; how this training will be organised; and from what sources the funding of this training will be drawn. [210819]

The Department published a delivery framework for the implementation of choice and booking at the point of general practitioner referral in August 2004. The framework is intended to support primary care trusts (PCTs) in fulfilling their responsibility for implementing patient choice and booking in local health communities, including ensuring appropriate training and support for primary care staff. The delivery framework is available at www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk'>www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk.

Material has been made available nationally at www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk to help PCTs deliver training. It is for PCTs to determine locally the funding for training from within the financial allocations made by the Department. The Department allocates revenue funding to PCTs on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. The Department has also made available an additional £44 million annually in 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 to support PCTs in implementing new booking systems that support patient choice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS dentistry. [216981]

We are undertaking the most far-reaching reforms of NHS dentistry since 1948, supported by an additional £368 million. To ensure that more people can see a NHS dentist when and where they need to, the equivalent of 1,000 dentists will be recruited by October 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were registered with a NHS dentist in (a) each Government office region and (b) each parliamentary constituency in each year since 1997. [211946]

The information requested on registrations by Government regional office is shown in the table.

Registrations by Government regional office—September 1997 to September 2004

Notes:

1.The drop in registrations between September 1997 and September 1998 is mostly attributable to the reduction in the re-registration period from two years to 15 months.

2.The figures excludes patients treated in dental access centres who are not registered. In 2004 there were some 375,000 episodes of treatment in dental access centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) how many dentists ceased providing NHS dental services in each of the last three years (a) in England and (b) within Durham and Chester-le-Street primary care trust; [214107]

(2) how many NHS patients were registered with a dentist in each of the last three years in (a) England and (b) Durham and Chester-le-Street primary care trust; [214333]

(3) how may NHS patients were unable to register with a dentist in each of the last three years in (a) England and (b) Durham and Chester-le-Street primary care trust. [214334]

Information is not held on the number of dentists who ceased providing national health service dental services altogether. The Office of Fair Trading report, The private dentistry market in the UK", published in March 2003, estimated that out of 11,000 dental practices nationally, only about 210 are totally private.

The following table shows the number of dental patients registered with a general dental service (GDS) or personal dental service (PDS) dentist in England, and Durham and Chester-le-Street primary care trust area, as at 30 September each year.

Registrations in the GDS lapse if the patient has not returned to the dentist within 15 months. These figures do not include patients who get dental treatment without registration, for example in dental access centres.

Information is not available on patients who are unable to register with a dentist, but we are undertaking a wide range of initiatives to improve access to NHS dentistry. In the Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT, a local dental access scheme has been developed at a cost of £65,770 from central funds. Under the scheme, 10practices, which were not previously taking on new NHS patients, have been funded to provide an agreed number of new patient contacts. From September 2004, the scheme has delivered 1,000 additional NHS appointments and expects shortly to deliver a further 300 appointments. As a result, between late September and November, all patients seeking a NHS dentist should have been able to access occasional NHS dental treatment and, in addition, some were able to register with a NHS dentist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many unfilled dental clinical academic staff vacancies there are in dental schools; how he plans to assist in filling them; and if he will make a statement. [216508]

The latest information available centrally is from a survey conducted in 2001, which found that, out of 476 academic posts in the 15 dental schools in the United Kingdom, 74, or 16 per cent., were unfilled. We are undertaking a major programme of investment in dental education. We are to fund an extra 170 extra undergraduate dental training places in English dental schools from October 2005. The funds, which build up to £29 million per annum by 2010–11, include provision for the creation of more clinical academic posts and enhancing the terms of service for staff working in dental schools. We are also working jointly with the Department for Education and Skills to address issues relating to the recruitment and retention of academic staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the funding of South Gloucestershire primary care trust. [216983]

The latest round of revenue allocations covering 2006–07 and 2007–08 was announced on 9 February 2005.

South Gloucestershire primary care trust will receive funding of £250 million for 2006–07 and £275 million for2007–08. These allocations include increases of £21 million, or 9.1 per cent., for 2006–07 and £25 million, or 10 per cent., for 2007–08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policies on the construction of new or replacement community hospitals. [216984]

Decisions on service provision are best made at a local level, which is why Keeping the NHS Local" was published in February 2003. This guidance covers service expansion and redesign. The NHS will need to follow it when considering the role of community hospitals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the criteria for establishing community hospitals. [216987]

Decisions on establishing community hospitals are a local matter. The Department has not therefore set any criteria for their establishment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many three star hospitals there are in England; and how many have applied for foundation status. [216986]

76 acute and specialist trusts were awarded three stars in the 2003–04 national health service performance ratings last July.

Of these, 24 trusts submitted a preliminary application for NHS Foundation Trust status last November as part of wave two For the first time, invitations for foundation status were also extended to Mental Health trusts and eight out of 10 eligible three star rated trusts submitted a preliminary application.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the proportion of NHS funding which was spent purchasing private sector services in 2003–04. [216988]

The national health service spent £3.3 billion on independent sector healthcare services in 2003–04. This represents approximately 5 per cent. of the £61 billion planned NHS expenditure for 2003–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about Wycombe hospital. [216989]

Since October 2004, the Department has received several written representations from the hon. Member and members of the public about Wycombe hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of people employed directly by the Dorset and Somerset strategic health authority. [216990]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1124W by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Health to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne).

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) ambulances and (b) paramedic staff the Lancashire Ambulance Trust has; and what the average time taken to respond to a 999 call was in each Lancashire district in the last period for which figures are available. [215497]

Performance information is available by ambulance service and may be found in the statistical bulletin, Ambulance Services, England: 2003–04", a copy of which is available in the Library. It is also available on the Department's website at http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0411 .htm.

Information relating to the numbers of paramedic staff is shown in the table.

Source:

Department of Health non-medical workforce census.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision he has planned for specialist burns unit provision for patients in Kent; and if he will make a statement. [217232]

The national burn care group, which is considering options for reconfiguration of specialist burns services across England and Wales, is being led by the national health service. Decisions have not yet been made regarding the development of burn care centres; any proposals for change will be submitted to a full public consultation process, probably in the summer of 2005. This is a process is being developed by and for the NHS and the Department has no formal role at this time, though we are kept in touch with developments.

Currently, people in Kent have access to specialised burn services at the Queen Victoria hospital, East Grinstead, Sussex, which has historically served the population of Kent, although, since the Dartford Crossing has been open, it is now easier for people from some parts of Kent to go to Chelmsford.

There are also specialised burn services in the following locations in South East England:

Chelsea and Westminster hospital (the only specialist service within London).

Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford, Essex.

Mount Vernon hospital, Northwood, Middlesex.

Stoke Mandeville hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on (a) entertainment lunches involving civil servants and guests and (b) working lunches, in each year since 1997. [215050]

Expenditure arises on hospitality and entertainment only in the context of promoting the Department's business objectives. All such expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting".

There has been no expenditure on entertainment lunches involving civil servants and guests. The amount spent by the Department on working lunches since 1997 is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the roll-out of the liquid-based cytology system for cervical cancer screening in each of the strategic health authority areas since April 2004. [216099]

holding answer 21 February 2005

Following the evaluation of a Government-funded pilot study of liquid based cytology (LBC), National Institute for Clinical Excellence concluded in October 2003 that this new technology should be rolled out across the NHS cervical screening programme. It will take five years to implement LBC across England as all staff, who read the tests or take the tests will have to be retrained. The Department is providing £1.2 million for 2003–04 and £6 million for 2004–05 to kick-start this process. The nine regional cytology training schools in England are being converted to train the rest of the programme. As of January 2005, eight out of the nine training schools in England had been trained or had a specific date to begin their retraining. The ninth is awaiting a local decision on which system they will use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the capacity is of the children's burns unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle; and what the patient throughput was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [216492]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternative drugs will be available for prescription in place of co-proxamol following its withdrawal by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. [216049]

There are a number of alternatives for managing painful conditions and the committee on safety of medicines (CSM) has issued advice on pain management options to assist prescribers, together with individual patients, in choosing appropriate pain management strategies. This guidance also refers to a number of sources of additional advice, including the British National Formulary, which is sent to all doctors and pharmacists.

The CSM's overview of alternative analgesic options was communicated through the Chief Medical Officer's Public Health Link to all health care professionals accompanying the communication on the withdrawal of co-proxamol and is available on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's website www.mhra.gov.uk Copies have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the South Thanet constituency, the effects of changes to the Department's policy since 1997 on the South Thanet constituency; [216793]

(2) if he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the Dover constituency, the effects of changes to the Department's policies since 1997 on the Dover constituency. [216794]

The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the South Thanet and Dover areas.

For example:

At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for inpatient treatment within East Kent Coastal Primary Care Trust (PCT) has fallen to zero from 834 in June 2002.

At the end of September 2004, the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for outpatient treatment within East Kent Coastal PCT has fallen to 341 from 1,033 in June 2002.

Between September 1999 and June 2004, the number of consultants at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust has increased from 201 to 254. The number of nurses increased from 2,151 in September 1999 to 2,461 in September 2003.

Figures for December 2004 show that 100 per cent, of patients within East Kent Coastal PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a primary care professional within two working days.

In the South Thanet local authority (LA) area, death rates from cancer per 100,000 population have fallen from 214.2 in 1997 to 210.1 in 2003. In the Dover local authority area, death rates from cancer per 100,000 have fallen from 204.1 in 1997 to 198.1 in 2003.

In the South Thanet LA area, death rates from coronary heart disease per 100,000 population have fallen from 149.3 in 1997 to 122.5 in 2003. In the Dover LA area, death rates from coronary heart disease per100,000 population have fallen from 149.8 in 1997 to 122.5 in 2003.

East Kent Coastal PCT has received an allocation of £256.5 million in 2004–05. In the recently announced PCT allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08, East Kent Coastal PCT will receive an increase of £27.4 million in 2006–07 and 32.1 million in 2007–08. This is a total increase of 18.7 per cent. over the two years. By 2007–08, East Kent Coastal PCT will receive an allocation of £362.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effect of his Department's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001. [215614]

The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Blackpool South constituency.

For example:

At the end of November 2004, the number of people waiting more than nine months for in-patient treatment within Blackpool Primary Care Trust (PCT) has fallen to zero, from 342 in June 2002.

At the end of September 2004, the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for out-patient treatment within Blackpool PCT has fallen to 260, from 724 in June 2002.

In June 2003, at Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust, 87.9 per cent. of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. Figures for September 2004 show an improvement to 93. per cent.

The latest figures, September 2004, show that all urgent general practitioner referrals with suspected cancer are seen by a specialist within two weeks.

Figures for December 2004 show that all patients within Blackpool PCT are able to be offered an appointment with a GP within two working days and a primary care professional within one working day.

In 1997–98 the Lancashire Ambulance Service was able to attend 66.1 per cent. of category A emergency calls within eight minutes. During 2003–04, 77.7 per cent. of category A emergency calls were attended within eight minutes.

Work has started on a 5.8 million twin theatre day case unit at Blackpool Victoria hospital. This is due for completion in March 2006. The new facility will enable the hospital to increase the number of operations it carries out as day cases and will help cut waiting times for patients.

A new £45 million regional cardiac centre is being developed at the Blackpool Victoria hospital, which is scheduled to open in 2006. This will increase the number of beds by 38 and provide three additional operating theatres. There will also be a new 10-bed high dependency unit.

A second computed tomography scanner became operational at the Blackpool Victoria hospital in April 2004, enabling an extra 4,600 scans to be undertaken each year.

Fleetwood hospital is to undergo a £2.6 million redevelopment, providing additional x-ray equipment, treatment rooms, a new endoscopy unit and a new main entrance to the hospital. This is due to be completed in June 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on patients of waiting times for assessments for digital hearing aids in Bournemouth west; what proposals he has to help the Bournemouth teaching primary care trust to reduce this time; what steps he is taking to increase the number of audiologists; and if he will make a statement. [217041]

Information relating to the waiting times for patients waiting for assessments for digital hearing aids is not collected centrally.

In line with our policy of Shifting the Balance of Power", it is now for primary care trusts (PCTs,) in partnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other local stakeholders, to plan, develop and improve services for local people including audiology services.

I am advised by Dorset and Somerset SHA that the Bournemouth PCT is making good progress with reducing waiting lists by increasing in-house activity, and using private providers under the public private partnership scheme.

More generally, the modernising hearing aids services (MHAS) project is being managed on behalf of the Department by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf. Since September 2000, the MHAS project has been retaining audiologists and generally modernised services in a phased way to enable them to offer digital hearing aids to people who would benefit from them. The fourth and final wave should be complete by the end of March 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has gathered on the relative addictiveness of (a) nicotine, (b) heroin and (c) methadone; and if he will make a statement. [214279]

The Department has not commissioned any specific research to gather information on the relative addictiveness of these drugs. Relative addictiveness depends on dose, route of consumption and other factors, and varies for each drug across the components that make up the syndrome of dependence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated by the Somerset drugs service in each of the last eight years. [214474]

Data is not available prior to 2003–04.

Data published by the National Drug Monitoring System, indicates that 1,118 people were in contact with structured drug treatment services in Somerset in 2003–04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1117W, on Enbrel, if he will refer the drug Enbrel to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in relation to its prescription in cases of juvenile arthritis. [217166]

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued appraisal 2002/016 on 22 March 2002, which addressed the use of Etanercept (Enbrel) for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Etanercept and Infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis. Further information is available on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the Pharmaceutical Committee met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [214308]

The pharmaceutical committee met on 19 January 2004 and 8 and 9 November 2004, under the Irish and Netherlands presidencies. There were no meetings during the Italian presidency from 1 July to 31 December 2003. On both occasions, the meetings were held in Brussels and the United Kingdom was represented by at least one senior official from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

I refer the hon. Member to the series of Command Papers on prospects for the European Union—Cm 6174 laid in April 2004, Cm 6310 laid in September 2004 and Cm 6450 laid in February 2005, which cover the periods of the above presidencies and are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/commandpapers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many female doctors are forensic medical examiners at the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust. [216203]

The information requested is shown in the table.

Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) : medical staff in Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust within the pathology group of specialties—as at 30 September 2003 -- Number (headcount)

Source:

Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will exempt HIV treatment and care from the regulations applying charges to those not entitled to free NHS care. [216473]

Diagnostic testing for HIV and associated counselling is free to all, but the national health service (charges to overseas visitors) Regulations 1989 (as amended) have always specified that subsequent treatment for HIV, should the test prove positive, is chargeable if the patient is a chargeable overseas visitor. There are no plans to change that.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 883W, for what reasons only initial diagnostic testing and associated counselling given to those suffering from HIV/AIDS are exempt from charges made to those who are not ordinarily resident in the UK. [216179]

It has always been the case that only diagnostic testing for HIV and associated counselling is free of charge to all under the provisions of the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989 (as amended). Subsequent treatment should be charged for if the patient is a chargeable overseas visitor. The greatest public health risk is from those who are unaware that they are infected with HIV, so it makes sense that diagnosis, and the advice that needs to go with it, should be free to all.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) what is his Department's procedure for the use of new infection control technologies in the NHS following a recommendation from its Rapid Review Panel; [208995]

(2) what plans he has to publish the minutes of the meetings of the Rapid Review Panel; [208996]

(3) how many products have been recommended to his Department by the Rapid Review Panel for (a) development for use in the NHS or (b) trial in an NHS clinical setting; [208997]

(4) if he will publish the list of those products and treatments reviewed by the Rapid Review Panel since December 2003 that are now being used for infection control or cleaning purposes in NHS facilities; [208999]

(5) if he will publish a list detailing the number and name of all products which have submitted applications to the Rapid Review Panel for use in fighting infection in the NHS since the Panel's establishment; [209000]

(6) how many submissions the Rapid Review Panel has received for its review of products to aid cleanliness and fight infections in the NHS; when each submission was received; and for each submission, when the Rapid Review Panel reported its results. [209001]

The Health Protection Agency rapid review panel assesses all products for which applications have been received from companies, provided the product falls within the panel's remit. There are currently 58 product reports available on the Health Protection Agency's website, together with the minutes of the panel meetings and a list of products reviewed by the panel. This information can be found at www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/rapid_review/. A further 25 applications received since 13 January will be reviewed later this month. Information on those products awaiting review is not publicly available as information provided by applicants is regarded as commercial in confidence until the applications have been assessed.

Of the 58 reports available on the panel's website so far, 19 contain recommendations for further research and development before the product is ready for evaluation and 10 contain recommendations for in-use evaluation/trial in a national health service clinical setting. Two products have been identified as showing benefits that should be available to NHS bodies to use as appropriate. These products are being considered for inclusion in future workplans for the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Information on which products are currently used in NHS facilities is not collected centrally.

Where the rapid review panel suggests further work, it is generally the company's responsibility to organise this; the panel itself does not organise product evaluations. Some evaluations may be performed as part of normal PASA tendering exercises. Also, some products may be included in the Department's research and development programme for healthcare associated infection if it is thought they may have a particular impact in a priority area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies for (a) doctors, (b) consultants and (c) nurses there are at the Lancashire teaching hospital; and for how long each vacancy has been unfilled. [215496]

The information requested is shown in the following tables.

Three month vacancy rate and number for all doctors (excluding doctors in training) inLancashire teaching hospitals NHS trust, March 2004

Notes:

1.Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents).

2.Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.

3.Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.

4.Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.

5.* where the sum of the staff in post and number of vacancies is less then 10.

6.—where the sum of the staff in post and number of vacancies is 0.

Source:

Department of Health Medical and Dental vacancy survey.

Department of Health vacancies survey, March 2004—NHS three month vacancies in the Lancashire teaching hospital NHS trust for qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff; three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post

Notes:

1.Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March each year.

2.Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).

3.Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.

4.Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.

5.Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Sources:

Department of Health Vacancies Survey

Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many baby incubators are available at each relevant hospital in the north-east; how many were available in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001; and what plans there are to increase the number. [216494]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans Lancashire Ambulance Trust has to merge with other ambulance trusts in the North West. [216060]

There are no plans for Lancashire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust to merge with other ambulance trusts in the North West area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people he estimates suffer from Alzheimer's disease in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust; and which PCTs in Lancashire provide treatment with the drug Ebixa. [215508]

The number of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease is not collected centrally. Information on which primary care trusts (PCTs) are currently prescribing Memantine (Ebixa) is not held centrally. Ebixa is not currently covered by existing National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance. PCTs, when considering the funding of such treatment, are expected to use their existing prescribing arrangements and to consider all the evidence available to them on clinical effectiveness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) medical staff and (b) non-medical staff employed in mental health services there have been in the NHS in England in each year since 1986, broken down by (i) general psychiatrists, (ii) child and adolescent psychiatrists, (iii) forensic psychiatrists, (iv)learning disabilities consultants, (v) old age psychiatrists, (vi) psychotherapists, (vii) psychiatric nurses, (viii) clinical psychologists, (ix) art, music and drama therapists, (x) occupational therapists, (xi) social workers and (xii) other. [216161]

The information requested is shown in the tables.

Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): medical consultantswithin the psychiatry group of specialities by speciality, England -- Number (headcount)^(17)(18)