To ask the Prime Minister what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the European Commission regarding the lifting of the date-based export scheme; and when the scheme will be lifted. [31084]

The Government are in regular contact with the European Commission at all levels about lifting the beef export ban which will end the need for the date-based export scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which black and other ethnic organisations have been consulted on the race equality assessment of the Mental Health Bill. [30519]

Our Race Equality Impact Assessment Advisory Group included representation from groups such as the Afiya Trust, Diverse Minds and the All Wales Black and Minority Ethnic Mental Health Group. In addition to consultation events, close consultation with the Black and Minority Ethnic Mental Health Network, focus groups in 13 hospitals and web based consultation, we have also had direct submissions from groups such as the African and Caribbean Mental Health Commission and from the Royal College of Psychiatrists Ethnic Minority Group.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what languages the document on the Mental Health Bill race equality consultation is available. [30525]

There has not been a formal consultation document. Consultation has been an integral part of the race equality impact assessment on the Bill. At our recent race consultation events, language co-ordinators were available to ensure that this was not a barrier to participation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to be in a position to publish the Mental Health Bill. [30526]

The Mental Health Bill was in the Queen's Speech for this session. We plan to introduce it when parliamentary time allows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect the new dental contract is havingon remuneration for dentists undertaking NHS work. [30521]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect the new dental contract is having on remuneration for dentists undertaking NHS work. [30528]

A committed NHS dentist typically earns an average £80,000 per year. New dental contracts are being introduced from April. Dentists' NHS incomes are guaranteed at current earnings levels until 2009. Dentists in personal dental services arrangements agree a contract with fixed monthly remuneration. This will apply to new general dental services contracts from April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners who do not have access to an NHS dentist. [24284]

No estimate has been made of the numbers of pensioners in England who may not have access to an national health service dentist. The vast majority of people who contact NHS Direct are given details of practices where they can receive urgent treatment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists have been practising in the Hemel Hempstead constituency in each year since 1997. [25559]

The information requested is shown in the table.

General dental services (CDS) and personal dental services (PDS)—Dentists in Hemel Hempstead parliamentary constituency as at 30 September each year

Source:

Dental Practice Board

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the results of the strategic review of oral health for older people announced by the Chief Dental Officer in April to be published; and if she will make a statement. [25971]

The strategic review of oral health of older people will be published by the British Society of Gerodontology in December and launched at their meeting on 8 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the indicative budgets for NHS dentistry for 2006–07 that will be provided to each primary care trust from April 2006. [27553]

We intend to publish the actual budgets for each primary care trust for dentistry at the end of November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish details of the criteria for the new Units of Dental Activity. [28071]

Under the new arrangements for local commissioning of national health service dentistry from April 2006, units of dental activity (UDA) refer to courses of treatment that are weighted to reflect their relative complexity. The three main categories of courses of treatment correspond to the three bands in the proposed new patient charging system, which was published for three months consultation over the summer. The proposed weightings for different courses of treatments, that is the number of UDA to which they correspond, were set out in the draft general dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS) contract regulations, which were published in August 2005. The final version of those proposed regulations will be laid before Parliament shortly.

At the end of November, GDS dentists are due to receive information showing their level of activity, expressed in terms of UDA, during the reference period, 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005, and their NHS earnings during the same period. Primary care trusts (PCTs) and dentists will use this as the basis for agreeing new annual contract values and the number of UDA that the dentist is expected to carry out over the course of the year in return for this annual contract value. GDS dentists will be guaranteed an annual contract value based on their reference period earnings, uplifted to reflect 2006–07 pay and prices, provided the dentists agree with their PCT an annual level of UDA to be carried out during 2006–07 equivalent to 95 per cent. of their activity during the reference period.

PDS dentists are due to receive similar information from PCTs at the end of November. PDS dentists will be guaranteed an annual contract value worth at least that of their current PDS agreement, uplifted to 2006–07 pay and prices, in return for carrying out annually an appropriate level of UDA agreed with their PCT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have been employed in each year since 1997 under (a) general dental service contracts and (b) personal dental service contracts. [25270]

The information requested is shown in the table.

Number of dentists employed in general dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS) by contract type in England as at 30 September, 1997 to 2005

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the number of NHS dentists. [25206]

We announced on 9 November, that 1,453 whole-time national health service dentists had been recruited since April 2004, contributing to a net increase of 1,100 dentists at the end of September 2005, according to figures supplied by the Dental Practice Board.

We also announced that 189 additional dental students had begun their studies at dental schools in the United Kingdom, 19 more than the 170 target. By 2009–10, there will be approximately 850 more undergraduates in training than in 2004–05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the availability of choice of therapies for people with mental illness. [30523]

We are committed to modernising mental health services to provide patients with quick, easy access to high quality services and effective treatment and care, and to give people greater choice in the treatment and care they receive. Taken together, NHS and local authority expenditure on mental health has increased in real terms by almost £1.27 billion. This is a real increase in resources of over 26.6 per cent. in the period 1999–2000 to 2003–04.

We along with the National Institute for Mental Health in England are supporting local services in implementing our guidance called 'Organising and Delivering Psychological Therapies' in order to promote choice; and develop new ways of working.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the National Chlamydia Screening Programme. [30524]

Chlamydia screening in England began in April 2003 in 10 areas and was extended to a further 16 areas in April 2004. The 26 programmes cover25 per cent. of all primary care trusts and offers opportunistic screening to asymptomatic sexually active men and women under 25 years of age. National screening will begin in April 2006. We are currently on target for full implementation in 2007, as set out in the White Paper Choosing Health: Making Healthier choices easier" published in 2004, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to improve access to Chlamydia screening. [30529]

The National Chlamydia Screening Programme started in April 2003 in 10 areas and was extended to a further 16 areas in April 2004. We are on target for full implementation by 2007.

In addition to the screening programme, we have also contracted Boots to evaluate the potential of retail pharmacies as Chlamydia screening venues. Screening began on 14 November.

The key drivers of the project are wider and easier access to screening services in order to provide quick and easily available screening options.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has read the independent report on The Paddington Health Campus: The Lessons Learnt"; and if she will make a statement. [30527]

This report was commissioned by North West London strategic health authority and is for the SHA to consider and respond to in the first instance. However, its conclusions largely concur with a joint Department of Health, Treasury and National Audit Office report into the project which was published last year and which has been acted upon by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the responsibilities of local authorities are in respect of the provision of rehabilitation services for blind and visually impaired people. [30530]

It is for local authorities to determine how best to provide services to meet the needs of individuals in their populations, in the light of local priorities. This includes assessment and provision of appropriate support and rehabilitation services for blind and partially sighted people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research her Department has commissioned on myalgic encephalomyelitis. [30531]

The Department has commissioned a number of research projects related to chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis and details of these are available on the National Research Register, which can be accessed through the Department's research and development website [at www.dh.gov.uk/research].

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future role of primary care trusts. [30532]

Following unprecedented levels of funding, the national health service has made huge improvements but we know there is more to do to ensure that patients get the services they need.

We need stronger primary care trusts with a more focused role to:

Design local health services that best meet the needs of their communities securing availability, quality and fairness for patients.

Ensure that the money is actually spent in the communities where there is greatest need thus supporting the Government's commitment to reducing health inequalities.

Be the custodian of taxpayers money working to ensure the NHS maximises the benefits of its resources.

Support the extension of practice based commissioning so that frontline clinicians who are closest to patients are able to plan and develop services for them.

Work closely with local government to ensure that patients and service users benefit from joined up services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department has to extend the role of nurses. [30533]

We have developed new clinical roleslike nurse consultants and modern matrons and community matrons. We have introduced initiatives such as prescribing rights for nurses. We have provided support for new advanced nursing roles in all settings and funded thousands of nurses to take part in leadership programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of NHS-funded abortions was in each year since 1997. [25896]

The available information is shown in the following table.

Estimated cost, in millions, of national health service funded terminations (performed in the NHS and the independent sector) since 1997⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾Total estimated cost based on the average NHS hospital cost for all years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence to publish its final guidance on the continued use of (a) donepezil, (b) rivastigmine and (c) galantamine to treat Alzheimer's disease. [20516]

This is a matter for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Information about NICE's current work programme is available on the NICE's website at: www.nice.org.uk. I understand that NICE's appraisal committee is due to meet later in December and NICE will conclude the appraisal in April 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhat the (a) number of prescription items and(b) prescription expenditure has been for anti-depressant drugs in each year since 1984; and what the percentage change was between (i) 1984 and 1994, (ii)1994 and 2004 and (iii) 1984 and 2004. [22971]

The number of anti-depressant medicines prescribed by the national health service in England between 1984 and 2004 and the cost of these items during this period is shown in table 1.

Table l: NHS anti-depressant prescription medications in England 1984–2004: quantity and cost

The percentage change, in prescription volumes and costs between 1984 and 1994, 1994 and 2004 and 1984 and 2004 is shown in table 2.

Table 2: NHS anti-depressant prescription medications in England: volume and cost percentage changes 1984–94; 1994–2004; and 1984–2004 -- Percentage change

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) how anti-tumour necrosis therapy out-patients costs will be calculated under the payments by results scheme; and when procedures for purchasing anti-tumour necrosis therapy out-patient services will come into effect; [25549]

(2) how much money was spent on anti-tumour necrosis therapy in England in each of the last five years; [25550]

(3) what the total budget for anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy is for 2006–07 in England; [25551]

(4) how many patients have received anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in England in each of the last five years; [25552]

(5) how many patients are waiting to commence anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in England. [25553]

Anti-tumour necrosis therapy is already commissioned at local level under arrangements that should cover the cost of patient attendances at outpatient clinics as well as any anti-tumour necrosis factor drugs (anti-TNF drugs). From 2006–07, payment by results will apply a national tariff to rheumatology out-patient clinics. The tariff will set the price for out-patient attendances and will exclude the additional cost of anti-TNF drugs, for which funding will continue to be negotiated locally. These arrangements are already operating in 2005–06 for national health service foundation trusts and other early implementers of payment by results.

The cost of prescriptions dispensed in the community for the three anti-TNF drugs is shown in the table.

Cost of prescriptions dispensed for anti-TNF drugs, 2000–04

However, the main use for these drugs was in hospitals. An estimate for 2004 costs for anti-TNF drugs dispensed in hospitals, based on a large sample of hospitals, is £71,658,000.

Health bodies are obliged to fund, from general allocations, anti-TNF treatment for those with severe rheumatoid arthritis who meet the clinical guidelines setby the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

The Department does not hold information on the number of people who have received anti-TNF treatments.

We do not collect information on waiting lists for specific treatments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the roll-out of the newborn hearing screening programme. [24746]

Overall, about 85 per cent. of newborn babies are now being screened by the newborn hearing screening programme. It is expected that all sites will be screening newborn babies for hearing loss by the end of December 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she has taken to reassure consumers about the safety of chicken and turkey meat in the context of the avian influenza threat. [27105]

The Government have sought to ensure that the messages they put out about risks to consumers and the wider public posed by avian influenza are evidence-based and proportionate.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has advised that avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk for United Kingdom consumers and has made this available through its website. The FSA has also accepted all requests it has received to give television and radio interviews and has had its views well publicised in the media.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the implementation of (a) the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, (b) Standard 8 of the Framework and (c) the autism exemplar chapter of the Framework. [28991]

holding answer 15 November 2005

The national service framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services, published in 2004, is a 10-year programme intended to stimulate long term and sustained improvement in children's health.

Standard eight of the NSF relates to children who are disabled or who have complex needs. It requires that they receive co-ordinated, high-quality child and family-centred services that are based on assessed needs, which promote social inclusion and, where possible, which enable them and their families to live normal lives. Toward this end, the Department will shortly publish an exemplar on complex disability, which will be launched on 30 November at a conference to mark one year since the launch of the NSF. In addition, the Council for Disabled Children will be holding a workshop on 8 December, sponsored by the Department, which will look at what more central Government can do to help colleagues to implement standard eight.

Exemplars are not standards against which to measure progress. Rather, they are illustrations of policy in the form of a description of a patient's journey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many secondary school-age children suffered from (a) high cholesterol levels, (b) heart failure and (c) diabetes in each year since 1995. [25186]

The information requested is shown in the table. Patient counts are not available for years prior to 1997–98 and therefore not included.

Diagnosis of school-age children suffering from high cholesterol levels, heart failure and diabetes, England, 1995–96 to 2003–04

Source:

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of whether NHS organisations have implemented the guidance issued by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence on chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, which was published on 25 February 2004. [27546]

Clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are reflected in the standards published by the Department, which provide a framework for continuous improvement in the overall quality of care people receive. Clinical guidelines are covered by the developmental standards, standards which the national health service is expected to achieve over time. The Healthcare Commission has responsibility for assessing progress towards achieving these standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what clinical negligence payments were made by hospital trusts within the Cheshire and Mersey Strategic Health Authority in 2004 to 2005. [26372]

The information requested is shown in the table.

Clinical negligence payments made by national health service trusts in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority area during 2004–05⁽²⁾

⁽²⁾Data relate to the 2004–05 financial year as audited by the National Audit Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on a full clinical assessment of the cost effectiveness of complementary and alternative medical therapies. [21420]

There have been no formal discussions with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) about a full clinical assessment of the cost effectiveness of complementary and alternative medical therapies. However, NICE'S guidance on supportive and palliative care for cancer patients took the view that while there was little conclusive evidence of their effectiveness as a form of treatment, there was some evidence of their value to patients.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has spent on (a) child care and (b) child care vouchers for its staff in each of the last five years. [19724]

The Department has a yearly budget allocation for a range of child care provision, including subsidised on-site play-scheme places, nursery and out-of-school allowances that are payable to eligible parents.

The total allocation is shown in the table.

£

The Department does not currently offer child care vouchers to staff, but is currently reviewing its child care provision and is looking favourably at child care vouchers as part of a salary sacrifice scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to ensure that doctors trained in the UK are not lost to other countries if they are unable to secure a training post. [25321]

The number of medically qualified hospital and community health services doctors in training and equivalents has increased from 29,572 in 1997 to 40,844 in September 2004, an increase of 11,272 (38 per cent.). The number of general practitioner registrars has increased from 1,343 in 1997 to 2,481 in June 2005, an increase of 1,138 (88 per cent.).

Training opportunities arise each week and a number of junior doctors have long taken up training posts outside the United Kingdom. Any doctor in training who experiences difficulty in obtaining a placement should seek help from their postgraduate dean. Departmental Officials have been working closely with the deans to ensure that help and advice is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken by the Government to reduce the number of cases of eating disorders in young girls. [25895]

The issue of eating disorders among young people, especially young girls, is a serious problem. Anorexia in particular can have serious consequences for general health and has high rates of mortality.

In January 2004, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a guideline on the care of people with eating disorders. The guideline makes specific recommendations for the treatment of adolescents and young people in recognition of their unique needs. Some of the recommendations are:

Effective assessment of people with eating disorders, which includes co-ordination of care, the involvement of patients and their carers, providing good information, moral support and getting help early;

Involving family members, including siblings, in the treatment of children and adolescents with eating disorders. Interventions may include sharing of information, advice on behavioural management and facilitating communication;

Offering adolescents with bulimia cognitive behaviour therapy adapted as needed to suit their age, circumstances, level of development and including the family as appropriate; and

Young people are treated in age appropriate settings.

While each patient will have their own individual needs, the guideline gives clear recommendations on the type of treatments that are available and sets out a structured pathway of care. NICE have also published information for the public that explains the guideline and sets out what people with eating disorders can expect from the national health service.

There are opportunities to address healthy eating within the curriculum through science, design and technology and personal, social and health education (PSHE). Children learn about different types of food in the context of a balanced diet, nutrition, safety and hygiene. PSHE also offers scope for schools to explore how young people can access appropriate advice and support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) what the cost to each NHS trust of legal fees for defending equal pay claims has been in each year since 1997; [25804]

(2) how many of the loans from her Department to each NHS trust since 1997 to cover the costs of equal pay claims have been repaid; and what the timescale was for each such repayment; [25805]

(3) how much has been lent by her Department to each NHS trust to cover the costs of equal pay claims in each year since 1997; [25806]

(4) what the interest rate was on each loan lent by her Department to NHS trusts to cover the costs of equal pay claims since 1997. [25833]

Information about the cost of equal pay claims and associated legal costs is not available centrally. The Department of Health has not made any loans to NHS trusts for the costs of equal pay claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio of men to women general practitioners is. [26470]

The number of general practitioners, excluding returners and registrars, as at 30 September 2004 was 31,523. Of these, 19,288 were men and 12,235 were women—a ratio of 1:0.63.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) the total number of statins and (b) the number per 1,000 population was prescribed by general practitioner practices in Dacorum Primary Care Trust for the years (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05; and if she will make a statement. [27981]

The information requested is shown in the table.

Total items prescribed the total number of patients and total number of statins items per1,000 population of Dacorum Primary Care Trust (PCT)

Notes:

ePACT Data

This information was obtained from the prescribing analysis and cost tool (PACT) system, which covers prescriptions prescribed by general practitioner (GP) practices in England and dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom. For data at PCT level, prescriptions written by a GP practice located in a particular PCT but dispensed outside that PCT will be included in the PCT in which the GP practice is based. Prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England are included.

Prescriptions written in hospitals or clinics that are dispensed in the community, prescriptions dispensed in hospitals and private prescriptions are not included in PACT data. It is important to note this as some BNF sections have a high proportion of prescriptions written in hospitals that are dispensed in the community.

For example, BNF chapter 4, Central Nervous System" has a fair proportion of items written in mental health clinics that are dispensed in the community—these prescriptions are not included in PACT data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust has used healthcare recruitment agencies based outside the UK for the recruitment of healthcare professionals from developing countries since the Code of Practice was agreed; and if she will make a statement. [25932]

The information requested is not held centrally.

The Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals identifies guiding principles to promote high standards in the recruitment and employment of healthcare professionals from overseas. It is also concerned with the protection of developing countries and seeks to prevent targeted recruitment from developing nations who are experiencing shortages of healthcare staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure was on the Health Protection Agency for 2004–05; and what the planned expenditure is for (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, including the reductions proposed in the NHS non-departmental body review. [30458]

holding answer 21 November 2005

Details of the expenditure of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in 2004–05 are published in its annual report and accounts, which are available in the Library.

The budget for the HPA in 2005–06 is £134,300,000, which includes its planned expenditure. The indicative cash budget for the HPA in 2006–07 will be £137,926,000, which includes a 2.7 per cent. increase to allow for inflation.

The HPA has been asked to make efficiency savings of £4,000,000 in 2006–07, which it is intended will be recycled to HPA front line activities supporting the national health service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) what guidelines her Department has issued on how long the Healthcare Commission should take (a) to make a decision on whether to conduct an inquiry and (b) to hold an inquiry and produce a report following the death of a patient in NHS care; [20897]

(2) how many complaints the Healthcare Commission has received about the treatment of patients unable to communicate verbally in each year since its creation; [20901]

(3) how many requests the Healthcare Commission has received to conduct an inquiry into a patient death in hospital in each year since its creation; and how many of these requests have led to inquiries being launched. [20902]

The Healthcare Commission was established by the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 and came into existence on 1 April 2004. It is independent of Government. The Department does not issue guidelines on how the Healthcare Commission should operate.

Under section 52 of the 2003 Act, the Healthcare Commission has powers to conduct investigations into the provision of health care. The Healthcare Commission has published on its website its own criteria for deciding when it will investigate. Since the end of July 2004, the Healthcare Commission has also had responsibility for managing the second independent review stage of the national health service complaints system.

I understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that in the first year of its operation, it received 93 referrals which were considered against its criteria for investigation, resulting in a range of actions, including five formal investigations. Between 1 August 2004 and 1 August 2005, the Healthcare Commission also received 8,260 requests for independent review under the NHS complaints system; 3,799 reviews were completed in the same period. I understand that the Commission does not have information on what proportion of referrals relate to individual patient deaths in hospital. I also understand that the Healthcare Commission does not collect information centrally on complaints relating to patients who cannot communicate verbally. 13 per cent. of all cases received to date under the second stage of the NHS complaints system have contained an issue concerning communication.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research has been conducted into the impact upon (a) indoor air quality and (b) human health of the use of air fresheners; what advice has been given to the public relating to their use; and if she will make a statement. [27813]

The Department is aware of recent research by the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children team at the University of Bristol on the effect on health of the use of household products including air fresheners¹ . The results have been noted. However, it is important to be cautious about their interpretation until the results have been supported by other research.

The committee on the medical effects of air pollutants has published a document, Guidance on the Effects on Health of Indoor Air Pollutants" on its website at: www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap/PDFS/guidanceindoorairQualityDec04.pdf This contains a brief section on volatile organic compounds and on household products. It advises that ensuring good ventilation in homes is the best way to reduce exposure.

¹ Farrow et al (2003) Arch.Env.Health 58(10):633–641; Sherriff et al (2005) Thorax 60(1): 45–49.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the optimum budget which should be used by an average-sized NHS trust to fund its cleanyourhands campaign; and what resources each NHS trust committed to infection control in the last period for which figures are available. [23031]

National health service trusts have always paid for their own handrubs, but in preparation for cleanyourhands, new contracts for handrubs were developed by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency. As a result of these new contracts, significant cost savings have been realised. This has meant that in many cases, individual trusts' existing expenditure on alcohol handrubs has been reduced. Expenditure on infection control is decided locally and information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts have appointed a director of infection prevention and control; and how many directors of infection prevention and control are also their trust's (a) director of finance, (b) director of estates and facilities, (c) director of nursing and (d) non-executive director. [23032]

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the demand for critical care beds in the event of an influenza pandemic; and if she will make a statement. [20859]

Estimates of the impact of an influenza pandemic are based on the best available evidence. However, the number of people affected and the impact on the health care system will depend on the nature of the pandemic flu virus. The UK Health Department's Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan estimates the minimum number of excess hospitalisations, including those who may require intensive care, over the course of a pandemic to be 82,500 for the United Kingdom as a whole. The Department is currently working with the Intensive Care Society to estimate the likely impact of an influenza pandemic on critical care services in particular.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of NHS capacity in (a) critical care, (b) secondary care and (c) primary care to cope in the event of an influenza pandemic; and if she will make a statement. [22095]

Estimates of the impact of an influenza pandemic are based on the best available evidence. However, the number of people affected and the impact on the healthcare system will depend on the nature of the pandemic 'flu virus. The United Kingdom health departments' influenza pandemic contingency plan estimates the minimum number of excess hospitalisations, including those who will require intensive care, over the course of a pandemic to be 82,500 for the United Kingdom as a whole. The plan also contains estimates for the demand on primary care during an influenza pandemic. These are based on the best available assumptions. The Department is currently working with the Intensive Care Society and other key stakeholders to estimate the likely impact of an influenza pandemic on critical care services.

We have also provided operational guidance to the national health service to help inform its local planning for a possible influenza pandemic. The Department's routine winter preparations guidance also reinforced the requirement for local NHS to follow guidance from the Department on preparing for an influenza pandemic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her contingency plan is in the event of an influenza pandemic if daily reports on stocks of antivirals show that supplies are getting low. [22096]

The United Kingdom's stockpile of antivirals is intended primarily to treat all patients who develop influenza given a clinical attack rate of 25 per cent. The stockpile will be carefully managed to ensure that it is used for the 25 per cent. of the population who are expected to become ill. The use of antiviral medicines will be closely monitored from the outset. However, the clinical attack rate will depend on the nature of the virus. Should the attack rate prove higher than expected, or a pandemic strike before the stockpile is fully established, antivirals may need to be prioritised. The published antiviral strategy allows for prioritisation to treat those front line health staff at higher risk due to exposure and the groups identified as being in greatest clinical need. Further advice will be provided during the pandemic by the UK national influenza pandemic committee on the basis of emerging information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhat plans her Department has to develop a recovery plan for the period after a possible influenza pandemic. [22124]

The UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan" recognises that returning to normal business after a pandemic may take some time for all organisations. We will encourage business and service sectors to consider recovery in their planning for a possible influenza pandemic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlay the assumption of the number of people likely to be affected by an influenza pandemic in her Department's contingency plan; and what preparation is being made for a worst case scenario. [22196]

The base scenario in the United Kingdom influenza pandemic contingency plan assumes that 25 per cent. of the population would have clinical symptoms of pandemic 'flu. This is based on the best available evidence, including considerations of influenza pandemics in the 20th century and independent experts. However, there are many uncertainties and the number of people affected and the impact on the health care system will depend on the nature of the pandemic 'flu virus. That is why the plan outlines scenarios with different numbers of people affected.

The base scenario also considers that at least 0.37 per cent. of those ill will die from pandemic influenza or complications. This is based on the proportion seen in seasonal flu and the 1957 pandemic. Scenarios with a case fatality rate of up to 2.5 per cent. (greater than the pandemic of 1918–19) are also considered in the plan. Local planners are encouraged to consider the range of fatality rates when drawing up their local contingency plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the steps listed in Annex G of her Department's Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan her Department plans to take; and what the timetable is for those actions. [27047]

On 20 October 2005, the Chief Medical Officer, announced that the Department is inviting manufacturers to tender for a contract to supply pandemic flu vaccine once the pandemic strain is known. The proposal to purchase in advance the capacity needed to make pandemic flu vaccine will make sure that an effective vaccine is available for use in the United Kingdom as early as possible after a flu pandemic starts. The UK will need approximately 120 million doses to be available as soon as possible.

We are working closely with other countries, the World Health Organization, and the European Commission and are in regular dialogue with manufacturers to ensure that a vaccine can be developed as quickly as possible once a pandemic influenza strain emerges. This will allow us to put arrangements in place to ensure production of vaccine for the UK population.

We are finalising a contract for the purchase of a two to three million doses of vaccine against the H5N1 strain currently circulating in South East Asia. This vaccine can be used for research and for possible use for healthcare workers in an emergency, and may provide some limited protection against a pandemic emerging from that source. We hope to award this contract shortly.

We are constantly reviewing all issues identified in annex G of the plan and will implement specific measures when we consider it to be necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 November to Question reference 21455, how much central contingency stock of influenza vaccine her Department holds; how many people this would treat; and if she will make a statement. [28320]

holding answer 14 November 2005

The Department has purchased 400,000 doses of flu vaccine. This is sufficient to treat 400,000 adults.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intermediate care beds there were in England in each of the last six years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [28109]

holding answer 14 November 2005

As at 31 March 2005, there were 29,500 places benefiting over 360,000 people. The NHS Plan aimed for an extra 6,700 places for intermediate care by March 2005; 5,000 residential and 1,700 non-residential places. The national health service has delivered an extra 18,095 places; 270 per cent. more than the combined target. The available data are shown in the table.

Number of intermediate care beds 1999–2000 to 2004–05.

⁽³⁾ Information not collected

Source:

Statistical Summary to Chief Executive's Report to the NHS (13 May 2005)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2715W, on MRSA, when she expects to publish the results of the evaluation of the pilot. [20750]

We do not plan to prepare a formal report on the pilot. Enhanced surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias was rolled out to all trusts on 1 October 2005 on the basis of positive feedback from the Health Protection Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State forHealth what recent action the Government have taken to reduce the number of cases of MRSA in hospitals. [25905]

The Department has established a wide ranging programme of mutually reinforcing activities to support our target to halve methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections(bacteraemias) by March 2008.

A recent key initiative in June 2005 was the launch of Saving Lives", which brings many of the programme's activities together to provide trusts with a tool to implement best practice and reduce infection rates. Other recent projects include the launch in September 2005 of new e-learning tools for all national health service staff and in October, enhancement of the MRSA surveillance system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates have been made by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of (a) the gross costs of implementing NICE guidance and (b) the number of patients benefiting from such implementation, broken down by disease category. [23004]

This is a matter for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The Department publishes an assessment of the cost of implementing NICE's guidance in the public expenditure inquiry. In 2005, the total cost of implementing NICE's guidance to date was estimated to be £836 million.

The Department estimates that some tens of thousands of patients have benefited from NICE's guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Vale of York on 25 October 2005, ref 22789; and what representations she has received on the mammogram reading at St Margaret's Hospital, Epping. [27065]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 November 2005, Official Report, column 389W. Since the hon. Member's question, I have received one representation on the reading of mammograms at St. Margaret's hospital in Epping.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to disseminate information on toxicological impacts of pesticides on human beings; and what monitoring and reporting mechanisms are in place. [25499]

The Department works closely with other Government Departments and agencies on matters related to the toxicological impacts of pesticides on humans. Information on toxicological impacts of pesticides is widely available to the public. Evaluation documents are published on the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) website, and such information is published in the ACP annual report. Information is also available from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs' pesticides safety directorate (PSD) carries out a yearly survey into all human health incidents reported to approvals holders for amateur and professional pesticide products by users. The results of this survey are published on the PSD website at www.pesticides.gov.uk/home.asp. Any potential exposures to pesticides should be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who will investigate complaints involving ill health arising because of a work activity. Once an investigation is complete, details of investigated cases are sent for examination to the HSE's Pesticides Incident Appraisal Panel (PIAP). PIAP reviews all the reports and publishes its conclusions in an annual report that is reviewed by the ACP. The Department of Health has an assessor on the ACP.

Following recommendations of the recent report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution on Crop spraying and the health of residents and bystanders" the Government will be reviewing these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Healthhow many podiatry services there are in England broken down by (a) primary care trust and (b) hospital setting. [26855]

holding answer 10 November 2005

The information requested is not collected centrally. However, all primary care trusts will commission these services to meet the needs of their local population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to raise awareness of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer among men; and how many PSA tests have been carried out in each year since 1997. [26013]

The NHS Prostate Cancer Programme, launched in September 2000, set out the Government's commitment to improve early detection of prostate cancer. The prostate cancer risk management programme (PCRMP) has been set up to ensure that all men considering a test for prostate cancer are given information on the benefits, limitations and risks associated with having a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

Raising public awareness of prostate cancer is one of the key challenges for the future. We want men to know what their prostate is, what it does and what can go wrong with it. However we have to raise public awareness in a responsible way so as not to cause undue anxiety and worry. Thanks to the work of the prostate cancer advisory group we now have, for the first time, a definitive set of key messages for the general public about the prostate gland, including prostate cancer. The key messages have been agreed by 20 organisations, including charities, patient groups and professional bodies as well as the Department.

On 31 October, we announced a joint venture to pilot raising awareness of the prostate using the key messages in a primary care trust area. The effectiveness of the intervention will be fully evaluated, along with the impact on local health services. £100,000 is being provided by the Government, with the remaining £50,000 being provided by signatories to the prostate cancer charter for action. The pilot is due to begin in spring 2006.

We have provided funding for the following organisations to increase public awareness of prostate cancer:

In 2003–04, we provided £30,000 to the men's health forum to help fund their publication the Men and Cancer Manual";

We have provided £135,000 to the Prostate Cancer Charity to increase available information about prostate cancer;

We are providing £105,000 to the Prostate Cancer Charity to improve awareness of the risks and symptoms of prostate cancer in African and Afro-Caribbean men in Britain;

We have worked with the prostate cancer charter for action to develop UK Prostate Link, a unique information source for men with prostate cancer, their families and health professionals. UK Prostate Link was launched on 3 November 2005, and is available at: http://prostate-link.org.uk/. £100,000 is being provided by the Government, with the remaining £50,000 being provided by signatories to the prostate cancer charter for action.

The number of PSA tests carried out each year is not collected centrally. However, research funded by the Department and carried out by the cancer screening evaluation unit, Institute of Cancer Research, has shown that the overall rate of PSA testing increased significantly from 1999 to 2002. The number of PSA requests submitted by participating laboratories rose by 42 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) what the waiting time is for (a) an urgent scan and (b) a non-urgent scan at Poole NHS Trust; [29961]

(2) what the average waiting time is for (a) an urgent scan and (b) a non-urgent scan in each NHS hospital in England. [29962]

holding answer 21 November 2005

Waiting time data for diagnostic scans are not currently collected centrally. A new diagnostic data collection will be rolled out nationally from January 2006 to support delivery of the 2008 18-week target. This will not, however, enable a distinction between waiting times for urgent and non-urgent scans to be made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to recruit school nurses. [24253]

The Department is committed to providing new funding so that by 2010, every primary care trust, working with children's trusts and local authorities, will be resourced to have at least one full-time, year-round, qualified school nurse working with each cluster or group of primary schools and the related secondary school.

The Department understands that school nurses have an important and central role to play in tackling health issues among children and younger people, such as obesity, exercise, smoking prevention and cessation and sexual and emotional health.

The Chief Nursing Officer is leading the development and promotion of a new modern role for school nurses, and many school nurses are already modernising their roles and playing a key role in initiatives such as healthy schools, and preventing teenage pregnancy. The NHS Improvement Plan and the nursing strategy Making a Difference' also point towards an expanded role for school nurses, and a three-year school nurse development programme is currently being updated to ensure school nurses remain a dynamic workforce who are able to contribute to good outcomes for children and young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses there are in England. [25656]

As at 30 September 2004, there were 2,409 qualified nurses working in school nursing employed in the national health service in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) how much of her Department's budget in 2005–06 is dedicated to funding training in sign language and lip reading; [26824]

(2) what measures she is taking to ensure that the NHS delivers specialist support to those who became severely or profoundly deaf after the age of 16 years. [26847]

This information is not held centrally.

It is the responsibility of the national health service and local authorities to determine how best to provide services for people with hearing impairments. This includes resource allocation for training staff in appropriate means of communication and specialist support services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will commission research on the cost-effectiveness of providing preventative social care services. [23099]

The Department's partnerships for older people projects initiative is making available ring-fenced funding of £20 million in 2006–07 and £40 million in 2007–08 to council-led partnerships to establish and test innovative approaches to preventative social and healthcare services. These will be subject to comprehensive evaluation at a local and national level and will become operational on 1 May 2006. The national evaluation will start at the same time as the partnerships pilots and will run for two and half years. Its findings will be integral to the Government's aim of developing an evidence base to support preventative approaches to care for older people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she expects there will be further ward closures at Southport and Ormskirk hospital trust sites in the next 12 months. [26585]

This is a matter for the Southport and Ormskirk hospital national health service trust to determine in partnership with local stakeholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the scientific studies which informed her Department's decision to remove Sudan One from the market. [29213]

holding answer 16 November 2005

Sudan One is an illegal substance that is not permitted to be used in food. Under the General Food Law (EC Regulation 178/2002) the food industry has a legal responsibility to withdraw and recall all products known to be contaminated with such substances and to inform consumers.

The decision to recall products containing the dye Sudan One from the market was informed by a risk assessment agreed by the chairs of the independent expert Committees on Toxicity, Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment.

The risk assessment concluded that, based on the available data, it was prudent to assume that Sudan One is a genotoxic carcinogen. The risk assessment, including a list of the scientific studies on which it is based, was published in the 2003 annual report for the three committees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the public from the Hemel Hempstead area have been selected to take part in the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say" consultation exercise. [25750]

Regional events were held in Gateshead, Leicester, London and Plymouth and a citizen's summit was held in Birmingham. None of the participants selected were from Hemel Hempstead.

On 4 November, 147 feedback forms had been received from local consultation events. In addition, over 18,000 on-line questionnaires had been completed and approximately 15,500 hard copies of the questionnaires had been returned. It is possible that participants from Hemel Hempstead may have taken part in these local events or completed the on-line or hard copy form of the questionnaire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) statutory funding and (b) National Lottery funding Sport England plans to spend on the Active People survey; and if she will make a statement. [21574]

pursuant to the reply, 31 October 2005, Official Report, c. 525W

I regret that my previous answer on how the costs of the Active People survey will be met was incorrect. It should read as follows:

The £2 million annual cost over three years of the Active People survey will be apportioned by approximately(a) £1.1 million of Exchequer funding and (b) £0.9 million of Sport England Lottery funding. Sport England will review the apportionment annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which black artistic (a) companies, (b) projects and (c) individuals received Arts Council England funding for theatre in 2004–05. [26837]

The table supplied by Arts Council England provides a breakdown of the information requested.

Regularly funded organisation funding for BME led organisations 2004–05

To ask the Secretary of State forCulture, Media and Sport how many complaints have been received regarding the BBC's latest proposals to increase the licence fee; and if she will make a statement. [25873]

My Department regularly receives correspondence relating to the television licence fee. Since the BBC's announcement on 11 October 2005 we have received approximately 60 items of correspondence regarding the BBC's own assessment of its future funding needs. The Government are currently conducting a review of BBC funding to determine the future level of the licence fee and will make an announcement in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

(1) what representations the Government have received from the BBC requesting that the application of the BBC television licence fee be extended to premises which do not have a television but which have access to the internet; [27597]

(2) what consideration the Government have given to extending the application of the BBC television licence fee to premises which do not have a television but which have access to the internet. [27598]

The Government have received no such representations from the BBC. However, the BBC, as television licensing authority, considers that the current definition of a television receiver in the licence fee regulations already extends to a PC that is used to watch television programme services over the internet, if they are received at the same time or virtually the same time as they are received elsewhere by conventional means.

The Government have no plans for any changes to the current arrangements but, as indicated in the BBC Charter Review Green Paper published in March 2005, believes that changes to the existing funding model might have to be considered if in future large numbers of people are downloading audio-visual content from the internet and watching it on their computers or mobile phones, rather than using traditional TV services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have black and white television licences. [27040]

As of March 2005, there were 58,000 black and white television licences in force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the additional cost to the public purse would be of reducing the age at which a free television licence can be obtained to 65 years. [29963]

holding answer 21 November 2005

The estimated additional cost of extending free television licences to all households with a person aged 65 or over would be £443 million a year, based on the current licence fee level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many television licences have been issued in each constituency in Northern Ireland in each year since 2001. [30193]

TV Licensing, who administer the television licensing system as agents for the BBC, do not record the number of licences issued by constituency. Data by nation and region are estimated from United Kingdom figures and is available only for the last four years. The estimated number of licences issued in Northern Ireland in each of the last four years are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many written representations her Department has received since 1 October from hon. Members concerning commercial radio and the review of the BBC Charter. [30454]

holding answer 21 November 2005

Since 1 October, my Department has received 27 letters from hon. Members concerning commercial radio and the review of the BBC Charter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many contracts were signed by her Department in (a) 2005–06 to date and (b) 2004–05 for direct mail; and what the value was in each case. [27674]

DCMS has not placed any contracts for direct mail in either;(a) 2005–06 or (b) 2004–05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the 10 highest-paid employees in her Department, broken down by (a) job title and (b) salary including bonuses; and whether the individual concerned is (i) a civil servant and (ii) a contractor in each case. [27430]

The information requested is published annually in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Resource Accounts. The most recently published accounts for 2004–05 were laid before the House of Commons on 19 October 2005 and copies placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) disabled and (b) elderly viewers will be able to meet the costs of the television switchover from analogue to digital. [26900]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State plans for a support scheme to provide help with equipment and installation and follow-up support for people aged 75 years and over and people with significant disabilities.

Assistance will consist of providing the necessary equipment to convert one TV set and the relevant support to install and use the equipment. The help will be available free of charge for those within the eligible groups on low incomes, and at a modest fee for others. Further details of how the scheme will operate in practice are being developed and will be set out in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her most recent estimate is of the date by which households across Coventry, South constituency will be able to receive digital terrestrial broadcasts. [29800]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has confirmed the regional timetable for digital switchover; it will take place between 2008 and 2012 by ITV region in the following order:

Note:

Further details can be found at www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk

Digital switchover will enable coverage for digital terrestrial television to reach the same level as that of the current analogue signals. It will take place in the Coventry South constituency (central region) in 2011.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people over 75 years in Paisley and Renfrewshire, North constituency receive free television licences. [28964]

TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Paisley and Renfrewshire, North constituency in 2004–05 was 2,960, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to ensure that all programmes funded through the BBC licence fee are made available free of charge only to UK citizens. [30616]

holding answer 21 November 2005

The Government has no plans to take such steps. We do not believe it is practicable or desirable to make British citizenship a criterion for reception of BBC programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many air miles were accrued through departmental ministerial travel in 2004–05, broken down by Minister; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (i) foregone and (ii) given to charity. [17330]

I have accrued 49,908 air miles from Ministerial, travel in 2004–05.

No air miles were accrued by other Ministers.

Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. Guidance for Ministers on the use of air miles is set out in the Ministerial Code. The guidance makes clear that air miles should be used only for official purposes or else foregone. However, if it is impracticable to use the benefits for Government travel, there is no objection to Ministers donating them to charity of these is permissible under the terms of the airline's scheme and the charity is one chosen by the airline.

Similar rules are in place for officials.

My air miles were collected in order that they will go towards helping young athletes with their travel costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times she has visited (a) Dacorum and (b) Hertfordshire in her official capacity in the last 12 months; and what the purpose was of each visit. [29921]

During the last 12 months I have not visited Dacorum but have visited Hertfordshire twice. Details are in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what lottery funding is available for grass root sports clubs in the west midlands region. [29801]

The following amounts of lottery money have been made available to grass root sports clubs in the West Midlands region in this financial year: £3,000,000 from the Community Investment Fund; £500,000 for the Football Foundation and £400,000 through the Awards for All scheme. Active England, which funds a range of projects benefiting grass root sports clubs, will also have invested £10,100,000 in the West Midlands region over the period 2002–03 to 2005–06.