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Animal Products (Exports)
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries require additional certificates accompanying animal products exported from the United Kingdom to show they are free from radioactivity ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : Scientific advice on which the Government rely is to the effect that all food produced and marketed in the United Kingdom may be safely consumed as free from harmful radioactive material. Nevertheless since the Chernobyl incident a number of
countries--especially in the middle and far east--have required official certificates to this effect in respect of their food imports from the United Kingdom. My Department has routinely provided these at the request of the exporters to facilitate exports. No exhaustive list of those importing countries requiring such certification has been maintained and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Salmonella
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he has taken or he plans to take to ensure that breeding flocks in other European Community countries known to be contaminated with salmonella enteriditis become free of this bacteria ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : I am pressing for the adoption of Community measures to tackle the problem of salmonella in poultry flocks.
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence to link salmonella typhimurium with the contamination of eggs, and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gummer : Salmonella typhimurium is known to be present in some poultry laying flocks and, like Salmonella enteritidis, has the potential to contaminate eggs. This can arise in a number of ways including contamination of the shell by infected faeces as the egg is laid and subsequent
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penetration into the egg contents. The evidence supporting this view was upheld by the Select Committee on Agriculture in its first report on salmonella in eggs published in February 1989.Contaminated Meat
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the results of the research carried out at his central veterinary laboratory on the bacteriological contamination of poultry meat and sausages.
Mr. Gummer : No research on the bacteriological contamination of poultry meat and sausages is carried out at the central veterinary laboratory, Weybridge.
London Food Commission
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to invite a representative from the London Food Commission to participate in the new consumer panel announced by him on 2 November.
Mr. Maclean : I have written to the National Consumer Council, the Consumers Association and the Consumers in the European Community group inviting each organisation to nominate representatives of consumer interests to the consumer panel. I have suggested that in those nominations they should put forward ordinary consumers rather than representatives of particular organisations or lobby groups.
Potassium Bromate
Mr. Cran : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take as a result of the recent review by the Food Advisory Committee on the use of potassium bromate in foodstuffs.
Mr. Maclean : Potassium bromate is currently approved for use as a flour improver. That approval was given on the basis that when the flour was used in bread the baking process ensured that there were no residues left. Recently, improved analytical techniques have indicated that this is not necessarily the case and that there may be some very small residues. The Food Advisory Committee has thus recommended that approval for potassium bromate as a flour improver should be withdrawn. I accept that advice and as the law requires will be circulating the draft regulations for consultation today. Potassium bromate is also used in the brewing industry but there are not the same residue questions there and this usage will therefore be allowed to continue for the present.
I have deposited a copy of the Food Advisory Committee's advice in the Library of the House.
Straw and Stubble Burning
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county the number of successful prosecutions for breaches of straw and stubble burning law for the current year, and the penalties imposed.
Mr. Patten [holding answer 27 October 1989] : I have been asked to reply.
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Information held centrally for 1988 is given in the table. Of the 33 offenders found guilty one (in Hertfordshire) was given an absolute discharge and the remainder were fined. Data for 1989 are not yet available.
Offenders found guilty under section 235 of the Local Government
Act 1972-Byelaws relating to the burning of straw or stubble
Police force area |Total found guilty |Average amount fined
|(£000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |3 |45
Bedfordshire |1 |200
Cambridgeshire |5 |210
Cleveland |3 |50
Gloucestershire |1 |200
Hertfordshire |4 |100
Lincolnshire |9 |110
Northamptonshire |1 |100
North Yorkshire |2 |50
Warwickshire |1 |100
Wiltshire |3 |190
England and Wales |33 |125
BSE
Mr. Boswell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes to take any further action in the light of the Southwood report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Mr. Gummer [pursuant to the reply, 13 June 1989, c. 352] : All bovine animals which are found to have BSE are slaughtered and destroyed. Meat from these animals does not enter the food chain either for human or animal consumption. Earlier this year my predecessor announced that he would take a further precaution which would be to exclude certain bovine offals derived from healthy animals. Further technical studies have now been carried out and additional independent expert advice has been taken. The offals affected are brain, spinal cord, thymus, spleen, tonsils and intestines. A full consultation with all interested parties as required by law has now been completed with one exception, subject to results in this final case, we are proposing to make new regulations today to implement the ban to come into effect on Monday 13 November.
Offals from calves under six months of age will be excluded from these arrangements since any of these offals which may be used for human food will not present a human health hazard. There are no known cases of human beings being infected by any animal encephalopathy. This is a further addition to the very tough measures which Sir Richard Southwood's expert committee recommended earlier this year.
HEALTH
Funding
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much funding for the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde district health authority and the West Lancashire family practitioner committee has increased in the period 1979 to 1989.
Mr. Freeman : The recurrent revenue funding for the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde district health authority has increased from £37.8 million in 1982-83 to £65.3 million in 1989-90. This increase of £27.5 million represents an increase in real terms of about 16 per cent., and an
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increased share of north-western region's recurrent revenue expenditure from 4.7 per cent. to 5.1 per cent. The health services now provided by the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde health authority were part of the Lancashire area health authority up to 1982-83 and expenditure on them was not separately identified.The recurring revenue funding of the Lancashire family practitioner committee has increased from £1.15 million in 1985-86 to £1.42 million in 1989-90. This increase of £270,000, in cash terms, represents an increase in real terms of 19 per cent.
Family practitioner committee administration expenditure prior to 1985-86 is not available as it was included as part of district health authorities expenditure and not separately identified.
Insulin
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date synthetic human insulin was licensed in Britain ; and on what date warnings to patients were inserted in packs.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Synthetic human insulin was licensed in June 1982. General patient leaflet warnings were available from the outset. As a result of reports that some patients had noticed less pronounced or no symptoms of hypoglycaemia on transferring to human insulin the licensing authority reviewed all data sheets and patient information leaflets. In March 1989 they requested manufacturers to add a specific warning to this effect.
Fluoride
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is carrying out, and what information he has gathered, regarding the effect on the health of people of fluorides in drinking water.
Mr. Freeman : The Department is not currently commissioning any research into the effects of fluoridated water on general health. The Government remain convinced that fluoridation at a concentration of one part per million--the level used in all United Kingdom fluoridation schemes --has no adverse effects upon health, and there is no medical evidence to challenge this view. Numerous studies undertaken in this country have, however, demonstrated that dental caries is reduced in fluoridated areas by as much as one third to one half compared to non-fluoridated areas.
Waiting Lists (Southampton)
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the Official Report , the hospital waiting list numbers for the Southampton and South West district health authority for the last six years for which records are available.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The requested information is given in the table.
Numbers of cases on the in-patient waiting list, Southampton and South West Hampshire DHA, at 31 March, 1984 to 1989. Year |Total numbers ------------------------------------------ 1984 |9,199 1985 |8,732 1986 |8,492 1987 |8,217 <1>1988 |7,051 <1>1989 |8,542 <1>Total less self deferred cases to give comparable data with earlier years.
Mental Handicap Hospitals
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to health authorities on the protection of day services in mental handicap hospitals during the period of rundown in patient numbers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Planning guidelines issued to health authorities in Health Circular (88) 43 (a copy of which is in the Library) state that health authorities should aim
"to provide good quality care for mentally handicapped people in all settings including maintaining and where necessary improving standards in large hospitals as their populations reduce."
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the current provision of day services in mental handicap hospitals ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The most current information available for 1987-88 concerning the provision of day care facilities in England is contained in the Department of Health publication "Summary of KH14--NHS Day Care Facilities", a copy of which is in the Library. These figures include facilities outside mental handicap hospitals.
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that the resources of large mental handicap hospitals are redeployed for the benefit of people with mental handicap, in particular for the provision of day services, when these funds are no longer required on site ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Decisions regarding the use of resources released from large mental handicap hospitals are primarily matters for health authorities in consultation with the relevant local authorities--as they are best placed to know the needs of the population in their area. Arrangements already exist whereby health authorities can transfer funding to local authorities to assist in the provision of community care. Proceeds from the sale of mental handicap hospitals must be used specifically for the development of services for that client group unless there are exceptional circumstances and the Department has agreed otherwise.
Community Care
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will encourage health and local authorities to co-operate in ensuring continuity of day service provision when residents move out of hospital, in particular the provision of therapist input to community day services ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Government policy is to encourage the development at local level of a comprehensive range of well-co-ordinated health and social services for mentally handicapped people. Every district is required by 1991 to
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have agreed in consultation with the relevant local authorities policy statements and action plans for meeting those needs of mentally handicapped people for which health authorities have the relevant skills, expertise and responsibility. This includes the provision of therapy services.Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in the preparation of the White Paper on community care, he has considered the training provided by the Crossroads care attendant schemes for care attendants, local voluntary management committees and co-ordinators of local schemes ; and whether this might provide a model for training by local authorities.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Training needs will be considered along with other implementation issues following publication of the White Paper.
Mental Handicap (Community Care)
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will instruct health authorities to review their day services for people with mental handicap following the social services inspectorate report on day services outside hospitals ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : We expect health authorities to review their day services for people with a mental handicap as part of their general responsibility to keep all the services which they provide under review.
Patients
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will give the number of patients treated in the northern region for each year since 1983 as (a) in-patients and (b) out-patients.
Mr. Freeman : The information is given in the table.
Cases treated, NHS hospitals, Northern Regional Health Authority, 1983-1987-88 Year |In-patient cases treated|New out-patients ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1983 |409,115 |557,125 1984 |420,080 |569,743 1985 |433,131 |595,232 1986 |441,095 |602,318 1987-88 |462,766 |592,469
Hospital Improvements
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list major hospital improvements in the northern region since 1983, together with the cost of each.
Mr. Freeman : Following is a list of capital schemes over £1 million in northern region which, according to information available centrally, have been completed since 1 January 1983, together with the cost of construction at tender stage in each case :
Project/scheme |Construction cost £
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blyth Community Hospital & Health Centre |4,258,871
Darlington Memorial Maternity Department |1,125,935
Fenhan Blood Transfusion Service Centre |3,542,500
Freenan Hospital-ENT(D) |2,865,079
Furness (Barrow) DGH scheme 1 phase 1 |9,966,609
Furness General scheme 1 phase 2 |1,496,150
Furness General scheme 2 phase 1 |6,080,209
Hartlepool DGH scheme 2 phase 1 |4,906,403
Hartlepool DGH scheme 3 phase 1 |2,395,891
Hartlepool DGH scheme 3 phase 4 |1,900,440
Jarrow Community Hospital |3,314,250
Middlesbrough General Hospital |1,567,825
North Tyneside scheme 1 phase 1 |10,364,538
North Tyneside scheme 2 phase 1 |4,140,250
Queen Elizabeth Gateshead scheme 3 phase 1 |6,139,179
Queen Elizabeth Gateshead scheme 3 phase 2 |1,762,698
Royal Victoria Infirmary scheme 1 phase 4 |13,640,929
South Cleveland General scheme 2 phase 1A |1,257,000
South Cleveland General scheme 2 phase 1B |6,154,060
South Cleveland General scheme 2 phase 1C |1,035,884
South Cleveland General Newlington Brokerage (D) |2,552,000
St. Georges Hospital boilerhouse |1,238,183
|-------
|Total:
Number of schemes=22 |£91,704,884
Table file CW891108.034 not available
Table file CW891108.035 not available
Darlington Health Authority
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the total spending allocated to Darlington health authority for each year since 1983, adjusted for inflation.
Mr. Freeman : Gross revenue expenditure in Darlington health authority between 1982-83 and 1988-89, the latest year for which figures are available, is shown in the table.
£ million Year |Cash |At 1989-90 prices<1> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1982-83 |22.7 |32.3 1983-84 |24.3 |33.1 1984-85 |25.5 |33.0 1985-86 |26.8 |32.9 1986-87 |28.9 |34.4 1987-88 |31.9 |36.1 1988-89<2> |34.3 |36.2 <1> Figures have been revalued using the Gross Domestic Product deflator. <2> 1988-89 figures are provisional (ie unaudited).
North Tees Health Authority
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the total spending allocated to North Tees health authority for each year since 1982, adjusted for inflation.
Mr. Roger Freeman : Gross revenue expenditure in North Tees health authority between 1982-83 and 1988-89, the latest year for which figures are available, is shown in the table.
£ million Year |Cash |At 1989-90 prices<1> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1982-83 |22.7 |32.3 1983-84 |24.3 |33.1 1984-85 |25.5 |33.0 1985-86 |26.8 |32.9 1986-87 |28.9 |34.4 1987-88 |31.9 |36.1 1988-89<2> |34.3 |36.2 <1> Figures have been revalued using the Gross Domestic Product deflator. <2> 1988-89 figures are provisional (ie unaudited).
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South Tees Health Authority
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list the total spending allocated to South Tees health authority for each year since 1982, adjusted for inflation.
Mr. Freeman : Gross revenue expenditure in South Tees health authority between 1982-83 and 1988-89, the latest year for which figures are available, is shown in the table.
Year |Cash |At 1989-90 prices<1>
|£ million |£ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982-83 |53.1 |75.7
1983-84 |55.9 |76.1
1984-85 |58.1 |75.4
1985-86 |60.7 |74.6
1986-87 |66.0 |78.6
1987-88 |73.2 |82.9
<2>1988-89 |81.9 |86.4
<1> Figures have been revalued using the gross domestic product deflator.
<2> 1988-89 figures are provisional (ie unaudited).
Northern Region (Spending)
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list total spending in the northern region for each year since 1983 adjusted for inflation.
Mr. Freeman : Gross revenue expenditure in the northern region between 1982-83 and 1988-89, the latest year for which figures are available, is shown in the table.
Year |Cash |At 1989-90 prices<1>
|£ million |£ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982-83 |520.8 |741.8
1983-84 |554.0 |754.1
1984-85 |586.9 |761.3
1985-86 |620.1 |762.4
1986-87 |664.7 |791.8
1987-88 |726.4 |822.3
<2>1988-89 |802.7 |846.8
<1> Figures have been revalued using the gross domestic product deflator.
<2> 1988-89 figures are provisional (ie unaudited).
Breast Cancer
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of women aged (a) between 50 and 64 years and (b) over 64 years, have now been screened for breast cancer in each health authority ; and how many cases of breast cancer have been detected as a result of this screening.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The NHS is setting up a national breast cancer screening service over the three years to 1990, and the service is not yet operational in all health authority areas. Following the introduction of a new statistical return for breast cancer screening from April 1989, we expect to have details of the percentage of women screened in 1989-90 towards the end of 1990. Preliminary data assembled by the cancer screening evaluation unit from 16 screening centres indicates that, as
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at June 1989, of 154,191 women aged 50 to 64 invited for screening by these centres, 679 women were found to have breast cancer.Helicopter Ambulances
Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in the Official Report those ambulance services in England which have helicopter ambulance facilities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : We do not collect this information centrally. However, we are aware that several health authorities now have dedicated helicopter ambulances. In the London area an emergency helicopter service has been operating for some months and in Cornwall the first air ambulance service has been operating for over two years. South East Thames has announced that it is shortly to commence a limited helicopter trial. In addition, other authorities have been co-operating with police forces in helicopter projects.
All health authorities can make use of RAF helicopter transport in emergency rescue missions which are free and in secondary transfers for which a charge is made. Fixed wing transport is also sometimes used where appropriate, again at commercial rates.
Disablement Services Authority
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if, in the light of an overall overspend on the wheelchair service, and the forecast increase in patient attendance, and the supply of non-powered wheelchairs and of special seating, he will increase the level of funding to the Disablement Services Authority ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what provision is made for inflation and rising salary costs when determining the level of resources for the Disablement Services Authority ; and on what basis that provision is decided.
Mr. Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Disablement Services Authority has the financial resources to carry out its planned service development in indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and special wheelchair seating ; if he will indicate the source of funding for these developments and whether it is to come from a reduction of other savings or from savings of improved efficiency ; whether these savings have so far been realised in the two and a quarter years' existence of the authority ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : These are matters that have been addressed in the public expenditure survey, the result of which will be announced shortly.
Haemophiliacs
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many haemophiliacs have been infected with HIV due to contaminated blood products for the period (a) since 1979, (b) since 1985 and (c) in the current year ;
(2) how many haemophiliacs have died as a result of having been infected with HIV due to contaminated blood products for the period (a) since 1979, (b) since 1985 and (c) in the current year.
Mr. Freeman : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) and
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the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 7 November which gives the information currently available for the numbers of haemophiliacs reported as HIV-antibody positive. The latest information available on the numbers of haemophiliacs with AIDS known to have died in the United Kingdom is given in the table. No reliable figures are available for years before 1983.
|Number
---------------------------------------------
For the period 1983-85 |14
For the period 1986-88 |71
For 1989 up to 31 October 1989 |22
|--
Total |107
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are now being taken to ensure that all blood, imported or otherwise, and blood products, used by the National Health Service for treatment of haemophiliacs in Britain is not contaminated by HIV.
Mr. Freeman : The safety of the blood supply in this country is maintained in two ways. First, since August 1983 potential donors have been given a leaflet which asks those at risk of HIV infection not to give blood. Secondly, since October 1985 all blood donations have been tested for antibodies to HIV-1. In addition, since June 1988 all donations from donors who have visited certain specified west African countries where HIV- 2 is more common have been tested for antibodies to HIV-2.
All blood products (home-produced or imported) used in this country, including Factor VIII which is used in the treatment of haemophilia, are now made from screened plasma, and are treated to inactivate HIV. All products concerned are also tested by the National Institute of Biological Standards Control under its batch release system.
NATO Exercises
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the extent of involvement by his Department in NATO exercise Wintex/Cimex 1987 and exercise Wintex/Cimex 1989 ; what is the number of staff engaged in the exercise planning process and in the exercises themselves ; and what are the ranks and responsibilities of the staff involved.
Mr. Freeman : This Department plays its part in testing those procedures in which we have an interest. Staff participate as required ; it would not be appropriate for me to supply the detail requested.
Oil Seed Rape
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the impact of the cultivation of oil seed rape on human health or allergies ; and if his Department will sponsor any research on this subject.
Mr. Freeman : The Department is aware that several studies were being conducted during the summer of 1989 into the possible links between oil seed rape and allergy. We will be interested in seeing the findings when the results are published in due course. The Department's view is that there is no conclusive proof of any link between the
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growing of oil seed rape and the increase in the numbers of allergy, hay fever, and asthma sufferers. It is possible that other factors such as pollens from less visibly prominent sources are causal or contributory factors. The Department has no plans to sponsor any research in this area.Childhood Leukaemia
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by year to date, and by regional health authority, the number of incidences of childhood leukaemia that have been reported in England and Wales following the Chernobyl accident ; and what were the reported incidences in 1980 and 1986.
Mr. Freeman : Cancer registration data for 1985 onwards are still being collected, and thus the requested information for 1986 and for the period since the Chernobyl accident in 1987 is not yet available. The table shows the data for 1980.
Number of newly diagnosed cases of leukaemia<1>, ages 0-14 years, England and Wales, 1980 Area of usual residence |Males |Females ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ England and Wales |195 |143 Northern RHA |7 |8 Yorkshire RHA |13 |6 Trent RHA |13 |14 East Anglian RHA |7 |6 North West Thames RHA |10 |7 North East Thames RHA |17 |10 South East Thames RHA |13 |12 South West Thames RHA |19 |16 Wessex RHA |23 |12 Oxford RHA |9 |5 South Western RHA |17 |5 West Midlands RHA |24 |18 Mersey RHA |7 |6 North Western RHA |11 |12 Wales |5 |6 <1> ICD Ninth Revision code 204-208.
Spina Bifida
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health authorities that provide a test for spina bifida in the foetus ; and when this test will become generally available to pregnant mothers.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Screening tests for spina bifida are already generally available to pregnant mothers.
Midwives (Grading)
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of midwives still awaiting the results of their regrading claim ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Information on the number of appeals to district health authorities is not collected centrally.
Tranquillisers
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health following the publication of the findings by the Association of Health Councils for England and Wales, if he will institute research to ascertain why tranquillisers are prescribed in connection with physical illness and as to whether guidelines should be issued on the management of
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different conditions which could avoid the use of benzodiazepines ; and if he will take steps to institute a practice policy on repeat prescribing involving frequent monitoring and review.Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We share the association's concern about inappropriate prescribing of benzodia-zepines. It is a matter for clinical judgment whether a patient with a physical illness needs to be treated with a benzodiazepine drug either to treat the physical symptoms themselves or in addition to a drug or drugs to treat such symptoms. Doctors already have all the guidance they need about the use of benzodiazepines.
From April 1990 under our proposals in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health" it will be a responsibility of family practitioner committees to encourage the development of repeat prescribing control systems in those practices that do not already have such a system.
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the findings by the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales published in "Health News
Briefing--Benzodiazepines : A Suitable Case for Treatment", on numbers of people taking benzodiazepines and the reasons for the prescriptions being made.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The association's report acknowledges that the number of people taking benzodiazepines and all the reasons for prescriptions are unclear. In 1988 in Great Britain the number of prescriptions for these drugs fell by 9 per cent. from 25.5 million in 1987 to 23.2 million. This is a reduction of nearly 25 per cent. since 1979, when 30.9 million prescriptions were written. I share the association's conclusion that benzodiazepine prescribing could be further reduced.
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess whether the findings by the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales suggest that inappropriate long-term prescribing of benzodiazepines comes to an end and as to whether benzodiazepone prescribing for (a) women and (b) the elderly constitutes a disproportionate percentage of all benzodiazepine prescribing ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Information is not collected centrally about the numbers or types of patients prescribed drugs.
Advice has been issued to doctors by the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the Royal College of Physicians, psychiatrists and general practitioners and the British Medical Association. This advice, contained in the "British National Formulary", addressed appropriate use of benzodiazepines and strategies for reducing long-term prescribing, including prescribing for women and for the elderly. We support that advice.
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidelines to hospitals to take account of the findings by the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales on benzodiazepine use.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The use of benzodiazepines in the treatment of a patient is a matter of clinical judgment, and therefore a matter for the clinician and the patient
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concerned to decide in any individual case. Some hospitals have already established their own drug formularies and we welcome this move.
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