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Alcoholic Soft Drinks
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has held with (a) the Portman Group, (b) other organisations representing the alcohol industry and (c) health organisations, on the marketing of alcoholic soft drinks; and if he will make a statement. [20870]
Mr. Burns: Officials have regular meetings with the Portman Group and health organisations. Alcoholic soft drinks are often discussed. We welcomed the industry's efforts to self-regulate through the Portman Group's code of practice for the packaging, marketing and sale of alcoholic drinks.
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department intend to take to regulate the marketing of alcoholic soft drinks. [20925]
Mr. Burns: The Government share the concern expressed about the potential appeal of such drinks to young people. We believe the alcoholic drinks industry must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the public that it can regulate itself satisfactorily. We warmly welcome the Portman Group's code of practice for the packaging and marketing of these drinks. However, we will continue to monitor how the code works in practice.
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to take action to restrict the sale to minors of kits which can convert soft drinks into alcoholic soft drinks. [20924]
Mr. Burns:
These products are covered by the provisions of the food labelling regulations and must be clearly labelled so as not to mislead consumers about their nature. We are not convinced that restrictions on the sale of these kits to children is the right approach. Use of such kits involves a number of detailed processes which would in practice need to take place in the home. As with other
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potential risks of this sort, it is up to parents to exercise supervision over their children to avoid them getting into danger.
Mr. Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average length of hospital waiting lists for non-urgent operations in the Wakefield district in (a) 1979 and (b) 1996. [20721]
Mr. Horam:
The information requested is not available. Waiting list information collected centrally does not distinguish between urgent and non-urgent cases.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those NHS trusts which do not have an MRI scanner. [20757]
Mr. Horam:
The information requested is not held centrally.
Mr. Spearing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 10 March, Official Report, columns 102-4, concerning the incidence of cancer or other abnormalities in adults and children if he will (a) ensure that the two pilot studies relating to cancer incidence incorporate maps showing high tension power lines and the places of domicile and work of those affected and (b) consult the appropriate medical and health bodies concerning (i) the practicality and (ii) the desirability of mapping such transmission lines and the incidence of other abnormalities in their vicinity. [20153]
Mr. Horam:
The two pilot studies will explore the feasibility of investigating the possible relationship between the incidence of cancers and residential distance from electricity transmission and distribution systems. Neither of these studies is designed to investigate other abnormalities. However, the National Radiological Protection Board's advisory group on non-ionising radiation reviews work related to possible effects of electromagnetic fields on human health. It has been principally concerned with the risk of cancer but also keeps under review possible effects on other diseases and abnormalities as well as on developmental effects in utero.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests; and if this is in each case (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [20905]
(12) From 1 June, all executive NDPBs will be required to make their registers of members' interests open to the public.
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Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20941]
Mr. Horam:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 14 March 1996, at columns 754-56.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report, column 739, if he will assess the advantages of classifying silicone implants as human prostheses. [20978]
Mr. Horam:
Implanted human prostheses, such as breast implants, come within the scope of the Medical Devices Regulations (SI 1994 No 3017). Under the regulations medical devices fall into four different risk categories which dictate the severity of controls that are applied before the device may be sold; implanted human prostheses such as silicone implants fall into the second highest category. This means that before a manufacturer can place his device on the market with a "Conformity European" marking of conformity under the regulations he must have his design and manufacturing process verified by an independent certification organisation to ensure that the devices produced meet the relevant essential requirements relating to safety, quality and performance.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale community health council in respect of the award of the contract by East Lancashire health authority for provision of drug misuse services; and if he will make a statement. [21010]
Mr. Horam:
We have received four letters; two from the chairman of the CHC and two from hon. Members enclosing copies of the chairman's letter. A full response will be sent as soon as possible.
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Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors preclude the curriculum studies and the education studies modules of the Irish-medium BEd course from being taught entirely through the medium of Irish; and what measures (a) St. Mary's college, Belfast and (b) the Department of Education for Northern Ireland are taking to increase the amount of teaching through the medium of Irish. [19697]
Mr. Ancram:
Students are equipped to teach in both Irish and English medium schools with St. Mary's college building on the skills of its existing staff to increase the amount of teaching through the medium of Irish. The extent of such teaching is a matter for the college to determine within the resources available.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the role of the Irish-medium development officer in relation to each of the stage 1 modules of the Irish-medium BEd course and the PGCE course at St. Mary's college, Belfast, with particular reference to staff at the college. [19692]
Mr. Ancram:
It is to develop the BEd modules and the PGCE course for Irish medium education in liaison with the relevant college staff.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the stage 1 main subject modules of the Irish-medium BEd course at the St. Mary's college, Belfast were last redesigned. [19693]
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the new Irish-medium PGCE course at St. Mary's college, Belfast is designed to cater for the specific needs of Irish-medium schools; and for what reasons the whole course will not be taught entirely through the medium of Irish. [19696]
Mr. Ancram:
The figure is 100 per cent.
Students are being equipped to teach in both Irish medium and English medium schools.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of each of the stage 1 modules of the new Irish-medium BED course at St. Mary's college, Belfast caters for the needs of Irish-medium schools; and if he will make a statement. [19698]
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Mr. Ancram:
The figure is 100 per cent. of each.
The course is being developed to provide teachers for Irish medium schools.
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