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General Pinochet
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Defence Export Services Organisation was made aware on 6 October 1998 of the presence in the United Kingdom of General Pinochet; to which other sections in his Department and beyond this information was relayed; and if he will make a statement. [70242]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 9 February 1999]: The Defence Export Services Organisation became aware of Senator Pinochet's visit in the context of other business; DESO was not involved in arrangements for the visit and there is no record of the information being relayed further. In addition, as my noble Friend Lord Hoyle explained on 11 January 1999, Official Report, House of Lords, column 5, other officials within the central staffs of the MOD had been informed of the Senator's impending visit on 16 September 1998 by officials at the FCO. However, this information was not passed to any other section, and no further action was taken.
Northern Division HQ
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his decision to close 2 Division HQ in York and create a new northern division HQ in Edinburgh was based on an investment appraisal of (a) complete divisional/district restructuring, (b) that element which involved a choice of locations or (c) other factors. [70126]
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Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 9 February 1999]: The decision took into account an investment appraisal of options for the location of the headquarters of the proposed northern division.
New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if SEAC has been asked for its opinion as to the potential efficacy of pentosan polysulphate in treating nvCJD; and if he will make a statement; [61679]
- (2) what is the cost of an oral course of pentosan polysulphate as prophylaxis against nvCJD. [61680]
Ms Jowell [holding answer 2 December 1998]: It is not yet known whether an oral course of pentosan polysulphate would be effective as a prophylaxis against nvCJD, or what dose or duration of treatment would be required, or what adverse side effects there might be from its use for this purpose. Therefore it is not possible to calculate the cost of an oral course as an effective prophylaxis against nvCJD.
The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) met on 11 January and considered the potential use of pentosan polysulphate as a prophylactic. The Committee is in the process of preparing its advice to Ministers. The Committee on the Safety of Medicines is also considering this use of pentosan. The Government are awaiting the advice from these committees.
Blood and Blood Products
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of persons who have been inoculated with blood or blood products over the past three years in the United Kingdom. [61681]
Ms Jowell [holding answer 2 December 1998]: It is estimated that about one million people in the United Kingdom receive blood and blood products every year.
Epilepsy
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who suffer from epilepsy in the UK. [70214]
Mr. Hutton: Epilepsy is the commonest chronic neurological disorder and it is estimated to affect between 400,000 and 420,000 people in the United Kingdom.
Nurses (Pay)
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the average pay levels in London for nurses in each grade. [70041]
Mr. Denham:
Estimated total annual average earnings for nursing staff in London by grade, taken from the Department's August 1997 earnings survey, are shown in the table.
10 Feb 1999 : Column: 220
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Clinical grade | Annual total earnings (1) |
| A | 12,900 |
| B | 14,800 |
| C | 16,100 |
| D | 17,800 |
| E | 20,700 |
| F | 23,400 |
| G | 26,000 |
| H | 27,500 |
| I | 29,800 |
(1) Annual total earnings is an estimate averaged across all incremental points. It includes basic pay, elements from flat rate allowances such as London allowance, on call and stand by and elements from allowances that are salary related such as London allowance and special duty.
Note:
Data are rounded to the nearest £100.
Source:
Department of Health Earnings Survey August 1997
Medicines (Children)
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to make EU guidance on medicines for children legally binding on pharmaceutical companies; [69684]
- (2) what steps he is taking to assess the cost to the NHS of making guidance on medicines for children legally binding on pharmaceutical companies; [69685]
(3) what steps are being taken by EU member states to monitor the way pharmaceutical companies comply with EU guidance on the licensing of medicines for children; which companies have complied with this guidance; which products are being developed in accordance with this guidance; and when the application of the guidance will be extended to products already on the market, in other EU member states. [69683]
Ms Jowell: The European Union guidance came into operation in September 1997. As the development times for medicinal products are relatively long, there will be a delay before trials in children are submitted with all relevant applications for authorisation of medicinal products.
Where a medicinal product has an anticipated therapeutic benefit in children, the applicant is asked to provide details of a paediatric development plan if this is not already included in the dossier supporting the application for marketing authorisation. Information relevant to paediatric use, based on the availability or not of paediatric data, is included in the product particulars. The EU guidance on the investigation of medicinal products in children applies to products already on the market as well as to new products. Information on those companies which have so far complied with this guidance in other member states is not available, neither is information on those products which are being developed in accordance with this guidance in other member states.
10 Feb 1999 : Column: 221
European guidance is not legally binding on pharmaceutical companies and no steps have been taken to assess the costs to the National Health Service of making guidance on medicines for children legally binding on pharmaceutical companies. If the guidance does not have the effect of increasing the availability of appropriate medicinal products to children, there is scope for the United Kingdom and other Member States to raise with the European Commission the question of whether legislative steps should be taken to strengthen the regulatory framework.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work programme of the working group on myalgic encephalomyelitis, and its timescale. [70255]
Ms Jowell:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Lepper) on 4 February 1999, Official Report, columns 524-25.
Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in promoting awareness and understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome/ME among (a) health professionals and (b) the general public; and if he will make a statement. [70160]
Ms Jowell:
The recent publicity surrounding the announcement of the establishment of the working group on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and the involvement of many health professionals, academics, patients and carers in its work has already raised awareness of CFS/ME. The best practice guidance that the Group has been tasked with producing will also raise understanding and awareness. In the mean time, we will continue to work with the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Alliance to promote awareness and understanding of this distressing and debilitating condition.
Barbara Follett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions are made for the treatment of under-age alcoholics; and if he will make a statement. [68648]
Ms Jowell:
Health and local authorities are responsible for assessing the level of need for all alcohol services locally, and making arrangements to meet that need in accordance with local priorities and the resources available.
Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of practising physicians are general practitioners. [70080]
Mr. Denham:
There were 27,100 general practitioners (unrestricted principals) as at 1 October 1997. This figure was 31 per cent. of the total number of doctors employed in the National Health Service.
Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors' and (b) general practitioners' posts are unfilled in (i) England and (ii) Norfolk. [70081]
10 Feb 1999 : Column: 222
Mr. Denham:
The information requested is not available.
Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average age of retirement for general practitioners was in (a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 1998; and if he will make a statement. [70083]
Mr. Denham:
The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the average number of working days lost per (a) doctor and (b) general practitioner for psychological reasons in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1997 and (iv) 1998; and if he will make a statement, [70084]
Mr. Denham:
The information requested is not collected centrally. A survey carried out in National Health Service trusts in August 1998 identified the sickness trusts in August 1998 identified the sickness absence rates for medical and dental staff at 1.6 per cent. The survey did not distinguish between medical and psychological illness.
(2) what was the average number of working days lost per (a) doctor and (b) general practitioner for medical reasons in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1997 and (iv) 1998; and if he will make a statement. [70085]
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