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Task Forces
Dr. Tony Wright:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which (a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74469]
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Mr. Kilfoyle:
Most task forces and reviews are short- term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to sit on some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would often be inappropriate and disproportionate.
Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory non-departmental public bodies have come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
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Of those established by my Department since 1 May 1997, the Better Regulation Task Force, has external members recruited by way of public advertisement. Members of this task force are unpaid and receive expenses only. The details of the persons appointed are as follows:
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Matti Alderson (Director General, Advertising Standards Authority)
Deirdre Hutton (Chair of the Scottish Consumer Council).
Public consultation exercises have been conducted by the following task forces and policy reviews:
| Review | |
|---|---|
| Review of Quangos | A consultation paper was published and the Government consulted widely on the proposals contained in that paper (for making 'quangos' more open, accountable and effective). Copies of the consultation paper were sent to all MPs, all local authorities and all 'quangos'--as well as to key academics and interested members of the public. The consultation paper was also published on the Internet and Internet users were able to e-mail comments direct to the review team. Responses to the consultation paper were published and copies placed in the Libraries of the House. |
| Review of Existing Drugs Strategy | Consultation was held with a wide range of key professionals, organisations and key population groups--eg Drug Action Teams, young people, teachers, parents, drug mis-users, via meetings, visits and conferences, correspondence and an Internet e-mail address. The strategy document was published as a White Paper "Tackling Drugs to build a Better Britain" (Cm 3945) on 27 April 1998. |
| Review of the Women's National Commission | Consultation was held with women's organisations through correspondence and meetings. Copies of the Review's Report were placed in the Libraries of the House. |
| Review of the Charter Programme | A consultation paper was issued on 16 September 1997 to wide range of organisations and individuals--also made available on the Internet. Responses to the consultation paper were published and copies placed in the Libraries of the House. |
| The Review of Export Promotions | Extensive consultation was held with members of the export community. Written and oral submissions were taken; meetings were held with individuals and groups. |
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HEALTH
Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate
Ms Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations apply to the (a) use, (b) possession, (c) production and (d) supply of gamma hydroxy butyrate. [72901]
Ms Jowell: Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate is a medicinal product by virtue of Article 1 of European Commission Directive 65/65. Activities with this product carried on in the course of a business are regulated by the Medicines Act 1968 (as amended).
It is a criminal offence to place on the market, produce, sell or supply this product other than in accordance with licences or registration required by this Act. Possession for personal use is not regulated by medicines legislation.
Electro-convulsive-therapy Treatment
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of electro-convulsive-therapy treatment for mental health patients. [73003]
Mr. Hutton:
Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) can be used for a variety of conditions, including depression, mania and certain forms of schizophrenia. It has been shown to be of most benefit where other treatments have failed.
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An expert group, chaired by Genevra Richardson, Professor of Law at Queen Mary and Westfield College, has been appointed to undertake a review of mental health legislation in England and Wales and to make recommendations on the scope of a new legislative framework by 1 July 1999. The group's report will include advice on appropriate safeguards which should apply to the use of Electro-Convulsive Therapy.
Sir Alastair Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health regions plan to increase the number of mental health beds; and by how many. [73225]
Mr. Hutton:
The Mental Health Modernisation Fund will be used to increase the number of mental health beds in all eight health regions. £19 million has already been allocated to health authorities, part of which is being used to increase the number of 24 hour staffed beds. In addition health authorities have just been invited to apply for additional resources for secure beds. Details are set out in circular Health Service Circular/Local Authority Circular 1999-038, copies of which are available in the Library.
It is not yet possible to provide a regional breakdown.
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Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue information from his Department to help the public make an informed decision when they vote on the single currency. [73587]
Ms Jowell:
Any plans by the Government to issue information during a referendum campaign on whether or not the United Kingdom should join the single currency would be made in light of the Government's response to the recommendations from the Neill Committee on the conduct of referendums. The Government will announce their conclusions on those recommendations when my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary publishes a White Paper and draft Bill before the summer recess.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the subject areas within his Department's responsibilities which will be covered by the information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency. [73669]
Ms Jowell:
Her Majesty's Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter 8 of the Treasury's Outline National Changeover Plan provides further information. Copies of the plan are available in the Library.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what appeal mechanism he will establish in respect of decisions by the Medicines Control Agency to classify foodstuffs as medicines. [73314]
Ms Jowell:
We do not propose to give the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) the power to decide that a foodstuff is a medicine. The MCA has consulted on legislative proposals for classifying medicinal products, which include introducing a statutory right to a formal review of the agency's provisional decisions. The agency is now considering responses to the consultation exercise. We will decide in due course whether and what review arrangements we wish to put before Parliament.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if health foods and dietary supplements will have to satisfy the same licensing criteria as medicines when the remit of the Medicines Control Agency is extended; [73319]
Ms Jowell:
The powers of the licensing authority, of which the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is an executive arm, are set out in the Medicines Act 1968 and secondary legislation including the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994. We have no proposals to extend the remit of the MCA to health foods and dietary supplements, which will continue to be subject to food law.
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Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of health food products which could be reclassified as medicines. [73312]
Ms Jowell:
We can make no such estimate since under European Commission law and United Kingdom law, health foods are not medicines.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy to establish chronic pain management programmes in the NHS on the model of that at St. Thomas' Hospital in London. [73949]
Mr. Hutton:
Research has shown pain management programmes, similar to the model at St. Thomas' Hospital, to be effective for selected patients whose chronic pain is not relieved by conventional treatments. Against that background, it is for health authorities and National Health Service trusts to plan local pain services, in consultation with health professionals, to meet local needs.
(2) what limitations he plans to place on the Medicine Control Agency's proposed new power to declare any food product to be a medicine. [73313]
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