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Cancer Information Strategy
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the benefits of the Macmillan Cancer Relief campaign, "A Voice for Life", prior to formulating the Government's Cancer Information Strategy. [89086]
Mr. Hutton: We welcome the new Macmillan campaign, "A Voice for Life". We are pleased to be assisting Macmillan in the campaign by arranging for copies of the booklet, "The Cancer Guide", to be distributed to cancer units and cancer centres so that it can be made available to all those diagnosed with cancer.
We are working closely with the voluntary sector, including Macmillan Cancer Relief, to develop the Cancer Information Strategy.
NHS Site Sales
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the sites owned by the National Health Service which have been sold for housing development in the past five years and for each site the company to which it was sold, and the current status of the development. [90741]
Mr. Denham: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Domestic Violence
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has taken to (a) inform patients who are victims of domestic violence of support services available and (b) provide guidelines to health employees, on dealing with patients who may be victims of domestic violence. [90746]
Mr. Hutton:
As part of the Government's Break the Chain domestic violence awareness campaign launched earlier this year, the Department distributed leaflets and posters, giving advice to victims of domestic violence, to all general practitioners practices and directors of social services. Copies of the leaflet and poster are shortly to be sent to all NHS trust nurse directors in England to be placed in hospital patient information racks.
15 Jul 1999 : Column: 335
Additionally, a training and resource pack Making an Impact commissioned by the Department was launched in June of last year. Focusing particularly on children and domestic violence in families, the pack aims to equip frontline staff with the skills to identify victims of abuse and to provide support.
The Department has also commissioned work to synthesise existing guidelines for health professionals to help them recognise and deal with victims of domestic abuse. These guidelines will be ready later this year.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to health authorities on the provision of specialist trauma reduction and support counselling for children suffering post-traumatic stress as a result of bullying at school; and if he will make a statement. [90759]
Mr. Hutton:
None. Health authorities are responsible for the availability of services for children and adolescents suffering from a range of mental health problems, including provision of specialist services where appropriate.
The Government is making an additional £90 million available over the next three years to improve child and adolescent mental health services.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 5 July 1999, Official Report, column 393, on prescription medicines, if he will list the profits made by each pharmaceutical company under the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [90770]
Mr. Denham:
Under the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, pharmaceutical companies provide a range of financial information to the Department to enable the effective management and operation of the scheme. This information is provided in confidence.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each health authority the number and cost of linear accelerators installed in NHS trusts for each year from 1992; and if he will make a statement. [90762]
Mr. Hutton:
Information on the number of linear accelerators in cancer centres is not available centrally but will be contained in the review of radiotherapy provision which will be sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State shortly for consideration.
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Annual report and Accounts of the Medicines Control Agency. [91905]
Ms Jowell:
We have received the report and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of Section 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.
15 Jul 1999 : Column: 336
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the Annual report of the Medicines Commission for 1998; and if this will be published. [91906]
Ms Jowell:
We have received the report, and copies have been laid before both Houses of Parliament today in accordance with the requirements of section 5(2) of the Medicines Act 1968.
Bound and published volumes have been placed in the Library containing the 1998 reports of the Medicines Commission, the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products, the British Pharmacopoeia Commission and the Veterinary Products Committee.
We are pleased to acknowledge the valuable work undertaken by the distinguished members of the Medicines Act Advisory Boards and thank them for the time and considerable effort dedicated in the public interest to this important work.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include asthma as an illness which qualifies the sufferer for free prescriptions; and if he will make a statement. [91428]
Mr. Denham:
We reviewed exemptions from prescription charges in the Comprehensive Spending Review and concluded that the present arrangements should remain for the rest of this Parliament.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans Her Majesty's Government have to make spinal cord injury a notifiable condition. [91425]
Mr. Hutton:
There are no plans to make spinal cord injury a notifiable condition. Notifiable conditions are all communicable diseases which pose a threat to public health.
Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the outcome of the Government's consideration of the public response to the MCA's proposals for classifying borderline products as published in its consultation letter MLX 249. [91861]
Ms Jowell:
We have carefully considered all the areas of concern raised by respondents in what has been a very active consultation process. We will be announcing tomorrow our detailed response on specific issues and we will be responding positively to all the main concerns raised. There has never been any intention to, and there is no effect in these proposals that would, change the definition of a medicinal product. The Government's intention is to ensure that the legal obligation to protect public health is safeguarded while maintaining public access to a range of safe dietary supplements and natural products.