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National Radiological Protection Board
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the membership of the governing committee of the National Radiological Protection Board and their registered interests; and if he will make a statement. [102601]
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Yvette Cooper:
The membership of the National Radiological Protection Board currently comprises:
Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations in which women have had a non-cancerous cervix removed there were in each of the past 10 years. [102593]
Yvette Cooper:
The table shows the number of episodes where women have had an operation to remove a non-cancerous cervix, in National Health Service hospitals in England for the financial years 1989-90 to 1997-98.
All public bodies are required to maintain, and publish, registers of members' interests. The register of interests for members of the National Radiological Protection Board is available from the Board Secretary at the National Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RQ. The register of interests will be available on NRPB's website [nrpb@nrpb.org.uk] in early 2000.
Chairman
Sir Walter Bodmer FRS
Members
Professor A. D. Baddeley FRS
Professor Kay E. Davies CBE MA
Professor W. Gelletely
Professor J. M. Harrington CBE
Professor R. W. Lees
Professor Rona M. MacKie
Professor J. McEwen
Mr J. C. White.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1989-90 | 100 |
| 1990-91 | 97 |
| 1991-92 | 46 |
| 1992-93 | 59 |
| 1993-94 | 51 |
| 1994-95 | 37 |
| 1995-96 | 45 |
| 1996-97 | 47 |
| 1997-98(11) | 45 |
(11) Figures for 1997-98 are provisional, no adjustments have yet been made for shortfalls in data, (i.e. the data is ungrossed).
Notes:
Ordinary admissions and day cases combined: completed episodes by primary operation (OPCS-4 code: Q01.1) and sex (females only)
1. 1989-90 to 1994-95 exclude FCEs with any of the following ICD-9 codes:
180-Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri
219.0-Other benign neoplasm of uterus, cervix uteri
233.1-Carcinoma in situ of breast and genitourinary system, cervix uteri
236.0-Neoplasm of uncertain behaviour of genitourinary organs, uterus
239.5-Neoplasm of unspecified nature, other genitourinary organs
2. 1995-96 to 1997-98 exclude FCEs with any of the following ICD-10 codes:
C53-Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri
C79.8-Secondary malignant neoplasm of other specified sites
D06-Carcinoma in situ of cervix uteri
D26.0-Other benign neoplasms of uterus, cervix uteri
D39.0-Neoplasm of uncertain or unknown behaviour of female genital organs, uterus
Source:
Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)
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Peat
Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the purchase and use of peat for its own operations and activities; and what performance targets his Department has set to reduce current peat use. [103012]
Yvette Cooper: There is no history of this Department having purchased or used peat for its own operations and activities, nor is there any expectation of the Department doing so in the future.
However, should the need ever arise, the Department proposes to substitute the use of all slow renewables, such as peat, with organic wastes (such as coir, manure, leaf mould and bark chippings) for improving the soil.
External Electrical Fields
Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the studies carried out at Warwick University concerning the vulnerability of human beings to external electrical fields. [102862]
Yvette Cooper: Published research studies on the health effects of electromagnetic fields in general are regularly reviewed by the National Radiological Protection Board and its Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation.
The independent expert group on mobile phones, set up at the request of my right hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Ms Jowell), the former Minister for Public Health, is currently undertaking a rigorous assessment of biological and health research related to mobile phone systems. The group is expected to report in spring 2000.
Ms Shipley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the microwave pulses used in mobile phone masts on the parts of the brains of children which are not stable until they reach the age of 12 years. [102860]
Yvette Cooper:
The independent expert group on mobile phones, set up at the request of my right hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Ms Jowell), the former Minister for Public Health, is currently undertaking a rigorous assessment of biological and health research associated with mobile phone systems. The group is expected to report in spring 2000.
Mr. Letwin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that all contracts for the purchase of meat by NHS providers contain clauses specifying that the animals must have been reared under animal welfare conditions to a standard as high as those enforced in the UK. [103350]
Yvette Cooper:
National Health Service Supplies contracts stipulate that the origin of meat purchased for consumption within the NHS must be disclosed. They do not contain clauses of the type to which the hon. Member refers. Nevertheless, meat supplied through NHS Supplies contracts is, wherever possible, sourced from the United Kingdom and does, therefore, comply with the new welfare regulations.
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However, NHS trusts and health authorities have the freedom to buy goods and services from wherever provides the best value. Although most products are available from the UK, price considerations may lead health authorities and NHS trusts to buy from elsewhere in the European Union.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he intends to respond to the Royal College of Surgeons report on transplant services; and if he will make a statement; [103386]
Mr. Denham:
The Government intend to respond to the Royal College of Surgeons report on transplant services early in the New Year. We shall take account of the costs of options such as a National Transplant Service, along with other factors in formulating a response.
Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities (a) have authorised the prescription of the drug Aricept to ameliorate the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in each of the Government standard regions, (b) have refused to authorise its use and (c) have not yet reached a decision. [103634]
Ms Stuart:
Information about local policies on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is not available centrally, but I understand that there is some prescribing of Aricept in all health authorities.
Aricept and other pharmaceutical treatment for Alzheimer's disease will be reviewed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as part of its first work programme. This work is expected to be completed by December 2000.
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to investigate the extent to which people with mental health problems are able to obtain atypical antipsychotics; and what steps the Government will take to ensure that people with mental illness have access to the drugs most likely to improve their quality of life. [103920]
Mr. Hutton:
The prescribing of treatment for mental illness is a matter for clinicians. However, to assist clinicians in their decision making, an effective health care bulletin on drug treatments for schizophrenia has just been issued, copies of which are available in the Library. The Department has also commissioned the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Psychological Society to develop a guideline on this. The project is now being managed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE will take responsibility for considering any representations about the proposed recommendations and for ensuring that the final guidance to the NHS fairly reflects the needs of patients as well as the weight of evidence.
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Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government plans to include in the proposed mental health Bill the principle of non-discrimination recommended by the Richardson Committee and the Disability Rights Taskforce. [103921]
Mr. Hutton:
The recently published consultation paper on the reform of the Mental Health Act 1983, copies of which are available in the Library, makes clear that the Government recognise the importance of the principle of non-discrimination and agrees that specific guidance should be included in the Code of Practice accompanying new legislation. This approach is consistent with that taken by the Richardson Committee. Detailed issues to be covered in any future legislation will be considered following the end of the consultation period.
(2) if he will estimate the cost of introducing a national transplant service; and if he will make a statement. [103387]
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