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Christie Hospital NHS Trust
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what occasions since 1 May 1997 a Minister in his Department has visited the Christie Hospital NHS Trust. [104606]
Mr. Denham: It has so far not been possible for any of the Ministers at this Department to visit the Christie Hospital.
Cancer Patients
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's target is for the maximum length of time cancer patients will have to wait (a) to see a consultant after a GP has referred them and (b) to be treated once a consultant has seen the patient. [104447]
Mr. Denham: From April 1999, patients with suspected breast cancer have been able to see a specialist within two weeks of their general practitioner referring them urgently for investigation. We will roll out this approach to other cancer sites so that by the end of 2000 we will make this high quality standard of care available for all suspected cancer requiring an urgent specialist appointment. We will also tackle patient uncertainty about the timing of their treatment through the cancer services collaborative, part of the booked admissions programme, which will improve patient access to diagnosis, treatment and care. The cancer services collaborative currently covers a population of 14 million. Lessons learned from the collaborative will be shared with the wider National Health Service from 2001.
Parliamentary Questions
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will provide a substantive reply to the Question tabled by the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet on 24 November 1999 for answer on 29 November relating to health spending in Barnet (ref. 100215). [104603]
Mr. Denham:
I replied to the hon. Member on 11 January.
13 Jan 2000 : Column: 237W
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the letter of 1 December from Professor William Bonfield concerning statistics on hip operations. [104510]
Mr. Hutton:
A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to inform the public of the benefits to health of organically grown produce. [103788]
Yvette Cooper:
The Government have not published specific advice on the health benefits of organically grown produce. This is because at present there is little information available on which to make meaningful comparisons between nutrient contents or organic and conventional produce.
A study commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the nutritional composition of organically grown fruit and vegetables found only small differences in levels of some nutrients between organically grown and conventionally grown fruit and vegetables. However, it did note that confounding variables, such as differences in the variety grown and the age of samples, made it difficult to draw comparisons. A handful of similar studies have been published in the mainstream scientific literature since. In general, these have found no consistent or significant differences in nutrient content between organic and conventional produce.
The Government stress the importance of a balanced diet for good health based on evidence based studies. We have funded, through the Health Education Authority, a variety of projects aimed at improving access to, and availability of, healthy eating choices and at encouraging people to eat less fat and more cereals, fruit and vegetables.
Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he will appoint a Chairman for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust; [104607]
Mr. Denham:
On 11 January Philip Hammersley CBE was appointed to serve as Chairman of the University Hospitals of Leicester National Health Service Trust for the period 17 January 2000 to 31 October 2002.
Following Mr. Hammersley's appointment, I expect the task of appointing a new chief executive for the trust to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Ms Drown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the NHS guidance on continence services. [104357]
13 Jan 2000 : Column: 238W
Mr. Hutton:
We have recently received the report from the Working Group which was set up to advise the Department on guidance for continence services. We are now considering the report and hope to publish guidance shortly.
Mrs. Betty Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will receive the report of the working group into hearing aids and audiology services. [104730]
Mr. Hutton:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave her on 6 December 1999, Official Report, column 444W.
10. Mr. Opik:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he made of the projected costs of an early retirement scheme for farmers. [103782]
Ms Quin:
Any assessment of the cost of an early retirement scheme would depend on a number of variables including grant rates, eligibility criteria, number of applications and administrative costs. However, given the potential sums involved and the mixed reactions to the proposals, we firmly believe that a much better use of the funds to help the agricultural sector is provided for in the rural development measures we have announced.
11. Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he proposes to take to support the British pig industry. [103783]
Mr. Nick Brown:
Within the constraints imposed by the light nature of the EU pigmeat regime and the need to respect the law, I will continue to do all I can to help.
21. Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on compensation for the pig industry in relation to the costs of complying with regulations to deal with BSE. [103795]
Mr. Nick Brown:
I have had no formal discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter.
12. Mr. Olner:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to increase support for energy crops; and if he will make a statement. [103784]
Ms Quin:
On 7 December 1999, Official Report, columns 701-02W, my right hon. Friend the Minister announced plans for implementation of the EU Rural Development Regulation, which included support of around £30 million for energy crops. This will help the Government achieve their targets for greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy generation.
13 Jan 2000 : Column: 239W
13. Mr. Borrow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to expand the countryside stewardship scheme. [103785]
Mr. Morley:
I have already announced plans for a major expansion of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Over the next seven years, spending on agri-environment schemes will double. Of the £1 billion to be allocated during this period to these schemes, £500 million will be for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. We will be discussing with farming and conservation organisations how the extra funding should be used to achieve the best environmental value for money.
24. Mr. Grogan:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the value of the countryside stewardship scheme to rural conservation. [103798]
Mr. Morley:
We believe, as do most environmental organisations, that the Countryside Stewardship is of considerable value to rural conservation, and I recently announced a very significant expansion of the Scheme. We are currently funding an independent study to assess the environmental benefits of the Scheme in more detail.
14. Dr. Naysmith:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the incidence of bovine TB in the west of England. [103786]
Ms Quin:
Provisional figures for the first nine months of 1999 show that there were 648 confirmed new cases of TB in cattle in Great Britain, mostly in the west and south-west of England, compared with 565 in the same period in 1998. That is why the Government are pressing ahead with their TB control strategy, based on independent scientific advice.
15. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the prospects for dairy farmers over the next two years. [103787]
Ms Quin:
All dairy farmers face challenging times as a result of reduced milk prices, increased liberalisation of world markets and progress on CAP reform. But the dairy farming sector's ability to respond positively to these challenges will be helped by the high level of producer expertise and commitment, favourable farm structure and ideal climate for milk production.
(2) when he expects the Chief Executive of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust to be appointed. [104608]
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