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NORTHERN IRELAND
Departmental Fees
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the fees his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies collect; how much has been raised or it is anticipated will be raised from each of these fees from 1989-90 to 2004-05; and which of these fees count as negative expenditure. [105996]
Mr. Ingram: Police Division collect two types of fees, one for registration of premises in which explosives are kept and secondly for licences to purchase, possess or use display fireworks. Fireworks licences were introduced in 1996-97.
(11) Estimate
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The Royal Ulster Constabulary charges fees in respect of firearm certificates and these are treated as negative public expenditure.
The table shows moneys collected and estimated amounts for the period covering 1989-2002.
| Firearm certificates | |
|---|---|
| 2001-02 | (12)-900,000 |
| 2000-01 | (12)-900,000 |
| 1999-2000 | (12)-967,000 |
| 1998-99 | -816,000 |
| 1997-98 | -888,000 |
| 1996-97 | -1,087,000 |
| 1995-96 | -806,000 |
| 1994-95 | -848,000 |
| 1993-94 | -1,149,000 |
| 1992-93 | -752,000 |
| 1991-92 | -845,000 |
| 1990-91 | -1,218,000 |
| 1989-90 | -731,100 |
(1)Estimate
Gardening Leave
Mr. MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department are on gardening leave. [107961]
Mr. Mandelson [holding answer 1 February 2000]: No officials in my Department are on gardening leave.
Decommissioning Commission
Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will deposit in the Library a copy of the International Decommissioning Commission's report. [108470]
Mr. Mandelson: I anticipate placing a copy of this report in the Library before the end of the week.
HEALTH
Beta Interferon
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the take up rate of beta interferon for multiple sclerosis sufferers in each of the health authorities in Greater London in each of the last three years. [105425]
Ms Stuart: The information requested is not available.
We have asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to conduct an appraisal of beta interferon as part of its first work programme, and we expect to have authoritative guidance by the summer. Meantime, health authorities should have policies in place
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which provide for individual cases to be considered on their merits in the light of the evidence available on different forms of treatment.
Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Department of Health's guidance on the number of expert assessments that need to be carried out before a multiple sclerosis patient can be prescribed with beta interferon; and if he will make a statement. [105426]
Ms Stuart:
Guidance issued by the Department in 1995, EL(95)97, advises that patients who apparently fulfil the indications for treatment should be referred to a neurologist for a decision on whether treatment is indicated. A number of laboratory tests are also recommended prior to initiating, and during, therapy. The guidance advises that patients receiving beta interferon treatment should be reviewed by the neurologist at a frequency appropriate to the individual patient's condition, and treatment stopped if for example there are unacceptable side effects.
We have asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to conduct an authoritative appraisal of beta-interferon as part of its first appraisal programme. NICE is expected to report in the summer.
Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost of a course of treatment of beta interferon for a patient with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [105427]
Ms Stuart:
The cost of a one-year course of beta interferon treatment is around £10,000.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS consultants in England are suspended on full pay; and how many have been so suspended for more than (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) nine months. [106537]
Mr. Denham:
Figures are held centrally only on suspensions lasting longer than six months. As at 31 December 1999, the latest date for which figures are available, there were two consultants suspended for more than six months and 16 for more than nine months. Information is not collected on suspensions lasting less than six months.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the number of births by caesarian section and (b) the percentage of births this figure represents in the North West Region for each of the past five years. [107141]
Yvette Cooper
[holding answer 27 January 2000]: Based on the information available to the Department, the estimated figures for the five years 1993-94 to 1997-98, the most current period available, are in the table.
| Year | Caesarean delivery percentage | Number of caesareans |
|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 15 | 93,000 |
| 1994-95 | 16 | 93,500 |
| 1995-96 | 16 | 95,000 |
| 1996-97 | 17 | 98,700 |
| 1997-98 | 17 | 103,000 |
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| Year | Caesarean delivery percentage | Number of caesareans |
|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 15 | 11,700 |
| 1994-95 | 15 | 12,400 |
| 1995-96 | 15 | 12.000 |
| 1996-97 | 16 | 13,100 |
| 1997-98 | 16 | 12,500 |
Post-natal Depression
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts routinely use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at post-natal examinations; and what advice his Department has given on the use of this scale. [107142]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 27 January 2000]: The information requested is not available centrally. The Department has not issued advice specifically on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
We recognise the role of health visitors and midwives in assessing and supporting mothers with post-natal depression. The National Service Framework for mental health, published in September 1999, includes evidence on effective ways of reducing the risks of post-natal depression and sets a target for all health authorities to have protocols agreed and implemented between primary care and specialist services for management of depression and post-natal depression by April 2001.
Funding (Cumbria)
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) cash and (b) percentage increase in health funding for (i) North Cumbria Health Authority and (ii) Cumbria Ambulance Service he proposes for 2000-01. [107527]
Mr. Denham: The 2000-01 allocation for North Cumbria health authority is £213.66 million. This represents a cash increase of £13.82 million (6.92 per cent.).
National Health Service trusts receive most of their income from the service agreements they hold with other NHS bodies.
Crohn's Disease
Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has evaluated on the alleged connection between Crohn's disease and the drinking of unpasteurised milk. [107356]
Mr. Denham:
We are not aware of any specific evidence on the alleged connection between Crohn's disease and the consumption of unpasteurised milk. The Department has examined the alleged link between Crohn's disease and mico para tuberculosis, which can occur in milk.
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