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New Variant CJD
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what help he is giving to those caring for the victims of New Variant CJD; and if he will make a statement. [108751]
Yvette Cooper:
I refer my hon. Friend to the statements made by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham), the Minister of State in the adjournment debate on the care of variant CJD (vCJD) patients which took place in Westminster Hall on 1 December 1999, Official Report, columns 109-16WH, in which he set out the measures in place or planned to improve the care provided for new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease patients.
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Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 January 2000, Official Report, column 584W, when he expects the expert scientific review of fluoride and health to be completed. [108988]
Yvette Cooper:
The review is expected to be complete in the spring.
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide needles for use by diabetics free of charge; and if he will make a statement. [108715]
Mr. Denham:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) on 9 February 2000, Official Report, column 199W.
Mr. Ian Stewart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department will reprint the booklet, "Immunisation against Infectious Disease"; and if he will ensure that the booklet is made available at clinics to parents who request it. [109030]
Yvette Cooper:
"Immunisation against Infectious Disease" is published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office (ISBN 011321815X), priced at £6.95. Parents can ask to see a copy of the book at their doctor's surgery. Copies of the current edition are still available to any member of the public wishing to buy one. A new edition is expected within the next year.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to propose changes in child labour legislation; and if he will make a statement. [109492]
Mr. Hutton:
The report on the review of child employment legislation, completed last year, is being considered with ministerial colleagues in all interested Departments. We expect to agree a way forward in the near future.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children left local authority care at 16 years of age or older with at least one GCSE or GNVQ qualification in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [110080]
Mr. Hutton:
The information requested is not available for the specified years. Figures on the educational qualifications of children aged 16 or over who left local authority care during the year ending 31 March 2000 will be published for the first time in autumn 2000.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) manual and (b) powered wheelchairs were purchased by the NHS in each of the last four years. [109962]
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Mr. Hutton:
The information requested is not collected. However, estimates based on the numbers of wheelchairs issued by the National Health Service wheelchair service in the years 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1998-99 have been made, as follows:
| Year | Manual wheelchair | Powered wheelchair |
|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 83,632 | 5,000 |
| 1996-97 | 81,607 | 5,068 |
| 1997-98 | 75,090 | 6,268 |
No information is available for 1997-98.
The figures for 1995-96 and 1996-97 were obtained from information compiled by the Government Statistical Service giving the total number of wheelchairs issued. The figures for 1998-99 were obtained from a NHS Supplies exercise requesting data from trusts regarding wheelchair purchases and issues.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the purchasing of equipment to nurses employed in the NHS whose salary is paid for by a commercial organisation. [109961]
Mr. Denham:
The Department expects all staff, when purchasing on behalf of the National Health Service, to adhere to existing guidelines published in January 1993--Standards of business conduct for NHS staff (Health Service Guidance (93)5), copies of which are available in the Library.
Consultation has recently taken place on updated guidance which we expect to be available shortly.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2000, Official Report, column 332W, on asset sales, if he will list those capital assets valued at more than £1 million that his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies plan to sell in the current financial year. [110004]
Yvette Cooper:
Information on individual sales of assets disposed of by the Department, its agencies and associated public bodies is not held centrally.
For the Department's civil estate, the only disposal valued at more than £1 million expected to realise in 1999-2000 is the administrative transfer to the Home Office of the former youth treatment centre at St. Charles, Brentwood.
School Leavers (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough)
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of school leavers went into (a) further education and (b) vocational training, and what percentage of each group went on to
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 391W
higher education in (i) Cambridge, (ii) Peterborough and (iii) Cambridgeshire in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [109537]
Mr. Wicks:
We are committed to a step change in participation and attainment rates for all 16 and 17-year-olds. The Learning and Skills Bill sets out reforms in post-16 education and training which we believe will make a significant impact. We have recently announced details of our new coherent and comprehensive advice, guidance, information and support service for all 13 to 19-year-olds, whatever their needs and circumstances--the Connexions Service.
| Education | Full-time FE | Part-time education(6) |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridgeshire LEA | ||
| 1988-89 | 27 | 16 |
| 1989-90 | 29 | 14 |
| 1990-91 | 32 | 11 |
| 1991-92 | 37 | 7 |
| 1992-93 | 40 | 6 |
| 1993-94 | 41 | 5 |
| 1994-95(7) (a) | 39 | 6 |
| 1994-95(7) (b) | 38 | 8 |
| 1995-96 | 39 | 5 |
| 1996-97 | 41 | 6 |
| 1997-98 | 38 | 7 |
| Education and Training | Full-time FE | Government supported training | Part-time education(6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Peterborough | |||
| 1994-95 | 25 | 10 | 5 |
| 1995-96 | 23 | 9 | 3 |
| 1996-97 | 24 | 8 | 4 |
| 1997-98 | 30 | 9 | 5 |
(6) Part-time education is almost entirely in colleges of further education.
(7) Column (a) includes FESR data for November 1994 and column (b) ISR data. 1995-96 onwards includes ISR data.
Source:
Statistical Bulletins: Participation in education and training by young people aged 16 and 17 in each local area and region, England, 1988-89 to 1997-98.
Sure Start
Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when invitations will be issued to submit bids for the next round of Sure Start programmes. [109796]
Yvette Cooper:
I have been asked to reply.
14 Feb 2000 : Column: 392W
Ministers are hoping to announce the next round of Sure Start in early summer. It is expected that the updated version of the Index of Local Deprivation will be a key tool in informing the selection of areas, and this is due for publication in late spring.
Mr. Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the average income of full-time students in higher education in England in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms for each year since 1979. [109352]
Mr. Wicks:
The available data from the Student Income and Expenditure Surveys for 1988-89, 1992-93 and 1995-96 are as follows. Income covers both public and private sources and includes grants, loans, parental contributions, earnings and other sources. Survey results for 1998-99 are currently being analysed and will be available later in the year.
| Year | Cash terms | 1988-89 prices(8) |
|---|---|---|
| 1988-89 | 3,031 | 3,031 |
| 1992-93 | 3,464 | 2,747 |
| 1995-96 | 4,575 | 3,347 |
(8) Adjusted using RPI excluding mortgage interest
Source:
C. Callendar and E. Kempson, 'Student Finances', PSI, 1996
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