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Patients' Rights
Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make lay representatives available within hospitals to give guidance to patients on their rights. [113611]
Mr. Denham: Greg Dyke's report, "The New NHS Charter: A Different Approach", recommended that most large hospital trusts should have a patient representative. In response to this recommendation the Department is currently investigating possible models for patient representation in the National Health Service.
Patient Referral
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if patients have the right to be referred to more than one consultant to obtain a second or further opinion. [113858]
Mr. Denham: It is accepted professional practice among doctors that patients have the right to a second opinion. This is enshrined in guidance the General Medical Council has issued which includes the need for doctors to respect the rights of patients to a second opinion.
Ethical Investment Policy
Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when regulations on ethical investment policy for hospital trusts and health authorities will be likely to come into force; and if they will restrict investment in companies connected with the arms trade; [114219]
- (2) if he will list those hospital trusts and health authorities which invest pension funds and donations in companies known to have connections with the arms trade. [114218]
Mr. Denham: Health authorities do not invest Exchequer funds in companies. National Health Service trusts can invest surplus funds only in institutions approved by the NHS Executive, and from 1 April 2000 will be able to invest only in the Office of the Paymaster General.
NHS trusts and health authorities do not hold pension funds. Contributions to the NHS Pension Scheme are paid to the Exchequer, which meets the cost of scheme benefits as required.
Charitably-donated funds are administered by trustees, who are responsible for investment decisions concerning these funds. Trustees operate within charity legislation, and Health Ministers properly have no powers to influence trustees' decisions.
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Mr. Lilley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish estimates of the number of known or registered drug addicts per 100,000 people in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the United States of America and (c) the Netherlands. [114221]
Ms Stuart:
The information requested is not available centrally.
Based on the number of drug misusers reported to Regional Drugs Misuse Databases as presenting to services for treatment in England during the six month period ending 31 March 1999, there were 58 problem drug misusers per 100,000 people in England. Figures for the United States of America and the Netherlands are not available centrally, but information may be available from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, which is based in Portugal.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice his Department is giving the public on the peeling and topping of carrots before they are consumed; what is the reason for that advice; and what are the methods used to communicate the advice; [114418]
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(3) which fruits and vegetables apart from apples and carrots his Department is advising the public to peel before consuming; what is the reason for that advice; and what are the methods used to communicate the advice. [114347]
Ms Stuart:
Studies recommended by the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides have found variable levels of pesticide residues in some fruit and vegetables. In response to these findings, the following advice from the Deputy Chief Medical Officer was issued in Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) News Release 83/97 and in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Department of Health Food Safety Information Bulletin for December 1998:
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the overseas ministerial visits that have taken place since May 1997, indicating the purpose of each visit. [112770]
Ms Stuart:
Between May 1997 and March 2000 Department of Health Ministers have made 36 overseas visits in an official capacity as listed. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.
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(2) what advice his Department is giving the public on peeling apples before they are consumed; and what is the reason for that advice and the methods used to communicate the advice; [114348]
"washing fruit and vegetables before consumption is always a sensible precaution to ensure it is clean. Peeling is a matter of consumer choice, but is a sensible additional precaution when preparing fruit and vegetables for small children"
This precautionary advice remains relevant and is used by Government Departments in responding to inquiries about pesticide residues in food.
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