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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 16 May 2000
PRIME MINISTER
Ministerial Meetings
Mrs. Browning: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his April meeting with the management of Ford, Dagenham. [121070]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 5 May 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I met with representatives of the Ford Motor Company at the end of March, and representatives of the car industry including Ford at a meeting with the motor industry in April. However, I have had no meetings with the management of Ford, Dagenham during April.
Serbia
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to offer to assist the authorities in Serbia to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission similar to that in South Africa; and if he will make a statement. [122336]
The Prime Minister: There is no prospect of the present Serbian authorities establishing a credible Truth and Reconciliation Commission. However, the UK Government have always stressed the importance of bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law in former Yugoslavia. To this end, we support the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) by providing information and resources. In 1999 our contribution to the ICTY was assessed at £3.1 million.
In Serbia, our active support for Serbian civil society and independent media includes support for projects in this field, including one media project which aims to draw on the experiences of South Africa. The issue of "Reconciliation with the Past" will be the subject of one of the UK funded New Serbia Forum series, which brings together Serbian experts from the democratic opposition to discuss the policies necessary for the post-Milosevic era.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Finance Bill
Mr. Rammell: To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee on which date the amendments to the Finance Bill, due to be debated on 2 May, were posted on the parliamentary intranet; and if he will make a statement. [122120]
Mr. Allan: This is a matter for the Deliverer of the Vote, but I am advised that the Notice of Amendments given up to and including Thursday 27th April 2000 for the Committee of the whole House on the Finance Bill was
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posted on the parliamentary intranet at 8.13 am on Friday 28 April. The Amendment Paper for the business of the Committee of the whole House for Tuesday 2 May, which was substantially the same as the previous paper, was posted on the parliamentary intranet at 9.34 am on Tuesday 2 May. If the hon. Member has any further queries on this matter, I would advise him to contact the Deliverer of the Vote.
HEALTH
Death Certificates, Royal Free
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place at the Royal Free Hospital to provide death certificates at weekends in respect of members of groups and communities who require them to arrange early burial or cremation because of their beliefs or culture; and if he will make a statement. [117840]
Mr. Denham: At the Royal Free Hospital, a doctor who knew the patient in life must sign a cause of death certificate. This is usually a junior doctor, if the death occurs out of normal hours. Once it has been completed, the body can be released to the funeral director who will obtain the death certificate from the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths. The Registrar's office opens from 9am-12:20pm every Saturday and they have an on-call system for Sunday registrations.
In response to concerns that have been expressed by some religious groups, such as Muslims, that removal and burial can be unreasonably delayed where the death occurs at the weekend, I understand that the Home Office, which has a general responsibility for coroner arrangements, has asked coroners to ensure that they always take account of the religious feelings of the bereaved and deal with their concerns with understanding and sensitivity. Many coroners have discussed these issues with their local ethnic and religious communities.
Thyroid Disease
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has sponsored as to whether the estrogenic dose from soy baby foods is in the range known to cause thyroid abnormalities; and if he will make a statement; [118340]
- (2) if he will estimate by age the number of people in the UK, and the proportion of the population which this represents of their age group, who are thought to be at risk of thyroid disease; and what correlation these figures have with the consumption levels of these age groups of soy baby food products. [118342]
Ms Stuart: Thyroid dysfunction is common and it is thought that up to 5 per cent. of the population are affected by hyper- or hypo-thyroidism. There is no central statistical information to answer the question with regard to incidence or risk of thyroid disease.
Following the 1996 advice of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), a large programme of research was sponsored to specifically determine if soy infant formula carries any risk for infants. The Food Standards Agency is now responsible for this research.
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The COT has set up a working group to review the available scientific evidence, including data on thyroid abnormalities, to determine if there are health implications associated with soy infant formula. The group will publish a report early next year. On the basis of this report, the FSA will consider whether any action needs to be taken.
Slimming Drugs
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many slimming clinics have closed as a result of the implementation by the Medicines Control Agency of the ban on the use of products containing amfepramone and phentermine; and how many jobs have been lost through such closures. [121109]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 8 May 2000]: We do not have evidence that slimming clinics are closing, other than the one claim brought to our attention by the right hon. Member, following the withdrawal of amfepramone and phentermine from the market.
The European Commission's decision to withdraw amfepramone and phentermine products became effective from 9 April 2000. Following a legal challenge, the European Court has suspended the European Commission decision to withdraw amfepramone products. As a consequence the licences for amfepramone products were reinstated on 18 April 2000 and amfepramone has again been available on the United Kingdom market since that date. The European Court has not currently made any decision to suspend the Commission's decision regarding phentermine, which remains withdrawn.
Food-related Illness
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of conventional farming methods on levels of food-related illness and the cost of treating food-related illness in the NHS. [118572]
Ms Stuart: There has not been any assessment carried out of the impact of conventional farming methods on the levels of food-related illness. Indeed, it is usually not possible to trace the source of sporadic cases of food poisoning (which constitute the majority of cases) to a specific food, let alone to a specific food producer.
Although we have a good estimate of the total number of cases of infectious intestinal disease, and their cost to the National Health Service, it is not possible to say what proportion of this is foodborne. On the basis of a large study carried out in 1994-95, the cost to the NHS in England of treating illness due to the major food poisoning bacteria, Salmonella and Campylobacter, alone was between £26 million and £30 million per year from 1997 to 1999.
Correspondence
Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive a substantive answer to his letter of 28 March on behalf of his constituent Mrs. Drickett. [122332]
Ms Stuart: My right hon. Friend replied to the right hon. Member on 15 May.
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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote research into and public awareness of causes and symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement. [122395]
Yvette Cooper: The chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis working group convened by the Chief Medical Officer to produce good practice guidance for the care and treatment of people with CFS/ME--will make recommendations about the need to identify and commission further research.
The CFS/ME working group is also producing briefing notes. These are being distributed widely. The aim of the briefing notes is to inform people about the working group and the condition itself.
Priorities for departmental research and development support for the development of policy are determined through discussions with policy colleagues, the Departmental research Committee and Ministers. In the National Health Service research and development programme, priorities take account of widespread consultation with those using, delivering and managing services, within a framework overseen by the central research and development committee for the NHS. In all cases, priorities for our budgets reflect analysis of the burden of disease, potential benefits and our priorities and take account of the responsibilities and work of other funders.
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