You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

Communications White Paper

Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on consultation on the Communications White Paper. [123002]

Mr. Chris Smith: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I have already announced an invitation for any comments on the Communications White Paper to be submitted to us by 23 June. As a further contribution to the debate and discussion on the issues at the heart of the White Paper, we have also asked a number of external experts individually to prepare policy papers on a variety of related subjects, which will form the basis for discussion at a seminar in July and which will be published on the internet.

The experts are:









17 May 2000 : Column: 127W

HEALTH

Motor Neurone Disease

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Government provide to research into motor neurone disease; what involvement the Motor Neurone Disease Association has had in the channelling of Government resources into this research; what support the Government provide to the Motor Neurone Disease Association; what the level of Government funding will be for research into motor neurone disease in the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [120735]

Mr. Denham: The Government support research into motor neurone disease through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Department of Health.

The MRC is the main Government agency through which we support research on the causes and treatment of disease and receives most of its income via grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. In 1999-2000, the MRC spent approximately £1.6 million on motor neurone disease and on basic work on the function of motor neurones. They are also funding relevant underpinning research, for example on nerve function and damage. The MRC involve the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) whenever they consider an application for clinical trials in motor neurone disease.

The Department funds research to support policy development in health and social care, and to support effective practice in the National Health Service. The Department also provides NHS support funding for research sponsored by charities, such as MNDA, and by the MRC that takes place in the NHS. The current commitment of centrally commissioned research projects relating to motor neurone disease is approximately £241,000. Information about expenditure on NHS service support and devolved Departmental research in the NHS are not held centrally. The total level of Department of Health support for motor neurone disease may therefore be higher than the expenditure for centrally commissioned research.

Project details of Department funded research can be found on the National Research Register (NRR). This is available in the Library and most medical libraries on CD Rom, and on the Internet: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nrr.htm.

It is not possible to predict what the future level of Government expenditure will be on specific areas of research as new research proposals are regularly being considered and commissioned.

The Government do not provide financial support directly to the MNDA.

Beef (Cattle over 30 Months)

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if there is a ban on the import of meat and meat products from cattle of over 30 months into this country; [121434]

17 May 2000 : Column: 128W

Ms Stuart [holding answer 9 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that there is no restriction on the import of meat and meat products from cattle over 30 months, but the ban on sale of beef for human consumption from cattle aged over 30 months at slaughter applies to both home produced and imported supplies. The only exceptions to this ban are for meat from specialist grass-reared United Kingdom herds under the Beef Assurance Scheme (BAS) and meat from 14 non-EU countries that traditionally supplied the UK and have no history of BSE. As far as home supplies and meat imported into licensed premises are concerned, the ban is enforced by the Meat Hygiene Service. The carcase or part of a carcase of any bovine animal that is found to be more than 30 months old at slaughter (or over 42 months for BAS animals) is sterilised or stained immediately as an animal by-product. Local authorities are responsible for enforcement at other points in the supply chain.

Imported gelatine and other edible by-products are not subject to the over 30 months rule. However, they are subject to controls on the use of specified risk materials in their production. The UK introduced these national SRM controls from 1 January 1998, pending the implementation of Community measures. Imports of gelatine and other edible by-products must be accompanied by a certificate confirming that they are SRM-free or that they are from animals born, reared and slaughtered in Australia or New Zealand.

Specified Risk Material

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Scientific Steering Committee about extending the Specified Risk Material regulations in force in Britain to all EU member states. [121439]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 9 May 2000]: The Scientific Steering Committee advises the European Commission on matters relating to the risks from BSE. It is for the Commission to decide, in the light of that advice, whether any proposals for measures to manage those risks at European Union level need to be made.

Harefield Hospital

Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his plans are for the future of Harefield Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [121708]

Mr. Denham: Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority has undertaken formal public consultation over proposals to move inpatient paediatric services from Harefield Hospital to the Royal Brompton Hospital. A decision to pursue these proposals has been contested by Hillingdon Community Health Council and it will, therefore, be referred to Ministers for a final decision. Any decision on the future location of Harefield Hospital's paediatric transplantation services would require the consideration of the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group.

These proposals must be set in the context of longer term plans. Following detailed planning and assessment by National Health Service organisations in West London

17 May 2000 : Column: 129W

and the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, a preferred option has been identified for the future of specialist inpatient services in West London, including cardiothoracic services. This would see services that are currently provided at Harefield Hospital located in a new building on the Paddington Basin site, alongside other West London specialist cardiothoracic services currently provided at the Royal Brompton and St Mary's Hospitals.

An Outline Business Case is due to be submitted to the London Regional Office of the NHS Executive assessing a number of options, including that for the Paddington Basin. Full public consultation will be held in the summer of 2000 before any decisions are made.

NHS Dentistry (Cheltenham)

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the adult population in Cheltenham are registered with an NHS dentist. [122006]

Mr. Hutton: Information on dental registrations in individual constituencies is not collected by the Department. In the Gloucestershire Health Authority area 31 per cent. of the adult population was registered with a National Health Service dentist at 31 March 2000.

In Cheltenham patients who are not registered with a NHS dentist can receive treatment under the personal dental service scheme. On Monday to Friday emergency patients can access treatment via the health authority's dental helpline. Gloucestershire Health Authority has submitted proposals for a dental access centre in Cheltenham. A decision about this scheme will be made shortly.

Violence against NHS Staff (Shropshire)

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps each health trust in Shropshire is taking to reduce the incidence of violence against NHS staff; and if he will make a statement. [121761]

Mr. Denham: We are determined to ensure that National Health Service staff are never faced with intimidation and violence, which is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. In addition to the national 'NHS Zero Tolerance Zone' campaign, each of the three local trusts in Shropshire are taking independent action to protect staff from violent and aggressive behaviour.

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust have introduced the People Management Standards Document, which states that all staff in high risk areas will receive prevention of violence training by an approved organisation.

The Princess Royal Hospital NHS Trust have recently updated their Dealing with Violence and Aggression Policy. Measures include logging abusive incidents, and the use of a 'Safe Haven' room for patients showing extreme aggression.

Shropshire Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust have carried out risk assessments in all work areas, to identify potential areas of weakness. Areas of activity resulting from this include additional staff training, and issuing mobile phones, pagers and personal alarms where appropriate.

17 May 2000 : Column: 130W

Next Section Index Home Page