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Human Vaccines (BSE)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what year the first vaccine was used on humans which may have utilised bovine material from BSE-infected cows in the early stage of manufacture. [122973]
Yvette Cooper: This information is not available because the precise date of the emergence of BSE in cattle is not known and it is also not known if bovine material for use in the manufacture of vaccines was taken from BSE-infected cattle.
Waiting Lists (Mid Essex)
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each month from March 1997 until the latest available period the total number of people (a) waiting for hospital treatment and (b) waiting more than 12 months for hospital treatment in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area. [122797]
Mr. Denham: The total number of patients waiting and the number of patients waiting over 12 months for hospital treatment at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust for each month from March 1997 until March 2000 (the latest available information) is shown in the table.
Source:
KH07 quarterly waiting times returns, monthly monitoring returns
23 May 2000 : Column: 427W
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each quarter since March 1997 until the latest available quarter the total number of people waiting (a) 13 weeks or more and (b) over 26 weeks for an outpatient's appointment at the Mid Essex Hospital Trust. [122796]
Mr. Denham: The information is as follows:
| Year | Quarter | Not seen 13 to 25 | Not seen 26 plus | Total not seen 13 plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 4 | 481 | 74 | 555 |
| 1997-98 | 1 | 678 | 99 | 777 |
| 1997-98 | 2 | 972 | 122 | 1,094 |
| 1997-98 | 3 | 874 | 130 | 1,004 |
| 1997-98 | 4 | 1,083 | 234 | 1,317 |
| 1998-99 | 1 | 1,348 | 256 | 1,604 |
| 1998-99 | 2 | 1,596 | 341 | 1,937 |
| 1998-99 | 3 | 1,848 | 440 | 2,288 |
| 1998-99 | 4 | 1,847 | 575 | 2,422 |
| 1999-2000 | 1 | 2,660 | 624 | 3,284 |
| 1999-2000 | 2 | 2,876 | 1,299 | 4,175 |
| 1999-2000 | 3 | 2,644 | 1,055 | 3,699 |
| 1999-2000 | 4 | 1,979 | 945 | 2,924 |
Source:
QM08 quarterly waiting times returns
Income Support and Residential Allowance
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations were sent copies of the consultation paper of 14 April on preserved rights income support and residential allowance. [123473]
23 May 2000 : Column: 428W
Mr. Hutton: A copy of the consultation paper was sent to each council in England and to the organisations listed. The consultation period closes on 31 May. The Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland are considering their own arrangements for consultation. We shall publish proposals for the future funding of long-term care in a White Paper later this year.
Organisations consulted:
Royal National Institute for the Deaf
Royal National Institute for the Blind
SENSE
SCOPE
RADAR
British Council of Disabled People
Disablement Income Group
Leonard Cheshire
Association for Residential Care
National Development Team
British Institute of Learning Disabilities
The National Autistic Society
MENCAP
Change
People First
Values Into Action
Rescare
Foundation for people with learning disabilities
Community Care Development Centre
National Schizophrenia Fellowship
Mental Health Foundation
Richmond Fellowship
Manic Depression Fellowship
MIND
Centre for Mental Health Services Development
Association for Residential Mental Care
Turning Point
Mental After-Care Association
Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health
Stonham Housing Group
Abbeyfield Society
Anchor Housing Association
Care Sector Committee
Independent Healthcare Association
National Care Homes Association
Registered Nursing Homes Association
United Kingdom Home Care Association
United Kingdom Care Council
Care Forum
Voluntary Organisations Disability Group
Council of Nursing Homes Associations
Help the Aged
Age Concern
Local Government Association
Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS)
ADSS--Mental Health Group
Association of London Government
Carers National Association
Princess Royal Trust for Carers
23 May 2000 : Column: 429W
Cross Roads
The King's Fund
Alzheimers Disease Society
Disability Rights Commission
National Centre for Independent Living
The Independent Living Centre
Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Dioxins
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research has been undertaken or evaluated by his Department to establish the health risks to the public posed by dioxins in the environment; [123510]
- (2) if links have been established between dioxins and cancer in humans; [123511]
(3) what assessment he has made of the incidence of illnesses in the United Kingdom linked to dioxins (a) currently and (b) in 1995. [123480]
Yvette Cooper: The Department and the Food Standards Agency seek advice on the health implications of dioxins from the independent expert advisory Committees on the Toxicity and on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. The Committee on Toxicity has evaluated the scientific data on dioxins on a number of occasions, most recently in 1995. The evaluation can be found in the 1995 Annual Report of the Committee which is available in the Library. The Committee on Carcinogenicity concluded in 1998 that it would be prudent to consider one specific dioxin, 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, as a "probable weak human carcinogen". The Committee's statement can be found on the Department's Internet site www.doh.gov.uk/coc.htm, and in the 1998 Annual Report.
The Food Standards Agency funds research on dioxin in food and staff in the Agency actively contribute to the work of the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food Task Force on Dioxins. The Medical Research Council, which is the main agency through which Government supports research on the causes and treatment of disease, also funds research on dioxin as part of a programme on genetic susceptibility and resistance to xenobiotics.
No specific assessment has been made of the incidence of illnesses in the United Kingdom linked to dioxins.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND
THE REGIONS
Driving Licences
Mr. Darvill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications for renewal of driving licences accompanied by Form D4 medical reports were received by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [122825]
23 May 2000 : Column: 430W
Mr. Hill: The number of applications received by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in 1997, 1998 and 1999 for renewal of driving licences accompanied by a D4 medical report form, was as follows:
- 1997: 147,677
- 1998: 140,128
- 1999: 58,591.
Mr. Hill: Information about the number of days during 1997, 1998 and 1999 that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency experienced delays in issuing renewal driving licences accompanied by a D4 medical report is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, this type of transaction is given high priority at all times.
Mr. Darvill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications for renewal of driving licences accompanied by Form D4 medical reports were received by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in (a) April, (b) May, (c) June, (d) July , (e) August and (f) September 1999. [122829]
Mr. Hill: The number of applications processed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in April, May June, July, August and September 1999 for renewal of driving licences accompanied by a D4 medical report form was as follows:
| Month | Applications |
|---|---|
| April | 5,865 |
| May | 4,994 |
| June | 5,364 |
| July | 4,763 |
| August | 4,331 |
| September | 4,914 |
Mr. Darvill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average period of time that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency took to issue renewal driving licences when the application for renewal was accompanied by a Form D4 medical report in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [122826]
Mr. Hill: The average time taken by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in 1997, 1998 and 1999 to renew driving licenses accompanied by a D4 medical report form is published in the Agency's Corporate and Business Plans and was as follows:
| Working days | ||
|---|---|---|
| Target | Actual | |
| 1997 | 10 | 8 |
| 1998 | 9 | 8 |
| 1999 | 9 | 8 |
23 May 2000 : Column: 431W
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