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Dioxins

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research the Government have commissioned to assess dioxin levels in meat and dairy products (a) produced in and (b) imported into the United Kingdom. [123490]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 3 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it has a continuing programme of surveys on dioxins in food consumed in the United Kingdom, including meat and dairy products. The results show the levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in food are continuing to fall. The average dietary intake of these chemicals in the UK is below the Tolerable Daily Intake recommended by the UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. Details of all surveys are available on the Agency's website at www.foodstandards.gov.uk.

Ambulances

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the effect on the cost of ambulances of the recent EU Directive relating to ambulances; and which European producers make ambulances consistent with the Directive. [123326]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 23 May 2000]: No estimate of the potential costs to National Health Service Ambulance Service trusts has been made of introducing the standards recommended by the Comite Europeen de Normalisation (CEN) and adopted by the British Standards Institute (BSI). The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is working with the ambulance services

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and manufacturers to determine the costs. Currently no European manufacturers make ambulance vehicles to the new CEN/BSI standards.

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement setting out the implications of the EU Directive on ambulances; what the object of the Directive was; and what was the policy of Her Majesty's Government on it. [123325]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 23 May 2000]: Following a period of consultation with manufacturers and users, two new European standards for ambulance vehicles and their equipment were recommended by the Comite Europeen de Normalisation (CEN) in August and September last year. Membership of CEN is wider than European Union member states and their recommendations have force only through the Public Procurement Legislative Programme. The object of this programme is to reduce technical barriers to trade throughout the European Free Trade Area.

The British Standards Institute adopted the CEN recommendations as national standards in January 2000. New ambulance vehicles and their equipment will be expected to conform to these standards in the future. We recognise that good purchasing practice by the ambulance services requires the inclusion of agreed standards in specifications where these exist.

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances in the United Kingdom are consistent with the requirements of the EU Directive. [123327]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 23 May 2000]: The new British Standards for ambulance vehicles and equipment were adopted in January this year and apply only to new vehicles specified and purchased after that date. The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency is currently working with NHS Ambulance Services trusts and vehicle manufacturers to identify those elements of the standards with which they are currently able to conform and the time scale for full compliance with the standards.

Teenage Pregnancy

Mrs. Heal: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made on setting up an independent national advisory group on teenage pregnancy. [124314]

Yvette Cooper: I am pleased to announce that the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy has now been established, and that the first meeting of the Group will take place today. It will be chaired by Winifred Tumim, who is currently Chair of the National Council of Voluntary organisations.

The Group's role will be to provide advice to Government and to monitor the overall success of our strategy to cut teenage pregnancy rates and reduce the risk of long term social exclusion for teenage parents and their children.

Children's Homes

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which institutions housing young offenders come within the definition of a children's home in section 1 of the Care Standards Bill [Lords]; what discussions he has

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had with the Home Office and the Youth Justice Board regarding the definition of a children's home; and if he will make a statement. [123599]

Mr. Hutton: Clause 1 of the Care Standards Bill defines what is a children's home for the purposes of the Bill. In relation to institutions housing young offenders, the current definition of a children's home will not be altered. For that reason, we have had no discussions with the Home Office or the Youth Justice Board regarding the definition of a children's home, as institutions housing young offenders do not come within the definition of a children's home.

Wheelchairs

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list how many (a) electronically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and (b) wheelchair vouchers were issued by each health authority in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999; and what was the cost to each health authority. [123505]

Mr. Hutton: Table 1 shows the totals for numbers of electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs issued to users and numbers of people issued with a voucher for 1997-98 and 1998-99, along with forecasted outturn figures for 1999-2000, in England.

Table 2 shows the totals for the total committed spend on electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs, and total actual spend on vouchers for 1997-98 and 1998-99, along with forecasted expenditure figures for 1999-2000, in England.

A breakdown by each health authority of these national figures has been placed in the Library.

Table 1

	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000
Numbers of electronic indoor/ outdoor wheelchairs issued to users	4,464	4,033	3,263
Numbers of people issued with a voucher	560	5,010	6,217

Table 2£

	Total committed spend on powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs	Total actual spend on vouchers
1997-98	6,428,468	764,000
1998-99	8,098,511	3,457,516.51
1999-2000	6,936,225.91	3,968,668.66

Notes:

1. Data are based on National Health Service financial accounting years.

2. Figures for 1999-2000 are based on forecasted returns for quarter 4 1999-2000.

3. As health authorities were required to have voucher schemes in place by 1 April 1998, data returns on numbers of people issued with a voucher were not compulsory during 1997-98.

4. In February 1998-99 health authorities were authorised to transfer any voucher scheme underspends to mainstream or powered wheelchair provision. This expenditure is not reflected in the report of expenditure on actual vouchers.

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Mobile Telephone Emissions

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when Sir William Stewart first indicated the likely contents of his report and the conclusions of the inquiry into mobile telephone emissions to officials in his Department; and when this information was made known to ministers. [122334]

Yvette Cooper [holding answer 16 May 2000]: From 1 November 1999, the Government publicly stated that,
"Officials of the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry are observers at the Group's meetings while it is taking evidence and may also be observers when the Group considers, in private, its conclusions and recommendations for the report. Such information will not be released outside Government".

Officials saw draft conclusions and recommendations which were being formulated by Sir William Stewart and members of the group during the period to 23 March. Ministers did not see these drafts, nor were they briefed on their contents. Officials were not present for the final deliberations of the Group nor did they see the final set of conclusions and recommendations. Ministers and officials took receipt of the completed report on 3 May 2000.

Pensions (Part-timers)

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect the European Court of Justice's ruling on pensions for part-timers will have on NHS pensions; and what estimate he has made of the maximum and minimum cost to NHS pension funds of the ruling. [123263]

Mr. Rooker: I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to my written answer on 23 May 2000, Official Report, column 484W.

Grazing Land

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the recommendation of SEAC that the spreading of liquid condensate on grazing land should cease; and if he will make a statement. [118536]

Ms Quin: I have been asked to reply.

We are actively considering how to take forward the SEAC advice and hope to consult on proposals shortly.

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