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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 14 June 2000
HEALTH
Mead Webber
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the (a) lowest and (b) highest HAS scores formally awarded to the Mead Webber plant since the introduction of HAS scores; what was the average score; and what were the (a) lowest, (b) highest and (c) average HAS scores awarded to the plant by Mr. Yogaratnam. [122051]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the lowest hygiene assessment system (HAS) score awarded to the Mead Webber plant since the system was introduced is 65; the highest 87 and the average 82.
The lowest HAS score awarded to the plant by Mr. Yogaratnam is 80; the highest 87; and the average 84.
NHS Patients (Food)
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of food for each patient in each year since 1985 in (a) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trusts, (b) North West NHS hospitals and (c) NHS hospitals in England. [122594]
Mr. Denham: Information on the cost of food was collected centrally for the first time in the 1998-99 financial year.
The cost of meal provision per patient per day for Bolton Hospitals National Health Service Trust was £4.39.
The total cost of meal provision for the North West Region was £41,291,201.
The total cost of meal provision for England was £255,868,647.
NHS Hospitals (Cleaning)
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average cost was of directly provided cleaning per square metre for each year since 1985 in (a) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (b) North West NHS hospitals and (c) NHS hospitals in England; [122596]
- (2) what the average cost was of contracted-out cleaning per square metre for each year since 1985 in (a) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (b) North West NHS hospitals and (c) NHS hospitals in England. [122595]
Mr. Denham: Information was collected centrally for the first time in the 1998-99 financial year. However these data cannot be split between contracted out and directly provided services.
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Xenotransplantation
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many incidents of (a) virus infection and (b) horizontal gene transfer, broken down by the (i) place, (ii) date and (iii) exact nature of each incident, have occurred as a result of xenotransplantation procedures; and if he will make a statement; [125265]
- (2) what safety precautions are implemented (a) during and (b) after xenotransplantation research procedures in order to minimise (i) virus infection and (ii) horizontal gene transfer. [125264]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 9 June 2000]: The safety of research into xenotransplantation is governed by various regulations. A summary of the agencies involved and regulations that might apply is contained in guidance on making proposals to conduct xenotransplantation on human subjects (UKXIRA 1998). Copies are available in the Library.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) requires employers to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of incidents occurring in the workplace that result in the ill health of employees. The HSE has advised that data sets for reports under RIDDOR for the financial years 1994-95 to 1998-99 contained no reports of infection attributed to xenotransplantation procedures.
No clinical trials involving humans have yet been approved in the United Kingdom. Our position remains that clinical trials in xenotransplantation involving humans will be allowed to take place only when we are fully satisfied that the risks associated with such procedures are acceptable, taking account of all the available evidence at the time.
Diabetes
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the report, "Diabetes in the UK-the Missing Million"; and if he will make a statement. [125738]
Mr. Denham: We welcome the report, which will help to raise awareness of the seriousness of diabetes. We announced last year the development of a National Service Framework for diabetes in England. The diabetes National Service Framework will be published in 2001 for implementation in the National Health Service from 2002. Its aim is to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes, by raising the quality of services and reducing variations between them.
Air Ambulance Services
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding the Government contributed towards the financing of the North West air ambulance, and how many times the air ambulance has been called out in the North West, in the last year for which figures are available. [125959]
Ms Stuart: Air ambulances are not funded from National Health Service central funds. The North West air ambulance launched 480 missions in its first year, 1999-2000.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Fishing
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the financial effect on the Government of the EU Commissioners' proposal to achieve the required reduction in fishing for MAGP IV exclusively through cuts in fleet capacity; and what fleet cuts would be required in Britain for the remaining 18 months of the programme. [124452]
Mr. Morley: If adopted, the suggested measures would require a cut in the UK fishing fleet of 8 per cent. over the two years 2001-02, representing about 22,000 tonnes of capacity.
It is not possible to make an accurate estimate of the likely cost of decommissioning this tonnage through a voluntary grant scheme. Based on the average level of successful bids under the most recent scheme in 1997, it would be about £75 million. But the cost would be substantially higher since there would have to be sizeable cuts in those profitable fleet segments which have hitherto shown little interest in voluntary decommissioning schemes. Cuts of this scale over such a time period are not ones we think are feasible or that we could support.
Live Animal Exports
Mr. Presser: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 3 May 2000, Official Report, column 140W, on live animal exports, what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of sheep originating from Kent which need to be removed by his staff at Dover port from consignments of slaughter/further fattening sheep; and if he will make a statement. [124888]
Mr. Morley: Careful consideration is already given to the reasons why individual sheep are found to be unfit at Dover so that steps can be taken to deal with any remediable cause.
Mr. Prosser: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2000, Official Report, column 286W, on live animal exports, how many sheep were rejected by local veterinary inspectors from 31 May to 31 December 1999 as unfit to travel, broken down by county in England and Wales. [125135]
Mr. Morley: The updated numbers of sheep rejected by local veterinary inspectors as unfit to travel for the period 31 May to 31 December 1999 according to counties of origin are as follows:
Notes:
1. Nil returns for all other counties
2. All figures are provisional and subject to change
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Tuberculosis
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the terms on which compensation is granted to farmers in the tuberculosis study areas; and what allowance there is for consequential loss. [125800]
Ms Quin [holding answer 13 June 2000]: When cattle are slaughtered following a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test, the farmer receives compensation of 100 per cent. of their market value. No compensation is given for consequential losses. Compensation arrangements are the same both inside and outside badger culling trial areas.
Pigs (Transportation)
Mr. Robertson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy on the transportation of pigs in farrowing crates. [125747]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 13 June 2000]: Farrowing crates are used to prevent sows from crushing their young piglets. They are not used to transport pigs.
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