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Water Fluoridation

Mr. Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the research projects funded by his Department since 1990 that have investigated the causes of mottling, opacities and dental fluorosis in children and young adults; [124641]

(2) when he last met representatives of the water companies in England and Wales; and what matters were discussed; [124621]

(3) what plans he has to restrict or control the ingestation of fluoride, mouth washes and dental floss by (a) adults and (b) children; [124640]

(4) what plans he has to amend sections 87 to 91 of the Water Industry Act 1991; and if he will make a statement; [124620]

(5) if he will commission research into the incidence of hip fractures in women aged 50 to 64 years in (a) fluoridated and (b) unfluoridated areas in England and Wales. [124622]

Yvette Cooper: The Department has commissioned the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, at the University of York, to conduct a systematic review of the evidence on the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water. The review will cover studies on hip fractures, including studies undertaken in the United Kingdom. It is expected to report in July. We will review policy on fluoridation including any need for further research and advice on the use of topical fluoride in the light of the report's conclusions.

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The Department has not funded any recent research projects into the causes of mottling, opacities and dental fluorosis in children and young adults, but the systematic review is covering these matters.

I met with the chief executive of Water UK on 24 May to discuss the progress of the review.

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into the fluoridation of water and the intake of fluoride from sources other than water; and if he will make a statement. [124882]

Yvette Cooper: The fluoride concentration of drinking water, whether occurring naturally at levels up to the maximum permitted concentration of 1.5 milligrams per litre, or artificially supplemented to a concentration of 1 milligram per litre, principally affects dietary intake of fluoride through consumption of tapwater, and of domestically-prepared soft drinks, beverages and meals. The intake of fluoride from retail food is estimated from the UK Total Diet Study. The estimate from data gathered between 1978 and 1980 is included in Chapter 36 of Department of Health Report on Health and Social Subjects 41 "Dietary Reference Values for food energy and nutrients for the United Kingdom" (sixth impression and later revisions, 1994 onwards). Copies are available in the Library. The Food Standards Agency has recently completed a survey of fluoride levels in the 1997 Total Diet Study and will report the results in full once they have been assessed.

The Department has commissioned the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, at the University of York, to conduct a systematic review of the evidence on the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water, which is expected to report in July.

Oral Cancer

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce (a) the incidence of and (b) the mortality rate for oral cancer; and if he will make a statement. [124471]

Yvette Cooper: Some cases of oral cancer are linked to smoking, the chewing of tobacco and betel quid and heavy alcohol consumption.

The reduction of smoking is one of our top priorities and a number of measures are in place including up to £50 million new money for a major campaign to shift attitudes and change behaviour and up to £60 million new money for National Health Service smoking cessation services.

We are funding a number of voluntary organisations to produce ethnic minority health materials aimed at improving information on oral cancer including material on paan chewing with tobacco which is widespread among Bangladeshi communities.

We plan to publish a consultation paper later this year prior to the publication of a national strategy on alcohol misuse.

From October 2000, all patients suspected of having oral cancer should be given an outpatient appointment within 14 days of their general practitioner making an

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urgent referral. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence is expected to produce guidance for commissioners of head and neck cancer services in 2002.

Waiting Lists

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients are waiting for admission to hospital, broken down by specialty and health authority area; and if he will make a statement; [124418]

(2) how many patients are waiting for admission to hospitals in each health authority in England for (a) child health treatment, (b) cancer treatment, (c) cardio-thoracic treatment, (d) treatment of the elderly, (e) general medical treatment, (f) general surgery and urology and (g) neurosurgery and neurology; and if he will make a statement. [124419]

Mr. Denham [holding answers 6 June and 7 June 2000]: All the available data are published on the Department of Health website at www.doh.nhsweb.nhs.uk/nhs/waitingtimes and in the Library in the quarterly publication entitled: "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England (Responsible Population Based) Quarter Ended 31 March 2000". The latest data are for the end March 2000.

Hepatitis C (Norwich)

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to tackle the problems of the hepatitis C infection in Norwich among intravenous drug users; and if he will include hepatitis C infection in a general programme on blood-borne viruses. [124889]

Yvette Cooper: Norfolk health authority funds specific initiatives to prevent and control blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis C, among injecting drug misusers. These initiatives include needle exchange schemes; outreach services; an immunisation programme against hepatitis B; information and advice on preventing blood-borne virus transmission; testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV; and training and guidance for health professionals.

We recognise that blood-borne viruses, in particular hepatitis C, are a public health issue in relation to injecting drug misusers. We are therefore commissioning research specifically about hepatitis C and injecting drug misusers, who currently form the largest source of new cases.

We have also asked the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to consider the use of combination drug therapy (interferon alpha plus ribavirin) for the treatment of hepatitis C. NICE is also looking at evidence-based clinical guidelines for the management of patients with hepatitis C. NICE's recommendations, which are due this autumn, and the clinical guidelines will provide authoritative guidance to health care commissioners and clinicians.

Hereford Hospital

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received over the number of acute beds for the new Hereford hospital; and if he will make a statement. [125128]

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Yvette Cooper: The British Medical Association Herefordshire Division held a meeting on 31 May at which I understand it was agreed they would write to me asking me to review the provision of hospital beds in Herefordshire.

The important issue for the health service in Herefordshire is the number of patients who need to be treated and the appropriateness of their care. In line with this the services and bed provision for Herefordshire have been reviewed, validated and agreed between the health authority, acute trust, and the community health council.

The agreed plan for Herefordshire has two key elements: consolidating split site acute services and investing in intermediate care in rural and city locations. Intermediate care investment includes provision of modern community hospitals at Ledbury and Kington, additional community health staff, fast response hospital-at-home teams and joint use of re-ablement beds with the local authority.

The report of our National Beds Inquiry, set up to review assumptions about the demand for inpatient care and the implications for hospital bed numbers, was published for consultation on 10 February 2000. Consultation will focus on how health services, and specifically hospital beds, should be developed over the next 10-20 years.

Abortion Clinics

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints he has received against abortion clinics in the past year; which clinics were concerned in each case; and what the nature of each complaint was. [125408]

Yvette Cooper: The Department has only received one complaint in the last year and as this is currently being investigated it is inappropriate to comment further.

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the fees that are paid to private abortion clinics for the receipt of fetal tissue by NHS organisations. [125407]

Yvette Cooper: No fees are paid to private abortion clinics. The "Code Of Practice On The Use Of Fetuses And Fetal Material In Research And Treatment" issued by the Department in July 1989 states there should be no monetary exchange for fetuses or fetal tissue.

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory provisions govern the disposal of the bodies and organs of induced-aborted babies. [125405]

Yvette Cooper: Before 24 weeks gestation, there are no specific legal requirements but we recommend that full account be taken of any personal wishes that have been expressed about disposal of foetal tissue. If appropriate the options available should be raised with parents especially where there is an identifiable body at later gestations. If no personal wishes have been expressed foetuses should be incinerated.

Terminations carried out after 24 weeks gestation (the legal age of viability) are registered as stillbirths and the law requires the body to be buried or cremated.

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Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the abortion clinics which send fetal tissue to the fetal tissue banks at (a) the Medical Research Council based at Hammersmith Hospital, (b) the Institute of Child Health, London and (c) the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. [125406]

Yvette Cooper: The Marie Stopes Park View Clinic supplies foetal tissue to the Medical Research Council tissue bank based at Hammersmith Hospital. No abortion clinics supply foetal tissue to the other tissue banks listed.

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