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Communication (Deaf People)
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in his Department are able to communicate using British Sign Language. [132101]
Ms Stuart: We do not collect information regarding British Sign Language centrally.
Salt
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he intends to accept the offer by the Salt Manufacturers Association to part-fund a review of the scientific evidence on dietary sodium intake; [132010]
- (2) if he will list the evidence on which he based his policy that there is a causal link between salt and hypertension. [132009]
Yvette Cooper: [holding answer 24 July 2000]: The evidence on the relationship between sodium consumption and blood pressure was considered by the Government's advisory committee, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy in its 1994 report entitled "Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease." COMA concluded that sodium intake appears to be an important determinant of blood pressure in the population as a whole at least partly by influencing the rise of blood pressure with age. A diet lower in common salt, which is a major source of sodium, and higher in potassium would be
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expected to result in lower blood pressure and a smaller rise in blood pressure with age. COMA recommended a reduction in the average intake of common salt by the adult population from the current level of about nine grams per day to six grams per day.
Recognising that there are differences of opinion in this area, a workshop was organised at the Department's request by the Faculty of Public Health Medicine (FPHM) in collaboration with the British Heart Foundation in December 1997 to consider the issues surrounding salt consumption and its effect on blood pressure and subsequent cardiovascular disease. The workshop endorsed COMA's advice, concluding that salt intake was one of a number of dietary and other lifestyle factors influencing blood pressure and that reducing salt intake would be an appropriate public health measure. We do not intend to review the evidence at this stage and therefore will not be accepting the offer of the Salt Manufactures Association.
Osteoporosis
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to co-ordinate the various specialties which are relevant to the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; and what action is being taken to improve access to densitrometry and appropriate follow-on treatment. [132908]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 27 July 2000]: The launch of the Department's Osteoporosis Strategy in June 1998 provided evidence-based clinical guidelines for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. These should provide the basis for health authorities wishing to develop their own strategies. It is for local health authorities to decide what services to provide taking into account resources available and the needs of the local population.
Merchant Navy Day
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the Red Ensign is flown from departmental buildings on Merchant Navy Day, 3 September. [132958]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 27 July 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on 27 July 2000, Official Report, column 895W.
NHS Management Training
Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money will be allocated to the NHS Management Training Scheme (a) in the next year and (b) for each successive year for the spending review period. [132922]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 27 July 2000]: The indicative funding allocations for the Management Training Scheme in the current year and the next two years are as shown.
| Year | Allocation |
|---|---|
| 2000-01 | 5,235 |
| 2001-02 | 5,306 |
| 2002-03 | 5,306 |
The increase in cost between 1999-2000 and 2000-01 reflects the introduction of a new contract for management education and a re-focusing of the Scheme to better address current service modernisation issues.
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Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many entrants were recruited on to the NHS Management Training Scheme and within these totals, broken down by (a) the number and percentage of university graduates, (b) the number and percentage who are graduates of Oxford and Cambridge universities and (c) the number and percentage with HND and equivalent qualifications in each of the last 10 years. [132925]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 27 July 2000]: The figures for the last three years are representative of typical National Health Service Management Training Scheme intakes:
- 2000--59 out of 62 (95 per cent.) are university graduates, and 8 (13 per cent. ) are from Oxbridge.
- 1999--61 out of 62 (98 per cent.) are university graduates, and 5 (8 per cent.) are from Oxbridge.
- 1998--53 out of 55 (96 per cent.) are university graduates, and 6 (11 per cent.) are from Oxbridge.
Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the intake has been on the NHS Management Training Scheme was in each of the last 10 years. [132923]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 27 July 2000]: For the years since 1990, the number of trainees taken onto the National Health Service Management Training Scheme are shown in the table:
| Intake year | Trainees |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 51 |
| 1991 | 58 |
| 1992 | 71 |
| 1993 | 74 |
| 1994 | 73 |
| 1995 | 60 |
| 1996 | 47 |
| 1997 | 48 |
| 1998 | 55 |
| 1999 | 62 |
| 2000 | 62 |
Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people took management positions in the NHS following completion of the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last three years. [132924]
28 Jul 2000 : Column: 995W
Mr. Denham: Posts taken by ex-trainees on leaving the Scheme could be considered as training positions in which they further develop their management skills, but most ex-trainees take on real management roles within the National Health Service on leaving the Scheme. Of the 1997 intake who completed the Scheme last year, all bar one hold posts in the NHS. Of the 1995 intake 77 per cent. are still working in the NHS as are 83 per cent. of the 1996 intake. The majority of trainees take on posts reporting to chief executives or executive directors in NHS trusts or health authorities.
Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trainees are involved in the NHS Management Training Scheme; and how they are dispersed by region. [132920]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 27 July 2000]: The information requested is in the table:
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| London | 7 | 9 | 9 |
| Trent | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Eastern | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| South East | 6 | 9 | 9 |
| North West | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Northern and Yorkshire | 7 | 5 | 8 |
| South West | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Total | 55 | 62 | 62 |
Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the overall costs were for the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last three years. [132921]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 27 July 2000]: The cost of the Management Training Scheme in the year 1999-2000 was £4,723,000. Central figures are not immediately available, but this figure is indicative of the cost of the Scheme in each of the previous three years.
Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where graduates of the NHS Management Training Scheme went on completion of the scheme, broken down by region, in each of the last two years. [132930]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 27 July 2000]: A survey of ex-trainees who graduated from the scheme over the 10 year period 1986-96 showed:
- 67 per cent. employed by National Health Service trusts
- 22 per cent. employed by health authorities
- 2 per cent. employed in primary care
- 9 per cent. other organisations.
These proportions do not vary noticeably between regions.
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