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Training Costs

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of training a (a) doctor, (b) nurse, (c) occupational therapist, (d) physiotherapist and (e) speech and language therapist; and if he will make a statement. [138404]

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Mr. Denham: In the period between entry to medical school and full registration, it is estimated that training a doctor costs between £200,000 and £250,000. Doctors generally continue training after full registration. As the duration and nature of post-registration training varies greatly and as service and training costs are closely related it is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the total cost of training.

The latest year for which figures are available show that in 1999-2000 the national average estimated cost of training a nurse was £11,000 per annum; an occupational therapist £7,000 per annum; a physiotherapist £7,200 per annum and a speech and language therapist £7,000 per annum. These costs are inclusive of tuition, bursary and salary support costs. Most courses are of three years duration.

Secure Units

Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent evaluation he has made of methods of control and restraint in local authority secure units for young people; [138434]

(2) when he will decide on a national standard of accredited methods of control and restraint in local authority secure units for young people. [138435]

Mr. Hutton: The methods of control and restraint adopted in each local authority secure unit are monitored and evaluated as part of the continuing inspection programme of secure establishments for children carried out by the social services inspectorate.

Guidance on permissible forms of control in children's residential care was issued in 1993.

Residential and Nursing Homes

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish regulations for residential and nursing homes under the Care Standards Act 2000; what the timescale is for the implementation of the regulations; and if he will make a statement. [138422]

Mr. Hutton: We will be consulting on regulations for care homes under the Care Standards Act 2000, soon. The regulations will be implemented in time for the start of the National Care Standards Commission in April 2002.

NHS Trusts (Market Testing)

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to NHS trusts on market testing of (a) laundry, (b) cleaning and (c) catering services. [138448]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 15 November 2000]: The abolition of compulsory market testing of laundry, cleaning and catering services in the National Health Service was announced in September. Under new guidance to be published in due course NHS trusts will be required to demonstrate value for money in terms of quality, cost and patient satisfaction across all their support services.

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Euro

Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS to date has been of the national euro changeover plan. [138731]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 16 November 2000]: Public sector spending on changeover planning to date is set out in the Treasury's Fourth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 6 November 2000. Copies of the Report are available in the Library.

Cancer Research

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Government response to the Science and Technology Committee 6 report of Session 1999-2000, HC723, on Cancer Research; and if he will make a statement. [139648]

Yvette Cooper: We have published the Government Response today, as Cm 4928, and copies are available in the Library. We welcome the thorough inquiry into all the research and related issues that the Committee has conducted. We accept many of the recommendations in the report.

When the Committee published its report, we decided that an essential first step in improving cancer research and, through this, cancer care in this country, was to create a NHS Cancer Research Network. By 2003, we will be investing an additional £20 million each year on this new initiative.

The NHS Cancer Research Network will have a direct impact on the quality of cancer care by integrating research and cancer care; improving the quality, speed and co-ordination of cancer research; and increasing the number of NHS organisations, health care professionals, and patients participating in cancer research studies. The initial target for the NCRN will be to double the number of cancer patients entering trials within three years. The first step in establishing the NHS Cancer Research Network is to commission a Co-ordinating Centre and an appointment has now been made, following an open competition.

The Co-ordinating Centre will be a joint enterprise. Two groups will work together to achieve the overall aims of the NHS Cancer Research Network. A consortium involving the universities of Leeds and York and the MRC Clinical Trials Unit, led by Professor Peter Selby will concentrate on operating a network for controlled trials, especially of new approaches that have shown promise in diagnosing, treating and caring for patients with cancer. Professor David Kerr will lead the NHS's contribution to early studies translating advances in basic science into promising new treatments for cancer through a network of centres.

In relation to further action, we agree with the Committee that a new 'bricks and mortar' institute for cancer research is not the best way forward in this country. We need a different type of mechanism to plan and co-ordinate the drive on cancer research in general. We have asked the Department's Director of Research & Development (Professor Sir John Pattison) and the National Cancer Director (Professor Mike Richards) to consult all those involved in the funding and delivery of

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cancer research, and then to come forward with definitive proposals for a National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI).

Through these and other measures outlined in our response, the Government will be taking a major step forward in the benefits cancer research can bring to patients. We thank the Committee for their work and their contribution to the debate on improving cancer research and care in this country.

Correspondence

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 19 June from the right hon. Member for North East Hampshire regarding the Director of Social Services of Hampshire County Council, Mr. Butler. [138904]

Ms Stuart: I shall let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Competitive Sports

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent assessment he has made of the role of competitive sports in secondary education. [134936]

Jacqui Smith: Competitive sports in schools play an important role in providing extra-curricular physical activity for schoolchildren. They are a compulsory part of the National Curriculum for Physical Education for pupils aged between 5 and 14 and are one of the options for pupils aged 14 to 16. HMCI's Annual Report looked at a sample of 115 primary schools and 53 secondary schools, and without exception, all secondary schools provided opportunities to participate in extra-curricular sports, and three quarters of primary schools provided similar opportunities for the older range of pupils. As part of the Government's Sports Strategy, the first phase of School Sports Co-ordinators has just been established. They will work with families of primary and secondary schools in areas of greatest need to provide children with even more opportunities to compete and participate in a wide range of school sports, and will also promote school team competitions.

Payroll Administration

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the costs of payroll administration in his Department and associated agencies and non-departmental bodies in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [135994]

Mr. Wills [holding answer 1 November 2000]: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost, as the elements of the payroll administration costs for the Department and its agencies and non-departmental bodies are not available in aggregated form.

Student Loans

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the receipt of a London weighting

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allowance in a salary is treated by the regulations governing the repayment threshold and liability under the student loan scheme. [136534]

Mr. Wicks: Borrowers with mortgage style loans may apply to defer repayment of their student loan for a year at a time if their income is not more than 85 per cent. of national average earnings. London weighting is treated as part of the borrower's income. Borrowers with income contingent loans are liable to repay 9 per cent. of gross income (taxable or liable to national insurance) over £10,000 a year. London weighting is treated as part of gross income.

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