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Mobile Phones

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the health risks involved in the use of mobile telephones (a) with and (b) without hands-free kits. [137931]

Yvette Cooper: The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (the Stewart group) was set up at the request of the previous Minister for Public Health to investigate the public health implications of mobile phone technologies. The group's report was published on 11 May and copies are in the Library. The report included a number of recommendations which are being taken forward by the Government. These include a commitment to initiate a comprehensive independent programme of research with a budget of several million pounds.

Flu

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of stocks of the influenza vaccine in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood and Ongar. [138059]

Yvette Cooper: General practitioners order their supply of flu vaccine direct from manufacturers. This year there are five suppliers of flu vaccine. Unfortunately one of the manufacturers, Solvay, has encountered problems in growing a strain of the vaccine which has led to delays in some deliveries. Solvay have been in touch with the affected GPs to tell them details of any delays, but have confirmed that all ordered vaccine will be delivered by the end of November, in time to protect people this winter.

Latest figures as at 8 November, show that 9.8 million doses of vaccine have already been distributed. This, along with the amount of vaccine still to be delivered, is a sufficient amount to exceed our immunisation target of 60 per cent. uptake in those aged 65 and over, and to achieve a substantial rise in uptake among those at risk.

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target he has for the number of people over the age of 60 years to receive the influenza vaccine in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood and Ongar by 31 January 2001; what percentage that is of the population of over 60s; and if there are sufficient stocks of the vaccine to meet his target. [138060]

Yvette Cooper: This year, we have extended the recommended groups for influenza immunisation to include everyone aged 65 and over, irrespective of their underlying health, as well as younger people in established high risk groups. This increase has led to record numbers of vaccine being made available--nearly 11 million this year compared to 7.8 million last year, an increase of 40 per cent.

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For the first time, health authorities have been set a target of achieving a minimum 60 per cent. uptake of immunisation in those aged 65 years and over in their areas. They will be required to monitor this, and have also been asked to supply the minimum data necessary for national monitoring purposes.

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his targets for the vaccination programme against influenza by priority groups in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood and Ongar; and if he will list those groups and indicate what progress he had made to achieve those targets on 31 October. [138061]

Yvette Cooper: For the first time, health authorities have been set a target of achieving a minimum 60 per cent. uptake of immunisation in those aged 65 years and over in their areas. They will be required to monitor this, and have also been asked to supply the minimum data necessary for national monitoring purposes.

Monitoring figures received as at 31 October from South Essex, North Essex and Barking and Havering health authorities, show uptake rates so far of 50 per cent., 49 per cent. and 49 per cent. respectively, in the 65 and over age groups.

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans his Department has (1) implemented for dealing with the possibility of a flu epidemic this winter; on what date such plans were implemented and at what cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement; [137127]

(2) evaluated for dealing with the possibility of a flu epidemic this winter; and if he will make a statement. [137126]

Yvette Cooper [holding answer 13 November 2000]: Contingency plans for dealing with an epidemic or outbreak of flu are part of the detailed planning process to manage winter pressures. Planning has been taking place across health and social care since May of this year. Communities have been planning appropriately to manage demand, with influenza immunisation a key part of these plans.

Health authorities have appointed co-ordinators to take overall responsibility for influenza immunisation and to work with general practitioners to ensure that immunisation is made available to vulnerable members of the public.

This year the offer of immunisation against influenza has been extended to include all those over the age of 65. Funding of £60 million has been made available to support the immunisation of 'at risk' groups and a major publicity programme was launched in September to ensure that at risk groups in the community are aware of the opportunity to be immunised.

In addition, National Health Service employers are offering immunisation to all staff involved in the delivery of care and support to patients. Social services employers have been asked to consider offering immunisation to their staff, with approximately 75 per cent. of employers choosing to do so.

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NHS Consultation (Taunton)

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses he has received to his recent NHS consultation from the Taunton constituency. [138312]

Ms Stuart: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Hepatitis C

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the preparations made by the NHS to combat the increased incidence of hepatitis C. [138318]

Yvette Cooper: The incidence of newly acquired hepatitis C infections is not known, as the virus is usually acquired without symptoms. Nevertheless, it is possible that the incidence is falling. Transmissions of hepatitis C through contaminated blood and blood products have now been virtually eliminated. There is also some evidence that the prevalence of hepatitis C among younger injecting drug misusers is less than among those who started injecting before harm minimisation strategies (e.g. needles exchange schemes) were put in place.

While the number of new infections may be falling, we expect an increase in the number of people diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C over the next 10 years, as individuals who have carried the virus for some time are identified through wider testing of groups who have been at risk.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recently published recommendations on the use of alpha interferon combined with ribavirin for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C, and National Health Service funding includes resources for implementing this guidance. Evidence-based clinical guidelines, drawn up by the professions, will be published shortly. The Department is in discussion with the professions, and with healthcare commissioners, about developing hepatology services to uniform standards throughout the country.

Emergency Contraception

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make emergency contraception available from (a) community pharmacists and (b) school nurses. [137742]

Yvette Cooper [holding answer 13 November 2000]: An application has been received to reclassify levonorgestrel 0.75mg (marketed as Levonelle--2) for emergency contraception from prescription only to pharmacy availability for women aged 16 and over. Public consultation was completed on 30 June. The application has now been considered by the Medicines Commission. If we decide to proceed, an Order will be laid shortly.

In addition there are pilot schemes running whereby emergency contraception is issued by pharmacists under National Health Service arrangement using patient group direction.

Sex and Relationship Education Guidance issued by the Department for Education and Employment in July this year states that health professionals can provide pupils with specific and up-to-date information about sexual health and contraception. Health professionals can also

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play an important part in ensuring young people know about their local advice services. The specific role of school nurses in providing services to young people is at the discretion of school governing bodies, in consultation with parents and the school community.

Breast Cancer (Genetic Testing)

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on genetic testing of women who may be pre-disposed to develop breast cancer; how many genetic tests for BRCA 1 and 2 are carried out each year; and how many of these tests produced positive results. [138340]

Yvette Cooper [holding answer 14 November 2000]: Referral for specialist genetic counselling is normally only appropriate for women at high familial risk of breast cancer. Genetic testing for mutations in the breast cancer predisposition genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) may be appropriate for some of these women. In 1998-99, 1,173 tests were undertaken in United Kingdom regional genetic centres for BRCA1 and BRCA2. This compares to 856 in 1997-98 and 458 in 1996-97.

Information on the number of tests which produced positive results is not held centrally. New initiatives for cancer genetic services were outlined in the National Health Service cancer plan, one of which is that common datasets will be developed for the collection of information by cancer genetic services.

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