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Stem Cell Research
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's policy concerning embryonic stem cell research and the development of adult stem cells. [139145]
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Yvette Cooper: The issue of stem cell research was comprehensively discussed in the report of the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group--"Stem Cell research: Medical progress with responsibility"--published in August of this year, copies of which are available in the Library.
The report concluded that research on stem cells from all sources provides the possibility of exciting prospects for future therapies for a range of debilitating diseases including Parkinson's, diabetes, spinal injuries and liver disease. However, a great deal of research will be needed to realise such potential. It is hoped that research with embryonic stem cells will provide the information necessary for the future use of adult cells for treatment.
We have accepted the recommendations of the report and will introduce Regulations to extend the permitted research purposes under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 to allow for research on embryonic stem cells.
Embryonic Research
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the resolution of the European Parliament (Official Journal C034, 2/2/1998. p0164) on embryonic research and therapeutic cloning. [139146]
Yvette Cooper: We agree with the aim of this Resolution to the extent that human reproductive cloning should be prohibited. This is entirely in accordance with the stated view of the United Kingdom Government. However, we announced in August our intention to bring forward Regulations to extend the purposes for which embryos may be used in research to include research into human diseases and their treatments. This would include embryos created by cell nuclear replacement (therapeutic cloning).
Resolutions of the European Parliament have no legal status. We are aware that the European Union has no competence to legislate specifically on embryo research and that strong and deeply divided views are held on this issue in Europe.
Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications for research licences the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has refused since 1990. [139486]
Yvette Cooper: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has licensed human embryo research since 1 August 1991. Up to March 2000 the HFEA has refused a total of 17 licences.
Surveys (Social Service Departments)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the surveys, and information sought in each case, sent to social service departments in the last six months. [139043]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 20 November 2000]: In support of its business objectives to secure high-quality social care and child protection through local authorities and other agencies, the Department collects statistical information on an annual basis from councils with
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social services responsibilities. Details of the statistical collections are available on the Department of Health internet site at www.doh.gov.uk/public/pss2000ret.htm.
The Department also collects information in support of performance monitoring of individual council's achievements against national targets. The autumn position statement, issued in September, sought performance and progress information in connection with selected aspects of the Department's national priorities guidance objectives and targets. It forms part of the Department's new performance assessment system for social services introduced this year. The winter census of social services was carried out by the Department's social care regional offices in October, covering all councils with social services responsibilities. It gathered information on changes to the number of residential and nursing home places in council areas over the period October 1999-October 2000: and on council expenditure to support admissions.
Information that the social services inspectorate requests from individual local authorities to aid the inspection process has not been included.
Long-term Care
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the change in regulations in paragraph 2.32 of the Government's response to the Royal Commission on long-term care to give councils powers to help people with preserved rights facing eviction will extend to those in nursing homes, as well as in residential care homes. [138648]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 20 November 2000]: The new regulations will apply to some people in nursing homes. Councils will be able to support in their existing residential care or nursing home those people with preserved rights whom they can at present only support in a different home when faced with eviction.
We hope to introduce the new regulations before the end of the year.
Infertility Treatment
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress his Department has made in ensuring equal access to infertility treatment in England; and if he will make a statement; [139931]
- (2) what improvements he plans to make to infertility service provision under the NHS National Plan; and if he will make a statement; [139930]
(3) when his Department will publish the findings of its survey of health authority infertility provision in England. [139932]
Yvette Cooper: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) on 20 November 2000, Official Report, column 43W.
Pre-eclampsia
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on pre-eclampsia and connected syndromes, with particular reference to the incidence of
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the condition, foetal and maternal mortality, current research programmes and the dissemination of good practice among clinicians. [139530]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 23 November 2000]: The Department recognises the serious nature of both pre-eclampsia (hypertension of pregnancy) and its rarer complication, eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia can occur in up to 10 per cent. of pregnancies, and its severer condition, eclampsia, complicates 5 per 10,000 pregnancies. Eclampsia currently causes up to six maternal deaths a year in the United Kingdom and up to 140 foetal deaths in England and Wales.
The Department's Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths investigates all maternal deaths and publishes regular, updated guidelines on the management of eclampsia. It has also funded the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and Royal College of Midwives to produce guidelines for the management of antenatal care including the detection and treatment of pre-eclampsia. Apart from these guidelines the RCOG has also issued recent guidelines for the management of eclampsia. The Medical Research Council is funding several studies into the aetiology of this condition. The Department also supports the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia through a core grant and funding for its project to supply information packs to health professionals and leaflets to pregnant women.
Autism and Asperger's Syndrome
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to (a) raise public awareness of the existence and symptoms of (i) autism and (ii) Asperger's Syndrome and (b) to improve the United Kingdom's record in diagnosis and assessment. [139174]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 23 November 2000]: In 1999-2000 the Department gave project grants on autism, including Asperger's Syndrome, to the National Autistic Society and the Institute of Psychiatry. The needs of autistic people who also have a learning disability will be covered by the learning disability strategy which will be published as a White Paper in the early months of next year.
Part of the explanation for the increasing number of children identified as having an autistic spectrum disorder is improvement in diagnosis by the medical profession. The National Health Service Executive has funded an evaluation of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) against other new approaches to diagnosis. DISCO was developed at the Medical Research Council Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry and is making a major contribution to the more reliable diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders. Its continuing development is being undertaken by the National Autistic Society.
We recognise the importance of health, social services and education agencies collaborating to facilitate early identification and effective intervention. Quality Projects, the programme to transform children's services, will continue for a five year period until 2004 with additional resources. From April 2001, services for disabled children will be a priority area and over the following three years £60 million has been earmarked for spending on services for disabled children and their families.
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BSE
Mr. Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy and effectiveness of controls designed to minimise the risk of BSE infected meat originating in France from entering the British food chain. [140621]
Ms Stuart: The Government treat all matters of food and consumer safety with the utmost seriousness. That is why we established the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The preliminary advice received from the agency is that there is no need currently for a ban on French beef. But the agency plans to visit France urgently to ensure that the French Government have in place effective measures to implement their planned action on beef and to ensure that the beef banned in France will not be exported to the United Kingdom. The position will be reconsidered by Ministers following the report from the FSA of its findings in France.
In addition, the agency is commissioning a risk assessment of French beef. The Government will be pressing for the European Commission to ensure the compulsory labelling of countries of origin of meat, including processed products. All allegations that imported over-30-months-beef is being or has been sold for human consumption are vigorously investigated. The agency will be asking local authorities to step up enforcement action on the 30-months rule in meat processing plants and retailers. The FSA has advised Ministers to consider tightening the 1996 regulations so that they cover certification and beef products and we will be doing that urgently.
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