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London Hospitals

Ms Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has given to (a) Camden and Islington NHS Trust, (b) The Royal Free Hospital and (c) The Whittington Hospital since May 1997. [147878]

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Mr. Denham [holding answer 30 January 2001]: The figures given in the table are for total revenue income of the trusts. It should be noted that this includes income other than that received from the Department (via health authorities and primary care groups) by means of contracts.

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Total revenue income

			£000
	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000
Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust	100,547	106,089	114,939
The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust	178,839	216,825	246,209
Whittington Hospital NHS Trust	71,247	75,007	81,485

Source:

Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust, The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust and Whittington Hospital NHS Trust Summarisation Schedules 1997-98, 1998-99, and 1999-2000.

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Lymington Community Hospital

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the conclusions he has drawn regarding the future of Lymington Community Hospital. [146156]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 30 January 2001]: An announcement will be made in due course.

Body Parts (Regulation)

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department has published to control and regulate the sale of (a) human organs and (b) other body parts to third parties, (i) inside and (ii) outside the NHS. [148097]

Mr. Denham: A letter from the Department to directors of paediatric cardiothoracic units in 1996 stated that the supply of surgical tissues for research or commercial purposes should meet the criteria of consent, safety and cost recovery.

Directions by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health under section 25 of the National Health Service Act 1977 (paragraph 9.9) restrict charges made by blood transfusion centres for blood and blood derivatives to reasonable handling charges, with no charge to be made for the blood or derivatives.

The Human Organ Transplants Act (1989) prohibits commercial dealing in human organs. "Organ" is defined in the Act as "any part of a human body consisting of a structured arrangement of tissues which, if wholly removed, cannot be replicated by the body".

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) says that "no money or other benefit may be given or received in respect of any supply of gametes or embryos unless authorised by directions."

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospitals have sold (a) thymus glands and (b) other body tissues to third parties, (i) inside and (ii) outside the NHS in each of the last three years; and how much money is involved. [148096]

Mr. Denham: As long as consent is properly obtained and ethical standards adhered to, it is appropriate for the National Health Service to supply human tissues to pharmaceutical companies for the development of new

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vaccines and medicines. As this involves a cost to the NHS, which would otherwise have to be met by funds provided for patient care, it is legitimate for these costs to be recovered from the companies concerned.

Information is not held about the supply of thymus glands and other body tissues for such purposes.

Animal Experiments

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what press releases were issued, speeches and other public statements supporting animal testing for medical research purposes were made by him and his Ministers in the year to 18 January. [147409]

Yvette Cooper: In the year from 19 January 2000 to 18 January 2001, written answers were given by Department of Health Ministers to six parliamentary questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on this and related subjects. These answers were given on 8 March 2000, Official Report, column 760W; on 5 April 2000, Official Report, column 509W; on 3 May 2000, Official Report, column 169W; on 15 May 2000, Official Report, column 19W; on 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 683W; and on 30 October 2000, Official Report, column 254W.

In the first of these answers I made clear that we are concerned to ensure that research in animals is undertaken only when necessary to fulfil statutory obligations. In the last of these answers I said that my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath had explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow at a meeting on 25 July 2000 that we fully support the need to raise public awareness of the benefits of animal testing.

PRIME MINISTER

Standards in Public Life

Mr. Plaskitt: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to announce the conclusion of the Quinquennial Review of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and if he will make a statement. [148394]

The Prime Minister: I am pleased to announce that the Report of the Quinquennial Review of the Committee on Standards in Public Life is published today. Copies are being placed in the Libraries.

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The Report recommends that the Committee should continue in its present form for the time being. It notes that there may not always be a need for the Committee to be continuously involved in a full-time inquiry but that in the future less active periods of monitoring may be called for. It recommends that the Committee should react flexibly to requirements and developments in the field of standards in public life. I am grateful to Lord Neill and his Committee for the work they have done in this area. I agree with the Report, which concludes that the Committee has itself become a part of the fabric of public life.

Peter Mandelson

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the exchanges between him and the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), concerning the latter's resignation as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. [148126]

The Prime Minister: There were none.

Hinduja Brothers

Mr. Baker: To ask the Prime Minister on what date (a) discussions first took place between a Minister and the Hinduja brothers, (b) correspondence was sent by a minister and (c) correspondence was received by a minister concerning the possible sponsoring of the Faith Zone in the Millennium Dome by the Hinduja Brothers; and if he will make a statement. [147176]

The Prime Minister [pursuant to his reply, 29 January 2001, c. 70W]: Owing to an administrative error the answer printed in Hansard gives the same answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) (UIN 147176) and the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) (UIN 147718). The answer given only related to the question from the hon. Member for Aylesbury. My office informed the hon. Member for Lewes of the error and a substantive reply to his question is given below.

It was the responsibility of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), as the operator of the Dome, to negotiate and secure sponsorship for the Dome.

I understand from NMEC, that the Hinduja Foundation first approached NMEC in February 1997 about the possibility of incorporating the "Concordia Project" into the Dome. This was to be an interactive visitor education centre focusing on the world's different cultures.

On 24 February 1998, together with several other Ministers, I launched the public appeal for sponsorship at a televised public event at which the Hinduja Foundation, among many other companies and organisations, were present. At the launch they reiterated their desire to be involved in the Millennium project.

They then wrote to me on 25 February 1998 and the Minister without Portfolio on 26 February 1998. Further negotiations were conducted by NMEC.

On 3 June 1999 NMEC announced that the Faith Zone would receive £4 million in sponsorship--£2 million from the Laing Family Trusts (Christian charitable foundations); £1 million from the Hinduja Foundation and £1 million from other Christian trusts including the Jerusalem trust.

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Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Prime Minister when, and by whom, he was first informed of the possibility that the Hindujas might provide sponsorship for the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement. [148095]

The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I have given today to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker).

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Prime Minister if he will invite the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to investigate the activities of the Hinduja brothers under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 in relation to their passport applications; and if he will make a statement. [148098]

The Prime Minister: No. I have set up an inquiry.

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Prime Minister what gifts have been received since 2 May 1997 from the Hindujas by (a) Ministers and (b) other persons representing the Government. [148067]

The Prime Minister: The rules on the acceptance of gifts by Ministers and civil servants are set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Departmental Handbooks". Details of gifts received by Ministers and civil servants are not held centrally.

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Prime Minister which officials in his office have (a) been contacted by and (b) contacted (i) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (ii) Mr. S. P. Hinduja since 2 May 1997; if he will list the occasions on which there was such contact; and if he will make a statement. [148075]

The Prime Minister: It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions since 2 May 1997 he has met (a) Mr. G. P. Hinduja and (b) Mr. S. P. Hinduja; and if he will make a statement. [148069]

The Prime Minister: It is public knowledge that I have met members of the Hinduja family. Subject to that it is not the normal practice of Government to release details of meetings with private individuals or companies.

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions since 2 May 1997 he has discussed matters relating to the Hinduja brothers with (a) the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), (b) the right hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), (c) the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), (d) the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), (e) other Ministers. [148068]

The Prime Minister: A central record is not maintained of each and every conversation that I have with Ministerial colleagues.

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Prime Minister when, and by whom, he was first informed of the citizenship applications submitted by (a) Mr. G. P. Hinduja on 5 March 1997 and (b) Mr. S. P. Hinduja on 20 October 1998; and if he will make a statement. [148092]

The Prime Minister: Applications for citizenship are a matter for the Home Office.

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