---

NHS Plan

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the sponsors for the public consultation to confer on the NHS plan referred to in Annex E (p112) of the Department's Annual report 2001. [15418]

Mr. Hutton: The sponsors in kind who helped us with the distribution of the NHS Plan by making copies available on their shelves were five retail chains: Safeway, Morrisons, Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury; and three high street pharmaceutical chains: Boots, Lloyds and Superdrug.

Osteoporosis

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he will take to encourage primary care organisations to consider the recommendations in "Primary Care Strategy for Falls and Osteoporosis", published by the National Osteoporosis Society in July; [10210]

(2) what was the cost to the health service of dealing with osteoporotic fractures in each of the last three years; [10211]

(3) what estimate he has made of the impact which recommendations in the "Primary Care Strategy for Falls and Osteoporosis", published by the National Osteoporosis Society in July, could have on reducing the number of fractures which the health service has to deal with; [10208]

(4) what estimate he has made of the impact which recommendations in "Primary Care Strategy for Falls and Osteoporosis", published by the National Osteoporosis Society in July, could have on reducing the cost to the national health service of dealing with fractures. [10209]

16 Nov 2001 : Column: 950W

Jacqui Smith: The latest evidence suggests that the annual cost of hip fractures in the United Kingdom is in excess of £1.7 billion. Hip fractures are caused mainly by osteoporosis. Through the National Service Framework for Older People we have signalled the importance of addressing osteoporosis. This document sets targets and milestones for local health and social care systems to establish an integrated falls service, which will include appropriate interventions and advice to prevent osteoporotic fracture.

We welcome the National Osteoporosis Society's primary care strategy for falls and osteoporosis. This strategy, involving many different agencies, is an excellent example of the type of integrated approach that is likely to be successful in the long term. We hope that local health care providers make its implementation a priority in their work to develop the osteoporosis aspects of integrated falls services.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many named day parliamentary written questions were tabled to his Department between 15 October and 5 November; and what proportion of these have received holding answers. [13308]

Jacqui Smith: The Department received 345 named day parliamentary questions in the period 15 October to 5 November, 61 per cent. received a holding answer.

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of those named day parliamentary written questions to his Department that received a holding answer between 15 October and 5 November received the substantive answer (a) within three parliamentary days, (b) within seven parliamentary days, (c) within 10 parliamentary days, (d) within 15 parliamentary days and (e) over 15 parliamentary days after the holding answer was issued. [13327]

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is as follows:

Substantively answered within three days—69 per cent.

Substantively answered within seven days—15 per cent.

Substantively answered within 10 days—9 per cent.

Substantively answered within 15 days—1 per cent.

Substantively answered over 15 days—0 per cent.

A further 6 per cent. are still to be answered.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Holocaust Memorial Day

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the decision of the BBC not to televise Holocaust Memorial Day 2002. [14720]

Dr. Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), on 13 November 2001, Official Report, columns 638–39W.

16 Nov 2001 : Column: 951W

European Year of People with Disabilities

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her plans for the 2003 European Year of People with Disabilities. [14831]

Dr. Howells: National plans for the 2003 European Year of People with Disabilities are still in an embryonic state. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston is leading on this issue, and I understand that a decision to approve the formation of the National Co-ordinating Committee will not be taken until 3 December. I will be pleased to consider what contribution would be most appropriate for my Department when this is requested.

WPC Kaur

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) at the employment tribunal hearing of the claim by WPC Kaur, how many days were taken (a) by the claimants' case and (b) by the response on her behalf; when the judgment is expected; and if she will instruct the Royal Park Constabulary not to stop paying WPC Kaur before the judgment is given; [15283]

(2) if she (a) instructed him not to and (b) was informed that the former head of the Royal Parks Constabulary did not give oral evidence on her behalf in the employment tribunal case of WPC Kaur. [15284]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 15 November 2001]: Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its chief executive, William Weston. I have asked him to arrange for replies to be given.

Letter from William Weston to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 16 November 2001:

I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the tribunal involving PC Kaur because this is an operational matter that is the responsibility of the Royal Parks Agency.

The industrial tribunal sat on a number of days between 24th September and 17th October. During that time the presentation of the claimant's case took six and a half days and the case for the Secretary of State took five and a half days. No indication was given as to when a judgement will be forthcoming.

The former Chief Officer of the Royal Parks was not called to give evidence. The former Deputy Chief Officer was due to give evidence but was unable to do so because he was unwell. We would not expect to inform the Secretary of State about such a detail of the proceedings unless it was of particular significance.

The question of how PC Kaur is paid is not related to the period of the tribunal. We have been paying her according to the procedures for paying all staff in the Agency (and the Royal Parks Constabulary) who are absent from work through sickness and we will continue to pay her on this basis, regardless of when the judgement of the tribunal is made known.

Ofcom

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her plans are for representation for Scotland on the proposed Ofcom; and if she will make a statement. [15066]

16 Nov 2001 : Column: 952W

Dr. Howells [holding answer 15 November 2001]: The draft Communications Bill to be published in spring 2002 will contain details of how the interests of Scotland will be represented within Ofcom.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many named day parliamentary written questions were tabled to her Department between 15 October and 5 November; and what proportion of these have received holding answers; [13315]

(2) what proportion of those named day parliamentary written questions to her Department that received a holding answer between 15 October and 5 November received the substantive answer (a) within three parliamentary days, (b) within seven parliamentary days, (c) within 10 parliamentary days, (d) within 15 parliamentary days and (e) over 15 parliamentary days after the holding answer was issued. [13334]

Dr. Howells: Of the 44 named day written questions tabled to the Department between 15 October 2001 and 5 November 2001, 27 received holding answers. Of these, 20 received substantive answers within three parliamentary days, four within seven parliamentary days, two within 10 parliamentary days, and one within 15 parliamentary days of the holding answer being issued.

Fair Trade

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is in relation to departmental spending for supplies concerning the purchase of fair trade goods. [15202]

Dr. Howells: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport recognises the public desire to purchase ethically and environmentally sound goods where this is practical. It is inherent in the Department's environmental management system that it should seek to influence the supply chain in favour of fair trade type goods but, at the same time the expenditure of public money demands that procurement must achieve value for money via a competitive market. Where fair trade can compete successfully against other suppliers for cost, quality and service the Department will give preference to the ethical and environmentally acceptable option.

---