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Cancer Networks
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) to which individual or organisation cancer networks are answerable; and what the accountability arrangements are for cancer networks; [23820]
- (2) if cancer networks will be given a budget to commission services; and if commissioning and providing functions will be separated; [23827]
(3) what the relationship will be between strategic health authorities and cancer networks; and if he will make a statement. [23828]
Yvette Cooper: The NHS Cancer Plan said that cancer networks would be the organisational model for cancer services to implement the Cancer Plan, bringing together commissioners, providers, the voluntary sector and local authorities. Cancer networks have been working together to develop strategic service delivery plans to develop all aspects of cancer services. The National Health Service Planning and Performance Framework published on 6 December set out the requirement that NHS organisations should work together through cancer
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networks to deliver the cancer programme in line with network's strategic plans. The role of cancer networks and their relationships with other NHS bodies will be clarified shortly in our response to the consultation on Shifting the Balance of Power in the NHS.
Technology Appraisal Guidance
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how his Department will ensure that health authorities and primary care trusts fulfil their statutory obligation after January 2002 to implement technology appraisal guidance issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; [23825]
- (2) if health authorities and primary care trusts will have a statutory obligation to implement technology appraisal guidance issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence before January 2002. [23826]
Mr. Hutton: The statutory obligations on health authorities and primary care trusts to provide appropriate funding for treatments recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence applies to guidance issued before and after 1 January 2002.
We expect all national health service bodies to fulfil their statutory obligations and the Department will use appropriate performance management arrangements to ensure that they do so.
Cancer Nurses
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of specialist nurses for (a) lung cancer, (b) stomach cancer and (c) urological cancers. [23819]
Yvette Cooper: The NHS Cancer Plan sets out our commitment to investment in the cancer nursing work force. We expect to see an increase in all specialist cancer nurses in line with needs identified in local cancer service delivery plans.
Long-term Care Homes
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into the reasons for the closure of nursing and residential homes. [23422]
Jacqui Smith: We have commissioned a study from the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the University of Kent.
Pesticide Residues
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review safety levels of pesticide residues in food. [24014]
Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.
DEFRA works closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on all matters concerning pesticide residues in food.
The safety of pesticide residues in foodstuffs is kept under continuous review by DEFRA's Pesticide Safety Directorate with advice from the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP). Additionally checks are made that residues in food are within statutory limits
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through a wide-ranging surveillance programme overseen by the independent Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC). The results from the PRC's surveillance programme are published quarterly on the Committee's website at www.pesticides.gov.uk.
There has been some specific concern over the potential combined effects of pesticide residues and at the request of the FSA, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), a group of independent experts, established a Working Group for the Risk Assessment of Mixtures of Pesticides/Veterinary Medicines (WIGRAMP).
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Pilot Schemes (Buckingham)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if her Department plans to extend the (a) Government General Practitioner and (b) Internet Learning and Access Point trials to the constituency of Buckingham. [22531]
Mr. Alexander: We have no plans to extend the pilots, which will finish as planned on 1 March and the results will be fully evaluated.
We have begun the process of evaluation and are working in parallel with other Departments in order to proceed to national roll-out if the pilot proves a success and provides value for money.
Postal Service (Buckingham)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many working days were lost through (a) unofficial and (b) official industrial action by the Post Office in the constituency of Buckingham in each year since 1997. [22533]
Mr. Alexander: Industrial relations and the resolution of disputes are matters for the management of the company and the unions. I am advised by the company that the information sought is not available on a constituency basis.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of (a) first and (b) second class mail was delivered within the target time in the constituency of Buckingham in each year since 1997. [22520]
Mr. Alexander: Service delivery targets are operational issues for Consignia provided that it remains within the terms of the licence issued to it by the Postal Services Commission.
I am advised by the company that figures on service delivery targets are not held by parliamentary constituency.
Consignia
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department was informed about the proposed abolition of the second delivery of post. [21232]
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Mr. Alexander [holding answer 13 December 2001]: There is no formal requirement for Consignia to inform the Department about its proposals in relation to second delivery as they are operational issues for the company provided that it remains within the terms of the licence issued to it by the Postal Services Commission. However, the Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met Consignia to discuss the franchise arrangements for Parcelforce. [23267]
Mr. Alexander [holding answer 17 December 2001]: The Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company. However, franchise arrangements for Parcelforce are operational issues for the management of the company which I understand is consulting with the unions on the matter.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department was informed by Consignia of the proposal to charge for post delivered before 9.30 am. [21233]
Mr. Alexander [holding answer 13 December 2001]: There is no formal requirement for Consignia to inform the Department about its proposals to charge for post delivered before 9.30 am as they are operational issues for the company provided that it remains within the terms of the licence issued to it by for the Postal Services Commission. However the Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations have taken place between the Government and Consignia regarding the announcement of job cuts; when her Department was informed by Consignia that it was to make job cuts; what discussions have taken place to mitigate the effects of these job losses; what action the Government intend to take to save as many jobs as possible; whether the various post services where these cuts may take place have been identified; how many job losses there will be in Coventry; what discussions took place between Consignia and the postal unions prior to the announcement of job cuts; and whether there are any meetings planned with the postal unions regarding the announcement of job cuts. [23656]
Mr. Alexander [holding answer 17 December 2001]: The Department has regular discussions with Consignia about a range of strategic issues facing the company. How this company intends to make the £1.2 billion cost savings it has announced is an operational issue for the company in consultation with the unions. The company does not yet have a proposal on what impact the £1.2 billion cost savings will have on employment levels and has not informed the Government of specific plans of how it intends to achieve these savings.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the cost of the name change to Consignia. [23654]
Mr. Alexander: The choice of name of the Post Office company and the cost of its implementation were essentially commercial matters for the company and are not areas in which Government would have sought to intervene.
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I am informed by the company that, by the time the name effectively came into use on the day on which the property, rights and liabilities of the Post Office were transferred to the new company, the total costs were less than £2 million, much of which I am informed would have been incurred in any event in respect of signage, stationery and financial documentation because of the transformation to a plc.
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she intends to waive dividend payments from Consignia for the current financial year. [22762]
Mr. Alexander: No decision has been taken.
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