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Hepatitis C

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received liver transplants under the NHS for conditions related to infection with Hepatitis C in each of the last five years; and what the unit cost of such operations was compared with drug therapies. [56335]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 16 May 2002]: Liver transplants are only performed on people with Hepatitis C if they have liver failure which is normally due to the development of post hepatitis liver cirrhosis. Each liver transplant cost the National Health Service approximately £66.000 and there is no alternative drug therapy. The number of liver transplant performed in England for Hepatitis C cirrhosis in the last five years is:

Number
199754
199860
199969
200056
200159

International Recruitment

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2002, Official Report, column 1025W, on international recruitment, what the website address listing will be where those agencies who comply with the Code of Practice on International Recruitment will be published; [56627]

20 May 2002 : Column 160W

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The Department of Health is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Work Permits UK, Independent Healthcare Association, Recruitment and Employment Confederation, Registered Nursing Homes Association, UNISON, the Royal College of Nursing and other professional bodies to ensure that all potential recruits have access to comprehensive information and to identify commercial agencies who are recruiting healthcare professionals from abroad.

To date the following agencies have been identified:


The final list of agencies who comply will appear on the Department of Health's website at http:// www.doh.gov.uk/international-recruitment

The Department of Health has an international recruitment team of six officials and a network of 12 national health service based international recruitment co-ordinators and advisors working to implement the Code of Practice.

20 May 2002 : Column 161W

Workforce Development Confederations are working with NHS employers to ensure collaborative and ethical international recruitment, including compliance to the Code of Practice, in their area.

Advisory Committee Mandates

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Standing Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55364]

Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply

The Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) was originally established under Article 16 of Directive 81/851/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to veterinary medicinal products.

Under Article 27 of Regulation (EEC) No 2309–93 laying down Community procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA), the CVMP is responsible for formulating the opinion of the EMEA on any question concerning the admissibility of the files submitted in accordance with the centralised procedure, the granting, variation, suspension or withdrawal of an authorisation to place a veterinary medicinal product on the market arising in accordance with the provisions Title III of Regulation (EEC) No 2309/93.

The CVMP met on 11 occasions during 2001 and has met five times so far this year.

There are two UK members on the CVMP. Currently the committee is also chaired by the UK.

20 May 2002 : Column 162W

The cost of its work is met by the EMEA. There are no direct costs to public funds although the salaries of officials representing the UK and preparing for meetings are met from public funds. Details of its work can be found on the EMEA website and in press releases issued by the EMEA.

As an agency established by Community legislation the CVMP is accountable to the EMEA and ultimately to the European Parliament.

Coolants

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the climate change impact is of using (a) HFC 134a and (b) 407. [56388]

Mr. Meacher: I have been asked to reply.

Total UK greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 664.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2000. HFC134a and HFC407c contributed respectively 2.61 million tonnes and 0.35 million tonnes to these emissions. Together, they represented about 0.5 per cent. of the total.

PFI Projects

Mr. Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the PFI-funded hospital projects started or under construction since 1 May 1997; and what financial assessment has been made relating to the (a) saving and (b) cost to the public purse in each case. [56104]

Mr. Hutton: A list of all major private finance initiative contracts which have reached financial close since May 1997, showing net present costs of public sector comparator versus private finance option (at the time of signing contracts), has been placed in the Library; as has a table of unitary payments for the same schemes for each of the next 15 years, ie the amount each trust will be paying to its private sector partner.