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Attention Deficit Disorders

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each of the last five years were diagnosed with (a) attention deficit disorder and (b) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in each (i) region and (ii) health authority, broken down by age group. [60089]

Jacqui Smith: This information is not collected centrally. The prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of all types is estimated at around five per cent. of school-aged children, approximately 345,000 six to sixteen-year-olds in England.

Food Supplements

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received concerning the impact that EU legislation on food supplements will have on the equestrian community. [60013]

Ms Blears: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not recently received any representations concerning the impact of the proposed Directive on food supplements on the equestrian community.

Juvenile Sex Abusers

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department takes to address the needs of children and young people who sexually abuse; and if he will make a statement. [57198]

Jacqui Smith: Social services departments should carry out an assessment of the needs of a child who has sexually abused. Such assessments should take into account that children who abuse may have considerable unmet developmental needs, as well as specific needs arising from their behaviour. A young abuser should be the subject of a child protection conference if he or she is considered personally to be at risk of continuing harm. Where there is no reason to hold a child protection conference, there may still be a need for a multi-agency approach if the young abuser's needs are complex. A plan of action should be put in place to address the needs of the young abuser, detailing the involvement of all agencies.

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If children who abuse others are thought to have a mental health problem then they may also need to be referred to child and adolescent mental health services. Those facing serious charges need to undergo a forensic assessment and may also, in exceptional circumstances, need to be admitted to a specialist forensic unit.

NHS Estate

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there has been in the backlog of maintenance for the NHS estate in 2001–02. [58298]

Mr. Lammy [holding answer 21 May 2002]: Backlog maintenance is defined as the cost to achieve buildings which are sound, operationally safe and exhibit only minor deterioration.

Figures for the outturn of year 2001–02 are still being collected and validated and are therefore not yet available.

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Correspondence

Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the letter from the hon. Member for Canterbury dated 12 October 2001, regarding briefing on chemical and biological attacks. [57785]

Mr. Hutton: The Department has no record of receiving the hon. Member's correspondence. The Department's ministerial correspondence unit is seeking a duplicate copy of this correspondence.

Dr. Ali Malik

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where in the national health service Dr. Ali Malik (GMC No. (5) 195377) is employed. [57956]

Mr. Hutton: The Department does not keep a register of NHS employees. However doctors are required to provide the General Medical Council (GMC) with a registered address, but this is not necessarily their place of work. The GMC publish the register on the internet.