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National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the funding for NICE-recommended drugs, treatments and technologies has been allocated to audiology services in each NHS trust. [59561]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 24 May 2002]: Directions have been issued obliging health authorities and primary care trusts to provide appropriate funding for treatments recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each health authority and primary care trust's fair share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of services for populations in equal need. The funding was not allocated by speciality.
The National Health Service will receive an annual average increase of 7.5 per cent. above inflation over the five years 2003–04 to 2007–08. This is now the largest ever sustained increase in NHS funding.
Medical Devices Agency
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to restructure the Medical Devices Agency. [59234]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 24 May 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Health gave my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire Moorlands (Miss Atkins) today.
Cosmetic Treatment
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the marketing of the cosmetic treatment Dysport by the Centre for Advanced Microbiology and Research; and what will happen to any profits made by its sale. [59415]
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Ms Blears [holding answer 24 May 2002]: The Centre for Applied Microbiology & Research (CAMR) manufactures Dysport which is then marketed by Ispen Limited both for use in certain medical treatments, and for ancillary non medical use.
Any income derived by CAMR from any of its activities goes towards the cost of running and maintaining the centre.
Cancer
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the role and responsibilities are of the National Cancer Institute; [55868]
- (2) what progress has been made in meeting staffing goals for cancer specialists; and how future progress will be assessed; [55865]
(3) what steps he takes to monitor the way in which NHS trusts deploy funds allocated to deliver on Cancer Plan targets; and how trusts are made answerable for cancer funding spent on other services or financial requirements; [55863]
(4) what plans he has to publish annual figures for national expenditure on cancer research, indicating where money is spent; [55862]
(5) what steps are being taken to raise the profile of the National Cancer Institute amongst those not directly involved in its work; [55864]
(6) what plans he has to develop more extensive and accessible clinical trials databases for cancer research to inform researchers and patients; [55866]
(7) if he plans to publish a map of the regional cancer networks; [55869]
(8) what plans he has to review his policy on a national cancer act, with specific reference to (a) cancer registration, (b) funding for the cancer research infrastructure and (c) a cancer research strategy; [55867]
(9) how the core funding of the national translational cancer research networks is determined; and how frequently it is to be reviewed. [55870]
Ms. Blears: The Government's response to the First Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Cancer Research—A Follow Up has been published today, and copies will be placed in the Library.
Medical Agencies
Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the management of the Medicines Control Agency and the Medical Devices Agency; and if he will make a statement. [62520]
Mr. Hutton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has decided to merge the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Medical Devices Agency (MDA), to take effect from 1 April 2003. The regulation of medicines and of medical devices are separate fields, working to different legislation, but as technology develops, there are likely to be growing numbers of products that cross the borderline between medicines and devices. Most other European countries have gone down the path of managing these responsibilities in a
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single organisation, as has the United States. We want to build on the excellence of both organisations in the protection of public health, and ensure that the new agency is well placed to respond to change and retain the UK's leading position.
The post of Chief Executive will be filled through open competition. The new organisation will also have improved governance arrangements, with non-executive members on the board and a new post of Chairman, who we expect to be an authoritative figure able not only to Chair the board and oversee its work but also to represent the organisation and its decisions in public.
Organ Donor Register
Mr. Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people are on the NHS organ donor register; and what percentage of the population this represents, broken down by local authority area; [43307]
- (2) how many people have been on the organ donor register for the last five years for which figures are available. [43308]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 14 March 2002]: The number of patients on the NHS Organ Donor Register at the end of the last five years are as follows:
| End of year | Number registered (million) |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 4.67 |
| 1998 | 5.54 |
| 1999 | 8.48 |
| 2000 | 8.03 |
| 2001 | 9.02 |
There are currently 9.2 million people registered on the NHS Organ Donor Register. This represents 15.3 per cent. of the population.
The figures are not available broken down by local authority. A table of the figures broken down by region is attached.
| Region | Number | Percentage of population |
|---|---|---|
| Northern & Yorkshire | 835,870 | 13.4 |
| Trent | 637,321 | 12.4 |
| Eastern | 806,534 | 15.3 |
| London | 910,432 | 12.9 |
| South East | 1,401,383 | 16.4 |
| South West | 916,436 | 18.7 |
| West Midlands | 641,611 | 12.1 |
| North West | 920,939 | 13.9 |
| Channel Isles & Isle of Man | 5,225 | 2.5 |
| England | 7,088,436 | 14.3 |
| Wales | 474,722 | 16.3 |
| Scotland | 908,269 | 17.8 |
| Northern Ireland | 151,793 | 9.1 |
| Not available | 394,004 | |
| Total | 9,022,479 | 15.3 |
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Child Protection Register
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of children were re-registered on the Child Protection Register in the year ending March 1999. [45723]
Jacqui Smith: The proportion of children who were re-registered on the child protection register during the year ending 31 March 1999 was 15 per cent.
Tamoxifen
Mr. Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the criteria for the use of Tamoxifen; [46720]
- (2) what plans he has for the use of Tamoxifen for women who do not have breast cancer but are considered to be at high risk. [46721]
Yvette Cooper: Tamoxifen is licensed for the treatment of breast cancer and the treatment of anovulatory infertility.
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Tamoxifen is not licensed for the prevention of breast cancer in women who do not have breast cancer. A large international research trial is currently investigating whether Tamoxifen can prevent cancer in healthy women who are considered to be at high risk. When the full trial results are published we will consider what action may be appropriate and estimate the cost implications.
Public Service Agreements
Mr. John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what new initiatives his Department has taken in 2001–02 to assist in achieving its Public Service Agreement targets. [47180]
Ms Blears [holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Department's Annual Report for 2001, and the NHS Modernisation Board's Annual Report 2000–01 (XThe NHS Plan—A Progress Report") both set out the many steps we are taking to achieve our objectives. The next Departmental report, to be published shortly, will set out the latest progress.