House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Oct 2002 (pt 34)

28 Oct 2002 : Column 647W—continued

Ex-Service Personnel (Benefits)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to compel local authorities to give disregard for housing and council tax benefit to ex-service personnel. [76984]

Malcolm Wicks: We believe that the current disregard of #10 a week for war disablement and war widows' pensions in the income-related benefits strikes the right balance between acknowledging the special reasons for these pensions and prudent use of public funds.

In addition to the statutory provision, local authorities have the discretionary power to disregard up to the full amount of any war pension in housing benefit and council tax benefit. Any amount on top of the #10 statutory disregard is funded from authorities' own resources.

Local authorities, through their discretionary schemes, are best placed to determine the needs of their local residents, taking account of local priorities. We have no plans to change the present arrangements.

28 Oct 2002 : Column 648W

Incapacity Benefit

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many occupational pensioners have protected claims to incapacity benefit because their initial date of claim preceded the inception of the disallowance of such pensions; and how many of such initial claimants have subsequently returned to work. [76409]

Mr. Nicholas Brown: Incapacity benefit recipients with an occupational pension were not separately identified prior to 6 April 2001 as receipt of a pension was irrelevant to their claim. Therefore this information is not available.

Universal Bank

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 21 October 2002 to the hon. Member for Harwich, Official Report, column 14, on the Universal Bank, what alternative arrangements he will put in place for those people who will not be able to use the PIN number associated with a Post Office card account. [77785]

Malcolm Wicks: Customers will be able to choose from a range of account options. For some people the Post Office card account may not be the most suitable option and they may prefer to use an account with a cheque book or pass book. Customers will be supplied with information which clearly sets out their account options and which will enable them to decide which is right for them.

Customers who do want a Post Office card account but are unable to cope with a PIN number will have the option of nominating someone else to collect their money for them. In these cases, a second card will be issued.

We have always recognised that there will be a small group of people who cannot be paid directly into an account. We will develop an alternative method to pay this group of benefit recipients.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Modernisation

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make an assessment of the effect of changes to the sitting hours of the House on the working conditions and remuneration of servants thereof. [77435]

Mr. Kirkwood: As the financial and employing authority of the House, the Commission has been giving careful consideration to the possible effects of these proposals. The extent of the changes will depend on the decisions of the House on motions which are to be debated tomorrow. In turn, the effects of the changes will be determined by how the House, Committees and Members adapt to any new arrangements: for example, in the sitting times of Select Committees and the use of Library and catering facilities. The Commission is

28 Oct 2002 : Column 649W

mindful of its obligations as an employer, and has already asked the Board of Management to assess effects on staff as any changes come into force.

HEALTH

Bed Blocking

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were blocked in Salisbury district hospital in each month since January 2001. [77313]

Ms Blears: Information on delayed discharges has been collected at health authority rather than individual trust level, on a quarterly basis. As of Quarter 1 of 2002–03 this information will be collected quarterly at primary care trust level. All available information has been placed in the Library.

The Government recognises that delayed discharges are a problem across the south. Health and local authorities are working together to take action to improve the situation. In October 2001 the Government announced an extra #300 million in the Xcash for change" initiative to tackle delayed transfers of care. Last year Wiltshire received over #700,000, this year over #2 million.

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were blocked in Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust beds in each month since January 2001. [77761]

28 Oct 2002 : Column 650W

Change' initiative to tackle delayed transfers of care. Last year Somerset received over #700,000, this year over #1.5 million.

Blood Products

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make available to the House the findings of his Department's inquiry relating to Lord Owen's period as a Minister at the Department in relation to blood products used for transfusion. [76822]

Ms Blears: I have now instigated a comprehensive review of papers from the period in question, which is estimated to be completed early in the new year. The findings from the review will be made available to the House.

Breast Cancer

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the statistics on the incidence rate of breast cancer for (a) Lincolnshire and (b) each county in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for (i) men and (ii) women. [74922]

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.

The answer requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Mr. Cook to Mr. Mark Simmonds dated 28 October 2002:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the incidence rate of breast cancer in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) each county in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for (i) men and (ii) women. (74922)

Incidence rates of breast cancer in women are given in the first table, for each county in England, and for the whole of Wales. The most recent period for which these data are available in the form requested is the nine years from 1991 to 1999. Figures by county in Wales cannot be produced for a similar period because of changes to local government boundaries. The equivalent figures for Northern Ireland are not readily available.

For men, the number of cases of breast cancer is too small to allow reliable calculation of incidence rates. Consequently, the annual numbers of newly registered cases of breast cancer in men, for the whole of England and for Wales, are given in the second table.

Table 1: Age standardised incidence rate for breast cancer⁽²²⁾, females, English counties⁽²³⁾ and Wales, years of registration 1991 to 1999.Rate per 100,000 population⁽²⁴⁾

Area	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Bedfordshire⁽²⁵⁾	105	127	107	106	112	94	144	126	98
Berkshire⁽²⁵⁾	114	113	107	116	114	123	120	124	122
Bristol/Bath area	110	99	97	98	104	98	113	116	126
Buckinghamshire⁽²⁵⁾	118	122	116	118	117	138	130	127	131
Cambridgeshire⁽²⁵⁾	135	114	109	121	101	110	111	112	128
Cheshire⁽²⁵⁾	106	103	98	93	110	100	99	102	113
Cornwall (and Isles of Scilly)	94	100	89	117	116	108	123	115	132
Cumbria	87	101	93	94	87	105	97	107	105
Derbyshire⁽²⁵⁾	113	104	101	106	100	101	106	107	113
Devon⁽²⁵⁾	104	108	106	93	104	104	113	121	127
Dorset⁽²⁵⁾	116	118	133	141	122	135	136	125	153
Durham⁽²⁵⁾	97	87	82	99	92	114	109	113	109
East Sussex⁽²⁵⁾	106	114	106	94	111	115	124	109	113
Essex	105	99	93	107	111	108	124	113	118
Gloucestershire	108	119	102	96	106	102	101	121	151
Greater London (Metropolitan county)	102	105	98	100	108	106	119	116	114
Greater Manchester (Metropolitan county)	100	104	102	102	105	109	107	114	114
Hampshire⁽²⁵⁾	106	114	125	125	121	117	125	115	110
Herefordshire and Worcestershire⁽²⁵⁾	97	118	110	116	101	114	124	115	112
Hertfordshire	109	93	123	112	120	124	145	131	130
Isle of Wight⁽²⁵⁾	107	114	97	131	114	156	171	152	135
Kent⁽²⁵⁾	110	116	94	103	107	107	119	113	117
Lancashire⁽²⁵⁾	102	107	98	111	104	97	105	108	110
Leicestershire⁽²⁵⁾	98	110	107	94	89	86	98	98	113
Lincolnshire	114	119	95	106	107	98	97	125	117
Merseyside (Metropolitan county)	105	97	95	101	104	101	100	104	103
Norfolk	110	104	111	107	110	115	117	107	125
North Yorkshire⁽²⁵⁾	104	104	86	100	103	108	116	115	120
Northamptonshire	115	127	100	119	112	127	117	116	126
Northumberland	94	97	98	75	65	69	62	107	107
Nottinghamshire⁽²⁵⁾	99	107	109	92	100	104	101	103	99
Oxfordshire	126	141	124	132	115	126	117	127	145
Shropshire⁽²⁵⁾	110	128	115	110	112	113	102	108	125
Somerset	114	116	138	97	93	100	108	118	143
South Yorkshire (Metropolitan county)	108	106	97	97	91	92	98	96	111
Staffordshire⁽²⁵⁾	105	98	98	94	109	98	110	105	103
Suffolk	105	99	101	119	109	108	110	118	120
Surrey	105	109	110	107	119	113	130	115	125
Tees Valley less Darlington	87	87	91	93	100	105	107	104	100
The Humber	100	94	101	97	107	102	105	94	108
Tyne and Wear (Metropolitan county)	95	99	83	87	80	91	95	109	104
Warwickshire	106	111	102	115	101	93	116	116	112
West Midlands (Metropolitan county)	109	106	101	99	101	101	100	112	110
West Sussex	94	96	93	105	114	114	118	127	114
West Yorkshire (Metropolitan county)	95	103	104	100	98	96	108	110	110
Wiltshire⁽²⁵⁾	100	136	132	113	116	128	130	119	136
Wales	97	117	120	124	105	105	110	102	120

⁽²²⁾ For years 1991 to 1994, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), code 174. For years 1995 to 1999, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), code C50.

⁽²³⁾ Data are presented for English counties, and former counties, based on boundaries as at 1 April 2002.

⁽²⁴⁾ Rates are based on mid-year population estimates produced following the 1991 Census.

⁽²⁵⁾ Former county of.

Note:

Age standardisation is to the European Standard Population.

Source:

Office for National Statistics

28 Oct 2002 : Column 651W

Table 2: Number of new cases of breast cancer⁽²⁶⁾, males, England and Wales, years of registration 1991 to 1999Number

Year England Wales

1991 189 13

1992 178 13

1993 224 20

1994 166 18

1995 212 19

1996 192 23

1997 230 12

1998 265 13

1999 272 19

Year	England	Wales
1991	189	13
1992	178	13
1993	224	20
1994	166	18
1995	212	19
1996	192	23
1997	230	12
1998	265	13
1999	272	19

⁽²⁶⁾ For years 1991 to 1994, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code 175. For years 1995 to 1999, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, code C50.

Source:

Office for National Statistics

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the death rate from breast cancer in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) each county in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for (i) men and (ii) women. [74923]

28 Oct 2002 : Column 652W

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply. The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Mark Simmonds dated 28 October 2002:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the death rate from breast cancer in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) each county in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for (i) men and (ii) women. (74923)

Death rates from breast cancer in women are given in the first table, for each county in England, and for the whole of Wales. The most recent ten year period for which these data are available is 1992 to 2001. Figures by county in Wales cannot be produced for a ten year period because of changes to local government boundaries. The equivalent figures for Northern Ireland are not readily available.

For men, the number of deaths from breast cancer is too small to allow reliable calculation of death rates. Consequently, the annual numbers of deaths from breast cancer in men, for the whole of England and for Wales, are given in the second table.

28 Oct 2002 : Column 653W

Table 1: Age standardised mortality rate for deaths with an underlying cause of breast cancer⁽²⁷⁾, females, English counties⁽²⁸⁾ and Wales, 1992 to 2001⁽²⁹⁾Rate per 100,000 population

Area 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Bedfordshire 38 35 40 39 34 34 34 27 25 32

Berkshire 42 40 35 44 34 35 39 33 32 33

Bristol / Bath area 41 38 36 36 32 34 34 32 34 33

Buckinghamshire 45 39 37 41 31 34 41 37 35 38

Cambridgeshire 41 45 44 41 30 36 37 29 35 31

Cheshire 43 39 38 32 34 32 32 32 27 32

Cornwall (and Isle of Scilly) 36 37 33 43 36 37 31 30 32 28

Cumbria 36 33 32 35 35 33 34 36 37 29

Derbyshire 41 43 41 41 38 37 31 29 30 33

Devon 40 40 39 37 36 33 33 27 33 32

Dorset 42 34 38 38 26 35 33 30 33 25

Durham 34 36 35 33 38 35 29 30 28 29

East Sussex 35 37 40 38 34 37 36 31 32 32

Essex 40 41 38 41 38 32 37 32 34 30

Gloucestershire 37 34 38 41 36 40 34 35 35 32

Greater London (Metropolitan County) 40 39 37 34 36 35 32 32 33 32

Greater Manchester (Metropolitan 38 38 37 37 36 33 31 35 32 32

County)

Hampshire 41 38 36 34 36 36 36 36 33 30

Herefordshire and Worcestershire 40 39 37 38 37 37 32 38 33 29

Hertfordshire 33 39 38 42 35 36 41 36 35 35

Isle of Wight 39 33 35 27 21 34 34 37 23 27

Kent 43 44 40 37 33 31 33 33 32 33

Lancashire 34 36 37 39 33 33 32 31 29 32

Leicestershire 36 39 40 42 33 33 27 28 31 28

Lincolnshire 43 40 39 41 34 37 32 32 32 35

Merseyside(Metropolitan County) 37 36 36 35 36 38 35 35 32 31

Norfolk 36 37 36 35 36 37 37 34 33 29

North Yorkshire 40 36 29 30 38 30 31 34 36 30

Northamptonshire 40 39 42 40 38 33 36 33 34 31

Northumberland 42 34 46 27 36 29 34 31 28 33

Nottinghamshire 46 36 40 38 37 36 37 33 27 35

Oxfordshire 39 36 33 37 33 30 40 33 33 28

Shropshire 40 41 36 38 36 43 35 33 36 30

Somerset 36 40 37 36 36 35 32 30 31 29

South Yorkshire (Metropolitan 38 39 44 36 39 35 31 33 29 32

County)

Staffordshire 40 40 40 42 40 31 36 34 32 27

Suffolk 42 44 43 39 33 37 36 32 31 29

Surrey 40 42 39 33 29 34 28 34 29 29

Tees Valley less Darlington 39 37 41 35 34 36 32 27 33 30

The Humber 38 38 38 35 43 33 33 30 29 29

Tyne and Wear (Metropolitan County) 41 40 40 35 31 37 37 33 31 30

Warwickshire 48 37 36 39 42 31 35 29 31 27

West Midlands (Metropolitan County) 40 37 39 35 37 37 33 34 32 28

West Sussex 39 36 36 33 36 27 38 32 34 30

West Yorkshire (Metropolitan County) 35 35 34 34 31 30 28 29 28 28

Wiltshire 38 41 37 38 41 39 35 35 28 32

Wales 39 40 39 36 36 35 34 34 34 32

Area	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Bedfordshire	38	35	40	39	34	34	34	27	25	32
Berkshire	42	40	35	44	34	35	39	33	32	33
Bristol / Bath area	41	38	36	36	32	34	34	32	34	33
Buckinghamshire	45	39	37	41	31	34	41	37	35	38
Cambridgeshire	41	45	44	41	30	36	37	29	35	31
Cheshire	43	39	38	32	34	32	32	32	27	32
Cornwall (and Isle of Scilly)	36	37	33	43	36	37	31	30	32	28
Cumbria	36	33	32	35	35	33	34	36	37	29
Derbyshire	41	43	41	41	38	37	31	29	30	33
Devon	40	40	39	37	36	33	33	27	33	32
Dorset	42	34	38	38	26	35	33	30	33	25
Durham	34	36	35	33	38	35	29	30	28	29
East Sussex	35	37	40	38	34	37	36	31	32	32
Essex	40	41	38	41	38	32	37	32	34	30
Gloucestershire	37	34	38	41	36	40	34	35	35	32
Greater London (Metropolitan County)	40	39	37	34	36	35	32	32	33	32
Greater Manchester (Metropolitan	38	38	37	37	36	33	31	35	32	32
County)
Hampshire	41	38	36	34	36	36	36	36	33	30
Herefordshire and Worcestershire	40	39	37	38	37	37	32	38	33	29
Hertfordshire	33	39	38	42	35	36	41	36	35	35
Isle of Wight	39	33	35	27	21	34	34	37	23	27
Kent	43	44	40	37	33	31	33	33	32	33
Lancashire	34	36	37	39	33	33	32	31	29	32
Leicestershire	36	39	40	42	33	33	27	28	31	28
Lincolnshire	43	40	39	41	34	37	32	32	32	35
Merseyside(Metropolitan County)	37	36	36	35	36	38	35	35	32	31
Norfolk	36	37	36	35	36	37	37	34	33	29
North Yorkshire	40	36	29	30	38	30	31	34	36	30
Northamptonshire	40	39	42	40	38	33	36	33	34	31
Northumberland	42	34	46	27	36	29	34	31	28	33
Nottinghamshire	46	36	40	38	37	36	37	33	27	35
Oxfordshire	39	36	33	37	33	30	40	33	33	28
Shropshire	40	41	36	38	36	43	35	33	36	30
Somerset	36	40	37	36	36	35	32	30	31	29
South Yorkshire (Metropolitan	38	39	44	36	39	35	31	33	29	32
County)
Staffordshire	40	40	40	42	40	31	36	34	32	27
Suffolk	42	44	43	39	33	37	36	32	31	29
Surrey	40	42	39	33	29	34	28	34	29	29
Tees Valley less Darlington	39	37	41	35	34	36	32	27	33	30
The Humber	38	38	38	35	43	33	33	30	29	29
Tyne and Wear (Metropolitan County)	41	40	40	35	31	37	37	33	31	30
Warwickshire	48	37	36	39	42	31	35	29	31	27
West Midlands (Metropolitan County)	40	37	39	35	37	37	33	34	32	28
West Sussex	39	36	36	33	36	27	38	32	34	30
West Yorkshire (Metropolitan County)	35	35	34	34	31	30	28	29	28	28
Wiltshire	38	41	37	38	41	39	35	35	28	32
Wales	39	40	39	36	36	35	34	34	34	32

⁽²⁷⁾ For years 1992 to 2000, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), code 174 For 2001, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), code C50

⁽²⁸⁾ Data are presented for English counties, and former counties, based on boundaries as at 1st April 2002.

⁽²⁹⁾ The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in 2001 means that the number of deaths for this year are not comparable with data for earlier years.

Research has shown that the Introduction of ICD-10 led to an apparent increase of 2.7 per cent. in the number of deaths coded to female breast cancer.

Rates for the years 1993 to 2000 have therefore been adjusted by 2.7 per cent. to produce comparable trends for this period.

Data for 1992 are not adjusted because of coding changes introduced in 1993.

⁽³⁰⁾ Rates for 2001 are based on mid-year population estimates produced following the 2001 Census.

Rates for earlier years are based on mid-year population estimates produced following the 1991 Census.

There is therefore a discontinuity in this time series. ONS will publish revised sub-national population estimates for 1991 to 2000 in February 2003.

Age-standardisation is to the European Standard Population

Source:

Office for National Statistics

28 Oct 2002 : Column 655W

Table 2: Number of deaths with an underlying cause of breast cancer⁽³¹⁾, males, England and Wales, 1992 to 2001⁽³²⁾Number

Year England Wales

1992 85 7

1993 81 6

1994 82 5

1995 74 6

1996 63 4

1997 65 2

1998 73 2

1999 63 2

2000 68 3

2001 77 3

Year	England	Wales
1992	85	7
1993	81	6
1994	82	5
1995	74	6
1996	63	4
1997	65	2
1998	73	2
1999	63	2
2000	68	3
2001	77	3

⁽³¹⁾ For years 1992 to 2000, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), code 175.For 2001, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), code C50

⁽³²⁾ The introduction of ICD-10 led to an apparent increase of 10 per cent. in the number of deaths coded to make breast cancer.The figures should therefore be interpreted with caution.

Source:

Office for National Statistics

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on raising awareness of breast cancer since 1997; what progress has been made in cutting the number of deaths from breast cancer since 1997; and what care is available to people who suffer emotionally from the removal of a breast after treatment for breast cancer. [74406]

Ms Blears: We congratulate the charities that work together on breast cancer awareness month and their efforts to raise awareness of the disease. In addition to these efforts, the Government have spent approximately #10,000 on a breast awareness teaching kit for primary care in conjunction with the European Community and the cancer research campaign. #38,500 has also been spent nationally on XBe Breast Aware" leaflets and #131,000 on information leaflets for women about breast screening.

There has been a 6 per cent. reduction in deaths from breast cancer between 1997 and 2000. The annual numbers of deaths in England has decreased from 11,240 in 1997 to 10,609 in 2000. Over the same period the age standardised death rate for breast cancer has fallen by 7.7 per cent. from 1997 to 2000.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is due to publish guidelines on supportive and palliative care in October 2002. This will include guidance on information, communication and psychological and social support. The NICE guidance is now available for consultation on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.

The Patient Cancer Survey 1999–2000 found that women with breast cancer reported generally positive experiences of breast cancer services.

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