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17 Dec 2002 : Column 779W—continued
Spending Review
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for his Department (a) those comprehensive spending review 1998 targets that were outstanding at the time of the statement on the comprehensive spending review 2002, (b) progress on such targets since then and (c) the expected date when targets not yet achieved will be met. [87689]
Mr. Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister publishes progress against all its outstanding PSA targets in its annual report and autumn performance report.
Progress against comprehensive spending review 1998 targets that apply to theOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister and that were outstanding at the time of the statement on the Spending Review 2002 was last reported in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Autumn Performance Report 2002, published on 29 November.
The Report is available from the House Library, or can be accessed on the Office's website at the following address: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/about/aims/pdf/autjperf.pdf
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HEALTH
GM Food
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations have been received since 1999 asking for full (a) traceability and (b) labelling of GM food. [86172]
Ms Blears: The Food Standards Agency conducted a written consultation on the European Commission's two proposals for new genetic modification legislation, issued in July 2001. 128 representations were received. 17 called for the labelling of all foods produced with, or made from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). 14 supported the concept of full labelling, but recognised the practical difficulties this presented. 22 responses supported the general concept of traceability. A further 16 supported full traceability, but expressed concerns over its implementation in practice. 19 representations expressed significant concerns over the reliability of traceability for foods and feeds derived from GMOs.
Anaemia
Mr. Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the basis is of his policy not to treat cancer patients with anaemia-related fatigue until their haemoglobin drops to 7 g/dl equates. [86267]
Ms Blears: The Department does not operate the policy referred to. It is for individual clinicians to decide, in consultation with their patients, the most suitable treatment for their condition or for any side effects, such as anaemia-related fatigue, resulting from treatment.
Mr. Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to ensure that patients with chronic anaemia should not be treated with red cell transfusions where effective alternatives exist. [86269]
Ms Blears: The publication of guidelines from the British Committee for Standards in Haematology in 2001 provides specific advice to clinicians. The type of treatment offered to chronic anaemia patients is a matter of individual clinical judgment and discussion with the patient concerned. The Department encourages the production of local protocols, which use existing guidance produced from a sound evidence base and clinical consensus.
Blood Transfusion
Mr. Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is producing the information on blood transfusion and its alternatives, which after April 2003 NHS trusts will be required to make available to patients; and whether this information will provide specific guidance for cancer patients. [86270]
Ms Blears: The National Blood Service is producing an information leaflet which is intended to be of use and interest to all patients who may need a blood transfusion. It will not provide specific guidance for cancer patients. The leaflet will be issued to all national health service hospitals early in 2003.
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Breast Cancer
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died of breast cancer in 2001; and what percentage of the cancer research budget is spent on breast cancer research. [86575]
Ms Blears: There were 10,924 deaths from breast cancer in England in 2001. The recent National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) report, Strategic Analysis 2002, analysed most of the directly-funded cancer research of Government and charity funders. The analysis revealed that 60 per cent. of research spend was relevant to all tumour sites. The other 40 per cent. was relevant to specific tumour sites. Approximately 18 per cent. of the site-specific research was on breast cancer.
Emergency Hospital Readmissions
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum number of days is between discharge and emergency readmission for a patient to be considered to be in the same episode of care. [84097]
Mr. Hutton: A decision has not yet been taken on the cut-off point for the maximum length of a discharge from hospital and subsequent readmission.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the basis is of his calculation of the baseline figure for 2001–02 and 2002–03 emergency readmissions. [82967]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 25 November 2002]: The baseline rate for both years was calculated as the number of patients readmitted to hospital within 28 days of discharge, divided by the number discharged from hospital. The baseline is derived from the outturn figures for the previous year.
The baseline for 2001–02 was a rate of 7.3 per cent., and related to over 75s only. The 2002–03 target is for all ages, with a baseline rate of 5.4 per cent.
Drug Misuse
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responses to the Audit Commission report, 'Changing Habits', have been received from (a) the National Treatment Agency, (b) individual drug action teams and (c) individual drug reference groups. [82267]
Ms Blears: This Department has received no responses. The Audit Commission is an independent body and responses on its reports will normally be sent to the Commission itself.
Chiropody
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chiropodists were working in the NHS in each year from 1997 to 2001; and how many were working in the NHS on the most recent date for which figures are available. [87680]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
Between 1997 and 2001, the number of chiropodists employed in the national health service increased by 270, or eight per cent.
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| Qualified chiropody/podiatry staff | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 3,290 |
| 1998 | 3,320 |
| 1999 | 3,370 |
| 2000 | 3,470 |
| 2001 | 3,560 |
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
Source:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chiropodists completed training in 2001; and what proportion of these have commenced employment within the NHS as chiropodists. [87681]
Mr. Hutton: Information on chiropodists completing training and what proportion joined the national health service is not collected centrally. Information on the number of chiropodists employed in the NHS and chiropodists entering training is given below.
The number of chiropodists entering training in 1998–99, who would normally have completed training in 2001–02, was 409.
Between September 2000 and 2001, the number of chiropodists employed in the NHS increased by 90, or 2.6 per cent., from 3,470 to 3,560.
CJD (Lamb)
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he gives to the public on (a) eating lamb and (b) the possible link between scrapie and CJD. [86906]
Ms Blears: The Food Standards Agency is responsible for giving advice on food issues. The agency informs me that it is continuing not to advise consumers against eating sheep meat or sheep meat products. Earlier this year, consumers were advised that, if BSE were present in sheep, their risk would be significantly reduced by avoiding sausages made with sheep intestine.
Epidemiological evidence does not suggest a link between scrapie and CJD.
Acute Hospitals (Computer Viruses)
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of damage to computer systems in acute hospitals resulting from computer viruses there have been in each of the past five years. [85779]
Ms Blears: Figures for computer virus incidents throughout the national health service are not currently available.
Correspondence
Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton of 21 June 2002,
17 Dec 2002 : Column 783W
in respect of Dr. Roger Stephenson, acknowledged by the Department on 1 July 2002 under reference PO 1011562. [82528]
Ms Blears: A reply was sent on 10 December 2002.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters to him from (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) over six months, and (ii) over one year. [83279]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 25 November 2002]: At 11 December 2002, there were eight letters from hon. Members dated before 10 June 2002, which had not received a reply, and none over a year. Accurate information is not currently available for letters from members of the public, but this should be available in the new year.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 7 November 2002, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Mary Allcock. [86659]
Mr. Milburn: A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2002.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 29 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Miss J Robson. [87655]
Mr. Milburn: A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2002.
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