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27 Jan 2003 : Column 665W—continued

Body Piercing

Ms Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to prohibit body piercing of minors without their parents' or guardians' consent; if he will list the statutory provisions which cover the body piercing of minors. [92520]

Ms Blears: The Government have no current plans to introduce legislation to make the body piercing of minors without their parents' or guardians' consent a criminal offence, as this might lead to them piercing themselves or each other in an unsafe and unhygienic manner or to going to disreputable businesses. We keep the position under review.

There are no statutory provisions relating specifically to the cosmetic body piercing of minors. The following statutory provisions are relevant to the regulation of cosmetic body piercing businesses:


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In general, body piercing organisations and local authorities take the good practice view that children, either under 16 or under 18 years of age (depending on viewpoint), should not have body piercing without parental consent. However, practice by individual businesses may vary.

Ms Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the need for further regulation of body piercing; what plans he has for the further regulation of body piercing; and what recent consultations the Government have had with local authorities concerning the body piercing of minors. [92521]

Ms Blears: Since January 2002, we have received a small number of representations about the regulation of body piercing businesses.

We intend to introduce primary legislation to give local authorities outside London specific powers to regulate cosmetic body piercing business, when parliamentary time allows.

We have had no recent consultations with local authorities about the cosmetic body piercing of minors.

Cancelled Operations

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancelled operations there were at each NHS hospital in each of the past four quarters. [91480]

Mr. Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on Wednesday 15 January 2003, Official Report, at column 676W.

Child Offenders

Mr. Paul Marsden : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have (a) been convicted, (b) been in the care of a local authority for a year or more, (c) received a reprimand and (d) received a final warning, in each year since 1997. [85639]

Mr. Denham: I have been asked to reply.

The information requested is contained in the tables.

Number of 10 to 17 years cautioned, given final warnings or reprimands, and found guilty of all offences at all courts 1997 to 2001(34)
Number

CautionedGiven final warningReprimandedFound guilty
England and Wales
1997104,520(35)(35)79,151
1998109,725(35)(35)86,506
1999103,978(35)(35)90,280
2000(36)36,76442,77318,00491,423
2001(35)66,53831,50495,530

(34) These data are on the principal offence basis.

(35) Not applicable.

(36) Final warnings and reprimands were implemented nationally from 1 June 2000.


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Children who ceased to be looked after by local authorities during the years ending 31 March 1997 to 2001
Number

Number of childrenOf which looked after for 1 year or more
England
199730,3009,700
199829,0009,600
199927,1008,500
200026,80010,100
200125,10010,700

Source:

Department of Health


Child Organs

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that families of children whose organs were retained without their consent receive compensation on a consistent basis across the country, regardless of which hospital was involved; and if he will make a statement. [92813]

Mr. Lammy: The NHS Litigation Authority is dealing with the retained organs litigation action and negotiations are subject to a confidentiality agreement between all parties. Both the Liverpool and nationwide group actions will be dealt with on their legal merits and any settlement will reflect this principle.

Children (Mental Health Problems)

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on his assessment of the risk factors increasing the likelihood of mental health problems in children; [91989]

Jacqui Smith : A survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain was carried out in 1999 by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department of Health, Scottish National Executive and National Assembly for Wales. Prevalence rates were produced for five to 15-year-olds in the three main categories of mental disorder; ie, conduct disorder, hyperactivity and emotional disorder.

The key findings on prevalence were that:


The survey also found that mental disorders were more likely among children:


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The prevalence of mental disorders in children were not unexpected nor were the associations between the risk factors and levels of disorder. They are in line with similar studies in Western Europe and the United States. This information has proved very useful in providing a benchmark for further work, such as that being undertaken by the child and adolescent mental health module of the Children's National Service Framework.

Commission for Patient and

Public Involvement in Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what remuneration (a) the Chairman (b) the Chief Executive and (c) each commissioner of the new Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will receive. [92594]

Mr. Lammy: The Chair of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health receives £25,000 per annum. Each commissioner receives £5,305 per annum. The Chief Executive post was advertised at between £80,000 to £100,000 per annum.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will name those people who took part in the interview and selection process for the position of Chairman at the new Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health; and how many people applied for the position. [92597]

Mr. Lammy: The selection and interview panel consisted of Sir William Wells, chair of the national health service independent appointments commission, Sarah Mullally, chief nursing officer at the Department of Health, and Harry Cayton, chief executive of the Alzheimers Society and the director for patients' experience and public involvement at the Department of Health.

The independent assessor, supplied by the office of the commissioner for public appointments, was Cindy Butts. 52 people applied for the position.

Congestion Charge

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from within the NHS in London about the impact of the congestion charge. [91477]

Mr. Hutton: I have received three letters from national health service professionals employed in London about the impact of the congestion charge. No representations have been received from NHS organisations.

Correspondence

Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 11 September, 8 October, 7 November and 5 December, relating to her constituent, Miss P. V. Kennion; [87005]

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Mr. Lammy [holding answers 16 December 2002 and 13 January 2003]: I understand that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs sent a reply on 21 January.


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