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Food Supplements

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he is making to the European Food Standards Agency about ingredients formerly used in foods in the UK but not included in the annexes of the Food Supplement Directive as available for use in the manufacture of food supplements. [102617]

Ms Blears: Lists of permitted vitamins and minerals and their sources in the Annexes to the Food Supplements Directive remain open pending safety assessments of additional substances by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) or its successor in the European Food Safety Authority. The Food Standards Agency has written to the European Commission with the aim of facilitating a meeting between United Kingdom stakeholders and representatives of the SCF to discuss the technical content of such dossiers.

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will propose an amendment to the EU Food Supplements Directive to permit the sale in the UK of products not listed in the Directive but recognised by the competent UK authorities as safe and which are already on the market in the UK; [102619]

(2) what (a) representations he has received from and (b) discussions he has held with the Food Standards Agency about the EU Food Directive; and if he will incorporate the Agency's views in proposals he makes for the revision of the Directive. [102618]

Ms Blears: The Government have no plans to seek an amendment to the European Union Food Supplements Directive. They have already secured provisions which enable member states to allow the continued sale of products which do not comply with the compositional requirements up to 31 December 2009, provided certain criteria are met.

Foundation Trusts

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the legal status of foundation trusts. [102176]

Mr. Hutton: Our proposals for national health service foundation trusts are set out in "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". Subject to parliamentary approval NHS foundation trusts will be established under provisions to be included in the Health & Social Care (Community Health & Standards) Bill, which was published on 13 March.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will happen to a foundation hospital if it fails to meet its liabilities. [102179]

Mr. Hutton: The Independent Regulator would be able to intervene at national health service foundation trusts if it fails to meet its liabilities. The policy is explained in paragraphs 3.34 to 3.38 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". The provisions that apply if an NHS foundation trust fails to meet its liabilities are set out in the Health & Social Care (Community Health & Standards) Bill.

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Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to allow primary care trusts to become foundation institutions; [102177]

(2) what plans he has to expand the provision of foundation status beyond the acute healthcare sector. [102174]

Mr. Hutton: The policy for applications for national health service foundation trust status is set out in 7.3 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how non-executive directors will be appointed to foundation hospital boards. [102181]

Mr. Hutton: Non-executive directors will be elected by members of the Board of Governors of the national health service foundation trust. Details of the policy are set out in paragraph 2.33 and 2.34 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether trusts applying for foundation status will be obliged to have consulted other acute trusts in their local area before being granted foundation status. [102209]

Mr. Hutton: The principles for local consultation by National Health Service foundation trust second stage applicants is set out in paragraph 7.11 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Illegal Meat Imports

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has with the Home Office, Customs and Excise and DEFRA (a) to prevent and (b) to detect illegally imported meat entering the UK. [102163]

Ms Blears: The Food Standards Agency works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on issues concerning the illegal import of meat and is assisting these departments as part of a cross-government action plan to improve enforcement and control of illegal imports. The FSA does not have arrangements currently with the Home Office in this area of work.

International Nurses Advice Line

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2003, ref 99682, on the international nurses advice line, if he will break down the calls by the type of caller's query or problem; in how many cases caller's information has been passed to his Department at the caller's request; where callers heard about the advice line; how many repeat callers there were to the line; what the outcome was of problem resolution; and whether calls are recorded. [102562]

Mr. Hutton: The types of queries and problems made by callers to the international nurses advice line are not recorded. Issues that cannot be resolved by the call operators are directed to the Department of Health. To date 15 cases have been forwarded to the Department of Health for further assistance and were dealt with either by direct contact with the caller or by putting the caller in contact with the appropriate nursing association.

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Callers, when asked by operators, had heard of the advice line through various media and these included leaflets, posters and press articles, and through word of mouth.

Data indicate that there have been three repeat callers to the advice line since its operation. The calls are not recorded but are monitored.

Inventures

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the former Runwell Hospital site in Wickford, Essex has been included in the bulk sale of properties in the Inventures disposal; what (a) price and (b) terms will be secured by its sale; whether it will be sold with planning permission; and how much has been spent on the (i) maintenance and (ii) refurbishment of the site in the last three years. [102152]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 10 March 2003]: This hospital has been included in the portfolios of properties that will form the basis of the proposed real estate partnership with the private sector. Miller/Bank of Scotland have been chosen as preferred partner.

The price and other terms of the sale are commercially confidential. A planning application for alternative uses has been submitted which Miller/Bank of Scotland will pursue.

The hospital is not expected to close until 2006–7. In the past three years £1.5 million has been spent upgrading wards to meet fire regulations. A further £1.4 million has been invested in securing a safe and appropriate environment for staff and patients until the site is no longer needed for National Health Service use.

Local Government Grant Formulae

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 5 February 2003, Official Report, column 314W, on local government grant formulae, what response he has made to the concerns raised by the Association of London Government in its report "The 2003–04 Local Government Finance Settlement" about the children's formula used in the local government grant formula. [101290]

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to Sir Robin Wales on 24 February responding to the points raised by the Association of London Government on the 2003–04 Local Government Finance Settlement.

The current formulae were reviewed openly with local government and there was a public consultation last summer.

Long-term Care

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of letter E.814/00–01, referred to in paragraph 21 of the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care. [99383]

Jacqui Smith: A copy of the letter E.814/00–01 referred to in paragraph 21 of the Health Service Ombudsman's report on National Health Service funding for long term care has been placed in the Library.

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Looked-after Children

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on looked after children attending (a) private and (b) public boarding schools; and if he will make a statement. [99379]

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 12 March 2003, Official Report, col. 297W.

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