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20 Jun 2003 : Column 482W—continued
Continuing Care
Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether guidance has been issued to local authority social services departments about restrictions that can be placed on the 12 week property disregard, in terms of not paying it in respect of more expensive care homes. [119240]
Dr. Ladyman: There are no restrictions on the 12 week property disregard in respect of more expensive accommodation. The 12 week property disregard is available to all residents with property who entered permanent residential care after 9 April 2001. In respect of more expensive accommodation, residents who have accessed the 12 week disregard or third parties can make up the difference between the resident's contribution and the council's contribution.
However the council's contribution should be sufficient to meet an individual's assessed needs and may exceed the council's usual cost. The Department has issued guidance to this effect under cover of Local Authority Circular (2001)29.
Deafness
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investment he has put into (a) researching deafness and (b) treatments to restore hearing since 1997. [119560]
Dr. Ladyman: The estimated expenditure on hearing research through the Medical Research Council for the last five years is shown in the table.
| Expenditure | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 3.23 |
| 1998–99 | 3.49 |
| 1999–2000 | 3.34 |
| 2000–01 | 4.96 |
| 2001–02 | 3.94 |
In addition, since 1997, projects relating to hearing impairment totalling £1.87 million have been commissioned through the health technology assessment programme and the national research and development programme for people with physical and complex disabilities. Under the Department of Health's Policy Research Programme, a number of universal neonatal hearing screening pilots are in progress, with funding of £94,000.
20 Jun 2003 : Column 483W
Domiciliary Care
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people (a) are in domiciliary care and (b) have to pay for their domiciliary care. [119719]
Dr. Ladyman: In 2001–02, an estimated 1.4 million adults in England were helped to live independently at home through the provision of a variety of community-based social services. Information on the number of people who have to pay for these services is not centrally available.
Eye Health
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people with (a) age-related macular degeneration and (b) glaucoma were on the Register of Blind and Partially Sighted People in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 2000; [119703]
- (2) how many people with (a) age-related macular degeneration and (b) glaucoma were newly registered as blind or partially sighted in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 2000. [119704]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Detailed information on the number of people with age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma is not centrally available. Information on the number of people registered as blind or partially sighted is collected every three years from the triennial SSDA902 return. Information on the number of people registered as blind or partially sighted is shown in the tables for the years 1981–82, 1990–91 and 1999–2000.
| At 31 March | All ages | 0–4 | 5–17 | 18–64 | 65–74 | 75+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 306,500 | 1,330 | 6,800 | 55,340 | 31,940 | 211,070 |
| 1990–91 | 229,980 | 1,040 | 3,670 | 44,400 | 31,940 | 148,940 |
| 1981–82 | 169,730 | 450 | 3,770 | 39,190 | 28,800 | 97,540 |
| All ages | 0–4 | 5–17 | 18–64 | 65–74 | 75+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 30,440 | 370 | 520 | 4,070 | 4,120 | 21,380 |
| 1990–91 | 27,270 | 280 | 350 | 3,770 | 4,500 | 18,370 |
| 1981–82 | 21,230 | 150 | 250 | 3,310 | 4,280 | 13,240 |
Note:
1. Data source: Department of Health SSDA 902 return.
2. The data on the SSDA902 return is collected every 3 years.
3. It is possible for a person to be registered as partially sighted and as blind within the same year, in which case they will be counted twice in the table showing new registrations.
Food Supplements
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will re-examine those areas in which the findings of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals are inconsistent with those of other internationally respected bodies. [119832]
20 Jun 2003 : Column 484W
Miss Melanie Johnson: In arriving at its conclusions, the expert group on vitamins and minerals took into account evidence available on a United Kingdom and international basis. The evidence base on issues relating to vitamin and mineral supplements will be monitored closely as it develops further. Independent expert advice will be sought on specific issues where this is appropriate.
Griffiths Report
Sir Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the unedited version of the Griffiths Report. [119061]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 16 June 2003]: The "Report of a Review of the Research Framework of the North Staffordshire Hospitals NHS Trust" was published in full in May 2000. A copy of the final report is available on the internet at: www.doh.gov.uk/wmro/northstaffs.htm
Under section 2 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", the information sought is exempt from being made available. It is not appropriate to make publicly available draft (or "unedited") versions or evidence collected for any report as they are for internal discussion. Furthermore, for legal reasons, drafts have to be shared with people who have contributed to reports for correctness and the final version has to be cleared/approved by solicitors.
Hayfever
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on (a) the causes of hayfever and (b) the possible links between hayfever and asthma. [119864]
Dr. Ladyman: The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC). In 2001–02, MRC expenditure on its respiratory disorders portfolio was an estimated £11.9 million, which included work on allergies and asthma, but not specifically on hayfever.
There is no ongoing research in the Department of Health into hayfever, but the Department commissioned a study on air pollution and general practitioner consultations for allergic rhinitis (hayfever) from St. George's Hospital, London, as part of its last air pollution and health research programme. The study (by Hajal et at) was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology (volume 153, page 704) in 2001.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on treating hayfever sufferers in each of the last five years. [119866]
Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not centrally available. The table shows information on the net ingredient costs of products for the treatment of hayfever dispensed in the community in England from 1998 to 2002.
| Net ingredient cost | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BNF 3.2.1 (Antihistamines) | 40,062.2 | 46,987.3 | 51,421.2 | 56,675.6 | 60,720.1 |
| BNF 12.2.1 (Drugs used in nasal allergy) | 33,286.3 | 34,533.0 | 33,889.2 | 35,217.1 | 37,046.8 |
| Total | 73,348.6 | 81,520.3 | 85,310.4 | 91,892.7 | 97,766.9 |
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Hotel Accommodation
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on hotel accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) others; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room, in each year since 1997. [117561]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The available information regarding Departmental and agency staff has been placed in the Library.
The Government publish an annual report of Ministerial travel overseas. The total cost of ministerial travel provided in the annual report includes the cost of accommodation. The information sought in respect of accommodation within the United Kingdom is not held centrally. All travel is conducted in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.
All subsistence expenses for civil servants comply with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
Medical Technologies
Dr. Desmond Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that technologies recommended by NICE are available in all areas. [118049]
Ms Rosie Winterton: National health service bodies are under a statutory obligation to fund treatments recommended in National Institute for Clinical Excellence technology appraisals. We expect primary care trusts (PCTs) to meet their statutory obligations, and strategic health authorities to follow up any allegations of non-compliance. We last reminded PCTs of these obligations in guidance published in January 2003.
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