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14 Oct 2003 : Column 199W—continued
Asthma
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children have been diagnosed with asthma in the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [130269]
Angela Smith: The majority of persons suffering from asthma have their condition diagnosed and treated by a general practitioner and this information is not available centrally. The Department does however fund a project managed by the Department of General Practice at Queens University of Belfast. This project collects data from a representative sample of general practitioners' practices across Northern Ireland.
Provisional figures from this data retrieval project suggest there are approximately 150 cases of asthma diagnosed per 1,000 persons in the population for the under 15 age group. This equates to approximately 1 in 7 children.
The National Asthma Campaign estimate that the prevalence of asthma is on the increase with approximately 1 in 7 children in the UK receiving treatment for it. This reflects a worldwide increase in asthma prevalence.
The primary cause of most cases of asthma is unknown; however, there is evidence that parental smoking exacerbates asthma in children.
Benefit Payments
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to meet representatives of the Northern Ireland Branch of the National Federation of Sub-postmasters to discuss issues arising from the direct payment of pensions and benefits into bank accounts. [131243]
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Mr. Spellar: The Social Security Agency and the Post Office have worked closely in developing the Direct Payment programme which is aimed at providing a safer, more convenient, modern and efficient method of paying social security benefits. However, I have no plans to meet representatives of the Northern Ireland Branch of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.
Child Care Initiative
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what measures have been introduced by Northern Ireland government departments to support the child care initiative; [128292]
- (2) what measures have been introduced by the Northern Ireland Office to support the child care initiative. [131524]
Mr. Pearson: The Government have a significant role as an employer in Northern Ireland and recognise the importance of maintaining and reviewing the measures in place to help civil servants balance their work and family responsibilities. Child care was one of the issues closely examined in the recent NICS dependant care review. This major review was carried out by an Interdepartmental Working Group and consultation with Central Trade Union Side is now due to begin. A number of key recommendations impacting on child care issues have been made and will be taken forward by DFP. At present there are various child care arrangements in place within individual Departments and Agencies.
Chronic Diseases
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by each local health and social care group in Northern Ireland to encourage the development of systematic and evidence-based approaches to the prevention, identification, management and follow-up of people with chronic disease, with particular reference to (a) coronary heart disease, (b) diabetes and (c) COPD. [130801]
Angela Smith: Local health and social care groups are working closely with all primary care professionals in their areas to encourage the development of systematic and evidence-based approaches to the prevention, identification, management and follow-up of people with chronic disease. In particular, the groups are currently undertaking three coronary heart disease projects, 14 diabetes projects and 9 COPD projects.
Class Sizes
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many primary schools in (a) North Down and (b) Northern Ireland had class sizes of more than 30 pupils in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [129815]
Jane Kennedy: The information requested (which relates to 2002–03) is as follows:
| Area | Class size |
|---|---|
| North Down | 5 |
| Northern Ireland | 166 |
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Diabetes
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make it his policy that the Department of Health Services and Public Safety implement the CREST Taskforce Report on Diabetes in full; [129902]
- (2) when a regional implementation group, as outlined in the CREST Taskforce Report on Diabetes 2003, will be established; [129903]
(3) what resources will be allocated to take forward the implementation of the CREST Report; and on what timescale. [129904]
Angela Smith: The Department recognises the importance of the need for high quality care and early detection for people with diabetes and the need for prevention, and welcomes the publication of the CREST report. The report contains a wide range of recommendations covering the full spectrum of the condition from screening for people with a higher risk of developing diabetes to the prevention and treatment of the disease.
The prevention of diabetes through the health promotion message of healthy eating, physical activity, not smoking and greater public awareness of diabetes, its symptoms and associated health risks is extremely important. I am confident that existing health strategies such as Investing for Health, the Physical Activity Strategy and Nutrition Strategy will contribute significantly to this. I have also emphasised the need to secure improvements in the management of chronic disease and I have asked local health and social care groups to develop projects within their locality to secure improvements in conditions such as diabetes. I have also made resources available to improve the detection and treatment of diabetes-related eye disease and this is being taken forward by a regional working group. These significant steps underline my desire to improve services for people with diabetes.
My Department is currently considering how it can best address the other recommendations in the CREST report within the current and planned resources available to it.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what cross-border co-operation projects have been planned on improving the quality of life for people with Type II diabetes. [130799]
Angela Smith: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland and the Department of Health and Children in the Republic of Ireland are to jointly support a project aimed at improving the management and quality of life of Type II diabetic patients through community pharmacies and raising public awareness of the condition.
The project, which is expected to run until December 2005, is to be funded through the INTERREG IIIA Community Initiative.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of each local health and social care group plans in relation to diabetes as outlined in Priorities for Action 2003–04. [130800]
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Angela Smith: One of the key actions set out in Priorities for Action 2003–04 was a requirement for each of the 15 local health and social care groups to develop at least one project to increase the capacity of primary care to address chronic diseases such as asthma or diabetes in the primary care setting and reduce pressures in the hospital sector. It is a matter for each group to decide which area of chronic disease management should be targeted in the light of local priorities. In the event, 14 groups are taking forward projects which focus on diabetes. The exact nature of the projects varies from group to group and they are at different stages of development.
Digital Hearing Aids
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of those waiting for digital hearing aids in Northern Ireland have been issued with a digital hearing aid; what action he is taking to increase this figure; and if he will make a statement. [131758]
Angela Smith: Preparatory work for the provision of Digital Hearing Aids (DHAs) is at an advanced stage and introduction, on a phased basis, will commence in early November. An additional £1 million has been allocated for this purpose, to cover the revenue costs of recruiting additional audiologists, training in fitting DHAs, purchasing the new aids and the capital costs of installing computer based testing equipment necessary to support introduction.
It is estimated that there are over 100,000 hearing aid users in Northern Ireland. Evidence based research suggests that DHAs may benefit 80 per cent. of users. It is not possible at this stage to say what numbers of new and existing users might be assessed for DHAs per year. Given that introduction is on a phased basis, it will take a number of years for the entire hearing aid user population to be assessed for digital aids.
Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action (a) has been taken and (b) will be taken in order to reduce waiting times for MOT appointments at the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency. [131781]
Angela Smith: The principal cause of the present difficulties is a significant increase in demand: applications are up by around 11 per cent. over the previous year. Allied to this is the fact that the Agency's test centres have been closed on a phased basis for the installation of much needed new vehicle test equipment. I regret that despite careful planning it has not been possible to cope as effectively as I would have liked with this additional demand in recent months.
The Agency has taken a number of measures to reduce waiting times. These include increasing productivity, introducing a more efficient booking programme, making maximum possible use of overtime, redeploying staff from non-urgent duties to testing, introducing extended working at a number of
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centres, recruiting additional staff and postponing non-urgent training. It has also improved the provision of information and guidance to the public and is in the process of extending its new telephone booking service.
These and other measures have brought about a gradual improvement. Average waiting times have dropped from 43 days in early July to around 35 days. The positive trend is expected to continue over the next few months.
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