House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 6 Nov 2003 (pt 15)

6 Nov 2003 : Column 781W—continued

Domestic Accidents

Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with (a) other Government Departments, (b) local authorities and (c) other agencies to establish a co-ordinated approach to preventing accidents in the home. [135317]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 30 October 2003]: Other Government Departments, local authorities, and other agencies were represented on the Accidental Injury Task Force, whose report was published in October 2002. Subsequent discussions with Government Departments and with regional directors of public health have shown that better co-ordination will depend on integrating injury prevention into broader programmes on the needs of children and older people, with particular emphasis on health inequalities.

This is now being pursued in implementing the older peoples' national service framework (NSF), in preparing the remainder of the NSF for children, and in contributing to cross-Government policy proposals for these groups, for example in the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Older People.

Family Planning Clinics

Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has (a) to develop family planning clinics and (b) for the development of a career structure for family planning doctors. [135886]

Miss Melanie Johnson: A stated aim of the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV is to reduce levels of unintended pregnancies, and the provision of good quality contraception services will play a major role in achieving this aim. Contraceptive services should be available through a range of settings including general practice and specialist care settings, and the Department has issued guidance on good practice in commissioning those services, as well as providing additional investment of £1 million this year to improve access. The Department has also convened a group of experts, including representatives from the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Family Planning Association, to define and implement a work-plan to support the improvement of contraception services at primary care trust level. This group will also work with the Faculty of Family Planning to consider issues of staffing and career development.

Fluoridation

Mr. Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice the Chief Medical Officer has given on the potential effects of fluoridated drinking water for a patient diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. [134246]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department is not aware of any evidence that the effects of fluoridated drinking water differ between people with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Food Supplements Directive

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent

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meeting between the Food Standards Agency and the European Food Safety Authority to discuss difficulties anticipated by industry in preparing dossiers of information to support the inclusion of substances on the lists of nutrients and nutrient sources appended to the Food Supplements Directive; and what plans the Food Standards Agency has to continue that dialogue. [135264]

Miss Melanie Johnson: On 14 October, representatives from food supplement industry trade associations met with representatives of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to discuss requirements for dossiers supporting addition of nutrient sources to the lists appended to the Food Supplements Directive. The meeting was constructive. EFSA representatives indicated that applicants should submit data establishing the identity and purity of the nutrient source, and any available safety data. EFSA would then advise whether further data were required, taking into account similarities with substances which have already been approved either as nutrient sources or as additives. This, together with advice that combined dossiers for similar substances are welcome, means that dossier preparation costs for many of the 'missing' substances will be significantly lower than previously estimated. The Food Standards Agency is writing to inform interested parties of the outcome and will continue to liaise with EFSA and European Commission representatives on this issue.

Gene Transfer

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what published research involving humans he has assessed which examines the potential for horizontal gene transfer from GM bacteria to gut bacteria; how many people were involved in the experiments; what evidence of gene transfer was identified; and what research he has commissioned on this subject. [136064]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 4 November 2003]: The Department of Health has not commissioned any research that looks at horizontal gene transfer from genetically modified (GM) bacteria to gut bacteria. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) however has published research on the use of human volunteers to examine the potential for horizontal gene transfer from GM food to gut bacteria. Seven people were involved in the study. No intact DNA was shown to be transferred to intestinal tract bacteria. The current state of knowledge regarding gene transfer was reviewed in the GM science review. This concluded that "transgenic DNA is no different from other DNA consumed as part of the normal diet and it will have a similar fate". The science review is available in the Library.

Applications to use oral GM bacteria are assessed on a case by case basis by either the Health and Safety Executive (under the Contained Use Regulations), or by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (under the Deliberate Release Regulations). Each application involving the use of GM bacteria is comprehensively evaluated with regard to safety, including gene transfer.

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Genetics Research

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the organisations which have applied for the special research funding announced in the Government's White Paper on Genetics, (b) the value of each bid and (c) the single gene disorders related to each bid. [135486]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 4 November 2003]: Bids are treated in strict confidence and the information requested cannot be given. The specific clinical conditions to be addressed through the funding for both pharmacogenetic research and research into gene therapy for single gene disorders will depend on what bids are submitted by the research community and how the individual bids stand up to rigorous assessment through peer review. Details of grants awarded will be added to the national research register at www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm.

Genito-urinary Medicine

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many genito-urinary management clinics there are in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire. [136574]

Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer on 5 November 2003]: There are three genito-urinary management (GUM) clinics in Buckinghamshire; at Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Wycombe. There are no GUM clinics in Chesham and Amersham.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of genito-urinary management clinics in England. [136575]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 5 November 2003]: The Department of Health is working to improve access to genito urinary medicine (GUM) services. Primary care trusts should ensure that local GUM services are designed to meet local needs. The Department of Health is supporting them in this role through the provision of additional investment to 'pump-prime' GUM services and address long-waiting times and backlogs in those areas where it is most needed.

£13 million was invested in GUM services in 2003–04 and over £6 million in 2002–03, with additional funding of £5 million announced this year in our response to the Health Select Committee's report on sexual health. To support those areas with little or no GUM services, or where services are struggling to cope with demand, a further £2 million in 2003–04 will be used to establish a small number of development schemes to pump-prime the establishment of new services or further develop those already in existence.

The Department of Health is also continuing to work to increase the role of primary care in the provision of sexual health services which will help to relieve the pressure on GUM services.

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Head Lice

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research evidence he has collated on the (a) incidence and (b) spread of head lice in schools; and what advice he offers head teachers to deal with the problem; [136009]

Dr. Ladyman: The Department's policy research programme and the central national health service research and development programmes are not currently supporting research into this subject, due to the pressure of other priorities. The Medical Research Council (MRC), which is funded by the Office of Science and Technology, commissions most of the Government's research into bio-medical and clinical issues. The MRC is always open to new sound scientific proposals, in competition with other applications.

Head lice infestation is a relatively common problem among school age children, which is dealt with at local level. Our policy, which is shared by the Department for Education and Skills, is to encourage a "whole school approach" to the detection and treatment of head lice. This entails encouraging parents to check their children and other family members for head lice as need arises, and arranging treatment where necessary with such advice and support from the local primary health care team (general practitioner, health visitor, school nurse or local pharmacist) as they may require. If this exercise is successfully undertaken at the same time by all parents of children within a school, then the spread of head lice will be arrested.

This Department is in regular contact with the Department for Education and Skills on a range of health issues relating to pupils' health, including the treatment of head lice. Officials from both Departments provide advice to schools and parents on head lice control, including a leaflet containing guidance on prevention and treatment. This is also available on the Department's website at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/headlice/ including translations in 10 languages.

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