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Illegal Drugs

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the possible link between illegal drug use and the development of psychosis later in life; and if he will make a statement. [152364]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Recent research of note in this area has explored whether there is any causative link between early cannabis use and later development of psychosis, but such a link has not been conclusively proven. However, the recent epidemiological research on the issue of earlier use of cannabis and risk of later development of schizophrenia, 'schizophrenic symptoms' and 'schizophreniform disorder' has shown a stronger association than was previously evident from

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published studies. The British Medical Journal editorial accompanying the publication of key research papers in November 2002 concluded that:

"whether the use of cannabis triggers the onset of schizophrenia or depression in otherwise vulnerable people or whether it actually causes these conditions in non-predisposed people is not yet resolved."

While a number of illegal drugs, particularly amphetamines and cocaine (and to a lesser degree cannabis), are well-recognised in causing short-lived psychotic symptoms and signs there is no conclusive proof of causation of psychosis in later life. It is difficult to exclude confounding factors in carrying out such long-term research on, where such drug use would also be only one of a number of risk factors. It is also difficult to differentiate the role of such drugs in possibly precipitating psychosis in a pre-disposed individual from causation in someone not otherwise pre-disposed.

The Department has commissioned the National Addiction Centre to review the evidence regarding the harmful effects of drugs of abuse and this is published as a Department of Health document, Dangerousness of drugs (2003). This describes a wide range of harmful effects of illegal drugs. A copy is available in the Library.

It is widely recommended by clinicians that anyone at risk of psychosis should avoid any drugs that can cause acute psychotic symptoms.

The Department continues to monitor research in this area and has a range of expert advisors to continue to inform policy.

Low Fat Diets

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on low fat diets free from animal products. [156810]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has not commissioned or evaluated research on low fat diets free from animal products. The Oxford cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Oxford) has been supported by Cancer Research UK, the Medical Research Council and the Europe Against Cancer Programme of the Commission of the European Community. Findings from EPIC-Oxford data have shown that diets free from animal products are associated with lower levels of obesity than diets which include meat. The Medical Research Council spent £17.1 million in 2001–02 on nutrition research.

Mental Health

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 688W, on mental health, how many of the 700 carer support workers are (a) new staff and (b) existing staff with expanded or adapted roles; and if he will make a statement. [154987]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The commitment to recruit 700 carer support workers by 2004 to increase the breaks available for carers, and to strengthen carer support

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networks is part of the Priorities and Planning Framework 2003–06 which identified the targets set for services in the three year period.

Recruitment is a local responsibility. We cannot say whether the 700 carer support workers will all be additional to existing national health service staff. Guidance on developing carer support services was published in 2002.

Nebulisers

Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of nebulisers for NHS patients on prescription. [159722]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Nebulisers are not available on national health service prescription. It is long-standing policy that such items should be loaned to patients from specialist NHS services.

Nursing Homes

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to continue the use of lay assessors in the monitoring of quality of nursing and care homes. [160219]

Dr. Ladyman: This will be a matter for the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), a new non-departmental public body, which will be operational from 1 April 2004. The CSCI will be reviewing how it works with lay assessors in due course.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department since 1 January 2003, broken down by (a) ordinary written and (b) named day; what percentage in respect of (a) were answered within 10 working days; and what percentage in respect of (b) were answered by the specified date. [157747]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Between 1 January 2003 and 27 February 2004, 8,058 ordinary written and 1,458 named day parliamentary questions were tabled to the Department of Health.

Using the information readily available the average time taken to answer an ordinary written parliamentary question was 15.5 calendar days; and approximately 30 per cent. of named day parliamentary questions received an answer by the specified date.

The Department strives to answer right hon. and hon. Members' questions in a timely and helpful fashion and is currently seeking to improve performance.

Patient Forums

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) assessment he has made and (b) representations he has received on the impact of benefits rules on the participation of disabled people in patient forums. [158508]

Ms Rosie Winterton: We have not received any representations about the impact of the benefit rules on the participation of disabled people in patients forums and no assessment of the impact has been made.

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Processed Meals

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into the level of consumption of processed meals; and if he will make a statement. [157594]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has not commissioned research into the level of consumption of processed meals. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey programme is a joint initiative between the Department and the Food Standards Agency. The survey covers consumption of different food types by individuals, including processed products such as breakfast cereals and baked beans.

The Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS) is commissioned jointly by the Office for National Statistics and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Results from EFS presented in the report, Family Food in 2001–02, show that consumption of meat-based ready meals, including takeaways consumed in the household, increased by 15 per cent. in comparison to 2000–01, which represents a 70 per cent. increase compared to 1996–97. The report is available on the Defra website at http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/.

Psychiatric Wards (Delayed Discharges)

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend arrangements for charging social services departments for delayed discharges from psychiatric wards. [160047]

Dr. Ladyman: We intend to extend the system of reimbursement for delayed discharges to all hospital patients in a phased way, based on a consideration of the benefits for each group of patients. However, further parliamentary debate would be required to extend the scope to include mental health patients.

Restructuring and Change Programme

Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1699W, on the Restructuring and Change programme, how many of the 1,400 staff will (a) be made redundant, (b) retire and (c) be lost due to natural wastage. [158129]

Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 2 March 2004]: The number of staff who will be made redundant is not yet known. It will be determined by the levels of natural wastage, the take-up of any voluntary early severance/retirement scheme and the extent to which it is possible to re-deploy staff in the civil service.

Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answers of 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1699W, and 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 297W, on the restructuring and change programme, how many of the 1,400 staff will be redeployed or transferred to departmental arm's length bodies or agencies. [158205]

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Ms Rosie Winterton: We estimate that 415 posts will transfer to the departmental arm's length bodies.

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