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26 Apr 2004 : Column 843W—continued
Surgical Instruments (Middlesbrough)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department has taken in response to the incident in Middlesbrough regarding quarantining of surgical instruments. [164614]
Mr. Hutton: Guidance on the re-use of surgical instruments after brain biopsy is already published, in "Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents: safe working and the prevention of infection". This guidance, endorsed by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, is available in the following location on the the Department's website: www.dh.gov.uk > Policy and guidance > Health and social care topics > CJD >CJD publications > Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents: Safe working and the prevention of infection
Additional guidance on the reuse of surgical instruments after brain biopsies is in preparation and will be published shortly.
Teenage Pregnancies
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of teenage conception in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [167394]
Ruth Kelly:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
26 Apr 2004 : Column 844W
Letter from Len Cook to Sir Nicholas Winterton, dated 26 April 2004:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the rate of teenage pregnancy in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority was in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.
For this purpose, 'teenagers' are interpreted as the under 18 age group, in line with the target set by The Government Strategy on Teenage Pregnancy. The numbers of conceptions are estimated from registrations of live and still births, and notifications of abortions. They exclude miscarriages before the 24th week of gestation.
The teenage conception rates for Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority for 1992 to 2001, the latest year for which figures are available, are shown in the table below.
| Number of conceptions | Conception rate(50) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1,916 | 45.2 |
| 1993 | 1,913 | 46.2 |
| 1994 | 1,853 | 44.2 |
| 1995 | 1,934 | 46.0 |
| 1996 | 2,143 | 48.3 |
| 1997 | 2,051 | 49.1 |
| 1998 | 2,100 | 47.8 |
| 1999 | 2,093 | 47.1 |
| 2000 | 2,027 | 44.1 |
| 200l(51) | 1,938 | 41.0 |
(50) The rate shown represents the number of conceptions among all females aged under 18 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 17.
(51) Rate for 2001 is provisional.
Source:
Office for National Statistics
Teenage Sexual Health (Taunton Deane)
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) girls and (b) boys under 16 suffered from a sexually transmitted disease in Taunton Deane in each year since 1997. [167551]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many girls under (a) 16 and (b) 17 were (i) registered as pregnant and (ii) gave birth in Taunton Deane in each year since 1997. [167552]
Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Adrian Flook, dated 26 April 2004:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many girls under (a) 16 and (b) 17 were (i) registered as pregnant and (ii) gave birth in Taunton Deane in each year since 1997. (167552)
The most recent year for which figures are available is 2001.
The table below gives figures for:
a) all conceptions, and
b) conceptions leading to maternities
for girls aged under 16 and under 17 in Taunton Deane for 1997 to 2001.
| Under 16 | Under 17 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Conceptions | Maternities(52) | Conceptions | Maternities(52) |
| 1997 | 11 | 6 | 30 | 15 |
| 1998 | 18 | 7 | 42 | 15 |
| 1999 | 16 | 4 | 42 | 18 |
| 2000 | 18 | 5 | 40 | 17 |
| 2001(53) | 13 | 7 | 38 | 17 |
(52) Maternities resulting in one or more live birth or stillbirth.
(53) Provisional figures.
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) boys and (b) girls under 16 have been issued with contraceptives in Taunton Deane in each year since 1997. [167553]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Treatment of Children
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance his Department issues on the treatment of children in hospital by staff not specifically trained to treat children; [167598]
(2) what guidance his Department issues on the treatment of children in hospital in facilities not specifically designated for children. [167599]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answers 23 April 2004]: In April 2003, the Department issued the first part of the national service framework for children relating to hospital standards. This describes essential considerations and best practice in caring for children and young people in hospital, including staff training and facilities for children. The standards are available at: http://www. paediatrics.ox.ac.uk/profile 20of 20paeds/documents/hospitalstandard.pdf.
Treatment Sector Contracts
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many contracts for independent sector treatment centres have so far been signed in the NHS in England; [167412]
(2) what his Department's projected timetable is for introducing independent sector treatment centres into the NHS in England; [167429]
(3) how many independent sector treatment centres are in the process of construction in England. [167430]
Mr. Hutton: Four contracts for independent sector treatment centres (IS-TCs) have so far been signed for treatment centres in North Bradford, Trent and South Yorkshire, and Daventry, and for two mobile ophthalmology treatment centres operating throughout England. Of these, the IS-TC at Daventry and the mobile ophthalmology treatment centres are already treating patients. In addition, there is a IS-TC at Redwood, which is a public-private partnership between the national health service and BUPA that opened in October 2002.
A further 31 IS-TCs that are in development subject to negotiations with preferred bidders and schemes will proceed only if they provide the required level of value for money for NHS commissioners. We have appointed preferred bidders for 30 of these schemes and expect to
26 Apr 2004 : Column 846W
reach contract close by the end of summer 2004 with the treatment centres becoming fully operational over the following 18 months.
In addition, the Government announced in the White Paper, "Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS (December 2003)", their intention to explore ways to develop extra diagnostic services capacity in order to help reduce waiting times and facilitate choice. This will be sourced from NHS and independent sector providers.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Post Office Closures
8. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of Post Office closures in Greater London on the collection and payment of pensions. [167682]
Mr. Pond: We have made no such assessment. Direct Payment still allows customers to access their money weekly at the Post Office if that is what they wish to do.
The Government are investing record amounts in the Post Office network, some £2 billion over a five-year period.
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