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6 May 2004 : Column 1789W—continued

Allergies

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he uses the estimates of the extent of allergies in the June 2003 report by the Royal College of Physicians, "Allergy: the Unmet Need", as a basis for NHS planning; and what other evidence-based planning data he proposes to use; [169904]

(2) what his latest estimate is of the annual cost to the NHS of allergies; and what assessment he has made of the recent changes in the incidence of more serious systemic allergies. [169905]

Dr. Ladyman: We welcomed the Royal College of Physicians' report and believe it is a useful contribution to the debate on how to improve national health service allergy services. It is the role of primary care trusts, in partnership with local stakeholders, to decide what services to provide for their populations, including those with allergies. They are best placed to understand local health care needs and commission services to meet them.

Information about the annual cost to the NHS of allergies is not centrally available.

We are aware that there has been a particular increase in severe allergic disease, including anaphylaxis; severe reactions to food and drugs are now common.

Asthma

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what strategies the Department plans to put in place to deal with an increased incidence of asthma. [170139]

 
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Dr. Ladyman: A number of initiatives are underway in the national health service in England to improve services for patients with asthma. These include:

The national service framework (NSF) for children: asthma, as one of the most common childhood conditions, will be used as a key exemplar that will accompany the main NSF report.

The chronic disease management programme provides arrangements for health promotion under the general practitioner contract including fixed annual payments for participating GPs, around 94 per cent. of the total, for running organised programmes of care for patients with asthma.

The general medical services contract, launched in February 2003, includes a specific quality indicator for treatment and care of people with asthma.

Breast Screening Sites

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of breast screening sites are providing screening for women aged 65–70 years; and if he will make a statement. [170975]

Miss Melanie Johnson: As at 31 March 2004, 44 per cent., of the 81 local breast screening programmes in England had begun inviting women aged 65–70 for breast screening. All local programmes are on track to begin inviting the older women by the target date of December 2004. Since the age extension began in April 2001, over 200,000 more women have been invited for breast screening. 400,000 more women a year will be invited once the extension is fully implemented.

Cancer

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Coalition for Cancer Information was established; what its budget is; what its remit is; what its membership is; how often it has met; and if he will make a statement. [169715]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The coalition for cancer information (CCI) was formed in June 2002 as a result of a recommendation from the cancer information advisory group and is chaired by Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director. The CCI does not hold a budget, but is supported by departmental secretariat. The CCI brings together producers and consumers of cancer information from national voluntary organisations, the National Cancer Research Institute, the national health service and the Department. It was established to oversee the development and dissemination of high quality information materials for those affected by cancer.

Since being established, the coalition has met approximately three times a year.

Chest Pain Clinics

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rapid access chest pain clinics there are in Burnley. [167947]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The East Lancashire Hospitals National Health Service Trust holds rapid access chest pain clinics at Burnley General Hospital. The Trust is meeting the national service framework two week target for patients to be seen from date of referral by general practitioner.
 
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Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rapid access chest pain clinics there are in Preston. [168107]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust has rapid access chest pain clinics at both the Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. Both clinics are meeting the national service framework two week target for patients to be seen from date of referral by general practitioner.

Cystic Fibrosis Screening

Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 386W, on cystic fibrosis screening, if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the National Screening Committee on implementation of the Government's commitment to newborn screening for cystic fibrosis. [170582]

Dr. Ladyman: Following discussion at its meeting in March 2004 the United Kingdom National Screening Committee (NSC) has asked the UK newborn screening programme centre, a collaboration between Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, the Institute of Child Health and the Institute of Education to develop an implementation plan.

The expectation is that, in England, with the emphasis in the current year on bringing existing provision up to high standards, this will enable a rollout within two to three years. The precise pace of the roll-out will be determined by local priorities. However the NSC will be providing advice and help on costs, feasibility and timetables and learning from the experience of other UK countries.

Dentistry

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of NHS dental services in North Yorkshire. [169970]

Miss Melanie Johnson: 49.9 per cent. of adults and 68.2 per cent. of children in North Yorkshire were registered with a National Health Service dentist at the end of February 2004. There has been very little change in these numbers over the previous 12 months. There were 248 dentists treating NHS patients in north Yorkshire at the end of 2003.

Departmental Expenditure (Entertainment)

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [169003]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Expenditure arises on hospitality and entertainment only in the context of promoting the Department's business objectives. All such expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety/based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".
 
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Information for 2004–05 is not available. The total amount spent by the Department on hospitality for years since 1996–97 is shown in the table.
£

	Expenditure
1996–97	105,192
1997–98	90,883
1998–99	67,953
1999–2000	50,114
2000–01	93,091
2001–02	121,968
2002–03	125,291
2003–04	76,742

Direct Payments

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the original target was for the extension of direct payments; to how many people direct payments have been extended; and if he will make a statement. [170201]

Dr. Ladyman: In 2002–03, 9,600 people received a direct payment. The Department has not set a target for the extension of direct payments. Increasing the take up of direct payments will contribute to the annual overall assessment of a council's performance. To achieve a performance rating of 'very good', councils must have at least 150 people receiving direct payments per 100,000 population aged 18 or over. The national average for 2002–03 was 23.

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