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18 May 2004 : Column 950W—continued
Children's Diet
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of school-age children who eat five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. [165577]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The latest Health Survey for England (2002) provides data on the percentage of children who eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day. The tables show the percentages for each age, which for children aged five to 15 average 11 per cent. of boys and 12 per cent. of girls.
In a National Opinion Poll survey in October 2003 regarding the impact of the National School Fruit Scheme, over a quarter of parents reported that their children and families ate more fruit at home after their child's school joined the scheme; and nearly half of all parents thought the scheme has made them more aware of the importance of fruit for a healthy diet.
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 11 | 10 |
| 6 | 10 | 8 |
| 7 | 9 | 11 |
| 8 | 9 | 11 |
| 9 | 10 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 11 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 12 | 12 | 13 |
| 13 | 12 | 12 |
| 14 | 15 | 13 |
| 15 | 16 | 14 |
| Total | 11 | 12 |
18 May 2004 : Column 951W
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 13 | 14 |
| 17 | 15 | 16 |
| 18 | 13 | 16 |
| 19 | 13 | 18 |
| Total | 15 | 18 |
Note:
The figures are based on combined data from 2001 and 2002.
Sources:
National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) Health Survey for England 2002, the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health and the Royal Free and University College Medical School: Volume 1—The Health of Children and Young People.
Contraception
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the number of contraceptive injections given to school-aged girls in the last five years; [171067]
(2) what protocols apply to the giving of the contraceptive injection to school-aged girls; [171068]
(3) what the primary method of contraception was of teenage girls (a) below the age of 16 years and (b) over the age of 16 years in each of the last five years; [171069]
(4) for what reasons implants were not used as the primary method of contraception for school aged girls between 1997–98 and 1999–2000; [171221]
(5) what factors influence the decision to give a contraceptive injection rather than the contraceptive pill to school-aged girls. [172311]
Miss Melanie Johnson: There has been an increase in the use of contraceptive injections administered in family planning clinics among girls aged under 16, in the last five years. There is currently very low uptake of non-user dependent methods of contraception in women of all ages. Increasing and improving access to all methods of contraception are aims of both the teenage pregnancy strategy and the sexual health and HIV strategy, to reduce rates of unintended pregnancies.
Decisions about the most suitable type of contraception are for individuals to make in consultation with health professionals. Health professionals can provide contraception to young people under 16, working within an established legal framework, provided they are satisfied that the young person is competent to fully understand the implications of any treatment and to make a choice of the treatment involved.
The data requested on methods of contraception used by teenage girls, are published in table 2 of the statistical bulletin "NHS Contraceptive Services, England: 2002–03" and in the equivalent table in earlier bulletins, available in the Library and at:
www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0315.htm
www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0220.htm
www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0127.htm
www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0027.htm
www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb9930.htm
Note that these data are available for family planning clinics only. Data from general practitioners are not available by age.
The first and only available contraceptive implant product was withdrawn from use by the licence holder in 1998–99, before being replaced by another product which was licensed in 1999, hence low usage in women of all ages at that time.
Correspondence
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the hon. Member for Southend, West's letters of (a) 13 October 2003 and (b) 26 January 2004. [164392]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 30 March 2004]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 13 May.
Dentistry
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent per capita on NHS dentistry in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 1997; and what spending is projected for 2004. [162837]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Gross fees paid to dentists per capita on general dental service (GDS) dentistry in South Tyneside Primary Care Trust (PCT), the North-East and for England in each year since 1997 is shown in the table. Jarrow constituency is covered by South Tyneside PCT. Figures for 2002–03 are split between the previous health authorities for the first six months and the new PCT (for South Tyneside) and strategic health authorities (for the North-East) for the later six months. To ensure comparability, these are expressed as an annual rate.
Expenditure figures for 2003–04 are not yet available. Under current arrangements, local budgets are not required, or calculated, for 2004. The GDS budget for 2004–05 is a non-discretionary budget, which is held centrally, and expenditure is determined by dental activity.
Gross fees cover payments for patient registrations and treatments and exclude additional payments such as superannuation contributions. Gross fees include patient charges.
These expenditure figures do not cover expenditure in other national health service dental services; the personal dental service, community dental service and hospital dental service.
| Financial year | South Tyneside(56) | North East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 27.64 | 27.21 | 26.12 |
| 1998–99 | 29.88 | 29.36 | 27.68 |
| 1999–2000 | 30.45 | 30.28 | 28.02 |
| 2000–01 | 31.74 | 30.83 | 29.07 |
| 2001–02 | 33.20 | 32.17 | 30.55 |
| 2002–03 (April to September)(58) | 33.12 | 31.53 | 30.79 |
| 2002–03 (October to March)(58) | 34.84 | 34.91 | 31.76 |
(56) For 1997–98 to 2002–03 (Apr to Sept.) figures cover Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority (HA) area. From 2002–03 the figures cover South Tyneside PCT.
(57) Between 1997–98 and 2002–03 (April to September) the North-East includes the following HAs: County Durham and Darlington, Gateshead and South Tyneside, Newcastle and North Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland and Tees. From 2002–03 (October to March), it includes Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and County Durham and Tees Valley SHA.
(58) Figures for 2002–03 are split between the previous HAs for the first six months and the new PCT (for South Tyneside) and SHAs (for the North-East) for the later six months. To ensure comparability, these are expressed as an annual rate. Figures have been expressed at an annual rate by multiplying half-year figures by two.
18 May 2004 : Column 953W
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of dentists offering NHS dental treatment in the Vale of York. [173031]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Selby and York Primary Care Trust is working closely with local dentists and the North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority to identify opportunities for investment in local dental practices in order to improve access to national health service dentistry.
Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) private dentists and (b) NHS dentists there are in the Easington constituency. [170117]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department does not collect information on the number of private dentists, as this is a matter for individual contractors. There were 14 national health service dentists in Easington in December 2003.
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