House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 15 Jun 2004 (pt 30)

15 Jun 2004 : Column 903W—continued

Serotonin

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the drug manufacturers which have submitted studies to the comprehensive review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors being undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency; and how many of the studies each manufacturer submitted are (a) published and (b) unpublished; [176934]

(2) how many (a) published studies and (b) unpublished studies have been submitted by drug manufacturers to the comprehensive review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors being undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency; [176935]

(3) which (a) drugs and (b) drug manufacturers are the subject of the comprehensive review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors being undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency; [176936]

(4) when the comprehensive review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors being undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency will be published. [176940]

Dr. Ladyman: GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly and Co Ltd., Solvay Healthcare Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Organon Laboratories Ltd., Lundbeck Ltd. and Pfizer Ltd. have submitted information to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for review by the committee on safety of medicines' expert working group on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

The information submitted is in the form of study reports, analyses of studies and data from spontaneous reporting schemes. The following table provides the drug substance names and the number of placebo-controlled studies represented in the submissions on use in children and adolescents for each drug substance.

Drug substance (product) Number of placebo-controlled studies submitted (paediatric use, any indication)

Paroxetine (Seroxat) 6

Fluoxetine (Prozac) 4

Fluvoxamine (Faverin) 2

Venlafaxine (Efexor) 4

Mirtazapine (Zispin) 2

Citalopram (Cipramil) 2

Escitalopram (Cipralex) 0

Sertraline (Lustral) 3

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Drug substance (product)	Number of placebo-controlled studies submitted (paediatric use, any indication)
Paroxetine (Seroxat)	6
Fluoxetine (Prozac)	4
Fluvoxamine (Faverin)	2
Venlafaxine (Efexor)	4
Mirtazapine (Zispin)	2
Citalopram (Cipramil)	2
Escitalopram (Cipralex)	0
Sertraline (Lustral)	3

The expert working group has completed its review of SSRIs in the treatment of major depressive disorder in children and adolescents and has published previously unpublished summaries of the trials on which its advice was based. The review of SSRIs in adults is on-going and further data are expected for most substances. To date the MHRA has received reports of 214 studies conducted in adult patients and 94 studies conducted in healthy volunteers involving paroxetine. It is not possible to identify from the data submitted which of the studies have been published in the scientific literature.

The expert working group expects to publish its report later this year.

Smoking Cessation

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the validity of the four-week follow-up in determining the success of smoking cessation programmes. [176102]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 27 May 2004]: We considered whether to monitor the success of clients using the national health service stop smoking services at longer intervals than four weeks, such as six months and one year, but decided that this would present practical difficulties for the stop smoking services, after a trial of monitoring at 52 weeks which produced high lost-to-follow up rates.

We have research in place to evaluate how the services have performed in practice, the final results of which will be available later in the year. The preliminary findings of this work led the research team to estimate that around a quarter of those successfully quit after four weeks will still be abstinent after a year. These results are consistent with those of clinical trials used to guide the setting up of the services.

Waiting Lists/Times

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) mean and (b) median waiting times for inpatients were in the NHS for each year from 1991 to 2003. [178886]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 14 June 2004]: The table shows estimates of the mean and median waiting times for inpatients from 1991 to 2003.
Estimated average time patients on the list had been waiting for elective admission England: (commissioner based⁽⁴⁹⁾

Average waiting time in months

March Mean Median

1991 7.57 4.43

1992 5.12 3.20

1993 4.53 3.18

1994 4.60 3.24

1995 4.04 2.85

1996 3.67 2.73

1997 4.18 3.05

1998 4.62 3.43

1999 4.30 2.97

2000 4.30 2.97

2001 4.18 2.90

2002 4.01 2.92

2003 3.61 2.75

2004 2.85 2.35

⁽⁴⁹⁾ Commissioner based data is only available from 1994, provider based data is used prior to that date.
Source:
Department of Health form KH07

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	Average waiting time in months
March	Mean	Median
1991	7.57	4.43
1992	5.12	3.20
1993	4.53	3.18
1994	4.60	3.24
1995	4.04	2.85
1996	3.67	2.73
1997	4.18	3.05
1998	4.62	3.43
1999	4.30	2.97
2000	4.30	2.97
2001	4.18	2.90
2002	4.01	2.92
2003	3.61	2.75
2004	2.85	2.35

Wheelchairs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many wheelchairs have been issued through the NHS or social services departments in each of the last seven years. [178496]

Dr. Ladyman: These figures are not held centrally.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Access to State Education

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will set out the educational provision and access to state education within the UK for

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(a) EU citizens, (b) non-EU citizens with work permits, (c) non-EU citizens with student visas and (d) asylum seekers pending determination of their cases. [177820]

Alan Johnson: For children, local education authorities have a legal duty to ensure that education is available to all those of compulsory school age (five to 16 years) within their area appropriate to age, abilities and aptitudes and any special education needs they may have, irrespective of the child's immigration status or rights of residence in a particular area.

All groups specified can study within FE and HE institutions in the UK subject to available places and meeting admissions criteria.

Eligibility for funded provision among these groups varies for FE and HE. In FE and HE, EU citizens who have been ordinarily resident in the European Economic Area (plus Switzerland) for three years before their course starts are eligible for home fee status. In FE, work permit holders who have been here for three years or more and asylum seekers who are in receipt of NASS benefits are eligible for home fees status, the other groups mentioned by the hon. Member are liable for tuition fees at the overseas rate. In HE, non-EU citizens with work permits or student visas and asylum seekers pending determination of their cases are not eligible for funded provision. However, people recognised as refugees by the UK Government are entitled to home fee status.

Eligibility for FE Learner Support Funds and HE student support also vary. Further information setting out these variations in more detail is as follows.
Eligibility for further education

EU citizens Non-EU citizens with work permits Non-EU citizens with student visas Asylum seekers

Young people

Young people aged 16 to 19 Eligible for public funding if: EU national and resident in EEA for three years; or UK passport holder. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. Eligible for public funding if: resident in England for three years; or if accompanying parents with work permits. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. Ineligible for public funding. May access FE at overseas student tuition fee rates. Eligible for public funding if supported by NASS or similar, or in the care of local authority. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate.

Adults

Adults eligible for public funding may be required to contribute to the costs of their learning. There is a fee assumption that adult adults will contribute 25 per cent. of the basic cost of the course. This fee contribution may be varied at the discretion of the college. Fees for adults on low incomes may be waived. Eligible for public funding if: EU national and resident in EEA for three years. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. Eligible for public funding if resident in England for three years. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. Ineligible for public funding. May access FE at overseas student tuition fee rates. Eligible for public funding if supported by NASS or similar. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate.

FE Learner Support Funds

All eligibility constraints on Learning Support Funding (LSF), for learners 16–18 who are undertaking state/publicly funded courses have been removed. All learners enrolled on a LSC funded sixth form or FE course will have access to LSF including funding for transport, child care, residential and hardship. EU citizens aged 16–19 are eligible for FE Learner Support Funds if they have been ordinarily resident in the UK for a three year period and have settled status in the UK. These students aged 19 plus are eligible for FE learner support funds if:
(i) The student has been settled in the UK (ie with no restriction on the period of stay)
(ii) The student must have been ordinarily resident in England or Wales and settled in the UK for the three years before the beginning of the course
(iii) No part of the residence must have been mainly or wholly for the purposes of receiving an education. Non EU citizens with work permits are not eligible for FE Learning Support Funds. Non EU citizens with s are not eligible for FE Learning Support Funds. Asylum seekers aged between 16 and 19 are entitled to apply for help with essential course related expenses such as transport, equipment, books and materials. Those 19 plus with pending cases are not eligible for FE Learner Support Funds until ELE/Exception Leave to Remain has been granted and provided they satisfy the three year residency requirement or refugee status has been granted.

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Eligibility for higher education

EU nationals

EU nationals who have been resident in the EEA (or Switzerland) for three years before their course starts are entitled to be assessed for tuition fees as "home" students. The "home" rate of fees for 2004/05 is £1,150.

EU nationals are entitled to means tested help with their tuition fees but not entitled to a maintenance loan or any supplementary grants unless they are EEA migrant workers or have settled status in the UK and meet the three year residence requirement in the UK and Islands.

Non-EU citizens with work permits or student visas

Non-EU citizens with work permits or student visas are generally classified as "overseas" students and have to pay the full cost of their tuition.

Non-EU citizens with work permits or student visas are not eligible for higher education student support.

Asylum seekers

Asylum seekers pending determination of their cases are treated as overseas students. Those Asylum Seekers and their dependants who have been granted Discretionary Leave or Humanitarian Protection from the Home Office as a result of an asylum application or are formally recognised as a refugee by the UK Government may be treated as "home" students.

Asylum seekers and their dependants do not qualify for higher education student support.

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	EU citizens	Non-EU citizens with work permits	Non-EU citizens with student visas	Asylum seekers
Young people
Young people aged 16 to 19	Eligible for public funding if: EU national and resident in EEA for three years; or UK passport holder. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate.	Eligible for public funding if: resident in England for three years; or if accompanying parents with work permits. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate.	Ineligible for public funding. May access FE at overseas student tuition fee rates.	Eligible for public funding if supported by NASS or similar, or in the care of local authority. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate.

Adults
Adults eligible for public funding may be required to contribute to the costs of their learning. There is a fee assumption that adult adults will contribute 25 per cent. of the basic cost of the course. This fee contribution may be varied at the discretion of the college. Fees for adults on low incomes may be waived.	Eligible for public funding if: EU national and resident in EEA for three years. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate.	Eligible for public funding if resident in England for three years. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate.	Ineligible for public funding. May access FE at overseas student tuition fee rates.	Eligible for public funding if supported by NASS or similar. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate.

FE Learner Support Funds
All eligibility constraints on Learning Support Funding (LSF), for learners 16–18 who are undertaking state/publicly funded courses have been removed. All learners enrolled on a LSC funded sixth form or FE course will have access to LSF including funding for transport, child care, residential and hardship.	EU citizens aged 16–19 are eligible for FE Learner Support Funds if they have been ordinarily resident in the UK for a three year period and have settled status in the UK. These students aged 19 plus are eligible for FE learner support funds if: (i) The student has been settled in the UK (ie with no restriction on the period of stay) (ii) The student must have been ordinarily resident in England or Wales and settled in the UK for the three years before the beginning of the course (iii) No part of the residence must have been mainly or wholly for the purposes of receiving an education.	Non EU citizens with work permits are not eligible for FE Learning Support Funds.	Non EU citizens with s are not eligible for FE Learning Support Funds.	Asylum seekers aged between 16 and 19 are entitled to apply for help with essential course related expenses such as transport, equipment, books and materials. Those 19 plus with pending cases are not eligible for FE Learner Support Funds until ELE/Exception Leave to Remain has been granted and provided they satisfy the three year residency requirement or refugee status has been granted.