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28 Jun 2004 : Column 107W—continued
Embryology
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are directly involved in embryonic stemcell research; and if he will make a statement. [175894]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority who are connected to centres carrying out embryonic stem cell research are:
Professor David Barlow.
Professor Christopher Barratt.
Professor Peter Braude.
Professor lain Cameron.
Food Labelling
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with farmers about food labelling requirements. [180214]
Miss Melanie Johnson
[holding answer 24 June 2004]: Food labelling rules are agreed at European Union level. The Food Standards Agency consults widely with interested parties, including groups such as the National Farmers Union, both during negotiations and implementation of legislative measures, as well as in drawing up guidance for industry.
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Food Supplements
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has received on the number of dossiers being prepared by industry for submission to the European Food Safety Authority in relation to nutrients and nutrient sources currently permitted for use in the United Kingdom but omitted from the lists of permitted nutrients and nutrient sources appended to the Food Supplements Directive and the Food Supplements (England) Regulations; what estimate he has made of the cost of producing such dossiers; and if he will make financial assistance available to small and medium-sized enterprises to help with the production of such dossiers. [176983]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Article 4 (6) of Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements requires that in the case of vitamin and mineral sources in food supplements on the market in the community on 12 July 2002 but absent from Annex II of the Directive, dossiers supporting continued use after 1 August 2005 must be submitted to the European Commission no later than 12 July 2005.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has not received any such dossiers from the United Kingdom food supplement industry. The FSA understands, however, that the industry is in the process of compiling a small number of dossiers.
The costs of compiling and submitting safety dossiers in support of ingredients not on the positive lists are difficult to estimate. Discussions between representatives of the European Food Safety Authority and industry representatives last October indicated that, in many cases, dossier costs are likely to be significantly lower than previously estimated by industry.
The Government will not provide financial assistance for the production or submission of dossiers. Officials at the FSA have offered to comment on dossiers before submission to the Commission provided such requests are co-ordinated and are made in good time.
Health Care Forums
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Healthcare on the decision to cap forum membership at an average of 10 members per forum. [179679]
Ms Rosie Winterton: As an independent organisation, it was necessary for the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) to formally consult the Department on its decision to limit the number of members of patients' forums. Through regular meetings with the CPPIH, we have been made aware of its decision and future plans.
Health Expenditure (Kent and Medway)
Mr. Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the expenditure per weighted head of population was in the Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 1997; [180269]
(2) what estimate he has made of the average public expenditure on health per head of population in Kent and Medway, other than through the Strategic Health Authority, in each year since 1997. [180270]
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Ms Rosie Winterton: Information relating to the expenditure per weighted head of population for the Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority area is shown in the table.
| £ per head | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 590.54 |
| 1998–99 | 640.42 |
| 1999–2000 | 766.79 |
| 2000–01 | 795.96 |
| 2001–02 | 852.31 |
| 2002–03 | 914.67 |
Notes:
1. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority accounts and primary care trust summarisation schedules which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total expenditure by the relevant health authorities for 1997–98 to 2002–03, and the commissioner costs of the primary care trusts for 2000–01 to 2002–03. Figures are given per weighted head of population.
2. Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of health authorities.
3. The total national health service expenditure cannot be identified by health authority area because the majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in the individual health authority accounts or primary care trust summarisation schedules and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by health authorities or primary care trusts.
4. In many health authorities there are factors which distort the expenditure per head. These include:
the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and
asset revaluations in NHS trusts being funded through health authorities or primary care trusts.
For these reasons expenditure per head cannot be compared reliably between health authorities or between different years.
Sources:
Health authority audited accounts 1997–98.
Health authority audited summarisation forms 1998–99 to 2001–02.
Strategic health authority audited summarisation forms 2002–03.
Primary Care Trust audited summarisation schedules 2000–01 to 2002–03.
Weighted health authority population figures 1997–98 to 2002–03.
28 Jun 2004 : Column 110W
Health Services (Rochdale)
Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been to NHS waiting list times in the last seven years for the residents of Rochdale. [178514]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the number of patients waiting for admission to the Pennine Acute Hospitals national health service Trust, including its predecessor organisations, each year since 1997.
Source:
Department of Health form KH07 and monthly monitoring.
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