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Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the patient choice initiative will allow patients to be treated with non-National Institute for Clinical Excellence appraised treatments if it is their choice and their clinicians concur. [183987]
Mr. Hutton: From 2008, for planned hospital care, a patient will be able to choose any health care provider which meets the Government's standards for health care in England. The draft standards were published for consultation in the spring and will be published shortly.
The new standards will require any health care organisations providing national health service treatment to conform to nationally agreed best practice or nationally agreed guidance, including National Institute for Clinical Excellence technology appraisals.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to patients who are in severe pain while awaiting NHS treatment. [184042]
Mr. Hutton:
The Department does not issue guidance to patients on clinical issues such as this. The patient's general practitioner or another health care professional
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should provide guidance and advice on appropriate treatments or measures for reducing pain while waiting for further treatment.
Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed in the pharmaceutical industry in the UK; and what proportion are employed in (a) sales promotion and (b) research and development. [183532]
Ms Rosie Winterton: In 2002, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) annual business inquiry showed that there were 83,000 people employed in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals, and botanic products. The ONS business enterprise research and development survey showed that 29,000 people, or 35 per cent., were employed in research and development in the pharmaceutical industry. The Government do not have figures for the percentage of people employed in sales in this sector.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with (a) social services and (b) NHS bodies in Gloucestershire on the recent Supporting People Report. [184231]
Dr. Ladyman: I have not had any discussion specifically with Gloucestershire social services or national health service bodies, or with any other local social services or health bodies, about "Supporting People". But at the national level I remain in close contact with my ministerial colleagues in the Office of my right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, who are in the lead on this important initiative. There is a considerable amount of work going on to take this initiative forward at both national and local levels and we will continue to involve stakeholders in this.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current security situation in (a) Kosovo and (b) the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. [184241]
Mr. MacShane: The overall security situation in Kosovo is currently stable but tense. Since March, there continue to be isolated incidents of violence which have been contained by local law enforcement. As a means to enhance the exchange of information on security issues a Kosovo Security Advisory Group has been set up with representatives of all the Kosovo communities, UNMIK and KFOR.
The security situation in Macedonia is stable, but fragile, particularly in the former crisis areas in the north west of the country. We judge that most violence is linked primarily to criminality. However, tensions could escalate as ongoing discussions on a number of issues, in particular the decentralisation process called for by the Ohrid Framework Agreement, come to a head.
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We continue to monitor the situation in both Kosovo and Macedonia carefully.
Mr. Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the political situation in Belarus and (b) whether the forthcoming elections will be free and fair. [184774]
Mr. MacShane: The failure of the Belarussian Government to adhere to European standards in respect of human rights, freedom of expression and democracy in Belarus remains a matter of concern to the Government. It is too early to assess the likely conduct of the elections. We have made clear to the Belarussian Government that we expect the authorities in Minsk to ensure that the elections are free and fair and that international observers will be invited.
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Cameroon concerning (a) the preparations of the electoral roll for this year's presidential elections and (b) the treatment by the security forces of members of the parliamentary opposition during the demonstration held in Yaounde on 6 July; and if he will make a statement. [183681]
Mr. Mullin: I emphasised the importance of a free, fair and transparent election with President Biya when he visited the UK in March 2004. The UK maintains a constant dialogue with the Government of Cameroon on preparations for the election, including preparation of the electoral roll. We are aware of the incident at the opposition coalition's demonstration in Yaounde on 6 July. We monitor such events carefully.
David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for Walsall, North's letter of 9 June concerning the entry clearance application at the British High Commission in New Delhi of Mr.Vijay Kumar. [185287]
Mr. Mullin: UK visas replied to my hon. Friend on 14 July. I apologise for the delay.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on de-mining operations in the buffer zone in Cyprus. [185137R]
Mr. MacShane: The Government are supportive of efforts to address this important issue and in our contacts with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and Turkish Cypriot authorities we have urged them to move forward.
It should also be noted that the European Commission is funding a de-mining project in Cyprus. This project is drawing on UK expertise and is partly funded by a UK contribution.
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Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the number of Turkish troops in Cyprus. [185156]
Mr. MacShane [holding answer 19 July 2004]: We have no precise figures of our own. Current estimates are in the region of 25,000.
The UN Secretary General's settlement plan provided for a phased withdrawal that would ultimately have allowed for the presence of 950 Greek troops in the south and 650 Turkish troops in the north. The rejection of the plan by the Greek Cypriots means this will not now take place.
Any steps taken now to reduce existing troop levels would be welcome.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Turkey concerning the extension of the Turkey/EU customs agreement to Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [185138R]
Mr. MacShane: The British Government, through a combination of direct ministerial contact and exchanges between British and Turkish officials in London, Ankara and Brussels, maintains a close dialogue with the Turkish Government on a wide range of issues related to Cyprus. The extension of the EU-Turkey customs union to all those EU member states who joined the EU on 1 May is one such issue. Implementation of the customs union is important to the effective functioning of the single market.
I am glad to say that Turkish Foreign Minister Gul wrote on 10 June to the European Commission saying Turkey would take all measures to ensure functioning of the customs union from 1 May.
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