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11 Oct 2004 : Column 131W—continued

HEALTH

New Variant CJD

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of new variant CJD have been identified in each year since 1999 [189624]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
Deaths of definite and probable vCJD
199915
200028
200120
200217
200318
2004(38)4
(39)4


(38) As of 6 September 2004
(39) Number of probable vCJD cases still alive

Cancer Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost is of an operation for breast cancer in the NHS. [189553]

Mr. Hutton: Data are collected on the average cost of a number of procedures on the breast but are not broken down into categories allowing the identification of those procedures specific to cancer.
 
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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to expand preventative policies to combat cancer, with particular reference to reducing liability to environmental hazards by tighter regulations and better application of the precautionary principle. [188392]

Miss Melanie Johnson: With reference to reducing liability to environmental hazards through regulation, the regulatory roles lie with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department of Trade and Industry. The role of the Department of Health is to advise these other Government Departments on the risk of adverse human health effects from chemicals in the environment. The regulations are developed to prevent adverse effects, including cancer, in humans.

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to the Mid-Anglia Cancer Network to publish an overall plan for the provision of cancer services and specialist treatments based in hospitals at Chelmsford, Colchester and Ipswich; and if he will make a statement. [190042]

Dr. Ladyman: The Department has not issued any advice to the Mid Anglia Cancer Network (MACN) to publish an overall plan for the provision of cancer services. In line with our policy of "Shifting the Balance of Power", the configuration of local health services is a matter for the local national health service, working in partnership with its local community. It is for local NHS organisations, with their knowledge and expertise, to
 
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plan and develop services, based on that knowledge. I understand that the MACN will make a final decision about the future configuration of cancer services at its next board meeting in November.

Care Homes (Funding)

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department made available for care homes in (a) the London borough of Havering, (b) each other London borough and (c) each strategic health authority in each of the last five years. [189248]

Dr. Ladyman: Neither councils nor strategic health authorities are allocated funding to be spent on care homes in particular. It is for councils and strategic health authorities to decide in the light of local circumstances and priorities how much of the general funding that they receive should be spent on care homes.

The Government have provided additional resources for social services. Between 1996–97 and 2002–03 the Government have increased funding by about 20 per cent. in real terms, an average of 3 per cent. per annum and will continue to increase resources until 2005–06 by an average of about 6 per cent. per annum in real terms.

The Government have also made additional revenue resources available to the national health service. Since 1999–2000, the first year of unified allocations, funding has grown from some £31 billion to over £49 billion for 2004–05. From 2003, as part of shifting the balance of power, three-year allocations have been made direct to primary care trusts (PCTs) for the first time. PCTs received average increases of 30.83 per cent. in funding for the period covering 2003–04 to 2005–06.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the London borough of Havering on funding for care homes; and what his response was. [189250]

Dr. Ladyman: We have had no representations from the London borough of Havering on funding for care homes.

Carers

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to improve practical support to carers of family members at home; and if he will make a statement. [189920]

Dr. Ladyman: This Government are the first ever to recognise the contribution and concerns of carers. They developed the national carers strategy in 1999 with carers and the organisations that represent them.

The Carers Grant was introduced in 1999 to support councils in providing breaks and services for carers in England. The grant has been increased annually and has provided an extra £325 million over the last five years. It is worth £125 million this year and will continue at least until 2005–06, by which time it will be £185 million.
 
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The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2004. The Act will ensure that carers are able to take up opportunities which those without caring responsibilities take for granted.

The office of the Deputy Prime Minister launched the Beacon council scheme on 7 July 2004. Supporting carers is one of the themes for the forthcoming round.

To support carers' access to information, the Department is funding Carers UK to provide advice and information in a variety of formats.

CHCs

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many premises are owned or leased by community health councils; and how many are (a) occupied and (b) unoccupied. [187755]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Following the abolition of community health councils on 1 December 2003, the responsibility for community health council premises transferred to NHS Estates, therefore no premises are owned or leased by community health councils. 115 premises are awaiting assignment to national health service organisations, other tenants or are awaiting sale. None of these premises is currently occupied.

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what community health council buildings have been disposed of since 1997. [187756]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The following community health council offices have been disposed of since 1997:


 
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Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total amount of (a) rent and (b) other costs being paid by community health councils since their abolition. [187757]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The estimated costs of rent on former community health council premises is £1.142 million. This is mainly due to outstanding leases. It is expected that the remaining 69 properties will be disposed of by the end of this financial year.

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the locations of former community health council offices where rent is still payable. [187761]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Rent is still payable on the following former community health council offices:

This is mainly due to outstanding leases. It is expected that the remaining properties will be disposed of by the end of this financial year.
 
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