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Midwives

Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will develop and implement the NHS Community Midwifery Model; [190238]

(2) what his policy is on offering continuing care from a single midwife for each pregnant woman throughout the course of the pregnancy, labour and post-natal care. [190237]

Dr. Ladyman: I have met with the Independent Midwives Association to discuss their national health service community midwifery model. We are giving this careful consideration.

The maternity standard of the national service framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services was published on 15 September 2004. It asks all NHS maternity care providers and primary care trusts to ensure that all women are offered the support of a named midwife throughout pregnancy and that all women are able to contact a midwife day or night at any stage in pregnancy if they have concerns.

Implementing the NSF over its 10-year timescale is mandatory, although local agencies will have the flexibility to plan how these standards should be met.

Press Officers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his projection is of the number of press officers employed in his Department for 2004–05. [187555]

Ms Rosie Winterton: There are currently 20 press officers in post and a number of vacancies will be filled by the end of 2004–05 to increase this number.

Prostate Cancer

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is funding to develop a more reliable diagnostic test for prostate cancer. [189566]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department and other National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) funding partners have jointly established two centres of research excellence, known as the NCRI prostate cancer collaboratives. The Department is meeting half the total cost of £7.4 million over five years.

The NCRI prostate cancer collaboratives are undertaking several studies relevant to the diagnosis of prostate cancer. An important outcome from the collaborative based at the Institute of Cancer Research is the recent discovery of the overactive E2F3 gene in prostate cancer tumours, which provides the potential for a test to distinguish between aggressive and non-aggressive prostate cancer cells.
 
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Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into the different frequencies with which men and women access primary care for cancer. [189571]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has not funded work specifically on this topic. The Department's policy research programme has however funded five projects costing £0.5 million on cancer referral strategies and primary care. The purpose of the research, which is nearing completion, has been to increase the evidence base to help general practitioners with the referral of patients with possible early symptoms of cancer. It has also looked at the extent of and reasons for delay by patients in presenting to general practice.

The results will contribute to the development of policy for improving the early detection of cancer in patients with symptoms.

Radiation Risks Committee

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down the costs of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters between (a) the costs of the secretariat, (b) the three-day workshop, (c) members' travel and subsistence and (d) other specified costs. [190207]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 11 October 2004]: A breakdown by specific budget heading is not available.

Tuberculosis

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to publish the action plan on tuberculosis. [187855]

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the National Service Framework for tuberculosis. [188106]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Stopping Tuberculosis in England, an action plan from the Chief Medical Officer, was published on 7 October. Copies have been placed in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

China

Mr. Gray: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he held at 10 Downing Street with President Jiang Zemin during his visit in 1999 on human rights abuses (a) in China and (b) in Tibet. [190805]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1568W.

Climate Change

Mr. Drew: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with representatives of the churches on their launch of Operation Noah to draw attention to the threat posed by climate change. [190908]

 
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The Prime Minister: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed regime change in Iraq in any meeting with President Bush since January 2001. [190763]

The Prime Minister: I regularly have discussions on a wide range of issues with President Bush including on Iraq. As with previous Administrations, it is not the practice of this Government to make public details of discussions with foreign Governments.

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will de-classify and place in the Library the Government documents published in the Daily Telegraph on 18 September about war with Iraq; whether these documents were disclosed to Lord Hutton and Lord Butler; and if he will make a statement. [190986]

The Prime Minister: No. The Government co-operated fully with the Hutton Inquiry and the Butler Review.

India

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister whether he asked the Indian Prime Minister about the prospects of India signing the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty during his meeting with him on 20 September. [190761]

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. [190788]

The Prime Minister: I discussed a range of bilateral and international issues with the Indian Prime Minister. I refer my hon. Friend to the joint India-United Kingdom declaration which is available on the No. 10 website.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Responsibilities

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which of the functions listed on page 6 of the Cabinet Office Departmental Report 2004 as having been exercised by the hon. Member for Paisley, South, when Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will in future be exercised (a) by her and (b) by the right hon. Member for Darlington. [189713]

Ruth Kelly: Details of my responsibilities and those of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster can be found in the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities".

A revised edition of the List of Ministerial Responsibilities (October 2004) has been published today and copies placed in the Library. It can also be obtained electronically at www.knowledgenetwork.gov. uk/elmr/minister.nsf.
 
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CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Anthony Blunt

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what records are (a) open to public inspection and (b) withheld concerning meetings between Anthony Blunt and the late King George VI; and if he will make a statement. [190430]

Mr. Leslie: As Anthony Blunt was not employed by HM Government prior to the death of George V in 1936, it is most unlikely that any record of his meetings would form part of the public record, whether open or withheld. A search in the electronic catalogue of public records kept by the National Archives does not reveal any records relating to Anthony Blunt which are dated during the reign of George V.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what records are retained that are (a) open to and (b) withheld from public inspection as to (i) the facilities that were extended by the Government to Anthony Blunt in order that he could fulfil his mission to Germany in 1945 at the request of HM King George VI and (ii) the purpose of that visit as understood by Her Majesty's Government at that time; and if he will make a statement. [190431]

Mr. Leslie: A search of the National Archives' catalogue, which is publicly available on the internet, does not reveal any records relating to a visit to Germany made by Anthony Blunt in 1945. Neither is there a reference to the visit in the extensive index to Foreign Office papers available in the reading rooms at the National Archives.

I am not aware of any other material held by Government Departments on this matter.

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