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Prosthetics/Limb Replacement Courses

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people attended publicly-funded specialist
 
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courses in prosthetics and limb replacement in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these are employed (a) in the UK and (b) by the NHS. [192739]

Mr. Hutton: The Department does not hold information on the number of people attending publicly funded specialist prosthetics and limb replacement courses in each of the last 10 years or on the number of prosthetists employed in the National health service in England.

Between 1996–97, the first year information is available, and 2003–04, the number of NHS funded training places for prosthetists and orthotists in England increased from 28 to 30.

Information for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the devolved Administrations.

Resistant Bacteria (Pet Transmission)

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken by his Department into the risks of antibiotic resistant bacteria transmission from pets to their owners. [192784]

Miss Melanie Johnson: No projects on this specific topic are included in the Department's antimicrobial resistance research programme.

Sexual Health

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to implement the recommendation of the Independent Advisory Group for Sexual Health and HIV to abolish the VAT levy on condoms. [192368]

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.

The Government keep all taxes under review and any changes are announced as part of the normal Budget process. However, under our agreements with our European partners, we are not able to extend our existing VAT zero rates or introduce any new ones.

Speech and Language Therapy Services

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for speech and language therapy services of 'Agenda for Change'. [192394]

Dr. Ladyman: 'Agenda for Change' will facilitate service modernisation for speech and language therapy services, like other services. It provides an employment framework that is fair, consistent and transparent across all national health service staff. It creates better links between career and pay progression and greater scope to create new kinds of jobs in the interests of providing better patient care. The new knowledge and skills framework, which is part of the new system, will ensure that all NHS staff will go through an annual development review, which includes appraisal, measured against a knowledge and skills framework outline for their role.
 
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Stab Wounds

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated for stab wounds in each year since 1997 for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [193042]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department's Hospital Episode Statistics data records admissions to hospitals of patients who have been injured by a sharp object including treatment for stab wounds. The number of admissions for this reason since 1997 are:

	Number
1997–98	3,908
1998–99	3,701
1999–2000	4,152
2000–01	4,351
2001–02	4,673
2002–03	4,218

Data on treatment in hospital accident and emergency departments, that does not result in hospital admission, are not held centrally.

Vulnerable Adults List

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the operation of the protection of vulnerable adults list. [191899]

Dr. Ladyman: The Government are committed to tackling and cracking down on those who abuse vulnerable adults and has introduced on 23 July 2004, the protection of vulnerable adults (POVA) scheme. This scheme effectively bans people who have abused a vulnerable adult in their care from ever working in a care position again.

The scheme places a statutory duty on care providers to check whether a potential employee is on the POVA list before allowing them to work in a care position.

Currently, some 573 people have been referred for inclusion on the list. Of these, some 244 people have been provisionally listed and 14 people have been confirmed on the list. These figures include cross-referrals from the Protection of Children Act list.

I am aware, that there have been initial delays in issuing POVA First checks. I am pleased to say that there has been a significant improvement in criminal records bureau's performance, but there is still room for improvements and officials will be monitoring the situation.

The provisions of the POVA list are set out in Part VII of the Care Standards Act 2000 and will also be implemented in the national health service as soon as possible.

DEFENCE

Airborne Stand-off Radar

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects the Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) to enter service; [193125]
 
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(2) when he expects the engineering difficulties with the Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) to be corrected; and what effect this will have on ASTOR's in-service date. [193126]

Mr. Ingram: We have been informed by the prime contractor for the ASTOR project of difficulties associated with development of the radar and their plans to resolve these. We await firmer schedule details from the company that we shall then subject to detailed risk analysis to enable us to make an informed judgement on any potential impact on ISD.

Armed Forces Recruitment

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recruiting figures for the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy have been for each of the past 10 years. [191663]

Mr. Caplin: Figures for 'intake from civilian life' are available monthly in Tri-Service Publication 1 (TSP1), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Chaplains

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) chaplains and (b) vergers are employed and paid by his Department; and on what (i) terms and (ii) length of contract they are employed. [193954]

Mr. Caplin: The information is currently being collated and I will write to the hon Member when this is available. A copy of the answer will be placed in the Library of the House.

Combat Clothing

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's decision to purchase combat clothing from China. [192619]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is not directly purchasing combat clothing from China. The contract let in June 2004 for combat clothing and other items was awarded to a UK company. The selection of where manufacturing takes place is a commercial matter for the UK prime contractor.

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the financial benefits are of securing combat clothing from China. [192620]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is not directly purchasing combat clothing from China. The contract let in 2004 for combat clothing and other items was awarded to a United Kingdom company. Due to the variety of products being supplied under this contract there are a number of manufacturing sources including China, the UK and mainland Europe. The selection of these manufacturing countries is a commercial matter for the UK Prime Contractor. The current contract provides an estimated saving of £23 million over previous purchase arrangements.

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department has issued one contract for the purchase of all combat clothing. [192621]

 
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Mr. Ingram: Since 2002 the Ministry of Defence's strategy has been to reduce the number of small contracts regularly placed for clothing. The aim was to award a longer term contract under a partnering arrangement that would introduce improvements in product and supply chain costs. Following competition, a contract was awarded in June 2004 for both combat and non-combat clothing manufactured by a cut and sewn method, and is expected to generate potential savings of £23 million compared to traditional procurement methods.

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the possible impact on UK manufacturers of the decision to award the contract for combat clothing to China. [193165]

Mr. Ingram: The contract referred to has been awarded to a UK company, creating a small number of quality jobs and safeguarding approximately 40 other jobs. It is anticipated that further jobs will be created for UK staff during the life of the contract.

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