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2 Nov 2004 : Column 177W—continued
Powered Wheelchairs
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many powered wheelchairs were issued by the national health service in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [194780]
Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Radiotherapy
Charles Hendry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio is of radiotherapy machines to
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population in each strategic health authority area; and what the average waiting time is for radiotherapy treatment in each of those areas. [195275]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 1 November 2004]: The information requested is shown in the table.
The ratios ignore the significant patient flows across strategic health authority (SHA) boundaries. The SHA populations are not directly related to the populations served by specific radiotherapy centres.
(12) Linac = Linear accelerator.
Data on waiting times for radiotherapy are not collected centrally. The national health service cancer plan set out maximum waiting time targets for cancer treatment, which may include radiotherapy where this is given as a first definitive treatment. From December 2001, there is a one month maximum wait from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer and a one month wait from urgent general practitioner referral to first treatment for children's cancers, testicular cancer and acute leukaemia. From 2002, there is a maximum two month wait from urgent referral to treatment for breast cancer. By 2005, there will be a maximum two month wait from urgent referral to treatment and a maximum one-month wait from diagnosis to first treatment for all cancers.
Silzone Heart Valves
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take measures to ensure that cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists maintain long-term follow-up with the recipients of Silzone heart valves. [193092]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
It is established clinical practice to maintain regular follow-up appointments with all patients receiving heart valve replacements, both in the short and long-term.
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Skipton Fund
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what criteria have been developed for the appointment process of the directors of the Skipton Fund; and if he will make a statement; [193653]
(2) what the term of office is for the directors of the Skipton Fund once they have been appointed; and if he will make a statement; [193654]
(3) whether, when the Skipton Fund was established, its directors were drawn from the Macmillan Fund; and if he will make a statement; [193656]
(4) from what backgrounds the directors of the Skipton Funds have been recruited. [193657]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Three trustees and the chairman and chief executive of the Macfarlane Trust were asked to take on the role of directors and company secretary for the Skipton Fund on an interim basis. This decision was made so that we could make progress with establishing the Skipton Fund. The trustees have a background in management, administration and working with haemophilia patients.
We have been seeking advice about the recruitment of directors to the Skipton Fund on a more permanent basis.
Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department (a) has undertaken and (b) plans to undertake to comply with the Sustainable Energy (CHP Provisions) Order 2003. [194427]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department is committed to purchasing up to 100 per cent. green energy, where possible, for its buildings and replacing boilers with more energy-efficient models as the need arises. The anticipated reduction in the departmental estate in 2005 will reduce energy consumption.
Transport (Rural Areas)
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the transport needs of patients living in rural areas will be addressed within the Health and Social Care Standards and Planning Framework including in individual national service frameworks. [192356]
Miss Melanie Johnson: "Standards for Better Health", the first ever set of national health care standards for all health care provided under the national health service, published as part of "The Health and Social Care Standard and Planning framework" in July 2004, requires that:
" . . . health care organisations enable all members of the population to access services equally and offer choice in access to services and treatment equitably".
In addition, the standards, which all health care organisations are expected to meet, requires existing national targets for ambulance services to be maintained beyond April 2005. Primary care trusts are responsible for providing or securing the provision of ambulance
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services, which could include patient transport services, for their local populations. It is, therefore, for the local NHS to decide how these services are provided.
From April 2005, the independent Healthcare Commission will calculate and award a rating for NHS organisations, including ambulance trusts, which will cover an assessment of their performance against the health care standards.
To support implementation of the national service framework for renal services, two projects, one rural and one urban, are being established which will focus on improving patient transport services for renal dialysis patients.
Waiting Times/Lists
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many primary care trusts and in what proportions (a) there were higher numbers of patients waiting for in-patient treatment for (i) between six and nine months and (ii) between nine and 12 months and (b) the (iii) mean and (iv) median waiting times were higher. [192691]
Mr. Hutton: There are no primary care trusts (PCTs) in which the number, or proportion, of nine to 12 month waiters is greater than the number of six to nine month waiters.
Information showing the estimated inpatient mean and median waiting time in weeks by England and PCT for August 2004 has been placed in the Library.
PRIME MINISTER
EU Membership
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral Answer of 27 October to the right hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard), what the evidential basis is for his assertion that millions of jobs depend on UK membership of the EU; and how many millions of jobs so depend. [195235]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) by my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Mr. MacShane) on 5 July 2004, Official Report, column 594W.
Ministerial Residences
Charles Hendry: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers were provided with official residences in financial years (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04. [195774]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) of 28 February 2002, Official Report, columns 1443–44W and 5 June 2000, Official Report, columns 49–50W.
Since my answer of 28 February 2002, the then President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Cook) vacated his official residence (Carlton Gardens) in spring 2003. The Secretary of State
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for Defence (Mr. Hoon) was allocated an official residence (Flat 3, Admiralty House) in the summer of 2002.
The Deputy Prime Minister also has the use of Dorneywood.
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