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8 Mar 2005 : Column 1734W—continued
NHS Estates
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which functions of NHS Estates will remain with the Department of Health after 1 April; and which functions will transfer to other bodies; [218732]
(2) when he expects employees of NHS Estates to be informed of recent decisions on the organisation's future. [218803]
Mr. Hutton: The implementation framework for reconfiguring the Department's arm's length bodies, published on 30 November 2004, sets out the future arrangements for NHS Estates functions, post its dissolution.
A number of policy functions will be transferred to the Department, including Procure 21" and decontamination. Responsibility for national health service advisory services will transfer to strategic health authorities. The National Patient Safety Agency will take on the implementation of programmes concerning food and cleaning, and certain design related projects.
Inventures trading services are likely to be disposed of through a managed closure.
Employees of NHS Estates are being updated on a regular basis on decisions made about the organisation's future.
NHS Spending
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the proportion of GDP spent on public healthcare in (a) 1996 and (b) 2005. [218172]
Mr. Hutton: The table shows the total public expenditure on health in the United Kingdom and expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).
| Total public health expenditure (£ billion) | Total public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | |||
| Outturn | 42.8 | 5.53 | Cash |
| 2005–06 | |||
| Plan | 88.6 | 7.13 | Accruals |
Note:
2005–06 data is consistent with the National Statistics release on 20 July 2004. 1996–97 data is on different basis and published in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2004. Data is available going back to 1998–99 that is on a consistent basis with the 2005–06 data.
8 Mar 2005 : Column 1735W
NHS University
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the forecast total cost of the NHS University is from its establishment to its abolition; [219442]
(2) what the forecast cost is of abolishing the NHS University; [219443]
(3) what the average cost to his Department per student has been of providing a course at the NHS University. [219753]
Mr. Hutton: The audited accounts of the NHS University special health authority for the period 1 December 2003 to 31 March 2004 show expenditure of £13.3 million. The budget for the financial year 2004–05 is £44.6 million. Actual expenditure will only be determined once the financial year has been completed.
The NHSU remains scheduled for dissolution by July 2005. The part year cost of running the NHSU in 2005–06, and forecast transition costs, will be set as part of the 2005–06 budgets for the Department's arm's length bodies.
The Department does not hold information on the average cost per student of a course at the NHSU. Although the NHSU provides training direct to staff working in the national health service, it also provides training in partnership with a wide range of education and training providers.
The NHSU is not solely a provider of training. It undertakes other research and co-ordination activities on behalf of NHS learners.
Overseas Visitors
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Government's response to the replies received on the consultation paper Proposal to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free NHS Primary Medical Services". [218568]
Mr. Hutton: We plan to publish the results of the consultation at the same time as we announce our preferred way forward. However, these proposals have highlighted some complex issues which we are now considering and we will make the planned announcement when we have resolved these.
Shipman Inquiry
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of each stage of the Shipman Inquiry, broken down by main budget headings; and what the cost was of legal fees paid to each party represented. [215623]
Mr. Hutton [pursuant to the reply, 24 February 2005, Official Report, c. 793W]: I regret that there was an error in my previous answer. The table detailing the legal fees of the represented parties funded from the inquiry's budget should have read as follows:
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Skin Cancer
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government (1) have spent on promoting public health policies aimed at protecting against skin cancer in each of the last 10 years; and how much it plans to spend in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06; [212308]
(2) how much of the money spent by his Department aimed at protecting against skin cancer over the last 10 years has been spent through Cancer Research UK. [212309]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Annual figures on expenditure of sun awareness campaigns undertaken by the Health Education Authority are not available between 1996–97 and 1998–99.
Amounts invested in sun awareness campaigns are shown in the table.
| Amount (£) | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 543,000 |
| 2000–01 | 50,000 |
| 2001–02 | 126,000 |
| 2002–03 | 140,000 |
| 2003–04 | 150,000 |
Funding of approximately £400,000 over the next three years from March 2004 has been approved for the Cancer Research UK to run its SunSmart" sun awareness campaign on behalf of the United Kingdom health departments, following the successful launch of SunSmart" last year.
Student Midwives
Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student midwives were in receipt of non-means tested state financial support in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04. [218778]
Mr. Hutton: Non-means tested national health service bursaries have been awarded to 1,514 and 1,677 Diploma in Higher Education midwifery students in the academic years 2002–03 and 2003–04 respectively.
Sudan 1
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the Food Standards Agency contacted the Health Protection Agency in connection with contamination of the food chain by Sudan 1 dye; and if he will make a statement; [218626]
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(2) what discussions his Department has had with (a) the World Health Organisation and (b) the US Food and Drug Administration on contamination of UK food by Sudan 1 dye; and if he will make a statement; [218627]
(3) what discussions his Department has had with the Institute of Grocery Distribution Emergency Planning Liaison Group about Sudan 1 dye contamination of the food chain; and if he will make a statement; [218696]
(4) when the Food Standards Agency contacted the Central Science Laboratory in York in connection with contamination of the food chain by Sudan 1 dye; and if he will make a statement; [218698]
(5) what discussions officials from (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency have had with (i) the European Commission and (ii) the Global Food Safety Initiative about contamination of the food chain by Sudan 1 dye; and if he will make a statement; [218699]
(6) when (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency first informed (i) the British Retail Consortium, (ii) the Institute of Grocery Distribution Emergency Planning Liaison Group and (iii) individual food retailers about the risk of food contamination by Sudan 1 dye; and if he will make a statement. [218700]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 1 March 2005]: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) contacted a wide range of stakeholders on the issue of Sudan contamination of food. No discussions were held specifically with the Institute of Grocery Distribution Emergency Planning Liaison Group.
The FSA has not contacted the Central Science Laboratory in connection with this contamination. The FSA helped fund development of cheap tests for Sudan 1 dye, working with Public Analysts Laboratories.
Officials from the FSA were first in contact with the European Commission about contamination of foods with Sudan 1 in June 2003 when instances of contamination were initially identified. This contact has continued on a regular basis regarding this contamination. The FSA has had no direct contact with the Global Food Safety Initiative.
The FSA first informed the British Retail Consortium and other stakeholders of the risk of contamination of food with Sudan 1 in July 2003.
No formal contact was made between the FSA and the Health Protection Agency over this incident of contamination of food with Sudan 1. It is the FSA's responsibility to protect public health in relation to food.
No direct contact has been made with the World Health Organisation or Food and Drug Administration on the issue of contamination of United Kingdom foods with Sudan 1.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recall of food products known to contain the Sudan 1 dye. [219376]
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Miss Melanie Johnson: A written statement on the recall of food products known to be contaminated with Sudan 1 was made to the House on 28 February 2005, Official Report, column 74WS.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what forms of cancer may be caused by the Sudan 1 dye; what symptoms may be shown by those consuming the dye; and what degree of risk is associated with the dye. [219377]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Sudan 1 can cause liver cancer in laboratory rats. Although Sudan 1 could contribute to an increased risk of cancer in humans, at the levels present in food that risk is likely to be very small. It is not possible to further quantify the risk, but experts advise that exposure should be kept as low as possible. Since Sudan 1 is not permitted for food use, it should not be present in food at all.
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