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20 Jun 2005 : Column 789W—continued
CAT/MRI Scanners
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS hospitals are operating (a) NHS-owned and (b) privately-owned (i) CAT scanners and (ii) MRI scanners on NHS premises. [4636]
Ms Rosie Winterton: There are approximately 267 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners and 361 computed tomography (CT) fixed site scanners installed in national health service hospitals. Of these, 42 MRI scanners and 30 CT scanners are leased from privately-owned providers.
In addition, during July 2004-April 2005, 85 NHS sites also received mobile MRI scanning services as part of the Alliance Medical mobile MRI procurement programme.
Information on hospitals with MRI and CT scanners and NHS sites which have received mobile services has been placed in the Library.
Childhood Leukaemia (Power Lines)
Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to fund research projects into whether electromagnetic fields are a cause of childhood leukaemia; [4423]
(2) what advice she is giving to (a) other Government Departments and (b) local authorities with regard to the construction of new homes and schools in the vicinity of overhead power lines following publication of the Draper Report. [4424]
Caroline Flint: The Department provides funding under its radiation protection research programme for investigating the potential biological and health effects of electromagnetic fields at power frequencies. The work by Dr. Draper and colleagues on leukaemia and distance from power lines, recently published in the British Medical Journal, was funded under this programme (BMJ Vol. 330, 4 June 2005). The Department, together with the Health and Safety Executive, has also supported the World Health Organization (WHO) electromagnetic fields project since 1997. The WHO is due to review the health risks from power frequency fields later this year. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has statutory responsibilities to advise on health risks from electromagnetic exposure and undertakes its own research to support this advice.
In 2004, on the basis of a comprehensive review of the existing body of research to date, the HPA's radiation protection division, previously the National Radiological Protection Board, recommended that in view of the scientific uncertainties the Government consider the need for further precautionary measures" in relation to power frequency electromagnetic fields. It has also noted that the majority of higher magnetic fields are due to variations in the electricity supply and distribution system, the presence of substations and equipment in the home rather than proximity to power lines. Practical precautionary measures are now being considered in detail by a stakeholder group that includes Government
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Departments, agencies, the electricity industry, specialists and public concern groups. The latest work by Dr. Draper has increased the interest in these issues but the complex nature of the scientific and social issues mean that no immediate decisions will be made.
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking following the findings of the Draper report on the relationship between childhood leukaemia and proximity to high voltage power lines. [4552]
Caroline Flint: The recent publication by Dr. Draper and colleagues on leukaemia and distance from powerlines have reinforced the need for continued departmental support for research into the causes of leukaemia and the role of electromagnetic fields (EMF). Measurements of EMF will be included in the next phase of Dr. Draper's work. The Department, together with the Health and Safety Executive, is continuing to fund the World Health Organisation (WHO) EMF project that started in 1997. The WHO is due to review the health risks from power frequency fields later this year.
The Health Protection Agency's (HPA) radiation protection division (RPD), which have statutory responsibilities to advise on health risks from electromagnetic field exposure, also undertakes research in support of its advice. In 2004, the HPA-RPD, when it was the National Radiological Protection Board, published a comprehensive scientific review in support of its new EMF guidelines. It recommended that, in view of the scientific uncertainties in relation to power frequency EMF, the Government should
The HPA have also noted that the majority of higher magnetic fields are due to variations in the electricity supply and distribution system, the presence of substations and equipment in the home rather than proximity to power lines.
In addition to funding research, therefore, the Department is leading a stakeholder group to consider practical precautionary measures. The group includes Government departments, agencies, the electricity industry, specialists and public concern groups. The latest work by Dr. Draper has increased the interest in these issues but the complex nature of the scientific and social issues mean that no immediate decisions will be made.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research her Department has carried out into (a) the causes of childhood leukaemia and (b) whether there is a link with electromagnetic fields; [4634]
(2) what assessment she has made of whether there is a link between electricity pylons and cancer in children; and if she will make a statement. [4644]
Caroline Flint:
The Department provides funding under its radiation protection research programme for investigating the potential biological and health effects of electromagnetic fields at power frequencies. The work by Dr. Draper and colleagues on leukaemia and distance from power lines, recently published in the British Medical Journal, was funded under this programme
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(BMJ Vol. 330, 4 June 2005). Electromagnetic field measurements will be included in the next phase of this study.
Details of other research concerned with childhood leukaemia supported by the National Cancer Research Institute's 15 partners, the largest Government and charitable funders of cancer research in the United Kingdom, can be found on the international cancer research portfolio database at www.cancerportfolio.org/faq.js#icrp.
The Department, together with the Health and Safety Executive, has supported the World Health Organization (WHO) electromagnetic fields project since 1997. The WHO is due to review the health risks from power frequency fields later this year. The Health Protection Agency (HPA), which has statutory responsibilities to advise on health risks from electromagnetic exposure, undertakes its own research to support this advice.
In 2004, on the basis of a comprehensive review of the existing body of research to date, the HPA's radiation protection division, previously the National Radiological Protection Board, recommended that, in view of the scientific uncertainties, the Government
in relation to power frequency electromagnetic fields. It has also noted that the majority of higher magnetic fields are due to variations in the electricity supply and distribution system, the presence of substations and equipment in the home, rather than proximity to power lines. Practical precautionary measures are now being considered in detail by a stakeholder group that includes Government Departments, agencies, the electricity industry, specialists and public concern groups. The latest work by Dr. Draper has increased the interest in these issues but the complex nature of the scientific and social issues mean that no immediate decisions will be made.
Civil Servants
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what value for money procurement savings were identified and what reduction in civil service posts occurred in her Department in 2004–05. [4542]
Jane Kennedy: In the 2004 pre-Budget report, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer reported Office of Government Commerce (OGC) value for money gains in central civil Government procurement for 2003–04 of £2 billion. OGC value for money procurement gains for 2004–05 are being calculated and will be published in the 2005 Treasury autumn performance report.
In the Budget 2005, my right hon. Friend announced a headcount reduction of 12,500 posts by the end of 2004–05, towards the Government's target of a gross reduction of 84,000 civil service and administrative posts by 2008.
The reduction of posts within the Department for the year 2004–05 are shown in the table.
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| Strength | Full time equivalents |
|---|---|
| April 2004 | 2,964 |
| April 2005 | (34)2,189 |
(34)Of which 139 are designated to transfer.
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