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National Alcohol Needs Assessment

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the remit, main findings and recommendations of the National Alcohol Needs Assessment for England. [13541]

Caroline Flint: In the alcohol harm reduction strategy for England, there is a commitment for the Department to conduct an audit of the demand for and provision of alcohol treatment in England. The audit is intended to provide information on gaps between demand and provision of treatment services at both national and local levels and will be used as a basis for the Department to develop a programme of improvement to treatment services.

A summary of the report's main findings will be published in September 2005 as part of the wider programme of improvements for alcohol treatment services, which will make best practice recommendations to local alcohol treatment service commissioners and providers.

The programme of improvement will be published on the Department's website.

National School Fruit Scheme

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schools are participating in the National School Fruit scheme; how many deliveries are made per week to these schools; what percentage of fruit supplied to schools under the National School Fruit scheme is sourced from (a) suppliers within 25 miles of the school supplied, (b) UK suppliers and (c) overseas suppliers; and what percentage of fruit supplied to schools under the National School Fruit scheme is sourced according to seasonal variations in local and national availability. [11105]

Caroline Flint: The number of schools participating in the school fruit and vegetable scheme by February 2005 was 16,069. This figure represents 97 per cent. of eligible schools.

Deliveries are made a maximum of three times per week. We are working to minimise the environmental impact of bulk transport and over the last 12 months have reduced deliveries to five times per fortnight to 39 per cent. of schools.

We do not hold information centrally about the distance of school fruit and vegetable scheme suppliers in relation to the schools they supply, but, wherever possible, we match local produce to local schools.
 
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We have designed the school consumption calendar to reflect any seasonality for produce on a national and international level. During the United Kingdom season, approximately 39 per cent. of fruit and vegetables are sourced from the UK. Some fruit, such as satsumas and bananas, cannot be grown in the UK and other types of fruit, including apples and pears, may only be available in certain areas at certain times of the year. We are keen to explore ways of maximising locally grown produce, but we also need to ensure that all children should have access to the same quality and variety of fruit and vegetables wherever they are in the country.

Obesity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to tackle childhood obesity; and if she will make a statement. [11660]

Caroline Flint: Reducing obesity in both children and adults is one of the key overarching priorities of the Government White Paper, Choosing Health". The White Paper sets out a comprehensive strategy for tackling obesity and has given a solid foundation for future work. Delivery plans for Choosing Health, Choosing a Better Diet and Choosing Activity" were published in March this year and show how we will deliver action to tackle childhood obesity.

We have also set a national public service agreement target to halt, by 2010, the year-on-year increase in obesity among children under 11 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children will also be available early in 2007.

Current action on diet includes investment in the Five-a-day" programme, including the school fruit and vegetable scheme, promotion of breastfeeding, action to improve diet and nutrition across the whole school, including the food in schools programme, as well as work with industry on food promotion to children and reducing salt, fat and sugar. Current action on physical activity includes investing in school sport and the local exercise and activity pilots.

Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in ensuring that primary care trusts produce strategies to address obesity; what (a) guidance and (b) resources are made available to trusts to assist them in producing such strategies; and whether that assistance includes information about slimming on referral. [11898]

Caroline Flint: As part of the local delivery plan process, strategic health authorities are required to submit plans to tackle obesity. These have been received and are being assessed. The obesity care pathway, weight loss guide and obesity toolkit will help support primary care trusts in delivering their plans, prior to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance in 2007. The White Paper, Choosing Health", also made a commitment to assess the role validated programmes, such as slimming on referral, can play in providing effective behaviour change programmes.
 
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Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which strategic health authorities have submitted plans to tackle obesity as part of the local delivery plan process. [12540]

Caroline Flint: All strategic health authorities (SHAs) have been required to develop local delivery plans to tackle obesity. The Department is in the process of agreeing SHA plans and progress will be monitored against these.

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the need for action to tackle obesity at primary care level. [13545]

Caroline Flint: As part of the local delivery plan process, strategic health authorities are required to submit plans to tackle obesity. These have been received and are being assessed. The obesity care pathway, weight loss guide and obesity toolkit will help support primary care trusts in delivering their plans, prior to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance in 2007.

Orthopaedic Prosthesis

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1377W, on orthopaedic prosthesis, if she will take steps to ensure that no NHS trust standardises orthopaedic prosthesis. [10839]

Ms Rosie Winterton: There are no plans for the standardisation of orthopaedic prosthesis.

Positron Emission Tomography Services

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken following the publication of the Framework for the Development of Positron Emission Tomography Services in England on 28 July 2004 and the subsequent consultation; and if she will make a statement. [13592]

Ms Rosie Winterton: We are currently considering responses to the draft, National Framework for the Development of Position Emission Tomography Services in England." The report is due to be published shortly.

Prisons

Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of prisoners infected with hepatitis C in England and Wales. [10672]

Ms Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-East (Mr. Hamilton) on 12 July 2005, Official Report, columns 973–74W.

Processed Food Industry

Mr. Mike Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost to the processed food industry of the Food Standards Agency's decision to recall products containing Sudan 1 and Para Red. [12866]

 
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Caroline Flint [holding answer 18 July 2005]: This information is not held centrally by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Estimated costs on the action taken by the FSA to recall products would be available from the industry.

Public and Patient Involvement Forums

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the public and patient involvement forums for (a) ambulance services, (b) mental health trusts and (c) acute hospital trusts will be abolished; and what mechanisms will be set up to ensure patient consultation. [10733]

Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 11 July 2005]: It is intended, subject to legislation, that patient forums for ambulance services, mental health trusts and acute hospital trusts will be abolished in August 2006. We plan to combine forums and work is under way to ensure that the work these specialist trust forums are doing is continued under the new arrangements. Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 on the duty to consult patients and the public is unaffected by this change.

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