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Ship-breaking

Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for permission to undertake ship-breaking of Government-owned vessels, compliant with the current environmental legislation, have been received by her Department; and what permit is required. [18606]

Mr. Bradshaw: Ship recycling facilities are permitted for the activity of ship recycling rather than for specific vessels, although there may be licence or permit conditions that limit the size of vessels that can be recycled. The licences and permits required for ship recycling depend on the location of the facility, any work needed to adapt the facility, the wastes arising from the recycling process and the nature of any existing licences and permits.

It can generally be expected that a ship recycling facility will require planning permission, a waste management licence and permits under the Food And Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA). However, other permits may also be required.

The Marine Environment Consents Unit, DEFRA, has responsibility for licences and consents under FEPA and has, for example, received three applications from Able UK, for construction of the dry dock, the disposal of dredged material and for extension of a jetty. An assessment of these applications cannot be made until a revised environmental statement is submitted to support the applications.

Veterinary Surgeons

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has evaluated on the age range of veterinary surgeons; and what discussions she has had with the Department for Education and Skills on ensuring that there is a sufficient supply of newly trained veterinary surgeons. [18452]

Mr. Bradshaw: My Department has not made a specific study of the age range of veterinary surgeons or discussed the matter with the Department for Education and Skills. However, following the publication, in October 2003, of the EFRA Committee's report on "Vets and Veterinary Services" the Department commissioned a report, by Westley Consulting. This covered a broad range of issues affecting the veterinary profession, and in particular, large animal practice.

The Westley report concluded that there is no shortage of veterinary students but explored the reasons why some graduates do not remain in farm animal practice. The Westley report also said that the retirement of older vets over the next few years may lead to a big reduction in large animal manpower and expertise and in the willingness of many practices to carry on with it.

It is important that we understand the demographics of the veterinary profession. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons have recently sent my Department a draft Manpower Survey, which we are currently considering. We will continue to work closely with the profession on these issues, principally through the recently formed vets and veterinary services working group.
 
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

China

Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to China regarding human rights issues. [19473]

Ian Pearson: We regularly raise human rights issues with the Chinese Government. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed a Tibet-related issue with Foreign Minister Li in New York in September. The UK, as EU Presidency, will take the lead in the next round of the EU China Human Rights Dialogue which will take place in Beijing on 24 October.

Timor-Leste

Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Nations report on the prosecution of serious violations of human rights committed in Timor-Leste in 1999. [19476]

Ian Pearson: This report was commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) and the final report submitted to him. It was discussed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in August 2005.

The UNSC has requested the views of the UNSG before holding any further discussion of the report.

HEALTH

Alzheimer's

Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease on the NHS is per patient per day; and if she will make a statement. [17974]

Jane Kennedy: Four drugs are licensed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the United Kingdom—Donepezil Hydrochloride (Aricept), Galantamine (Reminyl), Memantine Hydrochloride (Ebixa) and Rivastigamine (Exelon).

The Department does not hold information on the number of patients receiving a treatment. However, the average cost per prescription item of Alzheimer's drugs dispensed in the community in England in 2004 was £85. This includes items prescribed by general practitioners and hospital doctors providing the drug was dispensed in the community. The data exclude drugs dispensed in hospitals. Typically, a prescription item is for 28 days treatment which suggests that it costs £3 a day, or around £1,000 a year to treat one patient with these drugs.

Ambulance Staff

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to protect ambulance staff in Essex from violence and verbal abuse while on duty. [18003]

 
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Ms Rosie Winterton: The NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS) has policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the national health service including Essex, including work to tackle violence against NHS staff. In November 2003, a comprehensive range of measures were introduced by the NHS SMS to proactively and reactively tackle the problem of violence against NHS staff, including those that work in the ambulance services. Since that time, an estimated 85,000 frontline NHS staff have been trained to prevent and manage violence and the number of prosecutions identified involving those who have physically assaulted staff has risen from 51 in 2002–03 to 759 in 2004–05. The NHS SMS is currently working on a project with the Home Office specifically to look at how technology and other interventions can better protect ambulance staff.

Artwork

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent on purchasing artwork in each hospital trust in each of the last 24 months. [17999]

Jane Kennedy: Data is not collected centrally on the particular purchase of artwork, but information is provided annually by national health service trusts on the amount invested in arts and art projects, including labour, material and resources received from other organisations. Information covering these returns for 2003–04 and 2004–05 has been placed in the Library.

The data provided has not been amended centrally and the accuracy of this data is the responsibility of the provider organisation. Data for 2003–04 was provided as part of a mandatory data set. The information for 2004–05 was provided by trusts on a voluntary basis as part of the initiative to reduce bureaucracy in the national health service.

Asylum Seekers (Mental Health)

Mr. Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the prevalence of mental health problems among refused asylum seekers. [18986]

Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 18 October 2005]: No formal assessment has been made of the prevalence of mental health problems among refused asylum seekers. However, on-going research on this issue will inform the development of a resource pack to assist service commissioners and health professionals in meeting the mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees, in line with the Department's "Delivering Race Equality" action plan.

Blind People (Rehabilitation)

Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the training facilities available for people working to rehabilitate blind people; and if she will make a statement. [18661]

Mr. Byrne: The Department has no plans to review the training facilities available for people working to rehabilitate blind people. Professional bodies determine
 
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the content of training courses and it is for local health and social care bodies to ensure their staff are appropriately trained.

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