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24 Oct 2005 : Column 193W—continued
Utilities
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice and regulations govern the purchase of electricity and gas by NHS organisations; and whether such advice is issued by (a) individual NHS organisations, (b) strategic health authorities and (c) her Department. [18072]
Jane Kennedy: Approximately 85 per cent. of gas and electricity is purchased via centrally arranged contracts arranged by the national health service Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA), which provides advice and guidance on several different options for procuring gas and electricity.
The purchase of gas and electricity is carried out in accordance with European Union procurement legislation, with the actual purchase decision being taken by trusts.
A recent review of best practice for energy procurement found that the procurement techniques used by NHS PASA are in line with best practices used by both the private and public sector.
Weight Management Clinics
Tim Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list primary care bodies which have set up weight management clinics; [18997]
24 Oct 2005 : Column 194W
(2) how many general practitioners have set up weight management clinics. [18998]
Caroline Flint: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the Department has asked strategic health authorities to develop plans in line with the public service agreement target to halt the year-on-year rise in obesity among children aged under 11 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole". Action to manage, prevent and treat obesity in the national health service is set out in the White Paper Choosing Health".
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is preparing definitive guidance on the prevention, identification, management and treatment of obesity. This is due in early 2007. Meanwhile, in order to help and support primary care trusts on improving obesity services, the Department is developing tools such as a weight loss guide, obesity care pathway and obesity toolkit, due for publication at end of 2005. There are also seven adult and seven child NHS obesity clinics in England.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care bodies monitor the prevalence of obesity. [18999]
Caroline Flint: From 2005–06, for the first time, all strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) are required to return performance monitoring data on the obesity status of adults registered with general practitioners, as part of the national health service local delivery plan process. To monitor obesity in primary care, it is important that levels of recording are as complete as possible. Initially therefore, SHAs/PCTs will be assessed against improvements in levels of primary care recording of adult obesity status.