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28 Oct 2005 : Column 580W—continued
Influenza
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the planned stockpiling of anti-viral avian influenza drugs to be complete. [19334]
Caroline Flint: We placed an order for 14.6 million treatment courses of (oseltamivir) Tamiflu in March 2005. Our delivery schedule indicates that we should have received 2.5 million treatment courses by the end of October, and that our stockpile will be complete by September 2006.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will update the UK influenza pandemic contingency plan to reflect the possibility that a communicable avian influenza strain may emerge in Europe, rather than in China or the Far East. [18075]
Caroline Flint: The United Kingdom influenza pandemic contingency plan takes into consideration that a flu pandemic may emerge in Europe rather than China or the Far East. A pandemic virus is likely to affect the UK irrespective of where it emerges, and our plan provides a framework to deal with the health impact of a pandemic, and the disruption it may cause to essential services and people's daily lives.
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for SouthCambridgeshire of 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2703W, on the influenza pandemic plan, when the updated UK influenza pandemic contingency plan will be published. [19493]
Caroline Flint [holding answer 21 October 2005]: The revised UK influenza pandemic contingency plan was published on 19 October 2005. This updates the version published in March 2005. The plan is available on the Department's website at:
Copies have been placed in the Library.
28 Oct 2005 : Column 581W
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to mental health provision in Suffolk in each of the last five years. [19692]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the format requested. However, in 2003–04 and 2004–05, the total mental health spend for all ages in Suffolk was £82 million and £91 million respectively.
Mental Health Strategies Report
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices offer in-house appointments with a counsellor for those with mental health problems. [18799]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Although the Department does not hold this information centrally, a report published by MACA (the Mental Aftercare Association), now known as Together: Working for Wellbeing, First National GP Survey of Mental Health in Primary Care" (1999) estimated that out of the 1,966 general practitioner practices in England which were surveyed, more than half had attached community psychiatric nurses and counsellors and 10 per cent. had access to a social worker, psychologist and psychiatrist. This report is available online at:
By the end of 2004, 648 graduate workers trained in brief pyschological therapy techniques of proven effectiveness were in place in the primary care mental health workforce, able to help GPs manage and treat common mental health problems in all age groups.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices organise in-house training on mental health. [18800]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally by the Department. Almost a third of people attending general practitioner (GP) surgeries have mental health problems and mental health occupies approximately one third of a GP's time. Although we are continuing to invest in and improve our services for people with mental health problems at primary and secondary levels, including behavioural as well as drug therapies, GP practices are expected to have a sufficient number of staff who have received appropriate training in mental health issues. In particular, each GP's own training needs will be addressed on an annual basis through the national health service appraisal and personal development process.
It is for each GP practice to decide how it will organise and deliver staff training, working in consultation with its local primary care trust and any appropriate external educational providers.
Ministerial Travel
Norman Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many air miles were accrued through departmental ministerial travel in 2004–05, broken
28 Oct 2005 : Column 582W
down by Minister; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (i) foregone and (ii) given to charity. [17329]
Jane Kennedy: No air miles are recorded against departmental ministerial travel in 2004–05.
Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the ministerial code and travel by Ministers. Guidance for Ministers on the use of air miles is set out in the ministerial code. The guidance makes clear that air miles should be used only for official purposes or else foregone. However, if it is impracticable to use the benefits for Government travel, there is no objection to Ministers donating them to charity if this is permissible under the terms of the airline's scheme and the charity is one chosen by the airline.
Similar rules are in place for officials.
MRI Unit (Edgware Hospital)
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhen she expects the proposed MRI unit to be available at Edgware hospital; and if she will make a statement. [20576]
Jane Kennedy: I understand that, subject to the necessary planning permission, it is expected that magnetic resonance imaging scans will be available at Edgware hospital by the end of January 2006.
Music Therapy
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department has issued to primary care trusts on the use of music therapy; and if she will make a statement. [19449]
Jane Kennedy: The Department has not issued any guidance on the use of music therapy. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of music therapy. In commissioning services, PCTs need to plan local services near to patients and ensure that they are identifying the health needs of patients and securing services for them.
NHS Logistics
Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the categories of products used by NHS bodies which are not currently provided by NHS Logistics; and if she will estimate (a) the value and (b) the volume of each such category of products for the last year for which figures are available. [9903]
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Jane Kennedy: The table shows those categories of products and services used by the national health service which are not purchased through the NHS Logistics Authority, or where, as indicated, there is minimal activity.
Information on the value and volume of products in categories not currently provided by the NHS Logistics Authority could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
1 Minimal activity through NHS Logistics.
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