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7 Nov 2005 : Column 277W—continued

Swale Primary Care Trust

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds Medway primary care trust procured from Swale primary care trust between 2003–04 and 2004–05 for (a) Sheppey community hospital and (b) Sittingbourne memorial hospital. [24622]

Caroline Flint [holding answer 3 November 2005]: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Tryptophan

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) why the Food Standards Agency did not publish the responses to its recent consultation exercise on the use of tryptophan in food prior to the laying before the House of statutory instruments on the matter; [22216]

(2) if she will make available in the Library a copy of the submissions received by the Food Standards Agency in response to its recent consultation exercise on the use of tryptophan in food; and if she will take steps to ensure that the Agency publishes the responses on its website; [22217]

(3) if she will withdraw the draft Tryptophan in Food (England) Regulations 2005 to allow further consultation. [22218]

Caroline Flint: A copy of the submissions received by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in response to its recent consultation on the use of tryptophan in food will be placed in the Library. The FSA will make all the documents available in its library and publish these on its website, including the regulatory impact assessment (RIA) and a copy of the regulations. The intention was to publish all the documents when the statutory instruments were laid before the House, but a further delay has occurred due to a typographical error in the RIA, which now requires re-signing before publication.

The Tryptophan in Food (England) Regulations 2005 will not be withdrawn as this will allow L-tryptophan back onto the market and provide consumers with the
 
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opportunity to purchase supplements containing L-tryptophan again. The FSA has asked the committee on toxicity to review its recommendation on L-tryptophan and, depending on its advice, the legislation may then be amended.

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been made to the chief executive of the Food Standards Agency on the agency's decision in relation to the regulation of tryptophan in food supplements since 7 October 2005; and when she will respond to each. [22623]

Caroline Flint [holding answer 28 October 2005]: The chief executive of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) received a letter from the Institute of Optimum Nutrition dated 7 October regarding the FSA's decision in relation to the regulation of tryptophan in food supplements. A response to this letter was issued on 25 October.

Vulnerable Adults (Abuse)

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 20 October 2005, Official Report, column 1180W, on no secrets guidance, what plans she has to collect information on the number of adult protection referrals received and investigations undertaken. [22370]

Mr. Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 629W.

The second phase of the project is now under way and I will be reporting on the outcome in due course.

Waiting Times

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Written Answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 785W, on breast cancer (waiting times), how the Labour Party manifesto commitment that all women will be seen within two weeks of referral by their general practitioner by 2008 will be monitored. [23952]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The 2005 Labour Party manifesto gave the commitment that all women with breast symptoms, even if cancer is not initially suspected, should be seen within two weeks of referral by their general practitioner by 2008. Details of this commitment and how it will be resourced, implemented and monitored are yet to be determined with stakeholders and finalised.

Your Health, Your Care, Your Say

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost is of employing Opinion Leader Research for the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say consultation exercise. [23228]

Mr. Byrne: The cost of the contract with opinion leader research, which includes organising and running four regional deliberative events and a national citizen's summit, and analysing the results of these events alongside feedback from local events and completed questionnaires is £949,000.
 
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Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost of the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say consultation exercise to (a) the Department, (b) strategic health authorities, (c) health trusts and (d) local authorities. [23588]


 
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Mr. Byrne: The estimated cost of the nationally organised elements of the consultation is £1.2 million which is funded from the Department's running costs budget. No estimate is available of the cost to health and social care organisations.