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NICE
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources she will be making available to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in respect of the new single technology appraisal process. [26397]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 8 November 2005]: Funding available to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is sufficient for it to accommodate the new single technology appraisal process without detriment to its existing work programme. NICE'S funding for 2005–06 is £30.2 million 1 .
Primary Care Trusts (London)
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthhow much was spent on (a) administration and (b) management costs by each primary care trust in London, expressed (i) as a percentage of their total budget and (ii) as the cost per head of population in areas they cover in the last year for which figures are available. [23881]
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Jane Kennedy: The information requested for 2004–05, the latest available year, is shown in the table.
Notes:
1.Administration costs are not identified separately so all information given relates to management costs only.
2.'Total budget' has been interpreted as net operating costs for PCTs.
Source:
Audited summarisation schedules and weighted population figures of the named PCTs.
Smoking
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her most recent estimate is of the proportion of pubs which will fall into the category of preparing and serving food for the purposes of the ban on smoking in enclosed public places; and what estimate she has made of the percentage of pubs which will discontinue serving food as a result of the proposals contained within the Health Bill. [25272]
Caroline Flint:
In the White Paper, Choosing Health", we estimated that some 10 per cent. to 30 per cent. of pubs would fall into the category of preparing and serving food. Two separate nationwide estimates have been produced, one by Action on Smoking and Health of 29 per cent. and one by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) of 19 per cent. The percentage of pubs that might discontinue serving food will depend on the final content of the regulations that the Bill provides for. Until the regulations are finalised it will not be possible to estimate meaningfully how many pubs might choose to allow smoking rather than serve food.
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ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Abandoned Vehicles
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles were crushed in England in the past 12 months for which figures are available. [26121]
Mr. Bradshaw: The most recent data available are for the year 2003–04 when 221,400 abandoned vehicles were removed and destroyed by local authorities.
Avian Influenza
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts about possible EU-wide co-ordinated action in the event of an outbreak of Avian influenza. [24116]
Mr. Bradshaw: I have had discussions with ministerial counterparts on a regular basis since the H5N1 strain of the virus emerged in South East Asia four years ago.
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department has taken to prevent the spread of avian influenza to the United Kingdom. [22734]
Mr. Bradshaw: On 28 October, the EU introduced a ban on imports into the community of all captive birds (wild birds), along with new restrictions on the importation of pet birds. UK import rules have been amended to reflect this.
In line with EU-wide measures, we have banned imports of all live birds and products which could potentially transmit the disease to other birds from countries with the H5N1 strains of avian influenza.
The risk assessment that we have carried out on the spread of the avian influenza virus indicates that there is a high risk that the geographical spread will continue, given the recent detections of the virus in various geographical areas since May 2005.
The UK recognises that the situation continues to develop worldwide. We are monitoring it closely and have stepped up work on surveillance, biosecurity and emergency preparedness.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on EU guidance on the vaccination of poultry. [25042]
Mr. Bradshaw: Prophylactic or preventative vaccination of poultry against avian influenza is not permitted except under special circumstances. Emergency vaccination in an outbreak is permitted in principle by Council Directive 92/40/EEC, providing it is used only to supplement other control measures subject to a Decision by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) Any vaccine used must be authorised by the competent authority.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether pigeons are vulnerable to avian influenza. [25137]
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Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 7 November 2005]: The susceptibility of pigeons appears to vary with the strain of avian influenza virus, but in general they appear to be less susceptible than poultry and some wild birds. Wild pigeons do not appear to play any significant role in the spread of disease.
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many qualified personnel her Department has at its disposal to manage an outbreak of Avian influenza. [26830]
Mr. Bradshaw: The State Veterinary Service has about 1,500 staff including veterinary surgeons, animal health officers and administrative personnel. Regular training and exercising helps to equip these staff to deal with an outbreak of exotic disease including Avian influenza. These front line staff are supported by the staff in policy divisions and corporate services in Defra.
In the event of an outbreak these staff would be augmented as necessary by contingency LVIs, vets from other signatory country members of the International Animal Health Emergency Reserve and staff from elsewhere in Defra, other Government Departments and agencies.
Brazilian Meat
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are taken by (a) her Department and (b) the European Commission to ensure that there is no cross-border transit of cattle or carcases between those provinces of Brazil from which imports are banned and those from which imports are still permitted. [26075]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 8 November 2005]: The European Commission is aware of problems in Brazil with regard to control mechanisms in place in Brazil with regard to transit of animals. It is for this reason that the area from which imports have been banned cover a much wider area than would normally be necessary.
The restrictions will not be lifted until the Commission has received positive evidence of improved controls. The European Commission has undertaken to keep member states informed of developments.
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place to test imports of beef from Brazil for the foot and mouth virus. [26076]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 8 November 2005]: Testing imported meat would be both impractical and prohibitively expensive. Currently available tests have only been validated for detecting viruses in clinical samples.
Current EU legislation contains measures to ensure that meat imported into the EU does not originate from animals infected with serious disease.
All meat imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK border inspection posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo
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physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition during transport.
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