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12 Jan 2006 : Column 881W—continued
Penserver Software
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases were cleared on average per month by the NHS Pension Agency (a) before the introduction of the new penserver software, (b) after the introduction of penserver phase 1 and (c) after the introduction of pensaver phase 2. [35881]
Mr. Byrne: The average monthly case clearance pre Penserver Phase 1 (April 2001 to July 2003) was 17,528 transactions per month.
The average monthly case clearance between phase one and up to phase two implementation was 18,854 transactions per month, an increase of 7.6 per cent.
Penserver Phase 2 went live on 3 October 2005. There is insufficient information to assess the average monthly transactions since that date.
Primary Care Trust (Resource Allocation)
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which the additional needs element of the weighted capitation formula for primary care trust (PCT) resource allocation reflects the degree of health inequality in the PCT's locality; and if she will make a statement. [35692]
Mr. Byrne: When making revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) the aim is to support the objective of equal access to equal need. We believe the weighted-capitation formula is the best mechanism available to enable this objective to be met.
The development of the formula is continuously overseen by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA). ACRA is an independent body, made up of national health service managers, academics and general practitioners.
Primary Eye Care
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has had with (a) the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, (b) the Association of Optometrists and (c) the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians on the future of primary eye care in England. [38384]
Ms Rosie Winterton:
I met with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the Association of Optometrists and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians on 27 October to discuss the ophthalmic clauses in the Health Bill and the review of General Ophthalmic Services.
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We anticipate valuable contributions from stakeholders, including the optical representative bodies, to the review of the General Ophthalmic Services. The review provides an opportunity to consider how we can build on the success of current arrangements.
Prostate Cancer
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will launch a national screening programme for prostate cancer. [39680]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Screening and treatment techniques are not sufficiently well developed for the introduction of a national screening programme. The national screening committee is advising Government on this issue and is keeping screening for prostate cancer under review.
Public Appointments
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 who have since been appointed to public bodies by her Department, broken down by party; and who was responsible for making each appointment. [36685]
Jane Kennedy: Information about the political activity of appointees is recorded and publicised in accordance with the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice. This shows that the Department has appointed no former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 to public bodies.
Purified Protein Derivative
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has had with solicitors regarding the administration of the unlicensed Mantoux strength purified protein derivative by nurses, as stated in the Minutes of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's meeting of 14 July; what the content of these discussions was; what advice she has received as a result of these discussions; and whether this advice has been made available to the nursing and medical professions. [39324]
Jane Kennedy: The Statens Serum Insitut (SSI) Tuberculin PPD (Purified Protein Derivative) used routinely in the Mantoux test is a prescription only medicine (POM) and unlicensed. Such products may only be prescribed by an appropriate practitioner, such as a doctor or extended formulary nurse prescriber (EFNP). EFNPs can prescribe, administer (and direct others to administer) licensed and unlicensed Tuberculin PPD (and BCG vaccine) as listed in schedule 3A of the Medicines Act, 1968.
This information was issued to the nursing and medical professions on 19 July 2005 and is available on the Department's website at:
Skipton House Refit
Mike Penning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2272W, on departmental assets, if she will break down the expenditure on the Skipton
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House refit by category listed; and if she will make a statement on the purchase of computers in Quarry House. [33751]
Mr. Byrne: The breakdown of the expenditure on the Skipton House refit by category is shown in the following table.
Source:
The detail of the Skipton House refit asset was obtained from Strategy and Business Development, Group Business Team, Estate Services section of the Department, at Skipton House.
The Department's policy is to refresh personal computers (PCs) on a rolling basis and the PCs in Quarry House referenced in the reply on 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2272W were included in a scheduled refresh programme. PCs are replaced when they are at least three years old and unable to meet the needs of the business.
Smallpox Vaccination
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has collated on whether there is a relationship between smallpox vaccinations and ill health involving seizures. [39419]
Caroline Flint: Historical evidence of the possible adverse effects that can result from smallpox vaccination is summarised in Appendix 9 of the United Kingdom's 'Smallpox Plan (Guidelines for Smallpox Response and Management in the Post-eradication Era)' published in December 2003.
Recent evidence of adverse effects, including evidence of seizures, has been gathered from two studies of adverse effects in those people who received smallpox vaccination under government contingency planning arrangements in the United Kingdom and in the United States of America (USA). During the 2002–2004, the USA's smallpox vaccination programme, 665,000 people received smallpox vaccine and eight seizures were reported amongst those in receipt of vaccine. The full report of all adverse effects was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December 2005.
In the UK, in a study of 232 people vaccinated, there were no seizures reported. The full account of all side effects reported was published in the journal Vaccine in July 2005.
Tuberculosis
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1578–9W, on tuberculosis, what steps she is taking to ensure nurses are familiar with the need for a patient group direction to administer Mantoux-strength purified protein derivative. [39311]
12 Jan 2006 : Column 884W
Jane Kennedy: The Statens Serum Insitut (SSI) Tuberculin PPD (Purified Protein Derivative) used routinely in the Mantoux test is a prescription only medicine (POM) and unlicensed. Such products may only be prescribed by an appropriate practitioner, such as a doctor or extended formulary nurse prescriber (EFNP). EFNPs can prescribe, administer (and direct others to administer) licensed and unlicensed Tuberculin PPD (and BCG vaccine) as listed in Schedule 3A of the Medicines Act, 1968.
This information was issued to the nursing and medical professions on 19 July 2005 and is available on the Department's website at:
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