House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 8 Feb 2006 (pt 40)

8 Feb 2006 : Column 1327W—continued

Sleep Disorders

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department (a) has undertaken and (b) plans to undertake into possible links between induced abortion and (i) sleep disorders and (ii) sleep disturbances; and if she will make a statement. [47980]

8 Feb 2006 : Column 1328W

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 16 January 2006, Official Report, column 1054W.

Ward Closures

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital wards in England have been closed

8 Feb 2006 : Column 1329W

(a) permanently or (b) temporarily since 30 June 2005 due to financial constraints; and if she will make a statement. [47463]

Mr. Byrne: This is not information held centrally. These are operational matters for decision locally having regard to patients' needs.

8 Feb 2006 : Column 1330W

Research Funding

Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the amount of NHS research funding, broken down by disease area or type for each of the last five years. [45596]

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table.
National health service research and development estimated spend by type

£ million
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05

Support for Science⁽³⁰⁾ 293 301 328 346 371

NHS Priorities and Needs⁽³¹⁾ 87 94 92 97 110

National Programmes⁽³²⁾ 66 77 92 92 106

Excess treatment costs⁽³³⁾ 3 3 2 4 4

Total 449 475 514 539 591

⁽³⁰⁾ Funding allocated to the NHS to meet the NHS costs of hosting R and D supported by eligible external funders, such as the Medical Research Council and medical research charities.
⁽³¹⁾ Funding allocated to the NHS for R and D to meet the priorities and needs of the NHS.
⁽³²⁾ R and D commissioned by the Department to meet the priorities and needs of the NHS.
⁽³³⁾ Funding provided exceptionally to the NHS to defray the treatment costs of eligible R and D, normally met from patient care budgets.

£ million
	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Support for Science⁽³⁰⁾	293	301	328	346	371
NHS Priorities and Needs⁽³¹⁾	87	94	92	97	110
National Programmes⁽³²⁾	66	77	92	92	106
Excess treatment costs⁽³³⁾	3	3	2	4	4
Total	449	475	514	539	591

Details of individual projects supported by NHS research and development (R and D) funding can be found on the national research register on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/research

Retinal Screening

Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will make support available for the use of fundus cameras in opticians practices to provide convenient diabetes retinopathy screening for patients; and if she will make a statement [46659]

Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 31 January 2006]: Capital funding of £27 million has been made available to buy digital cameras and related equipment for retinal screening. £5 million has been made available in 2003–04, £9.6 million in 2004–05 and £12.4 million in 2005–06. The capital has been apportioned on a population basis through strategic health authorities.

Primary care trusts are responsible for implementing diabetic retinopathy screening to national standards as set out in Improvement, Expansion and Reform: the next three years", the planning and performance framework for 2003 to 2006 and diabetes national service framework delivery strategy. It is for local health services to decide how they want the programme to be delivered locally. At national level optometrists have played an important role on the national diabetic retinopathy screening project advisory group set up to steer the development of the programme.

School Nurses

Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses there are in each strategic health authority area. [46735]

Mr. Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
Number of school nurses in each strategic health authority area as at 30 September 2004

Headcount
Qualified nurses working in school nursing
Of which qualified school nurses

England 2,409 856

County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 83 26

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 62 38

Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 141 17

Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 155 62

Greater Manchester SHA 172 78

North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA 110 25

South Yorkshire SHA 106 34

West Yorkshire SHA 87 56

Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA 106 25

Trent SHA 124 13

Birmingham and The Black Country SHA 84 54

Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 62 35

West Midlands South SHA 39 21

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 85 42

Essex SHA 95 28

Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 6 1

North Central London SHA 44 17

North East London SHA 91 36

North West London SHA 54 4

South East London SHA 77 47

South West London SHA 97 27

Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 59 9

Kent and Medway SHA 49 25

Surrey and Sussex SHA 131 57

Thames Valley SHA 52 36

Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 124 7

Dorset and Somerset SHA 43 2

South West Peninsula SHA 71 34

8 Feb 2006 : Column 1331W

Headcount
	Qualified nurses working in school nursing	Of which qualified school nurses
England	2,409	856

County Durham and Tees Valley SHA	83	26
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA	62	38

Cheshire and Merseyside SHA	141	17
Cumbria and Lancashire SHA	155	62
Greater Manchester SHA	172	78

North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA	110	25
South Yorkshire SHA	106	34
West Yorkshire SHA	87	56

Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA	106	25
Trent SHA	124	13

Birmingham and The Black Country SHA	84	54
Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA	62	35
West Midlands South SHA	39	21

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA	85	42
Essex SHA	95	28
Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA	6	1

North Central London SHA	44	17
North East London SHA	91	36
North West London SHA	54	4
South East London SHA	77	47
South West London SHA	97	27

Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA	59	9
Kent and Medway SHA	49	25
Surrey and Sussex SHA	131	57
Thames Valley SHA	52	36

Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA	124	7
Dorset and Somerset SHA	43	2
South West Peninsula SHA	71	34

Smoking

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the average age at which people start smoking in England. [39343]

Caroline Flint: Data on smoking are available from the general household survey. We are able to provide estimates for 2003, of the average age at which people started smoking in England, using the results of the general household survey 2003. The raw data required to calculate the average at which people start smoking regularly are available to us up to 2003.

The general household survey 2004 has recently been released (December 15 2005) and we are able to provide estimates of the age range people started smoking in England for 2004. The sample population for this survey is adults aged 16 and over.

The available data for 2003 (average age) and 2004 (age ranges) are shown in the table.
Average age started smoking regularly by sex, 2003, England

Years

Male 16.7

Female 17.6

Total 17.1

Source:
General Household Survey 2003. Office for National Statistics

	Years
Male	16.7
Female	17.6
Total	17.1

Age started smoking regularly by sex: England 2004Persons aged 16 and over who had ever smoked regularly

Percentage
Age started smoking regularly Men Women All persons

Under 16 42 35 38

16–17 26 28 27

18–19 16 18 17

20–24 11 12 11

25 and over 5 7 6

Weighted base (000's) = 100 per cent. 9,113 8,234 17,347

Unweighted sample 3,195 2,948 6,143

Source:
General Household Survey 2003. Office for National Statistics

Percentage
Age started smoking regularly	Men	Women	All persons
Under 16	42	35	38
16–17	26	28	27
18–19	16	18	17
20–24	11	12	11
25 and over	5	7	6
Weighted base (000's) = 100 per cent.	9,113	8,234	17,347
Unweighted sample	3,195	2,948	6,143

Further information on the General Household Survey is available at: www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5756.

8 Feb 2006 : Column 1332W

Strategic Health Authorities

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of running strategic health authorities was in 2004–05, broken down by authority. [29870]

Mr. Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
Running costs budgets for strategic health authorities in 2004–05

Strategic health authority £ million

Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 5.1

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 4.6

Birmingham and the Black Country 6.2

Cheshire and Merseyside 5.2

County Durham and Tees Valley 5.1

Cumbria and Lancashire 4.6

Dorset and Somerset 5.3

Essex 5.5

Greater Manchester 5.2

Hampshire and Isle of Wight 4.6

Kent and Medway 5.0

Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 5.3

Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 5.2

North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 4.6

North Central London 4.6

North East London 4.9

North West London 4.7

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 4.6

Shropshire and Staffordshire 4.9

South East London 4.7

South West London 4.7

South West Peninsula 4.6

South Yorkshire 5.0

Surrey and Sussex 5.1

Thames Valley 5.2

Trent 4.8

West Midlands South 4.6

West Yorkshire 5.1

England 139.3

Strategic health authority	£ million
Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire	5.1
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire	4.6
Birmingham and the Black Country	6.2
Cheshire and Merseyside	5.2
County Durham and Tees Valley	5.1
Cumbria and Lancashire	4.6
Dorset and Somerset	5.3
Essex	5.5
Greater Manchester	5.2
Hampshire and Isle of Wight	4.6
Kent and Medway	5.0
Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland	5.3
Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire	5.2
North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire	4.6
North Central London	4.6
North East London	4.9
North West London	4.7
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear	4.6
Shropshire and Staffordshire	4.9
South East London	4.7
South West London	4.7
South West Peninsula	4.6
South Yorkshire	5.0
Surrey and Sussex	5.1
Thames Valley	5.2
Trent	4.8
West Midlands South	4.6
West Yorkshire	5.1
England	139.3

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