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Tuberculosis

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance was issued by her Department to (a) parents, (b) health care professionals and (c) primary care trusts about recent changes for BCG vaccination schedules; and on what dates the guidance was issued; [51804]

(2) what tuberculosis public awareness initiatives her Department has sponsored since January 2002; and if she will publish the assessment of the impact of the initiatives. [51805]

Caroline Flint [holding answers 15 February 2006]: Information resources in support of the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunisation programme have been available for many years. Since January 2002 the Department has produced a leaflet in support of the BCG vaccination school campaign, entitled 'A guide to
 
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BCG and TB for school years 5–9' and a BCG factsheet. In October 2003, the Department produced a leaflet entitled 'BCG and your baby' to be given to parents when their babies were given BCG vaccine. All of these resources were available free from the Department's publications line and on the www.immunisation.nhs.uk website.

The Department produced a leaflet, factsheet, poster and information card in support of World Stop TB day in March 2005, working in partnership with the charity TB Alert. These resources were sent to general practitioner surgeries, community pharmacies, NHS Direct and walk-in centres, and tuberculosis (TB) clinics and nurses. The Department also created a web page on www.immunisation.nhs.uk with information on TB.

The chief medical officer announced changes to the BCG programme via a letter to the medical profession and primary care trusts on 6 July 2005. In support of these changes an updated leaflet, factsheet, and poster were produced and sent directly to the aforementioned groups. All of these resources were aimed at raising awareness of TB, and also informing health professionals and the general public alike, of the changes to BCG policy. All these resources were also made available to order free-of-charge via the Department publications line.

The 6 July 2005 policy changes also meant that the tuberculin skin test was given in a different way, with the Mantoux test replacing the Heaf test. The Department produced a flip chart and DVD for training purposes. These were made available to order free-of-charge via the Department publications line and sent directly to all TB clinics. Following these changes, the Department held a meeting of immunisation co-ordinators who are responsible for implementation of the BCG programme within their localities. The public information materials were shared with the co-ordinators and their views obtained.

The Department has also carried out public awareness testing on matters relating to TB and its control, and all information materials on TB and BCG are pre-tested with members of the public.

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlay the decision to end vaccinations for tuberculosis for children in low-risk areas. [51885]

Caroline Flint: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has regularly reviewed the Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccination programme. After reviewing all available scientific and epidemiological data the JCVI recommended that it is now time to stop that national schools' based programme in favour of selective vaccination of high-risk infants and other groups.

Children who would otherwise have been offered BCG vaccination through the schools programme will now be screened, tested and vaccinated if appropriate. It is therefore the responsibility of the primary care trusts to arrange suitable screening opportunities outside of the school setting.
 
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Tuberculosis Inoculation (Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will reverse the decision to stop the tuberculosis inoculation programme for children in Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency. [52646]

Caroline Flint: Since the introduction of the Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) schools programme in 1953 the epidemiology of tuberculosis has changed from a disease of the general population to one predominantly affecting high-risk groups. The new recommendations are aimed at delivering an improved targeted risk based programme. The widespread introduction of targeted BCG vaccination means that the majority of children at high risk of tuberculosis will now be vaccinated in early life.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Arms Exports Controls

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts at the G8 on arms exports controls and the case for a binding international treaty. [55506]

Dr. Howells: In 2005 the G8 Leaders agreed that the

development of international standards in arms transfers . . . would be an important step toward tackling the undesirable proliferation of conventional arms".

We are now taking this agenda forward with a number of international partners (including individual G8 members) by building support for an international treaty on the trade in all conventional arms. We will continue this work during 2006 with the aim of securing the start of a formal process at the earliest opportunity.

Guantanamo Bay

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has made to the recent UN report on the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp. [54608]

Dr. Howells: The Government have made clear publicly and privately that it regards the circumstances under which detainees continue to be held in Guantanamo as unacceptable, and that the current use of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility is an anomaly that should be brought to an end sooner rather than later. We will continue to do so. It is important to remember, however, the circumstances which led to Guantanamo Bay. Nearly 3,000 people were killed during the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001.

International Arms Trade Treaty

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to engage constructively with (a) Russia, (b) the USA, (c) India, (d) Egypt and (e) Israel on the development of an international arms trade treaty; and if he will make a statement. [55190]

 
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Dr. Howells: The Government are committed to pursuing a treaty on the international trade in all conventional arms. We believe that such a treaty needs to include a wide range of signatories, including the world's major arms exporters. We are engaging with other countries at various levels, including in Ministers' contacts with their counterparts, through specific events, direct expert-level talks and our network of overseas Posts. Most recently a cross-Whitehall team visited Moscow to discuss the initiative with their Russian counterparts. This work will continue, including in further contacts with Russia, and with the USA, India, Egypt and Israel, with the aim of building the consensus needed for the start of a formal process at the UN at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what cross-departmental discussions have taken place to ensure a co-ordinated and coherent approach towards promoting an international arms trade treaty; and if he will make a statement. [55192]

Dr. Howells: There is cross-departmental commitment to promoting an international treaty on the trade in all conventional arms. Two cross-departmental working groups, one at working level and one at Director General level, meet regularly to discuss this work. The groups, chaired by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, include representatives of the Department for International Development, Ministry of Defence and Department for Trade and Industry. The senior level group also includes representatives from Cabinet Office. Other Departments will be involved as necessary.

Iraq

Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on armoured civilian vehicles by his Department for operation in Iraq between April 2003 and December 2005; and how many such vehicles were purchased by his Department in that period. [54292]

Dr. Howells: The total amount spent on armoured civilian vehicles by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for operation in Iraq between April 2003 and December 2005 was £11,637,500. The number of vehicles purchased by the FCO within that period was 133.

Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to his Department was of (a) preparing and (b) deploying (i) Civil Service and (ii) non-Civil Service (A) UK and (B) non-UK personnel to Iraq between April 2003 and December 2005; and what the salary costs of personnel in each category were. [54295]

Dr. Howells: The scope of this question is considerable and would involve officials in research that would be disproportionate to the costs involved in providing an answer.

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