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14 Mar 2006 : Column 2184W—continued
HEALTH
Alcohol Treatment
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received on the Welling Alcohol Service Provision project. [57529]
Caroline Flint: Since June 2005 there have been two letters regarding the Welling alcohol service provision in Welling, Kent.
The Government are working hard to improve services for people affected by alcohol misuse. The alcohol harm reduction strategy for England was published on 15 March 2004. The strategy seeks to fulfil the NHS Plan commitment to prevent any further increase in alcohol related harms in England.
I announced on 1 November 2005 the launch of Alcohol Misuse Interventions: Guidance on developing a local programme of Improvement".
Alzheimer's Disease
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on access to drugs for Alzheimer's disease; and if she will make a statement. [57531]
Jane Kennedy:
Since the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its latest appraisal consultation document on the use of Alzheimer's disease drugs on 23 January 2006, aside from correspondence from members of the public, Ministers have received representations from the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Alzheimer's Society. It is for NICE to consider responses to its consultation.
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Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response her Department has received from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to questions on the procedure for assessing drugs for Alzheimer's disease; and if she will place a copy of the responses in the Library. [58385]
Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has consulted on revised draft guidance on drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. The consultation ended on 13 February 2006. NICE has not yet finalised its revised guidance to the NHS, and until this new guidance is published in its final form NICE'S existing appraisal of Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl continues to apply. NICE normally addresses stakeholder comments in its final appraisal determination (FAD) documents. The FAD on drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is expected to be published later this year.
Beef Procurement
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much beef was procured last year through framework agreements established by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, broken down by country of origin. [54093]
Jane Kennedy: The table shows beef procured for 2004–05 by country of origin through NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency framework agreements.
Although beef is traceable, a small number of suppliers have not yet provided the country of origin within their sales reports and has been noted separately in the figures.
The framework agreement incorporating beef is used to supply approximately 70 per cent. of the requirements of the national health service in England for beef and aims to deliver best value for money in terms of price, quality and service from contracted suppliers.
Benzene
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of (a) nutrient levels in organic baby foods and (b) the incidence of benzene in drinks marketed for children. [56990]
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Caroline Flint: Minimum levels of some nutrients in certain baby foods are defined in law. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has not carried out an assessment of nutrient levels in organic baby foods. The FSA would expect to see a range of nutrient contents in baby foods, due to differences in recipes and manufacturing practices.
The FSA received a report from the soft drinks industry summarising the analysis of over 200 products for benzene. The levels of benzene reported were very low and not a concern for public health. Nevertheless, the FSA is carrying out its own survey of benzene in soft drinks on sale in the United Kingdom market and aims to publish the results within four weeks.
Benzodiazepine Addiction
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to register benzodiazepine dependence as a long-term condition under the National Service Framework. [53562]
Caroline Flint: The intention of the national service framework (NSF) for long-term conditions is not to address individual neurological conditions, but to describe the level of care health and social care organisations should be working towards for anybody with a long-term neurological condition. While the NSF focuses on long-term conditions that are neurological in origin, guidance does stress the importance of using the NSF in planning service developments for people with other long-term conditions. Benzodiazepine dependence will not be a life-long condition for many sufferers.
Those with benzodiazepine dependence can access services in primary and secondary care through their general practitioner. Services available in primary care may include prescribing, advice, counselling, psychological therapy (individual or group) and anxiety management or approaches to sleep problems. We are taking steps to strengthen primary care mental health provision through the appointment of new staff and by improving training.
In secondary care, services for people with more complex symptoms should be available through community mental health teams or through more specialised drug action teams.
Biobank Project
Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government support has been committed to the Biobank project; what progress has been made with the project; and if she will make a statement. [56998]
Jane Kennedy: The Government are contributing £33.5 million toward the cost of UK Biobank.
The project is on course to begin participant recruitment for its main study in the autumn of this year. The first phase of pilot studies to test the feasibility and acceptability of the questionnaires and assessment centre visits has been successfully completed. The second phase, which will test the full integrated process from participant identification, consent procedures and assessment centre measures to the storage of data and samples, is due to begin this month.
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Cancer
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department's repeat analysis of variations in the use of cancer drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will be concluded; and when she plans to make the findings publicly available. [58093]
Ms Rosie Winterton: [holding answer 13 February 2006]: Information from this exercise is currently being analysed and the findings should be available in the summer.
Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what clinical negligence payments were made by hospitals trusts within the Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority in 2004–05. [56405]
Mr. Byrne: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on Tuesday 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1802W.
Chlamydia
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in transferring responsibility for the National Chlamydia Screening Programme from her Department to the Health Protection Agency. [50683]
Caroline Flint: The Health Protection Agency is currently recruiting staff and we expect the full transfer should be completed in the very near future.
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