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Selective Seratonin Re-uptake Inhibitors

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data are collected by her Department on the number of individuals prescribed selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors by general practitioners; and if she will make a statement. [59528]

Jane Kennedy: Information is not available in the form requested. The Department does not hold data on the number of people who are prescribed medication. However, the latest available annual data shows there were 14.6 million prescriptions for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors dispensed which were written by general practitioners in England. The net ingredient cost of these was £168.6 million.

Strokes

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for a consultation for patients who have reported minor strokes in the latest period for which figures are available. [59716]

Ms Rosie Winterton: In the Royal College of Physicians' National Sentinel Stroke Audit 2004, the median of average waiting times for neurovascular clinics (clinic for suspected mini-strokes) for England was 14 days.

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for (a) carotid ultrasound and (b) magnetic resonance imaging for stroke patients in the latest period for which figures are available. [59731]

Ms Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

The Department has not collected data on waiting times in the past but has developed and rolled out a new diagnostics waiting times and activity data collection with effect from January 2006. This will collect data on a range of diagnostic tests. In addition, a bi-annual census
 
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will widen the collection. The Department will need to do some preliminary quality assurance work prior to release; however, the first monthly publication is expected in spring 2006.

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many stroke patients had repeat strokes within three months of the first occurrence in each of the last five years. [59732]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is the policy of the NHS to offer (a) an electrocardiograph, (b) blood tests, (c) carotid ultrasound and (d) magnetic resonance imaging on the first hospital visit following a stroke. [59733]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The National clinical guidelines for stroke" produced by the Royal College of Physicians provide a framework for stroke care within the national health service.

These guidelines recommend that if a patient presents with a clinical syndrome that might be due to stroke, then brain imaging should be undertaken as soon as possible, within 24 hours at most of onset, unless there are good clinical reasons for not doing so. If the diagnosis is in doubt after a computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be considered.

A carotid duplex ultrasound should be performed on all patients being considered for carotid endarterectomy and confirmed with MRI, or with a second ultrasound.

Vaccines

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are circumstances in which she would ask both the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to appraise the use of a particular vaccine by the NHS. [60646]

Caroline Flint: Both the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) may be involved in the consideration of a particular vaccine where the vaccine has had significant impact on national health service services. An example would be human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines which are in development and showing promise in protecting against cervical cancer. JCVI is considering these vaccines within its remit of providing advice on immunisation issues to health Ministers; NICE is considering their advice on the provision of cervical screening services should HPV vaccines be introduced.

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what obligations the NHS is under to use vaccines recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation; and under what circumstances guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommending the use of a particular vaccine would not be binding on the NHS. [60647]

 
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Caroline Flint: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an advisory committee, and it is for health Ministers to consider the acceptance and implementation of such advice. Hence advice for JCVI per se is not binding on the national health service.

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what form guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation takes in respect of advice on the use or otherwise of a particular vaccine by the NHS. [60648]

Caroline Flint: The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provides advice to Ministers on all issues related to vaccination and immunisation. In carrying out this function, JCVI considers scientific and medical evidence on specific vaccines and makes recommendations accordingly. This is because the safety profile and efficacy of similar vaccines can vary.

The Department purchases vaccines, following the advice from JCVI, and supplies them to the national health service.

Vulnerable Adults

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) registered sex offenders and (b) people previously convicted of sexual offences are working with vulnerable adults in health and care services. [48215]

Mr. Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 23 January 2006 to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley), Official Report, column 1864W.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Electoral Register

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in the last five years for failing to complete required returns in relation to the electoral register. [60241]

Bridget Prentice: It is an offence punishable upon conviction by a fine not exceeding £1,000 for an occupier of premises to whom an annual electoral registration form is sent to fail to complete and return it to an electoral registration officer (ERO) in respect of any resident who is eligible to be registered to vote. Local EROs are responsible for compiling a register of eligible electors for their registration area and would hold locally any records regarding prosecutions or convictions for failure to complete and return the registration form or supply information requested by the ERO in relation to electoral registration. However, information on the number of prosecutions or convictions for this offence is not collected centrally.

Notaries

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received from notaries public on barriers to their working in other EU member states. [60281]

 
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Bridget Prentice: In 2006, my Department received one letter from a Member of Parliament concerning notaries public. No correspondence from notaries public or from members of the public was received in 2005.

The Notaries Society touched upon this issue in their response to the white paper, The Future of Legal Services".

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the barriers facing British notaries public in working elsewhere in the EU; and if she will make a statement. [60358]

Bridget Prentice: Non-Spanish notaries have been experiencing difficulties undertaking conveyancing services in Spain.

I am also aware that there is some concern that the draft Services Directive as currently set out in the European Parliament would exclude notaries from its scope. The UK is continuing discussions on this.

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the total annual value of the EU market in the services of notaries public. [60359]

Bridget Prentice: No assessment has been made or is planned.

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the appropriateness of the qualifications necessary to practise as a notary public (a) in England and Wales and (b) elsewhere in the EU; and if she will make a statement. [60360]

Bridget Prentice: Qualification as a notary is regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury under the direction of the Master of the Faculties.

As the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs has no role in the regulation of notaries, no assessment of the qualifications needed necessary to practise as a notary public, either in the UK or EU, have been made.

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