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9 May 2006 : Column 199W—continued
Corporate Hospitality
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions (a) he and (b) the other Ministers in his Department have accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months. [67515]
Mr. Hain: In the course of their duties, Ministers attend functions and events some of which are hosted or sponsored by companies. Such details are not recorded separately from other diary records. All hospitality received is in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
Dental Services
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will collect and collate statistics on (a) the incidence of childhood dental caries, (b) childhood and adult obesity and (c) the number of child care places in Northern Ireland at (i) ward and (ii) sub-ward level. [67933]
Paul Goggins: The capture of information at small area level such as ward or below, is usually dependent on the existence of an administrative system containing
individual records with a reliable geographical identifier attached such as postcode. Even in the event that such systems are maintained by Boards or Trusts, there can be issues around data quality and personal disclosure, that mitigate against the central collation and publication of data for small areas. Alternative data collection methods such as sample surveys can yield useful information at Northern Ireland or Health and Social Services Board level. However, cost constraints usually prevent achieving a 4 representative sample which would be large enough to provide reliable results at sub-Board level. For these reasons, the routine central collection and collation of the requested data items at ward or sub-ward level is not being considered.
DXA Scanning Machines
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many DXA scanning machines are available in Northern Ireland. [69188]
Paul Goggins: There are six DXA scanning machines available in HPSS Trusts in Northern Ireland.
Eating Disorders
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 476W, on eating disorders, how many people in Northern Ireland were estimated to be suffering from (a) anorexia nervosa and (b) bulimia nervosa in each of the last five years. [69241]
Paul Goggins: Pursuant to PQ answer of 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 476W, the figures quoted were estimates of the prevalence of these two conditions. Relatively little epidemiological data is available with respect to eating disorder incidence or prevalence in Northern Ireland. However, it is unlikely that local epidemiology differs markedly from indicative levels and trends reported within the UK in general. The figures quoted are calculated on the estimated national prevalence applied to Northern Ireland's population.
It is difficult to assess the true scale of the prevalence of eating disorders. Most patients are treated as psychiatric outpatients and outpatients' diagnosis is not routinely recorded for statistical purposes.
Education Minister
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for the Department of Education has spent in Northern Ireland to date in 2006. [67201]
Mr. Hain: I advise the hon. Member that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for the Department of Education has spent a total of 37 days in Northern Ireland to date in 2006. In addition to those 37 days the Minister also performs duties as Education Minister at the NIO in Millbank as well as in Parliament.
Fair Employment
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to implement the
findings of the Exception of Teachers from the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 report published by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in December 2004. [68114]
Maria Eagle: The Department of Education is currently considering the Equality Commission's investigation findings and recommendations in the context of the wider change programme in the education sector.
General Practitioners
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average number of patients registered per general practitioner in Northern Ireland was in (a) 1995 and (b) 2005. [68425]
Paul Goggins: The information is as follows: (a) The Central Services Agency only holds computerised archived data on registrations with a general practitioner from 2001; reliable data for 1995 are therefore not available. However, we can provide the data for 2001 for comparison.
| As at May 2001 | Number |
|
Total number of patients registered with a general practitioner(1) | |
| Source:(1) Central Health Index, Central Services Agency (2) Medlist Database, Central Services Agency |
(b) The information requested for 2005 is provided in the following table. However it is important to note that from the introduction of the new General Medical Services contract in April 2004, patients have been registered with a general practice and not with the general practitioner.
Herceptin
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients with early stage breast cancer in Northern Ireland are receiving Herceptin on the NHS. [69184]
Paul Goggins: My hon. Friend, the Member forSt. Helen's, South (Mr. Woodward) in his role as Minister with responsibility for Health Social Services and Public Safety, announced in November 2005, that the cancer drug Herceptin may be made available to women with early stage breast cancer where this is clinically appropriate.
I have been advised that approximately 53 women in Northern Ireland are receiving Herceptin for the treatment of early stage breast cancer.
Housing Council
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was to the public purse of the Northern Ireland Housing Council in each of the last three years. [69465]
Mr. Hanson: The information is as follows:
| Financial year | Amount (£) |
Medical Services (Complaints)
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been received by each health trust in Northern Ireland in relation to (a) mental health-related and (b) general medical-related services in each of the last five years. [68447]
Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows.
| (a) Complaints received in relation to mental health-related services | |||||
| 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | |
| (b) Complaints received in relation to general medical-related services | |||||
| 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | |
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