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16 Oct 2006 : Column 1016W—continued
Sustainable Development
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what funding has been allocated for the implementation of the Government’s Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland; [92760]
(2) what progress has been made on the implementation of the Government’s Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland; [92761]
(3) what the timetable is for the publication of the implementation plans produced for the six priority areas of the Government’s Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland; [92763]
(4) what measures have been put in place to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Government’s Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland; [92764]
(5) on what basis the timescales were set for the achievement of strategic objectives in the Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland; and if he
will revise the timescale for the strategic objective to promote the development of community engagement, civic leadership and responsible citizenship from summer 2009 to summer 2008. [92765]
Mr. Hanson: All the actions which will be included in the Implementation Plan, due to be published next month will have funding available to them. Work on the Plan will also identify areas where further funding needs to be identified and this will be addressed in the forthcoming CSR and Priorities and Budget process.
The Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy is being taken forward through the development of an Implementation Plan which is scheduled to be published in November 2006. The Plan will set out in detail the actions which departments will take to address the longer term strategic objectives and targets contained in the Strategy.
The Implementation Plan will address all six priority areas of the Government’s Sustainable Development Strategy.
The Implementation Plan will contain details of the monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements. Progress on monitoring the targets in the Strategy will be reported on in future Implementation Plans. We will also be developing a set of over-arching Sustainable development indicators for Northern Ireland in 2007.
The targets which were set for the Sustainable Development Strategy were intended to provide a challenging framework for the development of relevant actions. They were developed in consultation with stakeholders. The experience of developing the Implementation Plan has identified issues around some of the targets which we will wish to review in due course and in the light of experience. I will consider whether there is scope to modify the target you identity as part of that process.
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures his Department has implemented to ensure that all public expenditure through the public procurement process reflects the Government’s commitment to the sustainability agenda. [92762]
Mr. Hanson: Northern Ireland Procurement Policy applies to all Government Departments, their Agencies, non-departmental public bodies and public corporations. The policy allows for the inclusion, as appropriate, of sustainable development goals within the procurement process.
Central Procurement Directorate, Department of Finance and Personnel, with the approval of the Procurement Board, has issued guidance on actions that can be taken, under national and European procurement rules and procurement policy, in order to encourage and support the integration and achievement of these goals and is working with suppliers to promote the availability of sustainable products and services.
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Planning and Building Regulations in Northern Ireland will be amended to include sustainability targets for all new buildings. [92773]
Mr. Hanson: Sustainable development is a key theme underlying the Government’s overall approach to planning in Northern Ireland. This is already recognised in Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 1 ‘General Principles’ and the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland, ‘Shaping Our Future’.
The key role played by the planning system in the delivery of sustainable development is underpinned by the Planning Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The order 2006 introduced a requirement for development plans and planning policies prepared by DOE to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
In addition, there is a range of other planning policies, set out in Planning Policy Statements that also contribute to the delivery of sustainable development. However, the Planning Service has no plans, at present, to amend legislation to introduce sustainability targets for new buildings. An amendment to part F of the Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Power) will come into effect on 30 November. It will raise energy performance standards, and should reduce carbon emissions by up to 40 per cent., for all new build and major refurbishments.
Sustainability is not one of the matters for which building regulations may be made at present. However the principles contained in the Building Regulations (NI) Order 1979 will be amended during 2007 to allow the Department of Finance and Personnel to regulate the promotion of sustainable development. The list of matters on which the Department may regulate will be extended to include the sustainable use and management of water, the re-use and recycling of materials, the use of renewable energy sources, the durability of materials and materials life-cycles and pollution (emissions).
Teachers
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students in Northern Ireland qualified as teachers in each of the last five years; and how many of those who qualified found jobs within one year of qualifying in each year. [92894]
Maria Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
| Students gaining qualifications from initial teacher training courses and number recording employment as destination activity six months after graduation 2000-01 to 2004-05 | ||
| Academic year | Initial teacher training qualifiers | In employment (6 months after graduation) |
| Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency | ||
The Department only holds information on the destinations of students six months after graduation. In 2000-01 and 2001-02 the figures only include those recording their main activity as employment. From 2002-03, students were no longer asked to identify their main activity and all those recording employment have been included.
The latest available data relate to the 2004-05 academic year.
Vandalism
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of vandalism on schools in Northern Ireland were reported in each of the last 10 years. [93172]
Maria Eagle: The number of recorded incidents of vandalism in schools in the last three years for which information is available is as follows:
| Number | |
Full information is only available since 2003, when records held by the Education and Library Boards were computerised.
Health
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Vaccination
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what direct cost savings have been achieved through the ending of the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination programme in schools. [91854]
Caroline Flint: Funding for immunisation services, including the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination programme, form part of the annual allocation to primary care trusts. PCTs are responsible for the management of those monies and the running of immunisation programmes. As a result of the changes to the BCG vaccination programme, PCTs will redirect monies to reflect how the BCG programme will be implemented within their PCT.
Birmingham Women's Hospital
Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the procedures are at Birmingham women’s hospital for informing staff members of the allegations made against them when they are suspended from work on disciplinary grounds. [91879]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Procedures for informing national health service staff members of allegations made against them when they are suspended from work is a matter for individual NHS trusts. I am advised that at Birmingham Women’s Health Care NHS Trust, suspension of a member of staff in itself is not a disciplinary action and does not assume guilt of the individual involved. It is a neutral act that enables the trust to fully investigate allegations of a serious nature.
I also understand that at the time of suspension the employee will be informed in private of a brief outline of the reasons for the action. This will be confirmed in writing to the employee and all matters after this time will be communicated by the investigation team.
Bowel Cancer
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government will fully fund the provision of Erbitox and Avastan to sufferers of bowel cancer; and if she will make a statement. [93142]
Andy Burnham: Provision is made in the allocation of funding to the health service for new and innovative drugs. It is a matter for local commissioners how best to deploy those resources.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is developing guidance to the national health service on the use of bevacizumab (Avastin) and cetuximab (Erbitux) for the treatment of advanced bowel cancer. It has not yet issued final guidance.
Cancer Services
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation has been undertaken with (a) the public, (b) patients and (c) clinicians by the Kingston Hospital NHS Trust concerning its proposal to switch secondary and tertiary cancer services from the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust to The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. [90044]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This is a matter for the local national health services.
However, officials inform me that Kingston Hospital NHS Trust has not formally consulted on its proposal to switch secondary and tertiary cancer services from the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust to the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
Representatives from partner organisations involved in the transfer of services have met with Kingston Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel (OSC) to assess whether the proposal merits formal public consultation. The outcome from this meeting was that all the proposals were positive and that formal consultation was not required.
However, the OSC recommended that the trust offers an open public meeting to enable any interested parties to learn about the proposed change. This will be held on 9 October 2006 at Kingston hospital.
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact on patient care of proposals of the Kingston Hospital NHS Trust to switch secondary and tertiary cancers services from the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust to the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. [92302]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This is a matter for the local national health service.
It is our policy that the local NHS decide the priorities for the NHS locally, including decisions on the location of services. This is where the specific local knowledge and expertise lies and it is not appropriate for the Department to intervene.
Mr. Baron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department made of patient numbers and activity for the purposes of (a) approving and (b) funding the purchase and installation of four
new linear accelerators at the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust. [92303]
Ms Rosie Winterton: One aim of the Cancer Equipment Programme was to replace ageing equipment used in cancer services on the grounds that newer equipment is more accurate and reliable. The four linear accelerators at Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust have been provided to replace the four machines that were beyond the recommended age limit of 11 years.
The potential withdrawal of cancer patients from Hammersmith to Kingston and the Royal Marsden will mean a reduction equivalent to a 20 per cent. drop in patient numbers.
The commitment in the NHS Cancer Plan is to provide a target of four linear accelerators per million by 2006. Current radiotherapy centre provision varies between 3.3 to 7.9 per million head of population. The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust radiotherapy centres currently has six per million head.
Defibrillators
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been made available to NHS practices to purchase automated external defibrillators since the production of the most recent Resuscitation Council guidelines. [92364]
Ms Rosie Winterton: No central funds have been made available to national health service practices to purchase automated external defibrillators since the production of the most recent Resuscitation Council guidelines.
Diabetes
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of undiagnosed cases of diabetes; and if she will publish this figure annually. [89427]
Ms Rosie Winterton: In 2006, 2.52 million people are estimated to have diabetes. The latest quality and outcomes framework (QOF) results for 2005-06 show that 75 per cent. of this estimated total (1.89 million people) have their diabetes diagnosed therefore there are an estimated 630,000 people who remain undiagnosed. QOF data is published annually.
Bob Spink: (1) To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give advice to primary care trusts on the number of glucose sticks diabetic patients should be prescribed in order to maintain proper control over their blood sugar levels; and if she will make a statement; [91553]
(2) if she will undertake research into the optimum number of times diabetes sufferers of various levels should test their blood; and if she will make a statement. [91554]
Ms Rosie Winterton: There are no national clinical guidelines on the number of times a person should test their blood glucose using blood glucose testing strips.
As with any medicine or appliance the responsibility for deciding what treatment is best for the patient rests with the clinician concerned, in consultation with the patient, informed by the patient's clinical history.
Individual need, choice and circumstances dictates the most appropriate form and frequency of testing as, given the clinical nature of diabetes, there are times when it is appropriate for people to test more frequently than is usual for them.
There are two key trials evaluating the efficacy of blood glucose monitoring in the management of diabetes. The Oxford trial, sponsored through the NHS Health Technology Assessment process, is due to report in 2007 and the DESMOND (Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Newly Diagnosed) trial, sponsored by Diabetes UK, is due to report in the winter of 2009.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is also currently reviewing its guidelines for Type 2 Diabetes—Management of blood glucose—which will be published early next year.
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