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25 Oct 2006 : Column 1980W—continued
The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of in-patient admissions to Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport in each of the last three years were recorded as alcohol-related. [94102]
Caroline Flint: Then information is not available in the format requested. However, the number of alcohol related admissions at the Stockport National Health Service Foundation Trust is as follows:
| Alcohol related admissions | Percentage | |
| Notes: 1. Finished admission episodes: A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, i.e. the data are ungrossed. 3. Codes used for alcohol-related admissions: F10—mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol K70—alcoholic liver disease T51—toxic effect of alcohol. 4. Diagnosis (primary diagnosis): The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) dataset and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care | ||
Turnaround Teams
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many staff are employed by each turnaround team; and what is the breakdown by profession of each team; [92819]
(2) how much (a) has been spent so far and (b) is estimated to be spent over the next 12 months by the NHS on turnaround teams; and how much has been spent by (i) her Department, (ii) individual NHS trusts, (iii) strategic health authorities and (iv) other bodies in relation to such teams; [92820]
(3) what assessment she has made of the value for money of turnaround teams in the NHS; and if she will make a statement. [92821]
Andy Burnham: A number of hospital trusts and primary care trusts have estimated the relationship between the spending on turnaround and the savings made. These indicate that the average spend as a percentage of in-year savings is 3 per cent. The majority of the savings are recurrent and so will be made in future financial savings while the spend on turnaround is usually entirely one-off expenditure. These estimates have been based upon a small sample group and therefore must be treated with caution.
Turnaround plans are owned and developed locally, with the support of external advisers. PCTs/Trusts take local responsibility for selecting and procuring advisors through formal tender processes and tailor these teams to the scale and type of local requirements.
The Department will spend in 2005-06 and 2006-07 about £11 million (excluding value added tax and expenses) on the turnaround programme at a national and strategic health authority level covering local baseline assessments, a national programme office, one-off local support payments and SHA turnaround directors.
Volatile Substance Abuse
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will seek to legislate to reduce the size of the can in which butane cigarette lighter fuel can be sold. [94209]
Caroline Flint: We are working closely with the industry supplying cigarette lighter refills to identify the most practicable way of making these less susceptible to abuse, with a view to reaching a voluntary agreement on the way forward.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken to implement the volatile substance abusers framework since June 2005. [94210]
Caroline Flint: Since the volatile substance abusers (VSA) framework was published in July 2005, three working groups involving stakeholders have been established to help Government Departments implement and develop further the priority actions set out in the framework. There are three groups—butane, education and communication, and workforce planning.
We expect to discuss progress to date and priorities for further action with our VSA stakeholders' group before the end of this year. Good progress has been made in including VSA issues within the FRANK campaign, including its helpline. Progress has been made in identifying research needs, with a study on the views of young people themselves having been published in March 2006. Work is under way to identify options further to limit the availability of butane refills for abuse by young people, including better enforcement of the current legal restrictions on sale to young people under 18.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will reissue the Health Promotion Agency leaflets giving information for retailers on the dangers of volatile substance abuse. [94212]
Caroline Flint: While this was not a recommendation in the volatile substance abuse framework published in July 2005, we will discuss the priority to be given to this proposal with stakeholders.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government have renewed the contract with St George's, university of London, to produce the annual report ‘Trends in Death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances for the year 2005’; when the contract for developing Network VSA will be let; and how it will be monitored. [94213]
Caroline Flint: The Department supports and values the work undertaken by St. George's university of London who produce the annual report on deaths associated with volatile substance abuse. The Department is currently in the process of making arrangements for the renewal of a contract.
The idea of a project for developing the Network VSA was part of the framework published in 2005. Budget changes have prevented any early decision being taken on the letting of the contract. The issue will be considered alongside other proposals at the next volatile substance abuse stakeholders' meeting, which will be held shortly.
Welfare Food Scheme
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government has taken to raise awareness of the Welfare Food Scheme amongst pregnant women. [93692]
Caroline Flint: Awareness of the Welfare Food Scheme has been promoted to pregnant women in a number of ways. The booklet entitled ‘Free Milk for pregnant women’ is widely available in doctors’ surgeries, health clinics, Job Centre Plus offices, Citizens Advice Bureaus as well as through health visitors and midwives. In addition, posters promoting this scheme have also been made widely available. All relevant Department of Health publications refer to the availability of free milk for pregnant women.
The Welfare Food Scheme will become the Healthy Start scheme in November this year. Under Healthy Start, there will be enhanced promotion of the availability of Healthy Start vouchers for all eligible pregnant women including pregnant women under 18. Health professionals will receive an information pack to help them signpost the scheme to relevant families, and help them get the most out of the scheme.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of qualifying pregnant women claim the free vitamins to which they are entitled under the Welfare Food Scheme and Healthy Start. [93693]
Caroline Flint: The proportion of eligible pregnant women claiming free vitamins cannot be estimated, as there has not been a dedicated women's vitamin supplement available under the Welfare Food Scheme for several years. Pregnant women have been directed to their GP to obtain a prescription for vitamins, if this is required.
Free Healthy Start vitamin supplements for beneficiaries of the scheme are expected to be available for children in late 2006 and for women in mid 2007.
Women's vitamin tablets will be offered to beneficiaries who are pregnant or have recently had a baby. This vitamin supplement will be provided to women for up to 12 months following the birth of their baby. Children will be entitled to vitamin drops from six months to four years under Healthy Start.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many retail outlets in England (a) accept milk tokens under the Welfare Food Scheme and (b) will accept vouchers under the Healthy Start Scheme from November. [93694]
Caroline Flint: The approximate number of retailers that accept milk tokens in Great Britain is 19,100 of which 15,250 are estimated to be in England. Some of these retailers have multiple retail outlets across Great Britain (GB).
Under Healthy Start the recruitment target for retailers across GB is 35,000 covering over 40,000 retail outlets. Based on the current proportions under the welfare food scheme, the number of participating Healthy Start retailers in England is expected to be about 29,000.
Approximately 1,000 retailers are participating in phase one of Healthy Start, introduced in Devon and Cornwall on 28 November 2005. This compares to 500 registered under the previous welfare food scheme.
Worthing Hospital
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect she expects the proposed changes to services offered by Worthing hospital to have on the NHS South East Coast strategic health authority deficit. [93275]
Caroline Flint: The configuration of hospital services in Worthing and financial position of NHS South East Coast are matters for the local national health service.
Home Department
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Mr. Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been granted in (a) Derbyshire and (b) Bolsover constituency since their introduction. [96341]
Mr. McNulty: A table giving the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued annually, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, by the local government authority area in which prohibitions have been imposed, up to 30 September 2005 (latest available), can be found on the Crime Reduction website at www.crimereduction.gov.uk. ASBO data are not available at parliamentary constituency level.
Asylum/Immigration
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on returning Tamil asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [94885]
Mr. Byrne: All asylum and human rights applications from Tamils are considered by the Home Office on their individual merits, in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and against the background of the latest available objective country of origin information.
In common with other failed asylum seekers, Tamils found not to be in need of international protection after consideration of their case, and who have exhausted any appeal rights they might have within the UK, are expected to leave the UK and may have their removal enforced.
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the nationalities were of applicants for leave to remain in the UK in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06. [95065]
Mr. Byrne: The requested information is contained in the lists.
In-country applications for all leave to remain categories in the UK by nationality for the following dates:
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Citizen
British National (Overseas)
British Overseas Citizen
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia (Kampuchea)
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China (Peoples Republic of China)
Colombia
Congo
Congo Democratic Republic
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus (excluding Turkish Republic of North Cyprus)
Czech Republic
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
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