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28 Nov 2006 : Column 569W—continued
Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The table below details information on the incidence of prostate cancer (ICD-10C61) in Northern Ireland since 1993. Information is not available prior to 1993.
| Table 1: Prostate cancer incidence in Northern Ireland, 1993-2004 | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a cancer diagnosed in Northern Ireland for a particular period. 2. Incidence of prostate cancer are identified using version 10 of the international classification of diseases and related health problems (ICD10). The code for prostate cancer is C61. | |
This information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and is the most up-to-date currently available.
(b) Table 2 gives the number of deaths due to prostate cancer registered in Northern Ireland over the last 20 years.
| Table 2: Deaths in Northern Ireland due to prostate cancer( 1) | |
| Registration year | Number |
| (1 )International Classification of Diseases. Tenth Revision codes C61 for years 2001-2005 and Ninth Revision code 185 for years 1986-2000. (2 )Provisional. | |
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of people in the Province with prostate cancer who may be suitable for treatment with docetaxel. [103429]
Paul Goggins: An assessment of the potential demand for docetaxel in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer was conducted by the Oncology and Haematology Drugs and Therapeutics Committee at Belfast City Hospital earlier this year. It is estimated that annually between 50 and 60 patients in Northern Ireland will be suitable for treatment with this drug. Health and social services boards have agreed recurrent funding of £195,000 to meet the costs of introducing docetaxel for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are diagnosed as having prostate cancer. [103430]
Paul Goggins: There were 6,685 men diagnosed in Northern Ireland with prostate cancer between the start of 1993 and the end of 2004. At the end of 2004 3,435 of these cancer patients were still alive.
This figure may represent an undercount of the actual number of people living with prostate cancer as those diagnosed prior to 1993 or after 2004 are not included. Additionally incidence of prostate cancer are increasing, mainly due to the increased use of PS A testing. This may indicate an undercount in incidence of prostate cancer prior to 1999 and thus a further undercount in prevalence figures.
This information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and is the most up to date currently available.
Chancellor's Financial Package
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings have taken place between senior officials in the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Treasury regarding the Chancellor’s Financial Package for Northern Ireland; what issues were discussed; and whether further meetings are planned. [102605]
Mr. Hanson: As part of normal business, there is regular contact, in the form of meetings and other communications, between senior officials from the Department of Finance and Personnel and HM Treasury. In recent weeks these contacts have included discussion of issues relevant to the content of a financial package in the context of restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland as envisaged in the St. Andrews Agreement and following the Chancellor’s announcement on 1 November. I anticipate that officials will continue to have contact with HM Treasury on this matter.
Community Restorative Justice Programmes
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the extent will be of police involvement in the day to day administration of the proposed community restorative justice programmes in Northern Ireland. [100817]
Mr. Hanson:
A protocol for Community-based Restorative Justice schemes is currently the subject of a public consultation and equality impact assessment
which concludes on 13 December 2006. The protocol unequivocally requires the involvement of the police in all cases where schemes seek to address criminal offences.
Craigavon Bridge (Gas Pipeline)
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a decision will be made on Firmus Energy’s proposal to build a natural gas pipeline across Craigavon Bridge in Derry. [102368]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malclm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
Letter from Malcolm McKibbin, dated 28 November 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding when a decision will be made on the Firmus Energy proposal to build a natural gas pipeline across Craigavon Bridge in Derry. As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
By way of some background, I can advise that Roads Service met with Firmus Energy on 30 May 2006 and agreed that a gas pipeline could be constructed across Craigavon Bridge. This agreement was subject to Technical Approval being granted and agreement on all temporary traffic management arrangements being reached.
Firmus subsequently applied for Technical Approval and on 21 November 2006 the Agreement in Principle to their outline proposals was issued. On receipt of their Design and Check certificates to cover their proposals, approval will be given for them to proceed, subject to preparation of approved temporary Traffic Management Plans.
Discussions are currently ongoing with our local Traffic Section, with further meetings due in the near future, to plan the traffic management arrangements to minimise disruption. I am sure you will appreciate the importance of ensuring traffic disruption on this key route in the City is minimized, during the pipe installation work.
In anticipation of meeting the necessary requirements, it has been agreed that work may commence on 15 January 2007, after the embargo on all non emergency road works during the Christmas period has been lifted.
Diabetes
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which health boards and trusts in Northern Ireland have developed managed clinical networks for children with diabetes. [103361]
Paul Goggins: Priorities for Action 2006-08, which sets out the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s planning framework for the development of services, called on the Health and Social Services Boards to develop and implement a managed clinical network for children with diabetes. The Southern Health and Social Services Board have taken the lead in developing a network on behalf of all four Boards and the Board is working with health care professionals from across Northern Ireland to develop clinical guidelines and look at the IT infrastructure needed to support a network. It is expected that a fully costed proposal for a managed clinical network for children with diabetes will be finalised within the next few months.
Domestic Water Bills
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the capital-based element of the new system of domestic water bills will vary according to the location of the property irrespective of the cost of providing water. [104131]
David Cairns: The unmeasured domestic water and sewerage charges to be introduced in Northern Ireland from 1 April 2007 will be made up of a standing charge and a variable element calculated on the basis of the property capital value as follows:
Water Charge=(Water Standing Charge)+(Water capital value Rate)x(Property Capital Value)
Sewerage Charge=(Sewerage Standing Charge)+(Sewerage capital value Rate)x(Property Capital Value)
The water capital value rate and the sewerage capital value rate will each be a single set rate for all unmeasured domestic customers in Northern Ireland. The level of the variable element of the charges will depend only on the property capital value. Setting a single rate for unmeasured charges irrespective of location is similar to setting volumetric charges for water and sewerage which do not vary according to the location of the property.
First-time Buyers
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to help first time homebuyers in Northern Ireland. [104369]
Mr. Hanson: A number of initiatives have recently been introduced to assist first time buyers in Northern Ireland. The Co-ownership scheme, which has, since 1978, assisted almost 20,000 mainly first time buyers to become home owners, was amended earlier this year to make it more accessible for people on lower incomes while the starting threshold for stamp duty on property was increased to £125,000. In addition an independent housing affordability review has been initiated. This will look at barriers affecting those seeking affordable housing in both owner occupied, social and private rented sectors and make recommendations as to how these might be overcome. A progress report will be completed in December and the final recommendations will be presented to Government next spring.
Genito-urinary Medicine
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what consideration has been given to setting up a genito-urinary medicine clinic in the (a) South and (b) East Belfast area; [103488]
(2) what plans there are to increase the number of locations around the Province where genito-urinary medicine services are provided. [103492]
Paul Goggins:
In April 2006 DHSSPS asked the four health and social services boards to jointly undertake a review of sexual health/GUM services in Northern Ireland. This review has been completed and a report submitted to the Department. This report will be used, in conjunction with on-going work by the
Department's Service Delivery Unit, to make decisions about future service provision.
George Bruce Kelso
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Central Services Agency inquiry into the performance of dentist George Bruce Kelso. [103480]
Paul Goggins: The Central Services Agency (CSA) undertook part of the investigation into the performance of George Bruce Kelso on behalf of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB). Initially this involved analysis of Mr. Kelso’s pattern of dental treatment and calling in patient record cards and radiographs. Following the decision of the police in 2002 to discontinue their investigation into Mr. Kelso, the CSA assisted the EHSSB by compiling all the available records, reports, correspondence, claims and radiographs into a single master file in electronic format. This was a substantial task which was performed to a high standard. This master file was submitted to the General Dental Council (GDC) in June 2004 by the EHSSB. The Chairman of the Professional Conduct Committee of the GDC, while passing judgment on Mr. Kelso, stated ‘the standard of evidence from the CSA was clear and detailed’.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of George Bruce Kelso’s patients are without a dental practice as a result of his being struck off the dental registry. [103481]
Paul Goggins: Central Services Agency records from November 2006 indicate that 1,077 of Mr. Kelso’s patients have not registered with another dentist.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Central Services Agency became aware that 14 The Square, Portaferry was not being used for NHS dental services provision. [103483]
Paul Goggins: Mr. Kelso withdrew his name from the dental list at 14 the Square Portaferry with effect from 31 January 2001. The Central Services Agency would have been aware of this fact in January 2001.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid out of NHS funds for dental services provided at 14 The Square, Portaferry in each of the last six years. [103484]
Paul Goggins: No health service finding has been paid for dental services at 14 The Square Portaferry over the past six years.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the actions of dentist George Bruce Kelso have been the subject of a police investigation. [103449]
Paul Goggins: I can confirm that the actions of dentist George Bruce Kelso have been the subject of a police investigation. Mr. Kelso’s case was referred to the RUC in 1999 as fraud was suspected. The PSNI decided in 2002 not to pursue the case further.
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