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19 Feb 2007 : Column 63W—continued


Mr. Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2007, Official Report, column 2048W, on sexual health, how many girls (a) under the age of 15 and (b) aged 15 to 18 years (i) had abortions, (ii) gave birth and (iii) were diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections in Walsall Primary Care Trust area in each year between 1999 and 2005. [117719]

Caroline Flint: The available information is shown in the following tables.

Figures are provided on number of conceptions leading to maternities and abortions for girls aged under 16 and girls aged under 18 from 1999 to 2004 (latest year for which figures are available) so that meaningful comparisons can be made on number of abortions and maternities that occur each year by age of woman. Conceptions data for girls aged under 15 and 15-18 are not readily available by primary care trust (PCT) and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. In addition, figures for girls aged under 15 are likely to be very small at PCT level and hence would not be provided to preserve individuals’ confidentiality.


19 Feb 2007 : Column 64W
Conceptions leading to maternities and abortions by age to residents of Walsall PCT, 1999-2004
Conceptions leading to maternity Conceptions leading to abortion Total conceptions

Girls aged under 16 year

1999

42

28

70

2000

33

24

57

2001

30

31

61

2002

30

24

54

2003

24

27

51

2004

21

17

38

Girls aged under 18

1999

223

100

323

2000

199

107

306

2001

184

106

290

2002

223

110

333

2003

205

106

311

2004

174

77

251


Total diagnoses of selected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics, amongst females aged under 20 years of age, Walsall teaching primary care trust, 1999-2005
Females under 20

1999

141

2000

130

2001

130

2002

195

2003

154

2004

141

2005

208

Note:
Selected STIs include: infectious syphilis, uncomplicated gonorrhoea, anogenital herpes simplex (first attack), anogenital warts (first attack) and uncomplicated chlamydial infection.
Source:
Data in these tables are derived from statistical returns compiled at GUM clinics on the KC60 form (Health Protection Agency).

Small Change, Big Difference Campaign

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2007, Official Report, columns 702-03W, on the Small Change, Big Difference Campaign, if she will breakdown the overall expenditure on the campaign by initiative. [112560]

Caroline Flint: The costs for initiatives branded Small Change, Big Difference were for events held in London in April 2006 and in Nottingham in July 2006 which totalled £5,009 and £5,327 respectively. In addition, we spent £3,000 on activities supporting both of these events.


19 Feb 2007 : Column 65W

South Staffs Healthcare NHS Trust

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the budget was for South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Trust for 2006-07; [111356]

(2) what the budget is for (a) Good Hope Hospital and (b) Sir Robert Peel Hospital in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. [111385]

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not available centrally.

The Department is able to take total income and net operating costs data from the organisations’ audited accounts, which can be used as a proxy for budget. However, 2006-07 income figures will not be available until autumn 2007 and 2007-08 data will not be available until autumn of 2008.

Strategic Health Authorities

Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will assess the merits of abolishing strategic health authorities; and if she will make a statement. [111485]

Andy Burnham: Following consultation that ended on 22 March 2006, the number of strategic health authorities (SHAs) reduced from 28 to 10 with effect from 1 July 2006. This new configuration will ensure the national health service is structurally able to deliver the next stage of health reforms.

Taken alongside the reorganisation of primary care trusts (PCTs), these changes will:

The new configuration of SHAs means they are better placed to oversee and support the development of more strategic PCTs and the move towards more NHS foundation trusts. In addition, through almost complete co-terminosity with Government Office of the Regions’ boundaries, joint working between health and local government agencies will be improved significantly.

Street Markets

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps the Department is taking to support and develop the role of local street markets in helping deliver its healthy eating policy; [111733]

(2) what assessment she has made of the potential role of local street markets in the Government's healthy eating strategy. [111734]

Caroline Flint: The extent of evidence on the effectiveness of local street markets in the Government's healthy eating strategy is limited. Anecdotal information, where mobile units have been
19 Feb 2007 : Column 66W
set up, suggests that they do have merit in deprived areas with low retail density.

To improve people's access to and raise awareness of fruit and vegetables, the Department has provided funding for community food initiatives in all primary care trusts (PCTs) from April 2006 as part of the ‘Choosing Health’ allocation to PCTs. These community initiatives followed on from the 66 Lottery-funded 5-A-day pilot initiatives. By working in different settings, including local street markets, these initiatives aim to make it easier for people to eat more fruit and vegetables and achieve their five portions a day.

Strokes

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were reported to have had a stroke and received treatment from the NHS in each (a) strategic health authority and (b) primary care trust in (i) 2003, (ii) 2004, (iii) 2005 and (iv) 2006. [111815]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Tobacco Packs

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of her consultation on the use of picture health warnings on tobacco packs. [112412]

Caroline Flint: The Department has received over 450 formal responses to the consultation on the introduction of picture warnings on tobacco packs. In addition, over 20,000 completed responses were logged on the website:

The majority of responses were in favour of the introduction of picture warnings.

The Department is currently finalising the detail of proposals to introduce picture warnings on tobacco packs. A full report on the consultation will be published alongside the final proposals.

Turnaround Teams

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason information on the amount her Department is funding for turnaround teams is no longer commercial in confidence; how much her Department (a) spent on turnaround teams in 2005-06 and (b) expects to spend on such teams in 2006-07; what estimate she has made of the total costs of turnaround support which needs to be met by individual NHS organisations; and if she will make a statement. [103354]

Andy Burnham: The information is no longer commercial in confidence as contracts are now in place and releasing this information does not jeopardise the tender process. Any new negotiating exercise would not be impacted by these contracts.

The Department will spend in 2005-06 and 2006-07 about £11 million on the turnaround programme at a national and strategic health authority (SHA) level covering local baseline assessments, a national programme office, one-off local support payments and SHA turnaround directors.


19 Feb 2007 : Column 67W

The local costs of £22.1 million for turnaround support were published in “Public Expenditure on Health and Personal Social Services 2006”—section 5.9, which is available at:

For category one and two organisations (as at May 2006), the estimated expenditure for external support on turnaround between January and March 2006 was £4,769,000. The projected costs for turnaround for the financial year 2006-07 is estimated to be £15,830,000. These costs include the Department’s contributions of £93,000 towards the cost of the first three months of turnaround support for the category one organisations.

For category three and four organisations (as at June 2006), the estimated expenditure for external support on turnaround between January and March 2006 was £173,000. The projected costs for turnaround for the financial year 2006-07 is estimated to be £1,306,000.

Volatile Substance Abuse Stakeholders Meeting

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of the Volatile Substance Abuse Stakeholders meeting on the research conducted by St. Georges University of London, referred to in her Answer of 25 October 2006, Official Report, column 1976W, on volatile substance abuse; and if she will make a statement. [110954]

Caroline Flint: The Volatile Substance Abuse (VSA) stakeholder group were informed at their meeting in December 2006 that the Department intended to renew its contract with St. George’s Hospital Medical School regarding the annual report on deaths associated with VSA. The new contract was signed on 20 December 2006.

Waiting Times

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the capacity of the NHS in (a) Cumbria and (b) Lancashire to meet the planned target of 18 weeks from referral to treatment by December 2008. [117600]

Andy Burnham: By December 2008, patients on consultant pathways can expect a maximum wait of 18 weeks from general practitioner referral to the start of medical or consultant led treatment. It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities to assess local programmes and determine local capacities to meet the delivery of this milestone.

West Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects West Hertfordshire NHS Trust to have no financial deficit. [112329]

Andy Burnham: Every national health service trust has a duty to achieve financial balance. West Hertfordshire NHS Trust is being supported by NHS East of England as well as a turnaround director as they implement their financial recovery plan to restore in-year balance.


19 Feb 2007 : Column 68W
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
(£000)

2005-06 annual accounts surplus (deficit)

(26,785)

2006-07 month three forecast outturn surplus (deficit)

(18,000)

2006-07 month six forecast outturn surplus (deficit)

(11,500)


Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of interest was paid on pre-existing debt by West Hertfordshire NHS Trust in each financial year since 1997. [112330]

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not available. Before 2006-07 brokerage was in place. From 2006-07, cash support to national health service trusts will be provided by interest bearing loans and deposits issued by the Department.

All long-term loans will attract interest at a rate equivalent to the National Loans Fund rate at the date the loan is advanced. The interest rate is determined by reference to the prevailing rate at the date the loan is drawn, as notified on the Public Works Loan Board website.

Loans requested by NHS trusts in 2006-07 are currently undergoing a review process and the interest rate cannot be determined prior to approval and formal letting of the loan.

NHS East of England has advised that they are not aware of any interest being paid by West Hertfordshire NHS Trust on pre-existing debts.


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