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20 Feb 2007 : Column 648W—continued

Carbon Emissions

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department began to measure its carbon emissions; what the volume of those emissions was in the last period for which figures are available; when her Department started to offset those emissions; what the cost is expected to be of offsetting her Department’s emissions; and if she will make a statement. [116382]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: Carbon emitted due to the Department’s use of energy in its buildings has been calculated since 1999-2000. In 2005-06 the total emissions from our London administrative estate were 1,808,162 kgC (this figure has been weather corrected). Since April 2006 all central Government official and ministerial air travel has been brought within offsetting schemes. In 2006 the Department’s CO2 emissions from air travel amounted to 1,287,017 kgC. At present estimates the cost of offsetting these emissions will be about £13,000.

Along with other Government Departments, this Department is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its London administrative estate by 2012, as set out in the new energy targets published in May 2006. These targets are designed to deliver a step change sustainability improvement in the way Government manage their land and buildings, and to demonstrate that Government should lead by example on tackling dangerous climate change. We already purchase 100 per cent. of our energy from renewable sources, and are currently working with the Carbon Trust and others to minimise our overall energy use. We are also taking measures (such as video conferencing) to encourage staff to reduce their travel. Carbon emissions from unavoidable energy consumption will be offset from 2012.

These emission figures relate only to the Department’s main London estate. The Department also occupies a building in Leeds, where the major occupier is Department of Work and Pensions, and another building in London where the major occupier
20 Feb 2007 : Column 649W
is HM Revenue and Customs. In both these buildings the cost of utilities such as gas, electricity and water are included in the rental, and we do not have details of the actual consumption incurred in those parts of the building occupied by departmental staff. Where we do not have direct control over utilities we nevertheless do whatever we can, such as by encouraging our staff to save energy, to reduce the overall CO2 emissions from these buildings.

Carbon Monoxide

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent in each Government office region on raising awareness of carbon monoxide amongst home owners in 2005-06. [118796]

Mrs. McGuire: I have been asked to reply.

This information is not available in the format requested. However, some information is available on national initiatives as follows:

Most recently, following a call from the Government, the gas industry has agreed to renewed action on co-ordinated publicity to raise further awareness of gas safety risks in the home.

Christmas Tree

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health why there was no official Christmas tree at Richmond House for the 2006 Christmastide. [112548]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: There were two official Christmas trees at Richmond House for the 2006 Christmastide.

Clostridium Difficile

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Clostridium difficile infections there have been in England in each year since 1997. [115023]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Health Protection Agency receives reports from microbiology laboratories of cases of Clostridium difficile infections under the voluntary and mandatory schemes.

Data from the voluntary surveillance scheme for England from 1999 to 2005 are shown in the following table. It is not clear how much of the increase in the number of reports is due to increased awareness, better testing techniques and improved reporting of cases, or to an actual rise in Clostridium difficile incidences.


20 Feb 2007 : Column 650W
Number of cases

1999

17,279

2000

18,812

2001

20,064

2002

26,357

2003

33,201

2004

40,401

2005(1)

46,501

(1) Provisional totals

In addition to collection of voluntary reporting, mandatory surveillance of Clostridium difficile associated disease in adults aged 65 and over, by all acute national health service trusts in England, began in January 2004. The annual totals of Clostridium difficile associated disease in adults aged 65 and over have been published, and were 44,107 cases in 2004 and 51,690 cases in 2005.

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust: Waiting Lists

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for (a) in-patient, (b) day cases and (c) out-patient appointments in Darlington Memorial hospital in each year since 1992. [118530]

Andy Burnham: The information requested is available at trust-level only. Median waiting times for the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust and its predecessor trusts are set out in the following tables. The first data available for the Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust are for 1994.

Provider based median waiting times: 1994-98, Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Median waiting time (weeks)
Month ending Year Inpatient ordinary Inpatient day case Outpatient

June

1994

18.6

16.6

5.3

March

1995

15.8

13.0

5.3

March

1996

11.0

10.8

6.3

March

1997

10.9

11.3

7.1

March

1998

12.0

12.5

4.2


Median waiting time (weeks)
Month ending Year Inpatient ordinary Inpatient day case Outpatient

March

1999

12.5

10.2

6.2

March

2000

12.8

10.3

6.7

March

2001

11.2

7.7

5.1

March

2002

12.6

8.9

4.8

March

2003

10.9

8.1

4.3



20 Feb 2007 : Column 651W
Median waiting time (weeks)
Month ending Year Inpatient ordinary Inpatient day case Outpatient

March

2004

10.6

9.0

5.6

March

2005

8.9

6.5

6.5

March

2006

6.9

5.4

4.7

September

2006

7.5

5.5

4.3

December

2006

7.4

5.0

n/a

Notes:
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust was established in April 1994.
It merged with Bishop Auckland Hospital NHS Trust in April 1998 and took over aspects of community services to form South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust South Durham Healthcare merged with North Durham Healthcare NHS Trust in October 2002 following the Darzi review.
Inpatient waiting time based on median wait of those still waiting at end of period.
Outpatient waiting times based on time waited for those seen during the quarter.
Source:
Department of Health, KH07 and QMO8s

Diagnostics

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2007, Official Report, column 1163W, on diagnostic tests, where the sites are which strategic health authorities and primary care trusts have confirmed they will require services. [118216]

Andy Burnham: The London and West Midlands phase two diagnostic schemes have had sites finalised. The location of sites for the remaining schemes are subject to further negotiation.

In London, it is expected that there will be 46 activity delivery locations of which 25 are finalised:

Services will be provided in the West Midlands from mobile diagnostic centres. Sixteen out of an expected 49 sites have now been finalised:


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