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20 Feb 2007 : Column 648Wcontinued
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 Departments emissions; and if she will make a statement. [116382]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Carbon emitted due to the Departments 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 Departments 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 Departments 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
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.
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:
£27,024 was spent by the Health and Safety Executive on dealing with enquiries through its Gas Safety Advice Line and HSE Infoline;
£16,000 funding towards CO-GAS Safety was provided by Department of Health and a further £13,332 on a new leaflet for the public available within GP surgeries in England;
The Chief Medical Officer issued an update on carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning to all doctors registered with the General Medical Council in England;
Domestic gas safety was added to The Home Fire Risk Check initiative of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, (now Communities and Local Government). This led to a number of fire services installing free CO alarms and drawing attention to gas safety issues when making home visits.
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.
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.
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.
Number of cases | |
(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.
Source:
Trend in total reports of Clostridium difficile:
www.hpa.org.uk/.../topics_az/clostridium_difficile/c_diff_reports_isolated_faecal_specimens_england_W.htm
2. Mandatory surveillance of healthcare associated infections report 2006:
www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hai/MandSurvHCAI2006.pdf
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 |
Median waiting time (weeks) | ||||
Month ending | Year | Inpatient ordinary | Inpatient day case | Outpatient |
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:
1. Tower Hamlets (London Independent hospital)fixed site
2. Tower Hamlets (London Independent hospital)mobile site
3. City and Hackney (John Scott Health Centre)fixed site
4. City and Hackney (John Scott Health Centre)mobile site
5. City and Hackney (St. Leonards hospital)fixed site
6. City and Hackney (St. Leonards hospital)mobile site
7. Newham (Appleby Health Centre)fixed site
8. Newham (The Centre)fixed site
9. Redbridge (North Middlesex hospital)mobile site
10. Barnet (Barnet MRI Centre)fixed site
11. Barnet (Garden hospital)fixed site
12. Enfield (Kings Oak hospital)fixed/mobile site
13. Camden/Islington (London Imaging Centre)fixed site
14. Camden/Islington (Kings Cross Walk-in Centre)fixed site
15. Blackheath (Blackheath hospital)fixed site
16. Beckenham (The Sloane hospital)fixed site
17. Inner London (The London MRI Centre)fixed site
18. Inner London (Central Middlesex ACAD)fixed site
19. Outer London (Northwick Park hospital)fixed site
20. Outer London (Northwick Park hospital)mobile site
21. Outer London (Clementine Churchill hospital)fixed site
22. Outer London (Bishops Wood hospital)mobile site
23. Croydon (Mayday hospital)fixed site
24. Croydon (Shirley Oaks hospital)fixed site
25. Croydon (Shirley Oaks hospital)mobile site
Services will be provided in the West Midlands from mobile diagnostic centres. Sixteen out of an expected 49 sites have now been finalised:
1. Ledbury (Ledbury RFC)
3. Oswestry (Gobewen Road Car Park)
4. Ludlow (South Shropshire Leisure Centre)
5. Nuneaton (North Warwickshire and Hinckley College)
6. Ross-on-Wye (Homs Care Park)
7. Wolverhampton (Molineux Stadium)
8. Smethwick (Warley Rugby Club)
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