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8 May 2007 : Column 167W—continued
Surgery: Training
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Royal Colleges on the training of surgeons in modern techniques to treat knife wounds and gunshot traumas. [132718]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Government do not specify the content of the surgical curriculum. This is the job of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB), which is the competent authority for postgraduate medical training in the United Kingdom. PMETB is an independent professional body.
PMETB has agreed with the Royal College of Surgeons syllabi for all surgical specialties. This includes the general surgery syllabus which covers the topics of emergency trauma and the assessment and management of blunt and penetrating injury.
Testicular Cancer: Testosterone
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department’s policy is on testing men for low testosterone following treatment for testicular cancer. [132167]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department has not issued guidance on testing men for low testosterone following treatment for testicular cancer.
In the majority of cases, men who have one testicle removed because of testicular cancer do not experience problems with low testosterone levels. Men who have both testicles removed will usually need some form of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Some men who have received chemotherapy for the treatment of their testicular cancer may also develop problems related to low testosterone levels.
The range for normal testosterone levels is very wide and this can create difficulties in assessing what constitutes sufficiently low testosterone levels for TRT to be required.
The Department is aware that a working party of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Radiologists is currently preparing guidance on this topic.
This is an issue which will also be considered alongside other long-term survivorship issues as part of the cancer reform strategy.
Any man who is concerned about low testosterone levels should consult their clinician.
Written Questions
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to reply to Question 111917, on the best treatments service, tabled by the hon. Member for Dartford on 25 January 2007. [133224]
Ms Rosie Winterton: A reply was given on 20 April 2007.
Work and Pensions
Council Tax and Housing Benefits
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many claimants had their council tax benefit reduced for earning over the earnings disregard level in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the value of those reductions was; [136182]
(2) how many claimants had their housing benefit reduced for earning over the earnings disregard level in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the value was of those reductions. [136280]
Mr. Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested. The most recent available information on those recipients who are subject to a disregard and have earnings brought to account in their assessment are in the table. Information on the value of the deductions is not available.
| Housing benefit and council tax benefit recipients with earnings brought to account in Great Britain, as at May 2004 | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest thousand. 2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 3. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. 4. Council tax benefit figures exclude any second adult rebate cases. 5. The figures are for cases where the claimant and/or partner (if applicable) have income from earnings. 6. The amount of earnings brought to account is the amount after all disregards for earnings and disregards for child care where applicable. Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2004. | |
Crisis Loans: Telephone Services
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Crisis Loans Direct helplines there are; what their hours of operation are; how many lines each helpline has; how many staff operate each helpline; and how many calls to each helpline were aborted in the last 12 months. [133773]
Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.
Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 8 May 2007:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about Social Fund telephony. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. It is intended that by March 2008 Crisis loan applications will be dealt with by 20 Benefit Delivery Centres (BDC) delivering Social Fund nationally. To date 12 Social Fund Delivery Centres have rolled out. This is a new service giving our customers the opportunity to make a claim and receive a decision in the course of a 20 minute telephone call.
Benefit Delivery Centres answer calls Monday to Friday, between 9.00 a.m. and 5 p.m. (10.00 a.m. Wednesday) The amount of lines and the number of staff operating these lines will vary depending on the telephony systems in place at each BDC. The number of staff in BDCs taking calls will fluctuate in response to demands on the service. We do not have statistics on how many calls are aborted.
Departments: Marketing
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2007, Official Report, column 1064W, on Departments: marketing, if he will place in the Library (a) a copy of the guidelines issued to staff on maintaining his Department's corporate identity and (b) a copy of the final 2004 report on the review of his Department's corporate image. [133917]
Mrs. McGuire: As requested, a copy of the DWP Brand Identity Guidelines has been placed in the Library.
The Department carried out a review of its corporate identity and supporting brands in 2004. This was conducted by the Central Office of Information (COI) and comprised research which led to the development of a revised strategy on the use of our brands. This work helped to rationalise our existing brands, the purpose being to improve the customers' experience of the Department and its agencies. This resulted in changes to our corporate identity, which cost £92,751 to implement. A summary of the research report will be placed in the House.
Departments: Pressure Groups
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what meetings took place between Ministers and outside interest groups between 1 January and 31 March; and what the date of each such meeting was. [131037]
Mrs. McGuire: The following tables detail all meeting with outside interest groups between 1 January and 31 March 2007.
| Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | ||
| Date of meeting | Outside interest group | Reason for meeting |
| Minister for Pension Reform | ||
| Date of meeting | Outside interest group | Reason for meeting |
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