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21 Nov 2007 : Column 984W—continued
Self-Defence
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice by what means he intends to gather views from the general public as part of the review of the law of self-defence. [166012]
Maria Eagle: Ministers and officials have taken account of wider public views on the law of self-defence from a number of sources. This has included paying careful attention to the range of correspondence from the public on this issue, before and after the announcement of a review by the Secretary of State for Justice, received both directly from the public and through Members of Parliament. The review has also considered wider public debate on this subject, including in Parliament, where it has been the subject of four private Members’ Bills since 2003. Contributions to those debates have reflected wider public feeling.
In addition, Ministers are discussing this area of the law with practitioners, including the Crown Prosecution Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers, whose officers deal with members of the public directly in these cases. We are also seeking wider views through discussion with members of the Opposition. The Government’s aim is to conclude a review in time to bring forward amendments to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill before it completes its consideration in the House of Commons. This swift timetable means that a formal public consultation is not feasible.
Terrorism
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people convicted of terrorist offences have committed further crimes (a) since being released and (b) while on licence in each of the last three years. [163727]
Maria Eagle: Reoffending by discharged prisoners is measured annually on the basis of those discharged in the first quarter of every year. On this basis, only one person convicted with a terrorist offence under the Terrorism Acts of 2000 and 2006 has been discharged/released during this period.
Victim Support Schemes
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Victim Support scheme on Teesside and (b) other support schemes for victims of crime. [166591]
Maria Eagle: Victim Support carried out a service review of the scheme in Teesside this year which concluded that the scheme was performing satisfactorily.
Support schemes for victims of crime funded by Government grants are subject to terms and conditions and detailed monitoring arrangements.
Wormwood Scrubs: Telephones
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to inmates was of using payphones in HMP Wormwood Scrubs in each of the last 10 years for (a) UK and (b) overseas calls. [166015]
Maria Eagle: There is a national contract with British Telecom for HM Prison Service public sector prisons which sets the cost of calls for all prisons. Records are available dating back to the introduction of pin-phones to HMP Wormwood Scrubs in 2003. Information for the remaining period could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
From 2003 to the present date the cost of national and local calls within the UK is identical at 11p per minute (10p minimum charge for 55 seconds plus 1p for each 5.5 seconds or part thereof).
BT International calls are charged at rates ranging from 75p per minute to £3 per minute, depending on the destination of the call.
HMP Wormwood Scrubs is one of around 75 establishments which also operate the authorised international calling card system. The card can be purchased by prisoners through the prison shop and is available in two dominations, currently £3 and £5,
Rates to each country are set out in Chapter 4 of Prison Service Order 4400, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
Calls to mobiles within the UK are charged at the following rates:
| Pence | |
Young Offenders
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to increase the time spent by young offenders in the youth prison estate (a) playing team sports, (b) on educational activity and (c) outside cells. [166172]
Maria Eagle: Young people in young offender institution accommodation commissioned by the Youth Justice Board must be given 25 hours’ learning per week and spend less than 14 hours per day locked in their room. Physical education—often with opportunity for team sports—is provided both within the learning hours and in recreation. There are no plans to increase the hours given to learning and time out of room.
Young Offenders: Drugs
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of persons in young offender institutions are drug addicts. [166171]
Mr. Hanson: Data on the number of prisoners in young offender institutions, who are drug dependent is not recorded. Instead, the National Offender Management Service relies on epidemiological research which has previously shown 76 per cent. of young male offenders aged 18-21 assessed (within a young offender institution) as being dependent on at least one drug.
Health
St Helier Hospital: Doctors
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student doctors were based at St. Helier hospital, Surrey in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [164056]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department.
St Helier Hospital: Hospital Beds
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reductions there have been in the number of beds at St Helier hospital, Surrey in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [164052]
Dawn Primarolo: This information is not held centrally by the Department.
St Helier Hospital: ICT
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the full cost was of the installation of the centralised computer booking system at St Helier hospital, Surrey. [164057]
Dawn Primarolo: This information is not held centrally by the Department. It is for the local national health service to decide on information technology systems.
Ambulance Services
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to ambulance trusts on the management and roles of emergency care practitioners. [162616]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department has not issued guidance to ambulance trusts on the management and roles of emergency care practitioners. However, there are a number of reports and documents that will help the national health service to develop the roles of this important staff group. In particular, the Modernisation Agency published a report in 2004 to raise awareness of the role of emergency care practitioners and their potential impact and Skills for Health has recently published a framework document “Competence and Curriculum Framework for the Emergency Care Practitioner” (July 2007).
Ambulance Services: South East Coast Strategic Health Authority
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 17 October 2007, Official Report, column 1162W, on Ambulance Services, South East Coast Strategic Health Authority, if he will list the publications to which the answer refers; and if he will place in the Library copies of such publications. [164563]
Dawn Primarolo: As stated in my answer of 17 October, this is a matter for the local national health service. I have therefore asked the chief executive of West Sussex primary care trust to write to the hon. Member about this matter.
Aortic Aneurysm: Males
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what analysis he has made of the (a) merits and (b) costs of screening men aged 65 years or over for aortic aneurysm; [163681]
(2) what estimate he has made of how many lives might be saved each year if universal screening for aortic aneurysm in men aged 65 years or over was available across the national health service; [163682]
(3) with reference to the answer of 25 April 2007, Official Report, column 1192W, on abdominal aortic aneurysm, what further steps he has taken following
the recommendation of the National Screening Committee that a national screening policy should be implemented by his Department for abdominal aortic aneurysm. [163999]
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to introduce a screening programme for abdominal aortic aneurysms in older men. [163935]
Ann Keen: The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (NSC) has advised that screening men aged 65 for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) can be recommended in principle. Before making its recommendation, the NSC considered the evidence, merits and costs of introducing the screening programme against its internationally recognised criteria.
Detailed work is being undertaken in developing proposals for AAA screening in England, to assess the practical implications. This assessment is taking into account the likely impact of a screening programme on existing healthcare services and the infrastructure and staffing requirements in order for a programme to be safely introduced. Such assessments are undertaken before major screening policy decisions are made.
Initial findings have suggested that around 700 deaths could be prevented 10 years after screening is introduced, rising eventually to around 1,600 per year.
Arhythmic Death Syndrome
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is being done to raise awareness of and tackle, sudden arhythmic death syndrome. [164004]
Ann Keen: In 2005, the Department issued an additional Chapter to the Coronary Heart Disease National Service Framework (CHD NSF), launched in 2000. The additional chapter, chapter 8, covers arhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Chapter 8 sets out quality requirements and markers of good practice in developing and delivering services in this area.
Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust: Hygiene
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of standards of cleanliness at Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Hospital Trust; and if he will make a statement. [162989]
Ann Keen: The following table shows the national health service’s Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) assessments for levels of cleanliness at Barnet hospital and Chase Farm hospital from 2001.
Cancer: Copeland
Mr. Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times were for (a) cancer and (b) cardiac operations in Copeland in each of the last five years. [163019]
Ann Keen: The information is not available in the requested format. In England since March 2005, no patient has waited for more than three months for cardiac surgery. As at June 2007, 95.7 per cent. of patients at the North Cumbria Acute Hospital NHS Trust received their cancer treatment within two months of referral.
Childbirth: East Sussex
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies were born while their mothers were in transit to (a) Eastbourne District General Hospital and (b) Conquest Hospital Hastings in the latest period for which figures are available. [165329]
Dawn Primarolo: This information is not collected centrally.
Chiropody: East Sussex
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to improve NHS chiropody services in (a) Eastbourne and (b) East Sussex. [165310]
Dawn Primarolo: It is for local primary care trusts in conjunction with other local stakeholders and their strategic health authorities to commission services for the local community, including chiropody services.
The hon. Member may wish to contact the chief executive of East Sussex and Downs Weald Primary Care Trust, which commissions services for Eastbourne and East Sussex.
Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have held with the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection since 21 September; whether they have discussed the European Commission's proposals for a directive on cross-border health care; and if he will make a statement. [166579]
Dawn Primarolo:
There have been ongoing discussions for several years within the European Union (EU) about the provision of cross-border health care in the light of existing case law on patient mobility. The Secretary of State will next meet the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection on 20 November to discuss, among other issues, the forthcoming proposal regarding a general framework for the provision of cross-border health care within the EU. In future discussions
on the proposal, the Department will work to protect the United Kingdom's interests, emphasising the need for any European legislation in this area to be proportionate.
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