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29 Jan 2008 : Column 331W—continued
Departmental Publicity
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department and its agencies spent on managing their corporate identities in the last 12 month period for which figures are available. [167349]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department spent £248,181 on managing the Department's and national health service's corporate identities in 2006-07.
The two agencies that receive funding from the Department are The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA).
The MHRA has informed me that it does not employ any staff whose sole responsibility it is to manage its
branding guidelines, nor does it currently retain consultants to advise on the development of corporate identity guidelines. The agency has produced a clear set of branding guidelines, which are available to all staff, and which all staff are expected to follow when producing printed or electronic items. Maintaining and advising on the guidelines is the responsibility of one member of staff within the Communications Division, alongside many other more substantial duties.
NHS PASA uses the NHS logo and corporate identity, in line with the published NHS identity guidelines, and has informed me that it manages its identity internally with no external spend.
Doctors: Manpower
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the numbers of (a) doctors and (b) dentists who the NHS requires to be (i) recruited and (ii) trained in each of the next three years; and what percentage of (A) doctors and (B) dentists are expected to graduate from (1) medical schools and (2) dental schools in the UK in each of those years. [165560]
Ann Keen: The numbers of doctors and dentists who the national health service requires to be recruited each year is a matter for determination by local NHS organisations, as they are best placed to assess the health needs of their local health community.
There is a planned intake of 6,194 students to train as doctors in each of the next three years. However the actual intake figure is usually slightly higher.
There is a planned intake of 899 students to train as dentists in each of the next three years.
It is estimated that in each of the three academic years from 2007-08 there is expected to be 5,681, 5,818 and 5,874 graduates respectively from medical schools while the number of graduates from English dental schools will increase from around 640 to 860.
Drugs: Testing
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have been held with the Nigerian Government on the testing of Trovan in Nigeria by Pfizer; and if he will make a statement. [181915]
Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not held any discussion with the Nigerian Government on the testing of Trovan in Nigeria by Pfizer.
The choice of country in which to conduct clinical trials on medicinal products is a decision entirely on the part of the pharmaceutical company wishing to perform the trials.
Electromagnetic Radiation
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking in relation to exposure from electromagnetic microwave radiation from mobile telephone masts and wireless broadband technology; [182167]
(2) if he will request the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection to undertake an
urgent review of guidance on exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic and electro magnetic fields in the frequency range up to 300Ghz, with particular reference to non-thermal health effects; [182168]
(3) what recent published medical research he has evaluated on the effect of telephone mast emissions on the health of nearby communities in the UK; [182169]
(4) if he will undertake an ecological study into the health of people living in communities close to mobile telephony masts. [182170]
Dawn Primarolo: Mobile telephones, base stations and wireless installations in this country are expected to comply with the electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The ICNIRP guidelines are incorporated into the European Recommendation on limiting public exposure to electromagnetic fields (EC/519/1999) adopted by European member states.
Measurements by Ofcom (www.ofcom.org.uk) have consistently shown base station compliance with the guidelines. Exposure from mobile telephone handsets is available on the manufacturer’s website at www.mmfai.org/public/. The Health Protection Agency’s Radiation Protection Division (HPA-RPD) is undertaking a systematic programme of research into wireless local area networks (WLANs) and their use. In a recent announcement the HPA has said that WiFi and WLAN signals are very low power and the results so far show exposures are well within ICNIRP guidelines, which are available at:
The HPA-RPD periodically reviews the scientific research into the potential health effects from electromagnetic fields. Its comprehensive 2004 review recommended the adoption of the ICNIRP guidelines in this country, but also acknowledged the need for further research (www.hpa.org.uk/publications/). A 2007 assessment on behalf of the European Commission also endorsed the ICNIRP public exposure guidelines, but similarly noted the paucity of scientific data in some areas:
The independently managed Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme has supported a number of studies into the possible health effects of radio signals from mobile telephone technology. The studies of base stations were carried out in carefully controlled conditions as living close to base stations is not a reliable measure of overall exposure to radio signals. None of the research published in the ‘MTHR 2007’ report demonstrates that biological or adverse health effects are produced by radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones or base stations. These studies and recommendations for further research are described on the MTHR website at www.mthr.org.uk.
Financially Challenged Trust Regime: Health Services
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has powers to (a) write off and (b) sell the debt of NHS trusts within the Financially Challenged Trust Regime. [174472]
Mr. Bradshaw: The value of any loans or public dividend capital to national health service trusts are recorded in the balance sheet of the Department's accounts as an investment. Subject to HM Treasury approval the Secretary of State has the powers to write off the value of any investment held with an NHS trust. Such a write-off would constitute a loss to the Exchequer and would as a consequence be reported in the Department of Health Resource Accounts. In such cases, in advance of the remission of debt, HM Treasury presents a minute to the House of Commons to give the particulars of the remission and to explain the circumstances.
The Department currently has no plans to sell the debt of financially challenged trusts or to write it off. If the Department were to consider these options it would seek the advice of HM Treasury.
General Practitioners
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many GP surgeries are equipped to provide (a) blood tests, (b) electro cardiograms and (c) ultrasound scans; [180338]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of GP surgeries which will be equipped to provide (a) blood tests, (b) electro cardiograms and (c) ultrasound scans following the Prime Minister’s announcement of 7 January 2008. [180339]
Mr. Bradshaw: The information is not collected centrally, but many general practitioner surgeries already offer blood tests and electrocardiograms, and some offer ultrasounds and other diagnostic tests. Primary care trusts should decide locally the best setting to provide these services to meet the needs of their patients.
General Practitioners: Pay
Mr. Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average NHS pay of a (a) GP and (b) GP with special interest in dermatology in each year since 1997. [181290]
Ann Keen: Estimates of general practitioner (GP) pay used by the Department are set out in the following table:
Estimated GP net income 1997-98 to 2005-06 (including real terms):
| Estimated average net income for principal GPMS GPs, UK, 2003-04 to 2005-06 (all income sources ) | ||||||
| Amount (£) | Increase over previous year (Percentage) | Percentage | Income—real terms ( 2007-08 ) (£) | Over previous year (Percentage) | Real terms growth (Percentage) | |
| Note: Figures have been converted into real terms using 2007-08 GDP deflators (as at December 2007). Source: The Information Centre for Health and Social Care. | ||||||
The Department does not hold information on the pay of GPs with a Special Interest (GPwSIs). There are no national remuneration rates for GPwSI services, as each service will differ depending on local circumstances.
Health Education: Publications
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS health advice booklets have been produced between July and December 2007; and what the (a) print run and (b) cost was in each case. [179173]
Mr. Bradshaw: During the period 1 July to 31 December 2007 the Department produced the public facing leaflets shown in the following table with quantities and costs also shown.
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