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22 Feb 2008 : Column 1068W—continued
Cervical Cancer: Screening
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the take-up rate of cervical screening; and if he will make a statement. [185343]
Ann Keen: Women invited to participate in the national health service cervical screening programme need to understand the potential benefits and harms in doing so and to be able to make an informed choice about whether or not they wish to take part in the programme.
This is why all eligible women receive a national information leaflet on cervical screening, Cervical Screening - The Facts. This leaflet is included with each screening invitation and contains comprehensive and understandable information about cervical screening. It is available at:
The cancer reform strategy noted concerns about the fall in the number of young women taking up their invitation to be screened. That is why the NHS cancer screening programme have commissioned the Improvement Foundation to undertake work at a local level targeting this age group. The lessons learned from this work, due
in 2009, will be shared with strategic health authorities and local screening programmes to develop best practice.
The NHS cancer screening programmes’ press office is developing an information pack to be issued to all local screening programmes and also developing a public relations strategy, including articles in appropriate media publications, posters etc. In addition, Cancer Research UK have commissioned research on this issue, which we will monitor closely and will share the findings.
Continued local action in this area is also essential and we will continue to monitor levels of cervical screening coverage through the office for national statistics/information centre annual cervical screening statistical bulletin.
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the special advisers employed in his Department since 6 May 1997; and what the (a) start and (b) end date of employment was in each case. [184368]
Mr. Bradshaw: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and numbers of special advisers in each pay band. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007, Official Report, 147-50WS.
Information on the employment of special advisers prior to 2003 was provided at regular intervals and is available in the Library.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2008, Official Report, column 1689W, on departmental public expenditure, what the minor claims which were abandoned on value for money grounds were; and what the value of each such claim was. [184437]
Mr. Bradshaw: Details of the minor claims abandoned on value for money grounds in 2006-07 are listed in the following tables.
National health service estates service charges
A number of service charges made to health centres around the country became uncollectible as a result of re-organisations and doubt over the validity of the charges.
| £ | |
A number of capital charges made to individuals around the country became uncollectible as a result of doubt over the validity of the charges. These invoices were subsequently found to have been raised in error.
| £ | |
Over 320 organisations participated in the NHS Live events and were invoiced for their contributions.
24 cases valuing almost £28,000 were successfully challenged by the organisations and the outstanding amount was written off by the Department.
| Amount (£) | |
In the normal course of business and following exhaustive credit control methods, including reminder letters, statements, and telephone calls, the following outstanding debts were written off with agreement from the relevant budget manager in the Department.
| £ | |
Departmental Telephone Services
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much revenue was generated by each (a) 0845 and (b) 0870 telephone code used for customer inquiry lines by his Department's agencies in each of the last five years. [183955]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department's two agencies, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency do not use 0845 or 0870 telephone numbers.
Disabled: Norwich
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down by (a) age group and (b) type of disability the number of people with disabilities under the age of 35 in Norwich, North constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available. [185608]
Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, 22 February 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question, transferred from the Department of Health, asking for a breakdown by (a) age group and (b) type of disability, of the number of people with disabilities under the age of 35 in Norwich North Constituency, in the most recent period for which figures are available. (185608)
The 2001 Census did not ask a question on disability but did ask a question about limiting long-term illness. I have therefore provided the figures for the number of people in Norwich North Constituency with a limiting long-term illness, by 5 year age bands:
| Age | Number |
| Note: Figures are crown copyright | |
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