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26 Jun 2008 : Column 529W—continued
https://portal.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/NRRArchiveSearch.aspx.
The Department's Policy Research Programme has at the same time funded the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey, and the Congenital Abnormality Register for Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, each of which has undertaken work of relevance to spina bifida
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body that receives its grant in aid from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
The MRC funded three projects relevant to spina bifida between 2004-05 and 2006-07 at a total cost of £1.4 million, and has recently awarded a grant of £606,000 for research aimed at understanding the molecular causes and mechanisms of prevention of inositol-preventable neural tube defects.
In 1991, an MRC-funded randomised, controlled trial showed that folic acid supplements protect women with a prior pregnancy affected by spina bifida from recurrence. This research resulted in 10 per cent. of the world's flour being fortified with folic acid, preventing thousands of cases of serious birth deformities and saving large sums of money in health care costs.
Strokes: Rehabilitation
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to improve support for people with communication disabilities following strokes; and if he will make a statement. [213464]
Ann Keen: The new “National Stroke Strategy”, published in December 2007 (copies of which are available in the Library), sets out 20 quality markers for the provision of high quality treatment and care for adult stroke survivors. Of those quality markers seven link directly to the kind of support and services which those who have had a stroke and their carers need in the community. These include support with communication disabilities and other high quality rehabilitation, information, advice, practical and peer support throughout the care pathway, in line with individual need.
In addition to the funding that has gone to primary care trusts, £105 million of central funding over three years will support implementation. This includes £45 million to local authorities (LAs) to help them develop or accelerate their existing provision of long-term support to those who live with the effects of a stroke. We expect that LAs will work with their national health service partners in this.
Strokes: Speech Impaired
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what (a) funding and (b) advice is being made available to Wakefield council for the commissioning of communication disability support groups for those who have had strokes; [213111]
(2) how many people were diagnosed with a stroke-related communication disability in (a) Wakefield district primary care trust area, (b) West Yorkshire strategic health authority area and (c) Hemsworth constituency in each of the last five years. [213229]
Ann Keen: The new National Stroke Strategy, published in December 2007 (copies of which are available in the Library), sets out 20 quality markers for the provision of high quality treatment and care for adult stroke survivors. Of those quality markers, seven link directly to the kind of support and services which those who have had a stroke and their carers need in the community. These include support with communication disabilities and other high quality rehabilitation, information, advice, practical and peer support throughout the care pathway, in line with individual need.
In addition to the funding that has gone to primary care trusts, £105 million of central funding over three years will support implementation. This includes £45 million to local authorities (LAs), including Wakefield metropolitan district council, to help them develop or accelerate their existing provision of long-term support to those who live with the effects of a stroke. The strategy recognises that some people who have had a stroke, including those with aphasia and other communication difficulties, will have specific support needs. We expect that LAs will use some the new funding we have made available to meet these needs in line with local needs and priorities.
Information on the number of people diagnosed with a stroke-related communication disability is not collected centrally.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of communication support services for those who have had strokes. [213112]
Ann Keen: The Department, with stakeholders from across the stroke community, including academics, clinicians, the voluntary sector and stroke survivors and their carers, looked at the available evidence in relation to support services when preparing the new “National Stroke Strategy” (copies are available in the Library). The Strategy was published in December 2007 and makes recommendations to the national health service about the most effective way to support those who have had a stroke.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what communication support services are available for those who have had strokes; and if he will make a statement. [213113]
Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally. However, the new “National Stroke Strategy” (copies of which are available in the Library) recognises that people who have had a stroke, including those with aphasia and other communication difficulties, will have specific support needs. The services which primary care trusts (PCTs) and local authorities (LAs) provide for those people will depend on local needs and priorities. The Strategy also makes clear that those with aphasia and related conditions should be involved in the planning of the support services they require.
In addition to the funding that has gone to PCTs, central funding over three years will support implementation of the new national Strategy, including £45 million to local authorities to help them develop or accelerate their existing provision of long-term support to those who live with the effects of a stroke. We expect that PCTs and LAs will use the funding available to meet these needs in line with local needs and priorities.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Refugees
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many refugees there are in Afghanistan; and where the largest refugee camps are. [212452]
Dr. Howells: There are no refugee camps in Afghanistan, but there are a number of refugee camps in Pakistan and Iran. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are 2.1 million registered refugees in Pakistan and a further 1 million unregistered. Likewise in Iran there are approximately 1 million registered refugees and a further 1 million unregistered. UNHCR also believe that there are approximately 176,500 internally displaced persons in Afghanistan. It is believed that 31,500 of these were displaced by the on-going conflict.
Africa: Administration of Justice
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's latest estimate is of the proportion of arrests in (a) Nigeria, (b) Ethiopia, (c) Sudan and (d) Chad which are followed by a case investigation and court hearing. [213363]
Meg Munn: In its 2007 Annual Report, the Nigerian police stated that 131,151 people were arrested and 80,191 people were prosecuted in Nigeria. We are unable to provide similar data for Ethiopia, Sudan and Chad as to do so would incur a disproportionate cost. In Nigeria, the UK supports the Federal Ministry of Justice in developing its justice information management system. It also works with Lagos and Enugu States on enhancing criminal case tracking and management capabilities. In Ethiopia, the UK supports a variety of related initiatives including promoting better record management in prisons.
Burma: Politics and Government
Mr. MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Burma; and if he will make a statement. [214014]
Meg Munn: We remain deeply concerned at the political situation in Burma. The regime continues to ignore the calls of the UN Security Council for a genuine and inclusive dialogue with the opposition and ethnic groups. Such a dialogue is the only way the country will achieve the national reconciliation, prosperity and stability it needs now more than ever. The renewal of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest on 27 May, and the regime’s decision to undertake its flawed referendum in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, underline the urgency of making progress. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 19 June 2008, the recent referendum lacks all credibility and the new constitution cannot provide a sound basis for Burma’s future.
Working in support of the UN Secretary-General’s Good Offices Mission and encouraging Burma’s neighbours to play a more active role, we will continue to do all we can to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Burma.
Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Scheme
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which 10 UK universities have the highest number of students supported by the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan. [213312]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The 12 universities with the highest number of Foreign and Commonwealth Office-funded scholars under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan in 2007-08 (three universities are in 10(th) equal place) are shown in the following table:
| University | Total |
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of overseas students receiving funding from the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Scheme are studying at (a) undergraduate, (b) Masters and (c) doctoral level. [213313]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The following proportion of Foreign and Commonwealth Office-funded scholars under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan in 2007-08 are studying at Master's and Doctoral level. There are no awards at undergraduate level.
| Level of Study | Degree | Award-Holders | Percentage |
Departmental Pay
Bob Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by (a) permanent
and (b) temporary staff in his Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band. [212497]
Meg Munn: The gross rates of pay per hour worked for staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) during the financial year 2007-08 are set out in the following table. We do not hold details centrally of actual rates paid to temporary staff by hiring managers. We have therefore provided the minimum rate for this category of staff.
| FCO grade | Civil service equivalent | Permanent staff rate (average) (£) | Temporary staff rate (minimum) (£) |
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