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21 July 2008 : Column 828W—continued
Obesity
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government plans to take to address health-related problems due to obesity. [220625]
Dawn Primarolo: In the six months since the £372 million “Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: a Cross Government Strategy for England” was published there has been substantial progress. The forthcoming progress newsletter “Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: six months on”, will be published on 23 July 2008.
The newsletter highlights the steps forward for the next six months across all five themes of the strategy: children, healthy growth and weight; promoting healthier food choices; building physical activity into our lives; creating incentives for better health; and personalised advice and support for all.
Occupational Therapy: Manpower
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fully qualified occupational therapists have been employed by the NHS in each year since 2002. [220631]
Ann Keen: The number of qualified occupational therapists employed by the national health service in England in each year since 2002 as recorded in the National Workforce Census is shown in the following table:
| Qualified occupational therapists employed in NHS in England as at 30 September each year | ||
| Headcount | FTE | |
| (1) More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted 9,858 duplicate records being identified and removed from the non-medical census. (These 9,858 duplicate records, broken down by main staff group, are: 3,370 qualified nurses; 1,818 qualified scientific therapeutic and technical staff; 2,719 support to doctors and nurses; 1,562 NHS infrastructure support; and 389 in other areas.) The impact of duplicates on full-time equivalent has been minimal with the removal of 507. Source: Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census | ||
Osteoporosis
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in including monitoring for osteoporosis within the Quality and Outcomes Framework. [218354]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Secretary of State announced on 5 May that the Government are consulting the British Medical Association on proposals to invest an extra £100 million on improving clinical services and access for patients. The Government propose to invest an extra £50 million in enhanced clinical services, which would include improving the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis according to the best practice guidelines set out by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. The amount of investment in each area is subject to consultation with the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association.
We expect the content of the Quality and Outcomes Framework for 2009-10 to be, as usual, a matter for consultation between NHS Employers and the British Medical Association, informed by the independent expert panel.
Physiotherapy: Manpower
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fully qualified physiotherapists have been employed by the NHS in each year since 2002. [220629]
Ann Keen: The number of qualified physiotherapists employed by the national health service in England in each year since 2002 as recorded in the National Workforce Census is shown in the following table:
| Hospital and community health services: Qualified physiotherapists employed in the NHS in England as at 30 September each year | ||
| Headcount | Full-time equivalents | |
| (1) More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted 9,858 duplicate records being identified and removed from the non-medical census. (These 9,858 duplicate records, broken down by main staff group, are: 3,370 qualified nurses; 1,818 qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff; 2,719 support to doctors and nurses; 1,562 NHS infrastructure support; and 389 in other areas.) The impact of duplicates on full-time equivalent has been minimal with the removal of 507. Source: Information Centre Non-medical Workforce Census | ||
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to begin his consultation on prescription charges and exemptions; and whether that consultation will include the question of whether asthma should be added to the list of health conditions exempt from prescription charges. [219973]
Dawn Primarolo:
We will publish our planned consultation on cost neutral changes to the system of prescription charges and exemptions in England later
this year. This will include proposals to change the current medical exemptions.
Speech Therapy: Manpower
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fully qualified speech therapists have been employed by the NHS in each year since 2002. [220630]
Ann Keen: The number of qualified speech and language therapists employed by the national health service in England in each year since 2002 as recorded in the National Workforce Census is shown in the following table:
| NHS qualified speech and language therapists as at September each year (England) | ||
| Headcount | Full-time equivalents | |
| 2005 | ||
| 2006(1) | ||
| 2007 | ||
| (1) More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted in 9,858 duplicate records being identified and removed from the non-medical census. (These 9,858 duplicate records, broken down by main staff group, are: 3,370 qualified nurses; 1,818 qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff; 2,719 support to doctors and nurses; 1,562 NHS infrastructure support; and 389 in other areas.) The impact of duplicates on full-time equivalent has been minimal with the removal of 507. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census | ||
Surrey Primary Care Trust
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the membership of Surrey primary care trust’s exceptional cases panel is; [219218]
(2) what criteria are used by Surrey primary care trust’s exceptional cases panel to assess requests for exceptional funding; [219219]
(3) whether the exceptional cases panel of Surrey primary care trust accepts requests for funding exceptional cases from (a) patients and (b) clinicians. [219220]
Mr. Bradshaw: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission services on behalf of their populations and to make decisions locally on which treatments to fund, taking into account all relevant circumstances. The hon. Member may therefore wish to raise these issues with the chief executive of Surrey PCT.
The draft national health service constitution (copies of which have already been placed in the Library) makes clear the patient’s right to expect local decisions on funding for drugs for which National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance is not available to be made rationally following proper consideration of the evidence. To underpin this, the Government will require PCTs to put in place clear and transparent arrangements both for local decision-making on funding of new drugs and for considering exceptional funding requests, and to publish information on those arrangements. Where the local NHS decides not to fund a treatment, the patient and clinician can expect an explanation.
Transsexuality
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of (a) transgender procedures and (b) gender reassignment; and what direction he gives to NHS trusts on the matter. [214753]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department does not issue directions to primary care trusts (PCTs) on this matter. It is for PCTs to decide on the circumstances in which they will provide gender reassignment procedures, taking into account a patient's individual clinical needs and the resources they have available to provide health care for their wider population.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of a complete gender reassignment is; and if he will make a statement. [214754]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We are not able to provide the information requested, as cost data relating to these specific procedures are not centrally collected.
Defence
Iraq
12. Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq. [219818]
Des Browne: The security situation in Iraq has improved significantly since mid-2007 and, overall, acts of violence have reduced to levels last experienced in 2004. The transfer on 16 July of security responsibility for Qadisiyah province to Provincial Iraqi Control demonstrates the continuing improvement in security across the country.
In southern Iraq, UK and coalition forces continue to support the Iraqi Security Forces as they consolidate the significant progress in security brought about by the operations launched in Basra in March.
19. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on troop numbers in Iraq. [219825]
Des Browne: UK force levels in southern Iraq remain at around 4,000, operating in support of the Iraqi Security Forces in Basra. Our military commanders continue to assess the changing situation on the ground and it remains our clear intention to reduce troop numbers as and when conditions allow.
The Prime Minister will make a further statement tomorrow, setting out our plans in Iraq.
24. Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for drawing down British forces in Iraq in 2008. [219830]
Des Browne: We assess that current troop levels in southern Iraq are appropriate to deliver our key military tasks, in particular completing the training and mentoring of the 14th Division of the Iraqi Army.
Our military commanders continue to appraise the changing situation on the ground and it remains our clear intention to reduce troop numbers as and when conditions allow.
The Prime Minister will make a further statement tomorrow, setting out our plans in Iraq.
Service Personnel: Benefits
13. Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on arrangements for the payment of benefits for service personnel. [219819]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: There have been regular discussions between MOD and Department for Work and Pensions Ministers on these matters.
Indeed, last Thursday’s White Paper “The Nation's Commitment: Cross-Government Support to Our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans” delivered a series of improvements to the way in which benefits are administered for our service community. This followed a period of significant departmental collaboration.
Service Personnel: Accommodation
14. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps his Department has taken to improve the standard of accommodation provided for armed forces personnel. [219820]
Derek Twigg: It is a top priority that service personnel have the high quality accommodation they deserve.
We plan to spend in excess of £8 billion on accommodation over the next 10 years.
Since 2001, some 13,000 Service Family Accommodation properties have been upgraded to the top standard and 26,000 new or improved Single Living Accommodation bed-spaces have been delivered.
Defence Maritime Strategy
15. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to implement the defence maritime strategy. [219821]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: We continue to make good progress in implementing the maritime element of the Defence Industrial Strategy.
The formation of BVT Surface Fleet on 1 July, which brings together the shipyards at Portsmouth and on the Clyde under one management, and the signature of the contract to build the two Future Aircraft Carriers is a clear demonstration of this progress.
The construction of the Carriers is a substantial boost to British industry and is expected to create or sustain 10,000 jobs across the UK at peak production, with around 1,000 jobs at each of the main shipyards. Along with the six T45 Destroyers, the Carriers will ensure a steady drumbeat of work in a shipyard for years to come.
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