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23 Oct 2008 : Column 518W—continued
| Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination | ||
| Name | Date of appointment( 1) | Date of end of term( 2) |
| (1) Date of first appointment. Some committee members have been re-appointed since their first appointment. (2) Date of when current appointment ends. | ||
Alcoholic Drinks: Young People
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the alcoholic beverage industry on the health effects of underage drinking. [228998]
Dawn Primarolo: There have been no recent meetings with the alcohol beverage industry to discuss the health effects of underage drinking.
Cancer: Waiting Lists
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for cancer treatment in West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust area in the latest period for which figures are available. [228364]
Ann Keen:
Information is not held in the format requested. The cancer waiting time standards of a maximum wait of 31 days from decision to treat to first cancer treatment and a maximum of 62 days from an urgent
general practitioner referral to the start of cancer treatment were introduced for all patients from December 2005. The latest figures, for quarter one 2008-09, show that West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s performance against the 31 days standard was 100 per cent., and its performance against the 62 day standard was 99.3 per cent.
Health: Gender
Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the causes of health inequalities between men and women in the last 10 years; and whether any such research relates specifically to the Merseyside region. [228010]
Dawn Primarolo: None. The Department has however commissioned the Men’s Health Forum (MHF) to undertake a study into the different ways in which men and women access health services. The MHF report is due to be published this autumn.
Hepatitis
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the public health guidelines on hepatitis B will be published. [229593]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 6 October 2008, Official Report, columns 422-24W.
Iris London
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by his Department to Iris London in each financial year since 2001; which contracts were awarded by his Department to Iris London in each year since 2000-01; what the cost was of each contract; what penalties for default were imposed in contract provisions; what the length was of each contract; whether the contract was advertised; how many companies applied for the contract; how many were short-listed; what criteria were used for choosing a company; what provision was made for renewal without re-tender in each case; and if he will make a statement. [225714]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department procure marketing services and agencies through the Central Office of Information (COI). Iris London is the holding company, and COI have contracted with either Iris Nation (Sponsorship) or Iris Direct (Direct Marketing), not with the holding group.
Payments to Iris London and contracts awarded in each financial year since 2000-01 are detailed as follows. No penalties for default have been imposed in any of the contract provisions. In each case the initial length of contract is provided as is the number of agencies shortlisted in any tender.
Teenage Pregnancies sponsorship—£99,438.40
(One year contract awarded after tender involving three agencies. This initial contract was commissioned by DCSF although sexual health is a joint DH/DCSF programme with shared objectives.)
Teenage Pregnancies sponsorship—£111,765.00
(Contract extended)
Adult Sexual Health Partnership Marketing—£31,090.00
(One year contract awarded without tender due to Iris already working on Teenage Pregnancy sponsorship with DCSF.)
Adult Sexual Health Partnership Marketing—£179,004.00
(Contract extended)
Teenage Pregnancies Partnership Marketing—£235,780.00
(Contract extended)
Adult Sexual Health Partnership Marketing—£201,469.75
(Contract extended)
Teenage Pregnancies Partnership Marketing—£165,834.60
(Contract extended)
Adult Sexual Health Partnership Marketing—£259,627.50
(Contract extended)
Teenage Pregnancies Partnership Marketing—£419,683.00
(Contract extended)
Tobacco Control Programme Partnership Marketing—£71,840.00
(Contract awarded for six months after tender involving three agencies)
Adult Sexual Health Partnership Marketing—£663,005.21
(Contract extended)
Teenage Pregnancies Partnership Marketing—£402,988.60
(Contract extended)
Anti-Tobacco Partnership Marketing—£155,729.00
(Contract extended)
Adult Sexual Health Partnership Marketing—£551,806.47
(Contract extended, repitched in July 2008 involving three agencies. Iris reappointed.)
Teenage Pregnancies Partnership Marketing—£346,465.68
(Contract extended, repitched in July 2008 involving three agencies. Iris reappointed.)
Anti-Tobacco Partnership Marketing—£200,540.75
(Contract extended)
COI is subject to the EU public procurement directive embodied in UK law by the Public Contract Regulations 2006. The Regulations govern the way in which Government contracts are advertised and awarded. For contracts over a threshold value it is a requirement for them to be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), which imposes strict timescales that cannot be shortened. To enable the Department to appoint a supplier in the shortest possible time, COI have a number of framework agreements (agency rosters) in place. Frameworks are themselves advertised in the OJEU, therefore contracts awarded under the terms and conditions of the framework do not need to be re-advertised or apply the strict timescales—as long as timescales are reasonable to allow the suppliers time to provide an adequate response. The majority of the Department's spend with external suppliers is via these frameworks.
A detailed evaluation process is used for agency selection as part of any tender process. Key criteria for appointment of an agency and quality markers for a successful campaign are identified in conjunction with COI prior to any tender. Evaluation procedures are also utilised to continually evaluate agency performance against set objectives.
Renewal without re-tender has taken place in a number of cases. Each contract awarded is for a specific initial term usually relating to the allocated budget for that current financial year. Contracts have included the option for contract extension as stated in COI guidelines:
“COI reserves the right to extend the contract beyond the period stated above. Payment for any extension shall be based upon the Contract Price subject to fair and reasonable adjustment, to be agreed between COI and the Contractor”.
Medical Equipment
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities have decided to proceed with full implementation of transforming community equipment services following the recent trials. [229428]
Phil Hope: Implementing the transforming community equipment service is a local decision and any information on decision-making should be referred to each local authority and health partnership.
NHS: Manpower
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses, (b) general practitioners, (c) surgeons, (d) ward support staff and (e) administrative staff were employed in the NHS in each year since 2004. [226865]
Ann Keen: The data requested for nurses, general practitioners, surgeons (consultants), and administration staff are shown in the following table. It is not possible to break down data to indicate which support staff work on wards. Therefore all data on support staff are given.
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