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Incinerators: Health Hazards

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned on the health effects of incinerators on people in the locality. [238581]


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Dawn Primarolo: Advice has been sought from the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) on the possible health effects populations living in the vicinity of incinerators, based on research carried out by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU). This unit is based at Imperial College and is funded by the Department.

In 2000, the COC reviewed a large study by SAHSU that examined 14 million people living within 7.5 km of 72 municipal solid waste incinerators, which operated up to 1987. The Committee concluded that, ‘any potential risk of cancer due to residency, for periods in excess of 10 years, near to municipal solid waste incinerators was exceedingly low and probably not measurable by the most modern techniques'. The COC issued a statement on this, a copy has been placed in the Library and is available at:

In July and November this year, the COC reviewed the results of more recent studies from the scientific literature, which have investigated rates of cancer in people living near municipal solid waste incinerators. A COC statement is being prepared and will be published shortly.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many letters which mentioned intermittent catheters his Department has received in response to its latest consultation on the proposed new arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances and related services in primary care specifically; and if he will make a statement; [238701]

(2) what assessment his Department has made of the possibility of extending the prescription fee that pharmacists currently receive to dispensing appliance contractors of intermittent catheters in the proposed new arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff; and if he will make a statement. [238702]

Phil Hope: The consultation period for the latest consultation, “Proposed new arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances—and related services—in Primary Care. June 2008”, ran from 9 June to 9 September 2008. The Department received 604 pieces of correspondence, letters and emails regarding the consultation. It is not possible to identify how many of these specifically mentioned intermittent catheters.

In the latest consultation it was proposed that in the normal course of their business, both dispensing appliance contractors and pharmacy contractors should dispense Part IX prescription items as an essential service as part of their terms of service. It was also proposed that they should receive a 90p professional dispensing fee for each Part IX prescription item dispensed for providing this service.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a full summary of responses to the consultation on the review of Part IX of the Drug Tariff will be made available. [239177]


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Phil Hope: A summary of responses to the consultation entitled “Proposed new arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances—and related services—in Primary Care (June 2008)” will be placed on the Department's website once we are in a position to provide not only a summary of responses but also a clear indication of the next steps. The intention is to make the documentation as meaningful as possible for all parties. A summary of responses will be published as soon as is practical.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he made of the British Healthcare Trades Association's response to the Government's consultation on the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances under Part IX of the Drug Tariff. [239284]

Phil Hope: The Department received 85 formal responses to the Part IX consultation that closed on 9 September 2008. Among these was a comprehensive response from the British Healthcare Trades Association. We are most grateful to them for taking the time to respond.

All responses are being analysed and will help to inform any policy decisions regarding the arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances—and related services—in primary care.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the weight of an average monthly supply of intermittent catheters for a patient; and if he will make a statement. [239883]

Phil Hope: As patients and patient needs and lifestyles vary significantly, it is not possible to quantify the weight of an “average” monthly supply of intermittent catheters. The factors that influence the response are the number of catheters used per month and the type of catheter used.

Injuries: Fireworks

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of injuries caused by fireworks in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available. [232746]

Phil Hope: In 2006-07, hospital episode statistics show that the number of episodes where the external cause code was W39 (discharge of firework) was 144 finished consultant episode and 142 finished admission episodes.

These data are published at:

These figures relate only to patients admitted to hospital rather than the majority of injuries which are dealt with at accident and emergency (A&E) as outpatients. Dates relating to A&E attendances where injuries were caused by fireworks are not collected centrally.

Mass Media

Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which keywords or terms his Department has monitored in the media in each of the last three years. [239722]


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Mr. Bradshaw: The Department’s Media Centre has employed EDS Media to provide daily cuttings from the national press since July 2007. The keywords that are used to compile the cuttings are revised on a regular basis to reflect changes in departmental policy and in the ministerial team.

The following is a list of the keywords used by EDS Media as of 25 November 2008.


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