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28 Jan 2009 : Column 615W—continued
To inform the UK Air Quality Strategy (2007), COMEAP estimated that the average loss of life expectancy would be around seven to eight months in 2005. With the implementation of measures outlined in the Strategy, this is predicted to drop to around 5.5 months in 2020. As with any average, the loss of life expectancy will be greater than this for some people and less than this for others.
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned or assessed on the levels of (a) PM10, (b) PM2.5, (c) ozone, (d) nitrogen dioxide and (e) nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere; and if he will make a statement. [249765]
Dawn Primarolo: The Department has commissioned a number of research projects to assess the links between public health and the air pollutants.
Projects recently commissioned in 2008 are:
The published reports of previous projects are available on the Department's website at:
The effects of particles, S02 and ozone have all been quantified and valued as part of the UK Air Quality Strategy review in 2007, using recommendations by the Department's Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP).
The health effects considered include both short-term effects (daily deaths, respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions) and long-term effects. There is, however, still considerable uncertainty surrounding the precise scale and mechanisms linking air quality and health, especially for the long-term effects on life expectancy.
Brain Tumours: Research
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding the National Cancer Research Institute provided for (a) brain tumour and (b) leukaemia related research in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07; [250690]
(2) what initiatives the National Cancer Research Initiative is managing in relation to care and treatment of those with brain tumours. [250691]
Dawn Primarolo: The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is a membership organisation that brings together the major funders of cancer research in government, the voluntary sector and industry along with cancer patient representatives to ensure a national strategic approach to cancer research. The NCRI does not itself fund or manage research.
The NCRI publishes an analysis of the national cancer research portfolio that includes details of expenditure by its partner organisations on research into individual tumour sites. The analysis is available on-line at:
A more detailed account of annual aggregated portfolio expenditure is given in an associated data package available at:
Breast Cancer
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasm of the breast there were in (a) Essex and (b) England in each of the last five years. [250034]
Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated January 2009:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasm of the breast there were in (a) Essex and (b) England in each of the last five years. I am replying in her absence. (250034)
The most recent available figures for newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer are for the year 2006. Figures for the years 2002 to 2006 are in the table below.
| Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer( 1) , Essex and England, 2002 - 06 | ||||||
| Geographical area | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | |
| (1)Breast cancer is coded to C50 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) Source: Office for National Statistics | ||||||
Cancer: Children
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding the National Cancer Research Network has provided for paediatric oncology in each of the last five years; and what proportion of this support has been spent on projects relating to (a) brain tumours and (b) leukaemia treatment and care. [250692]
Dawn Primarolo: The National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) forms part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) clinical research network. It supports high quality research studies funded by the NIHR and its research partners through the provision of the necessary health service infrastructure.
The NCRN’s specialised research network on paediatric oncology, led by the UK Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, receives dedicated funding from the NCRI. The amounts allocated over the last four years have been:
| £000 | |
The Department also currently allocates £50,000 a year to each of four NHS trusts specifically to provide infrastructure support for early phase studies devoted to children with cancer.
Information on the attribution of these funds to research relating to individual tumour sites is not held centrally.
Clinical Physiologists: Regulation
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to implement his proposals for the statutory regulation of clinical physiologists. [250681]
Ann Keen: Proposals for the statutory regulation of clinical physiologists will be resolved as part of a separate consultation, as outlined in ‘The Future of the Healthcare Science Workforce Modernising Scientific Careers: The Next Steps: A Consultation’ published in November 2008. A copy of the consultation has already been placed in the Library.
Consultation plans will be announced in due course.
Colonoscopy
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many colonoscopists are employed by each primary care trust. [252380]
Ann Keen: The information is not collected centrally.
Departmental Allowances
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2008, Official Report, column 444W, how much the second homes allowance for David Nicholson and Bill Kirkup were; where the second homes are; and for what reasons they are eligible for the allowance. [246707]
Mr. Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows:
David Nicholson received £37,600 second home allowance.
Bill Kirkup received £25,800 second home allowance.
Both second homes are in London.
Departmental policy allows for individuals to claim Second Home Allowance if they are expected to work away from their permanent workplace for long periods and if the temporary workplace is not within daily travelling distance from their home.
The Department approves such claims where the case meets business needs and demonstrates cost effectiveness.
This allowance is not permanent and is subject to review.
Departmental Catering
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) food and (b) drinks suppliers have been used by his Department in each of the last three years; and how much his Department paid to each such supplier in each of those years. [248384]
Mr. Bradshaw: Provision of food and drink for the Department's catering needs in London is provided under contract by Quadrant Catering Limited. The Department's catering needs in Leeds is provided by Eurest Services.
The Department has paid Quadrant Catering Limited and Eurest Services the following sums on food and drink in the last three years:
| £ | |
The information requested to identify the amount paid to each supplier is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) directly-operated and (b) franchised catering outlets his Department and its agencies provides for staff. [249075]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department and its agencies do not have any (a) directly-operated or, (b) franchised catering outlets.
The Department has a contract with Quadrant Catering Limited to supply restaurant and hospitality services to four buildings in London, (Richmond house, Skipton house, Wellington house and New King's Beam house.) Eurest provide catering services to the Department's offices in Quarry house (Leeds) under arrangements through the Department of Work and Pensions.
The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority at Market Towers ((MHRA)—London) has a contract with Bartlett Mitchell to supply a restaurant service which is subsidised by MHRA. The amount is £72,000 per year. This figure is not directly attributed to food and drink and includes the running costs of the restaurant.
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 14 July 2008, Official Report, column 193W, on departmental personnel, how many staff without posts there are in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies; how many of the staff without posts were classified as such upon return from maternity leave; and how many of the staff without posts have been classified as such for at least (i) six and (ii) 12 months. [250105]
Mr. Bradshaw: The table presents an analysis of staff without posts in the core Department classified by period of time in that situation and by grade. No one has been displaced for a period of over 12 months
NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency both report that they do not currently have any staff member without a post.
No staff without posts are in this position as a result of return from maternity leave.
Reasons for individuals being without posts include return from secondment or loan outside the Department and staff without posts due to internal restructuring exercises.
| Time displaced | ||||
| Grade | 0 to 3 m onths | 3 to 6 m onths | More than 6 months | Total |
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