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12 Mar 2009 : Column 694W—continued
Departmental Recruitment
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009, Official Report, column 1578W, on departmental recruitment, how many of the general faststreamers recruited in each year since 2003 were undertaking first degree courses at university when they successfully applied to his Department. [263273]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) recruited 32 general faststreamers between 2003 and 2008. One of them, recruited in 2004, was undertaking a first degree course at university when they successfully applied to the Department. This total excludes faststreamers recruited through the in-service scheme and those recruited from other Government Departments, none of whom were at university when they joined the Department.
Departmental Surveys
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009, Official Report, column 1743W, on departmental surveys, if he will place in the Library a copy of the raw data and reports relating to the results of each of the three staff surveys carried out between January 2007 and March 2009. [263222]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development’s (DFID) 2007 Management Survey and 2008 Better Balance Audit results will be placed in the Library.
The 2009 Pulse Survey results were received at the end of February and are currently being communicated internally through the line management chain. The report will be published on DFID’s intranet by 31 March 2009 and placed in the Library at this time.
To preserve anonymity of survey responses, we will not be making the raw data publicly available.
Developing Countries: Debts
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government’s position is on the cancellation of debt arising from irresponsible lending to debtor countries; and if he will make a statement. [261820]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK Government do not comment on other countries’ lending practices.
Loans made by the UK Government are made to internationally recognised governments; they are bound by legal contracts and are recognised in international law. The UK provides debt relief on the basis of a country’s economic situation and track record on poverty reduction, rather than on any other basis. The Government have led efforts to agree international initiatives to provide comprehensive solutions to poor countries’ debts, and we encourage all creditors to provide their share of debt relief.
Exchange Rates
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which of his Department’s offices in each country overseas has reported a decline in the purchasing power of their local budget as a result of recent exchange rate movements; and what the size of the reported decline was in each case. [261882]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Exchange rate movements during 2008-09 have cost overseas offices some £2 million in administration costs. Full analysis of the implications of exchange rate changes for individual DFID offices is still being developed.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to mitigate the effects of adverse exchange rate movements on its budget. [261884]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development makes most of its payment commitments in sterling, although contributions to European Union aid programmes are denominated in euros, and DFID country offices make some payments in local currency. During 2008-09, all foreign currency requirements were met through making separate ‘spot’ deals for individual payments using the best market rate available. Budgets have been reprioritised within the year to meet increased costs of foreign exchange requirements.
International Assistance: Costs
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to his Department of its subscription to each international organisation was in 2007-08. [261881]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Details on the Department’s subscriptions to international organisations are available in our 2008 annual report which is available in the Library of the House and on the DFID website at:
Overseas Aid: Diabetes
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided for (a) research and (b) practical assistance relating to diabetes in developing countries in each of the last three years; and what such funding is planned for the next three years. [261827]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not provided any research support for work on diabetes in last three years. DFID's research strategy acknowledges the growing impact of non-communicable diseases, like diabetes, in developing countries. We are currently considering how we will fund non-communicable disease research in the future, but have not yet made any decisions.
Although we recognise the increasing importance of non-communicable diseases, the core of our work is to help strengthen health systems to deal with all basic health needs, bearing in mind that communicable diseases and issues such as maternal mortality take a huge toll on the health of people in poor countries. We have therefore committed £6 billion for this over the period 2008-15 and a further £1 billion to the Global Fund to fight TB, AIDS and malaria to 2015.
Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2009, Official Report, column 737W, on Sri Lanka: internally displaced persons, when he expects the findings of the report of the humanitarian assessment mission to Sri Lanka to be placed in the Library. [262065]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development's (DFID) humanitarian assessment mission in Sri Lanka is on-going due to the prolonged nature of the conflict and continued displacement of civilians in the North. One DFID humanitarian specialist will stay, based in Colombo, for another month at least.
St. Helena: Airports
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the most recent schedule for the construction of an airport on St. Helena is; and if he will make a statement. [261816]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We announced on 8 December 2008, Official Report, columns 46-47WS, that there will be a pause in negotiations over the St. Helena airport contract. We are reviewing whether it is right to proceed with this project in the present difficult economic climate. We will announce the outcome of our considerations as soon as we are able to.
Trade Unions
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which trade unions are recognised in his Department. [262086]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: DFID recognises two trade unions as representatives of our UK based staff, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and the Association of First Division Civil Servants (FDA).
Health
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions there have been for alcohol-related mental and behavioural disorders for (a) males and (b) females aged (i) under 10 years, (ii) 10 to 13 years, (iii) 14 to 17 years and (iv) 18 years and over in (A) each region and (B) each constituency in each of the last five years.; and if he will make a statement. [262261]
Dawn Primarolo: Tables which have been placed in the Library, give figures for the number of finished admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol, by region of residence and primary care trust (PCT) of residence, for the years 2003-04 to 2007-08. 2007-08 is the latest year for which information is available. Information is not available by constituency and so figures for PCTs have been provided instead.
The under-18 age bands in the PCT table have been combined to avoid having to suppress large number of figures to protect patient confidentiality. Some PCTs were reconfigured between 2005-06 and 2006-07. Where this was the case, the figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are not comparable with figures for earlier years.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions there have been for alcohol-related fall injuries for (a) males and (b) females aged (i) under 10, (ii) 10 to 13, (iii) 14 to 17 and (iv) 18 years and over in (A) each region and (B) each constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [262492]
Dawn Primarolo: Tables, which have been placed in the Library, give figures for the number of alcohol-related finished admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of fall injuries, by region of residence and primary care trust (PCT) of residence, for the years 2003-04 to 2007-08. 2007-08 is the latest year for which information is available. Information is not available by constituency and so figures for PCTs have been provided instead.
The under-18 age bands in the PCT table have been combined to avoid having to suppress large number of figures to protect patient confidentiality. Some PCTs were reconfigured between 2005-06 and 2006-07. Where this was the case, the figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are not comparable with figures for earlier years.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions there have been for alcohol-related road traffic accidents for (a) males and (b) females aged (i) under 10, (ii) 10 to 13, (iii) 14 to 17 and (iv) 18 years and over in (A) each region and (B) each constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [262493]
Dawn Primarolo: Tables, which have been placed in the Library, give figures for the number of alcohol-related finished admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of road traffic accidents, by region of residence and primary care trust (PCT) of residence, for the years 2003-04 to 2007-08. 2007-08 is the latest year for which information is available. Information is not available by constituency and so figures for PCTs have been provided instead.
The under-18 age bands in the PCT table have been combined to avoid having to suppress large number of figures to protect patient confidentiality. Some PCTs were reconfigured between 2005-06 and 2006-07. Where this was the case, the figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are not comparable with figures for earlier years.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions there have been for ethanol poisoning for (a) males and (b) females aged (i) under 10, (ii) 10 to 13, (iii) 14 to 17 and (iv) 18 years and over in each (A) region and (B) constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [262494]
Dawn Primarolo: Tables, which have been placed in the Library, give figures for the number of finished admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of ethanol poisoning, by region of residence and primary care trust (PCT) of residence, for the years 2003-04 to 2007-08. 2007-08 is the latest year for which information is available. Information is not available by constituency and so figures for PCTs have been provided instead.
The under-18 age bands in the PCT table have been combined to avoid having to suppress large number of figures to protect patient confidentiality. Some PCTs were reconfigured between 2005-06 and 2006-07. Where this was the case, the figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are not comparable with figures for earlier years.
Allergies
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require food manufacturers to label their foods more precisely in order to avoid serious allergic reactions; what legislation currently regulates this issue; and if he will make a statement. [263277]
Dawn Primarolo: Food allergens are already required to be clearly declared on the labels of pre-packed foods.
Directive 2000/13/EC (as amended) established a list of 14 food ingredients which must be indicated on the
label of foodstuffs as they are likely to cause adverse reactions in sensitive individuals. The allergens that have to be declared are those of greatest public health concern in the European Union, However, the legislation would allow for other foods to be added to the list should the need arise.
Cardiovascular System: Diseases
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to include the diagnosis and management of peripheral arterial disease in the Quality and Outcomes Framework for general practitioners; [262304]
(2) what (a) priority and (b) focus his Department gives to peripheral arterial disease; [262305]
(3) what plans he has to improve the quality of care for patients with intermittent claudication; [262308]
(4) if his Department's vascular checks initiative will include diagnosis for peripheral arterial disease. [262711]
Ann Keen: The Department has engaged in discussions with Target PAD about ways to support adoption of best practice in identifying and treating patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) as part of a national overall strategy for vascular diseases.
The Department is currently developing the programme of vascular assessment originally announced by the Prime Minister in January 2008, and outlined in ‘Putting Prevention First’, which is due to be rolled out from April 2009. The programme is aimed at assessing and modifying risk factors for vascular disease. These are common to the whole range of vascular diseases, including PAD. Intermittent claudication is commonly a symptom of PAD. A copy of ‘Putting Prevention First’ has already been placed in the Library.
We would expect that the combination of vascular risk assessments and existing Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF) registers for vascular diseases should identify the majority of people with PAD or at significant risk of developing it. There are no specific QOF indicators for PAD.
In addition, the Department is working with Target PAD to develop a national specification for primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission local enhanced services in relation to PAD or for its treatment.
The Department has asked the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to oversee a new independent and transparent process for prioritising, developing and reviewing QOF clinical and health improvement indicators for England from 1 April 2009 as part of their role in providing guidance for the national health service based on evidence of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. We launched a public consultation on the proposed new process on 30 October 2008. The consultation ended on 2 February. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, any proposal for changes to QOF indicators would need to be considered under that new process.
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients presented with intermittent claudication in each year since 1997; [262307]
(2) how many patients have presented with peripheral arterial disease in each year since 1997. [262331]
Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
Dementia
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what date his Department’s reviews of the inappropriate use of anti-psychotic drugs for people with dementia will be published; [262282]
(2) how many dementia advisers the NHS employs; how many he intends to recruit in each of the next three years; and by what dates such advisers will be in place. [262309]
Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 640W.
Departmental Bank Services
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with which banks his Department has or has had contracts for the provision of financial advice, for the financial year 2008-09. [262758]
Mr. Bradshaw: No contracts were held by the Department with banks for the provision of financial advice for financial year 2008-09.
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