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21 July 2009 : Column 1570W—continued
Carers
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to assist carers. [287981]
Phil Hope: 'Carers at the heart of 21st-century families and communities' sets out a number of commitments that are being delivered over the next three years (2008-09 to 2010-11). A copy of which has already been placed in the Library.
The Carers Grant is currently £240 million a year. It enables local authorities to develop innovative and personalised outcomes reflecting the needs of their local carers. It includes £25 million that councils can use to provide emergency cover for carers when they are suddenly unable to care. This means that, by 2011, we will have invested over £1.7 billion in supporting carers.
We are investing over £255 million to support carers in the short term. This includes £150 million for planned breaks from carers, up to £38 million to enable carers to be better able to combine paid employment with their caring role through enhanced flexible working opportunities and increased skills training opportunities, and over £6 million to support young carers. This extra funding recognises the value of carers in today's society and their ever-growing importance in the future
In the last couple of months, we have formally launched a national information service, Carers Direct. The Carers Direct helpline and website enables carers to access a wide range of information and advice on sources of support.
On 15 July 2009, we announced the 25 primary care trusts and local authorities that have been selected to be the Carers Strategy Demonstrator Sites. These will provide evidence of good practice in respect of providing breaks for carers, health and well-being checks and national health service support for carers.
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that primary care trusts use funding provided for respite for carers; [288076]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of carers of people with Parkinson's Disease who had no respite break in the last 12 months. [288077]
Phil Hope: Additional funding of £150 million for respite care is included in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 primary care trust (PCT) revenue allocations. This is in addition to the Carers Grant paid to councils across England which is worth £240 million in 2009-10 and which they can use to support carers with breaks and other services.
The NHS Operating Framework 2009-10 states that PCTs should work with their local authority partners and publish joint plans on how their combined funding will support breaks for carers, including short breaks.
However, the actual level of spend in each year is for PCTs to decide locally in the light of their local circumstances, and priorities as set out in the NHS Operating Framework and Vital Signs. This includes a vital sign on the proportion of carers receiving a carer's break.
The NHS Information Centre does not hold information on carers of people with Parkinson's Disease.
Carers: Young People
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of young carers; and if he will make a statement. [285918]
Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
The 2001 census, which is the only source of national data on the number of carers of all ages, indicated that there were some 175,000 children and young people aged under 18 across the UK who were offering some care to family members, neighbours, friends or others.
The census records young people who are described by the adults in the household as offering care to their families or communities. This includes young people who are responsible for the care of a family member (which is how young carers are usually defined) plus others who may provide more occasional support for neighbours and friends.
Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment spent on staffing in each of the last five years; [289054]
(2) how many (a) full-time equivalent and (b) part- time staff are employed the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; [289056]
(3) when Ministers in his Department last met staff of the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; [289061]
(4) what the budget of the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has been in each of the last five years; [289062]
(5) what the cost of the office premises of the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment was in each of the last five years; [289063]
(6) what the salary of each member of the board of the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment was in each of the last five years. [289064]
Gillian Merron: The Committee on Carcinogenicity in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) does not employ staff. Ministers have not held meetings with members of COC in the last five years.
Since 2006 the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have provided a secretariat for COC. The HPA meets the costs of several advisory committees. It is not possible to disaggregate the costs for this committee.
The COC does not occupy office premises. COC meetings are either held in premises provided by the HPA or the Department.
COC does not have a board. Members of the COC are not paid a salary. An attendance allowance £158 for the chairman and £123 for members, a reading fee £40 for the chairman and £30 for members and travelling expenses are provided.
Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many (a) full-time equivalent and (b) part-time staff are employed by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment; [289017]
(2) when Ministers in his Department last met staff of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment; [289043]
(3) what the budget of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment has been in each of the last five years; [289044]
(4) what the cost of the office premises of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment was in each of the last five years; [289045]
(5) what the annual salary of each member of the Board of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment was in each of the last five years; [289046]
(6) how much the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment has spent on staffing in each of the last five years; [289047]
(7) how much the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment has spent on external consultancy in each of the last five years. [289139]
Gillian Merron: The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) does not employ staff. Ministers have not held meetings with members of COMARE in the last five years.
Since 2005 the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has provided a secretariat for COMARE. The HPA meets the costs of several advisory committees. It is not possible to disaggregate the costs for this committee.
COMARE does not occupy office premises. COMARE meetings are either held in premises provided by the HPA or the Department.
COMARE does not have a board. Members of COMARE are not paid a salary. An attendance allowance (£141.50 for the chairman and £98.50 for members, a reading fee £28.50 for the chairman and £25 for members) and travelling expenses are provided.
COMARE has not employed external consultants in the last five years.
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the salary of each member of the Board of the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants was in each of the last five years; [289019]
(2) how much the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants spent on staff in each of the last five years; [289020]
(3) how many staff the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants employs; and how many are (a) full-time and (b) part-time; [289021]
(4) how much the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants spent on external consultancy in each of the last five years; [289022]
(5) when Ministers in his Department last met staff of the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants; [289040]
(6) what the budget of the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants was in each of the last five years; [289041]
(7) what the cost of the office premises for the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants in (a) Leeds and (b) London was in each of the last five years. [289042]
Gillian Merron: The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) does not employ any staff. Ministers have not held meetings with members of COMEAP in the last five years.
Since 2006 the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have provided a secretariat for COMEAP. The HPA meets the costs of several advisory committees. It is not possible to disaggregate the costs for this committee.
COMEAP does not occupy office premises. COMEAP meetings are either held in premises provided by the HPA or the Department.
COMEAP does not have a board. Members of COMEAP are not paid a salary. An attendance allowance (£158 for the chairman and £123 for members, a reading fee £40 for the chairman and £30 for members) and travelling expenses are provided.
COMEAP employed external consultants in 2007 to produce peer reviews of the latest report on "Long term exposure to air pollution: Effect on mortality" at a total cost of £4,000.
Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to patient and service user groups on claiming for travel costs associated with attendance at meetings of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence between 5 March and 5 June 2009. [288579]
Ann Keen: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State does not issue any guidance to patient and service user groups on claiming for travel costs associated with the attendance at meetings of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence. However, guidance available on the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence website in March 2009 was revised in May 2009 to bring it in line with the Department's best practice guidance 'Reward and Recognition'. The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence pays reasonable travel expenses to attend meetings and events (excluding their Council meetings) to those who are self financing or unemployed.
Counselling: Essex
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist counselling services the NHS provided in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point in the latest period for which figures are available. [289153]
Phil Hope: This information is not held centrally.
Damian McBride
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he last met Mr Damian McBride in the course of his official duties. [287402]
Phil Hope: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has not met with Mr. Damian McBride in the course of his ministerial duties.
Dementia: Drugs
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the report on prescribing of anti-psychotic medication commissioned by his Department; what steps his Department plans to take to reduce reliance on inappropriate use of medication in the management of people with dementia; and if he will make a statement. [288576]
Phil Hope: The report from Professor Sube Banerjee on the prescribing of anti-psychotic drugs to people with dementia has now been received by officials in the Department. The report will be published shortly, following normal peer review procedures.
Dementia: Research
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future level of funding for dementia research; and what matters relating to such funding will be discussed at the forthcoming research summit held with the Medical Research Council. [288082]
Gillian Merron: The dementia research summit to be held on 21 July will bring together a range of experts to help shape the future direction of dementia research in the United Kingdom. It will aim to identify gaps in existing knowledge and prioritise new areas for research investment. In addition to helping to develop a more clearly prioritised research agenda, the summit will also focus on better ways to support the current science base and sharpen its impact.
The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research and of the Medical Research Council is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. Future levels of expenditure on dementia research will be determined by the success of relevant bids for funding.
Dental Health: Children
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide guidance on dental hygiene to children. [288702]
Ann Keen: The Department has just published a revision of "Delivering Better Oral Health: An evidence based toolkit for prevention". The aim of the toolkit, which has been distributed to all dental practices in England, is to ensure that dentists and members of dental teams give consistent, evidence based advice to patients and their families on the prevention of dental disease. The toolkit contains advice specific to children 0 to six years, children and young adults from age seven as well as for adults. Guidance includes tooth brushing, use of correct toothpaste and dietary advice. While access to national health service dentistry is improving and the toolkit advises parents and carers to take young children to the dentist, we have also taken initiatives to promote oral health in a community setting. For example, under the Brushing for Life scheme families with young children in areas with higher levels of dental decay are issued with a free pack of fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush-supported by advice on oral hygiene-when they attend child health clinics, Surestart Children's Centres and other health and pre-school facilities.
"Delivering Better Oral Health: An evidence based toolkit for prevention" has been placed in the Library, and is also available online at:
Dental Services
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received dental treatment on the NHS in (a) St Ives constituency, (b) Cornwall and (c) England in each of the last five years. [288204]
Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested.
The number of patients registered with a national health service dentist, in England, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in Annex A of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006. Information is provided by strategic health authority and primary care trust, as well as at a national level.
This information is based on the old contractual arrangements which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This report has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
Under the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ("patients seen") over a 24-month period. However, this is not directly comparable to the registration data for earlier years.
Information on the number of patients seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months in England, as at quarterly intervals, from 31 March 2006 to 31 December 2008 is available in Table D3 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England, Quarter 3; 31 December 2008 report. Information is provided by PCT and SHA, as well as at a national level.
This report has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
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