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26 Jan 2010 : Column 788W—continued
As well as such data arising from the UK reporting scheme, the MHRA has been fully involved in evaluating similar safety data from across Europe, as well as emerging safety data from ongoing clinical studies.
The MHRA's analysis has so far found that the number and the nature of suspected side effects reported to date accord with expectations. The most frequently reported suspected side effects are injection site reactions (such as pain, swelling, redness), or are well known and common side effects of many vaccines, including the swine flu vaccines (such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, muscle pain, fever, fatigue, headaches, swollen glands). These are generally mild and short-lasting.
No unexpected or serious new safety issues have been identified from UK and non-UK safety data received to date. The balance of benefits and risks for swine flu vaccines used in the UK remains positive. As with all medicines and vaccines on the UK market, the MHRA will keep the safety of swine flu vaccines under close review.
Transplant Surgery
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what proportion of bone marrow transplant cases was the patient still alive five years after surgery in each of the last five years. [313114]
Gillian Merron: This information is not collected centrally.
Wheelchairs
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam of 19 March 2009, Official Report, column 1321W, on wheelchairs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report and proposal made to the NHS Board. [313566]
Phil Hope: The Department is in the process of refining the 2008 proposals for wheelchair services in partnership with the national health service, third sector organisations, service users and other key stakeholders. A multi-agency Wheelchair and Seating Services Advisory Group has been established to co-produce an updated model by April 2010 that reflects recent developments in health and care policy. This revised model will be placed in the Library.
The first meeting of the Advisory Group is scheduled for 26 January 2010.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of the (a) internal and (b) external reports and proposals produced by the Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services programme. [313567]
Phil Hope: Previous internal and external reports and proposals for Transforming Community Equipment (TCE) focused on the rationale for change and model design. These reports have now been superseded by the implementation phase of the programme, with the focus now being on the production of implementation tools for local authorities and health partnerships. A public summary report, 'Community Equipment Outline Retail Model', was published to the former Care Services Efficiency Delivery website between June 2007 and May 2008. A copy of this report has been placed in the Library.
The Department is in the process of refining the 2008 proposals for wheelchair services in partnership with the national health service, third sector organisations, service users and other key stakeholders. A multi-agency Wheelchair and Seating Services Advisory Group has been established to co-produce an updated model by April 2010 that reflects recent developments in health and care policy. This revised model will be placed in the Library.
The first meeting of the Advisory Group is scheduled for 26 January 2010.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to answer Question 300302, on departmental pay, tabled on 18 November 2009. [313136]
Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 25 January 2010, Official Report, columns 544-46W.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-36, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on what date it was agreed with the Afghan government that the 600 Afghan soldiers would be deployed to Helmand; [304938]
(2) pursuant to the Prime Minister's statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-36, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, on what date it was agreed with the Afghan government that the further 10 Afghan companies would be deployed to Helmand; [304940]
(3) when he plans to answer question 304940, on the deployment of 10 Afghan companies in Helmand province tabled on 2 December 2009; [311062]
(4) when he plans to answer question 304938 on the deployment of 600 Afghan soldiers in Helmand province tabled on 2 December 2009. [311063]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I am sorry for the delay in answering these questions.
On 13 October 2009, the Prime Minister received assurances from President Karzai that Afghan troops would be trained to fight alongside UK forces in Helmand, 14 October 2009, Official Report, column 301. Between then and his statement to the House on 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-36, the Prime Minister also discussed the developing situation with President Karzai on a number of occasions.
Air Force: Training
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training hours fast jet pilots spent on average in each aircraft type in the Royal Air Force in each (a) year since 2005 and (b) month of 2009. [305103]
Bill Rammell: The training hours for fast jet pilots spent on average for each aircraft type in the Royal Air Force for the periods specified are given in the following tables. The information relates to pilots from frontline fast jet squadrons only and includes, in addition to normal frontline flying, the total hours flown while on operations, all of which include some element of training to improve pilot skills. By way of illustration approximately 40 per cent. of the Harrier and 30 per cent. of the Tornado GR4 hours in the table were actually consumed on operations. A proportion of Typhoon and Tornado F3 hours were consumed in the Falkland Islands and performing Quick Reaction Alert missions. All hours include some transit flying to operational theatres and to overseas exercises or training areas. To break down these hours between operational and training would incur disproportionate cost.
Average pilot flying hours for the Hawk training aircraft and the testing, evaluation and conversion training for all fast jet types are not included.
The reduction in flying hours for Tornado F3 in 2008-09 is attributable to the effects of the ongoing withdrawal from service of the fleet.
The reduction in flying hours for Tornado GR4 in 2008-09 is attributable to a variety of factors primarily the availability of aircraft for UK training as maintenance and modification activity was prioritised to deliver aircraft for operations.
| Average pilot operational and training flying hours | ||||
| FY | ||||
| Fast jet type | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
| (1) Type not in service. (2) Not available-data for the Tornado F3 are not held centrally for 2007-08; figures for that year could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. (3) The first frontline Typhoon Squadron did not stand up until FY 2006-07. | ||||
| Average actual monthly front line pilot operational and training flying hours | ||||
| 2009 | Tornado F3 | Tornado GR4 | Harrier( 1) | Typhoon |
| (1) Harrier Force returned from supporting operations in Afghanistan thus flying hours are reduced from June. | ||||
Armed Forces: Divorce
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of personnel in each service were (a) divorced and (b) separated from a spouse in each year since 2001. [312659]
Mr. Kevan Jones:
The following table shows annual divorce rates and number of divorces for Army and RAF personnel for each year since 1997. Royal Naval
data groups 'Separated', 'Divorced' and 'Widowed' together. Separation numbers and percentages cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
| Army and RAF divorces and rate as a percentage of average married strength: 2001-06 | |||||||
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006( 1) | ||
| n/a = Not available. (1) Figures for 2006 are for the 12 month period up to 1 December 2006. (2) For 2001, annulments are excluded from the calculations for divorce rates, as the information was not available, however the remaining years do include annulments in their calculation. Notes: 1, Figures are for UK Regular Forces, and exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. Figures are for Trained and Untrained personnel excluding Officer Designates. 2. Rates are calculated as a percentage of the average married strength during the calendar years. | |||||||
Figures in the form requested are unavailable after 1 December 2006 following the implementation of the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system.
Personal marital status is now recorded in a different way in order to determine entitlement to allowances and service families' accommodation. These categories are:
PStat 1-A member of the armed forces who is married or in a registered civil partnership.
PStat 2-A member of the armed forces who has main parental responsibility for dependant children.
PStat 3-A member of the armed forces, not in PStat 1 or 2 who provides financial support to former spouse/partner by voluntary agreement.
PStat 4-A member of the armed forces, not in PStat 1 or 2 who provides financial support to former spouse/partner by way of a court order.
PStat 5-All other members of the armed forces.
Armed Forces: Housing
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many homes his Department sold in each local authority area in Scotland in each of the last two years; and how many were sold or otherwise transferred to (a) the relevant local authority and (b) a registered social landlord. [312115]
Mr. Kevan Jones [holding answer 25 January 2010]: Service family homes are disposed of when they become surplus to requirements. Details of properties sold in Scotland by each local authority area (LAA) in the last two financial years are as follows:
| LAA | Sold to registered social landlord | Sold to local authority | Total number of houses sold |
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